society for the study of architecture in canada

SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY O F ARCHITECTURE IN CANADA
SOCIETE POUR L'ETUDE DE L'ARCHITECTURE AU CANADA
6
Number/Numero
4
5
Sept/ sept
1980
2
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF
ARCHITECTS IN CANfrDA, 1800-1950
DICTIONNAIRE BIOGRAPHIQUE DES
ARCHITECTES DU CANADA, 1800-1950
Research and manuscript preparation are
on a Biographical Dictionary of
Architects in Canada for the period 1800 to
1950. Begun in 1976, it is expected that this
work will be ready for publication in late
1983. The work is being edited and compiled
by Robert G. Hill, an honours graduate of the
School of Architecture at the University of
Toronto (1972), and at present a practicing
architect in Toronto.
Les recherches et la preparation du manuscrit du
Dictionnaire biographique des architectes du
Canada 1800-1950 progressent continuellement.
Cette oeuvre, initiee en 1976, sera complet~e
prete a etre publiee vers la fin de 1983. Le
responsable du projet e~t Robert G. Hill,
diplome d'honneur de l'Ecole de l'architecture
de l'Universite de Toronto (1972), et architecte
professionel a Toronto.
continuin~:
Architects who qualify for entry in the
Dictionary are those known as, or who have
called themselves "architect", and who, either
as an amateu ;· or as a professional, have made
architectural designs for buildings in Canada
during the study period. Anyone whose career
ended before 1800, or commenced after 1950 is
excluded from the work, as are those who are
best known in other professions or trades, such
as "builder", "contractor", "engineer", "carpenter", or "surveyor". An archi teet in Canada
includes those resident and practicing architecture in this country at one time or another,
as well as those who have made a contribution
to the architectural development of Canada,
either through built works or unrealized projects. This includes several American, British
and European architects.
To date, more than 900 names of architects
practicing in Canada during the study have been
identified. The entries, arranged alphabetically, will vary in length from a few lines
to several pages, and will focus primarily on
the architectural background and career of the
individual. Information sources will be cited,
including locations of architectural drawings,
photoyraphs, books, manuscripts, wills and
probat;e data, journal articles, etc. Each entry
will be followed by a chronological list of
significant architectural works, with data on
location, year of construction, client, publication references , and whether the work is extant
or demolished. Where appropriate or necessary,
subjective comment will be made on the nature of
the work, but the emphasis will be on objective,
factual information on the subject architect.
The Dictionary will be accompanied by an index
of persons and places mentioned in the text, to
permit easy reference to a building owner or
location if the architect i s unknown.
Les architectes choisis pour faire partie de ce
Dictionnaire sont ceux qui sont connus sous le
titre d'architecte, d'abord, et qui, soit en
tant qu'amateur ou professionnel, ont ete responsable du design d'edifices canadiens au cours de
la periode etudiee. Sont exclus de ce projet
les architectes dont la carriere date d'avant
1800 ou apres 1950, ainsi que ces professionnels
specialises dans le role d'entrepreneur, de
fournisseur, d'ingenieur, de charpentier ou de
geometre expert. "L' arch i tee te du Canada" comprend les elements que voici:
-il a vecu et a exerce son role professionnel
d'architecte au Canada;
ou
-il est architecte qui, tout en demeurant et
travaillant a l'etranger, a contribue d' une
fa~on importante a 1 'evolution de L,architecture au Canada, soit avec des projets actuels
ou non-realises. Nombre d'architectes
americains, anglais et europeens font partie
de cette categorie.
Jusqu'a date, les noms de plus de 900 actifs
au Canada dans la periode 1800-1950 ont ete
identifies. Les inscriptions, donnees dans
l 'ordre alphabetique, sont plus ou moins comprehensives, certaines etant quelques lignes de
long, a peine; d'autres couvrant plusieurs
pages. Elles se concentrent sur la carri~re et
la vie professionelle de l'architecte en ce qui
a trait a l'architecture principalement. Les
sources documentaires sont identifiees, ainsi
que les collections ou se trouvent les dessins
architecturals, les photographies, les livres,
les manuscrits, les testaments et leurs homologations, les articles de journaux, etc.
Chaque inscription est suivie d'une liste ordre
chronologique d'oeuvres architecturales importantes, avec les informations pertinenees sur
l'endroit, la date de sa contruction, le nom du
client, les publications, et si l'edifice existe
toujours ou s'il a ete demoli. Les commentaires
3
Typical entries in the Dictionary will be based
on primary source material, including unpublished papers and records, frequently obtained
from family relatives and descendants. In addition, a detailed search is in progress in library
and archival sources in Toronto, Hamilton, Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal, Chicago, New York City,
Washington, Los Angeles, Boston, and London,
England for relevant data on the career and
works of architects in Canada.
personnels sont inclus la ou il edt juge propice,
mais pour la plupart l'accent est sur une
description objective, basee sur les faits. Le
Dictionnaire offre aussi un catalogue des
personnes et des endroits mentionnes dans le
text, afin de faciliter les recherches a 1 'aide
du nom du proprietaire ou de l'endroit en question, par example, dans le cas ou le nom de
1 'architecte est inconnu.
More than 50 North American and British architectural periodicals are being indexed, and
hundreds of related books and general periodicals have been located and noted as references
for individual entries. Dozens of daily and
weekly newspapers from Canadian towns and cities
and being reviewed for important data on tender
calls, competitions, building construction
reports, as well as for biographical and obituary information.
Les inscriptions inclues dans le Dictionnaire
sont basees en general sur des sources originales y compris les documents non publies transmis aux descendants de 1 'architecte en question.
En plus, des recherches specialisees dans les
bibliotheques et les archives de Toronto, Hamilton, Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal, Chicago, New
York, Washington, Los Angeles, Boston et London,
en Angleterre assurent que les details les plus
importants sur la vie et 1 'oeuvre des architectes
du Canada sont d~couverts et soulignes .
The following is a partial list of the more than
400 names of Canadian architects whose life and
work in the nineteenth century is being studied
for the Dictionary. Each nar.1e is followed by
the name of the city where they lived and practiced.
Plus de 50 periodiques sur 1 'architecture
publies en Amerique du nord et en Angleterre
sont indexes; des centaines de livres et de
periodiques non-specialises ant ete utilises et
pris en note pour les inscriptions particul-.
ieres. Les journaux quotidiens et hebdomada1res
candiens son etudies regulierement et fournissent d'importants renseignements sur la soumission de travaux, les competitions, les
rapports sur la contruction en plus d'une documentation biographique et necrologique.
ALEXANDER, Frederick J.
ALLEY, Thomas
ARNOLDI, King McCord
Ottawa
Charlottetown
Ottawa
BAILLARGE, Charles P.
BAILLARGE, Francois
BAILLARGE, George F.
BAILLARGE, Thomas B.
BALFOUR, James
BARRATT, William
BEAUDRY, J. Alphonse
BERLINGUET, Francois X.
BERLINGUET, Louis T.
BLAIKLOCK, George
BLAIKLOCK, Henry M.
BOURGEAU, Victor
BROWNE, George
BROWNE, John James
Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec City
Hamil ton
Saint John
Mont rea 1
Quebec City
Quebec City
Halifax
Quebec City
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal
CONNOLLY, Joseph
COUSIN, Paul
COVERDALE, William (Sr.)
COVERDALE, William (Jr.)
CUMBERLAND, Frederic W.
Toronto
Quebec City
Kingston
Kings ton
Toronto
CANNON, John
CHAPPELL, Charles B.
CHAREST, El zear
CHESTERTON, Walter
CLIFF, John
Quebec City
Charlottetown
Quebec City
Ottawa
Quebec City
DARLING, Frank
DEMERS, Abbe Jerome
DENISON, Arthur Richard
DEROME, Jean B.
Toronto
Quebec City
Toronto
Quebec City
Plus de 400 architectes canadiens du 19e
siecle, leur vie et leur oeuvre, ont ete
recherches pour ce Dictionnaire biographique.
La liste que voice n'inclue qu'une partie de
ceux-ci et sert a donner une idee 1 'etendue du
projet. Chaque nom est accompagne du nom de la
ville ou 1 'architecte a vecu et travaille.
4
DEWAR, Andrew
DICK, David Brash
DORAN, William E.
DUMARESQ, James C.
DUNHAM, David Ellis
DURAND, George F.
Halifax
Toronto
Montreal
Halifax
Saint John
London
EDEY, Moses Chamberlain
EDWARDS, William Arthur
EVELEIGH, Sydney M.
EWART, David
Ottawa
Hamil ton
Vancouver
Ottawa
FAIRWEATHER, G. Ernest
FLETCHER, Edward Taylor
FOOTNER, William
FOWLER, Joseph Ades
FRASER, Archibald
FRIPP, Robert Mackay
FULLER, Thomas
Saint John
Quebec City
Montreal
Toronto
Quebec City
Vancouver
Ottawa
GAGE, Robert
GAUTHIER, Louis Z.
GAUVREAU, Pierre (Jr.)
GEMMELL, John
GIBSON, Charles J.
GOUINLOCK, George W.
GRAND, James
GRANT, George
GRIFFITH, HenryS.
GUNDRY, Thomas
Kings ton
Montreal
Quebec City
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Vancouver
Vic tori a
Toronto
HACKER, Frederick
HARRIS, William
HAY, William
HENDERSON, William
HILLS, Albert H.
HODGSON, William
HOFFAR, Noble S.
HOOPER, Samuel
HOOPER, Thomas
HORSEY, Henry Hodge
HORWOOD, John Charles
HOWARD, John George
HUTCHISON, Alexander
Quebec City
Charlottetown
Toronto
Vic tori a
Hamil ton
Ottawa
Vancouver
Winnipeg
Vic tori a
Ottawa
Toronto
Toronto
Montreal
IRVING,
Toronto
~Jill
iam
JARVIS, Edgar Beaumont
JONES, Chil ion
Toronto
Toronto
KAUFMANN, William
KEITH, John Charles M.
KENNEDY, Donald
KENNEDY, James
Toronto
Victoria
Ottawa
Vancouver
KENNEDY, Thomas
KENNEDY, William
KING, William R.
Barrie
Montreal
Vancouver
LANE, Henry Bower
LANGLEY, Henry
LARUE, Narcisse
LAVER, Augustus
LAWFORD, Frederick
LEATHER, W. B.
LECOURT, Joseph-Pierre M.
LENNOX, Edward James
LEWIS, Richard
Toronto
Toronto
Montreal
Ottawa
Montreal
London
Ottawa
Toronto
Victoria
MacLURE, Samuel
MALLANDAINE, Edward
MALOUIN, Francois Xavier
MATHER, James
McKEAN, John T. C.
MILLER, George Martell
MONTBRIANT, Louis Roch
MORIN, Pierre-Louis
MOTT, Harvey H.
Victoria
Victoria
Quebec City
Ottawa
Saint John
Toronto
Montreal
Montreal
Saint John
NELSON, James
NEWLANDS, William
Montreal
Kingston
OSTELL, John
OUELLET, David
Montreal
Quebec City
PATRY, Michel
PEACHY, Joseph Ferdinand
PERRAULT, Henri Maurice
PETERS, Samuel Frank
PHILLIPS, Lemuel J.
POWER, John L.
Quebec City
Quebec City
Montreal
Winnipeg
Charlottetown
Kingston
RASTRICK, Frederick James
RATTENBURY, Francis M.
RAZA, Alphonse
RESTHER, Jean-Baptiste
RIDOUT, Thomas
ROGERS, Thomas
ROY, Victor
RUBIDGE, Frederick P.
RUSSELL, John Hamilton G.
Hamilton
Victoria
Montreal
Montreal
Toronto
Kings ton
Montreal
Ottawa
Winnipeg
SCOTT, Thomas Seaton
SHEARD, Joseph
SPRINGLE, James H.
STALKER, George Frederick
STAVELEY, Edward
STAVELE',', Harry
STEAD, Matthew
Ottawa
Toronto
Montreal
Ottawa
Quebec City
Quebec City
Saint John
5
STEWART, William
STIRLING, David
STORM, William George
STRICKLAND, Walter R.
SYME, James
Hamilton
Halifax
Toronto
Toronto
Victoria
TACHE, Eugene-Etienne
TANGUAY, George Emile
TEAGUE, John
THOMAS, Willi urn
THOMAS, William Tutin
TIEDEMANN, Hermann Otto
TULLY, Kivas
TURNER, John
Quebec City
Quebec City
Vic tori a
Toronto
Montreal
Victoria
Toronto
Brant ford
The following is a partial list of the more than
600 names of Canadian architects whose life and
work in the early to mid-twentieth century is
being studied for the Dictionary. Each name is
followed by the principal city for the location
of their practice. With the growth of the profess i o na 1 associations and arch i tee tura 1 practices in the early part of this century, there
were by 1950 more than 1600 registered practitioners across the country. The Dictionary wi 11
focus only on those architects (now deceased)
who have made a significant and recognized contribution to Canadian architecture up to the
year 1950.
Interested individuals who can provide additional information on architects in this country
practicing during the study period are invited
to write the editor at:
The Biographical Dictionary of
Architects in Canada
Box 1066, Station A
17 Front Street West,
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1G6
ALLAN, Marvin Francis
ALLWARD, Hugh Lachlan
AMOS, Louis A.
ARCHIBALD, John Smith
ARMSTRONG, Norman A.
ATCHISON, John Danley
AUDET, Louis Napolean
AYLSWORTH, Marshall B.
Toronto
Toronto
Montreal
Montreal
Toronto
Winnipeg
Montreal
Thunder Bay
VENNE, Joseph
Montreal
WALTON, Charles
WATTS, John William H.
WATTS, Thomas
WELLS, John
WHEELER, Charles H.
WICKENDEN, C. Osborne
WINDEYER, Richard W.
WRIGHT, James
Toronto
Ottawa
Cal gary
Mon trea 1
Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Toronto
Montreal
YOUNG, Thomas
Toronto
Vu le manque d'espace, il est impossible de
dresser isi l a liste de plus de 600 architectes
de 20e siecle sont l 'oeuvre sera decrite dans le
Dictionnaire biographique. La croissance de
l'ar:::h1tecture en tant que carriere professionelle a partir du debut du siecle est telle qu'en
1950, l'on y comptait deja plus de 1600 membres
a travers le pays . Ce Dictionnaire biographique
se concentre surtout s ur-c~- architectes dont la
contribution a l'architecture canadienne avant
1950 est notablement important et reconnue.
Si vous pouvez contribuer des rensignements
supplementaires sur les architectes de la
periode 1800-1950, priere de communiquer avec:
Robert G. Hill, redacteur
Le Dictionnaire biographique
des architectes du Canada
cp 1066, station 'A '
17 Front St. W.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
r~5W l G6
6
BAKER, Francis Spence
BARNES, R. Percy
BAROTT, Ernest Isbell
BATES, William Stanley
BELLHOUSE, David
BIRD, Arthur Julius
BIRD, Eustace Godfrey
BIRDS, Samuel B.
BLACKWELL, Victor Joseph
BLAIR, William Wallace
BLAKEY, Richard P.
BLAKEY, William George
BOND, Charles Herbert Acton
BOULTBEE, Alfred E.
BOWMAN, Joseph Henry
BROWN, David Robertson
BROWN, John Francis
BROWN, Murray
BROWNE, George (Jr.)
BRODIE, F. Neill
BURKE, Edmund
Toronto
Edmonton
Montreal
Cal gary
Winnipeg
Vancouver
Toronto
Vancouver
London
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Edmonton
Toronto
Toronto
Vancouver
Montreal
Toronto
Toronto
Winnipeg
Saint John
Toronto_
CALDERON, Alfred Merigon
CALVIN, D.D.
CARON, Louis J.
CATTO, Douglas Ellisson
CATTO, Ronald Wallace
CHADWICK, William Craven Vau x
CHAPMAN, Alfred Hirschfelder
CHAUSSE, Alcide
Edmonton
/
CHISHOLM, James
CLEMESHA, F. Chapman
CLEVELAND, Charles Barry
COBB, Andrew Randall
COBB, Charles Shearman
COON, Stephen Burwell
CORMIER, Ernest
CRAIG, James Henry
CURRY, Samuel George
Winnipeg
Regina
Toronto
Halifa x
Toronto
Toronto
Montreal
Toronto
Toronto
DALTON, W.T.
DAOUST, Theodore
DAVIS, Huntley Ward
DECARY, Albert Roch
DECARY, L. Joseph Theophile
DEGGENDOFFER, F.
DOLPHIN, Charles Brammel
DOWLER, Leo
DUMARESQ, Sidney Perry
DUNLOP, Alexander Francis
DUNN, R.C. John
DUFRESNE, Marius
DUSSAULT, Joseph Pierre Edmond
Vancouver
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal
Edmonton
Toronto
Ca 1gary
Halifax
Montreal
Saint John
Mont rea 1
Quebec City
EADIE, Arthur Hunter
EDWARDS, William Arthur
ELLIOT, Edward
EVANS, Frank R.
EWART, J. Albert
Toronto
Hamilton
Halifax
Winnipeg
Ottawa
FAIRN, Leslie Raymond
FETHERSTONHAUGH, Harold L.
FINGLAND, William
FINDLAY, Robert
FINLEY, Samuel Arnold
Halifax
Montreal
Winnipeg
Montreal
Montreal
GARDINER, Frank George
GARDINER, William Frederick
GARIEPY, Joseph Raoul
GATES, Herbert Elliot
GEORGE, Allan
GILBERT, Edward James
GORDON, Henry Bauld
GOUINLOCK, George Roper
GOVAN, James
GRAY, John Wilson
GREGG, Alfred Holden
GREGG, William Rufus
Vancouver
Vancouver
Mon trea 1
Halifa x
Toronto
Saskatoon
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
HALDENBY, Eric Wilson
HALL, Mark
HAZELGROVE, A. J.
HEAKES, Francis R.
HELLIWELL, Grant
HENDERSON, A. Ernest
HERIOT, John Charles Allison
HOLMAN, Hugh Gordon
HOLMES, Arthur W.
HORSBURGH, Victor D.
HORWOOD, Edgar Lewis
HORWOOD, Victor William
HOWLAND, Willaim Ford
Toronto
Toronto
Ottawa
Toronto
Toronto
Vancouver
Montreal
Winnipeg
Toronto
Toronto
Ottawa
Winnipeg
Toronto
7
HUTTON, GorJon J.
HYDE, George T.
HYNES, James P.
Hamilton
Montreal
Toronto
MACVICAR, D. Norman
MAGOON, Herbert Al ton
MARANI, Ferdina nd Herbert
MARCHAND, J. Omer
t]. J 0 1'\•.l<•AMO
'\ l .l'. ~1r)E::,
JAMES, Percy Leonard
JOHNSON, Harold Herbert
JONES, Hug h Griff i th
JONES, Robert Rubie
JON ES, Wi l liam Francis
Victoria
Vancouver
Montreal
Victoria
Vancouver
KARCH, Joseph A.
KERTLAND, Doug l as E.
KING, Cecil C.
KING, George W.
Montreal
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
LABERGE, Helidore
LA CHANCE, W.W.
LAIT, William Barnes
LANG, George Macdonald
LANG LEY, Charl es
LANGTON, Wi l liam A.
LANSDOWN, Frank
LAW, Frederick Charl es
LAWSON, Harold
LAWSON, James Irving
LeMAY, Rene Pamphile
LEVESQUE, Pierre
LINES, Roland Walter
LORT, Ross Anthony
LYLE, John Macintosh
Quebec City
Saskatoon
Winnipeg
Ca l gary
Toronto
Toronto
Edmonton
Toronto
Montrea l
Toronto
Quebec City
Quebec City
Edmonton
·victoria
Toronto
MACDONALD, George
MACDONALD, Robert
MACDONALD, Robert
MACFARLANE, David
Edmonton
Montrea l
Vancouver
Montreal
Heath
Henry
John
H.
Montrea l
Edmonton
Toronto
Montreal
MARTIN, Frank
MATHERS, Alvan Sherlock
MATTHEWS, Herbert E.
MAW, Samuel Herbert
MAXWELL, Edward
MAXWELL, Wil l iam Sutherland
McCALLUM, Robert
McCARTER, John Y.
McDOUGALL, James Cecil
McGIFFIN, Robert B.
McLAREN, Thomas
MEREDITH, Co l borne Powe l l
MILLER , J . Me l vi ll e
MITCHELL, James Bertram
MITTON, Edward Stanley
MOFFAT, Robert Reid
MOLESWORTH, George N.
MONETTE, Georges Alpho nse
MOORE, Herbert E.
MOORE, John Mackenzie
MOORHOU SE, Walter M.
MORRIS, Robert Scholfie l d
Saskatoon
Toronto
Winnipeg
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal
Toronto
Vancouver
Montrea l
Toronto
Montrea l
Ottawa
Montrea l
Winnipeg
Vancouver
Toronto
Toronto
Montrea l
Toronto
London
Toronto
Toronto
NAIRNE, George
NEWLANDS, John C.
NOBB S, Percy Erskine
Vancouver
Kingston
Montreal
rto::.,loee>
NOFFKE, Werner E.
Montreal
8
O'GARA, James J.
OVER, Walter Percy
OXLEY, James Morrow
Calgary
Winnipeg
Toronto
PAGE, Forsey P.
PAINTER, Walter S.
PARKIN, John Burnett
PAULL, Herbert George
PAYETTE, Eugene
Toronto
Montreal
Toronto
Toronto
Montreal
1'\.t.Pf\~ETrE
PEARSON, John Andrew
PEDEN, Frank
PERRAULT, Jean Julian
PERRAULT, Joseph
PORTNALL, Francis Henry
POST, Albert Asa
PRACK, Bernard H.
PRATT, Ralph Benjamin
Toronto
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal
Regina
Toronto
Toronto
Winnipeg
RAE, William
RAYMOND, Thomas
REA, Kenneth Guscotte
REEVES, Charles Aime
ROLPH, Ernest Rose
ROSS, Donald Aynsley
ROSS, George Allan
Toronto
Quebec City
Montreal
Montreal
Toronto
Montreal
Montreal
SAWYER, Joseph
SAXE, Charles Jewett
SECORD, Herbert Ferris
SHARON, Maurice William
SHARPE, G. Thornton
SHEPARD, Ralph K.
SHEPPARD, Earle C.
SHILLINGLAW, Walter Henderson
SIDDALL, John Wilson
SIMON, Frank Worthington
Montreal
Montreal
Toronto
Regina
Vancouver
Toronto
Toronto
Brandon
Toronto
Winnipeg
SIMPSON, Henry
SMITH, Eden
SMITH, Sanford Fleming
SOMERVILLE, William Lyon
SPARLING, William F.
SPENCE, David Jerome
SPROATT, Henry
STANFORD, Joseph Hunt
STAVELEY, Edward Black
STOREY, Stanley E.
SYMONS, William Limbery
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Montreal
Toronto
Toronto
Quebec City
Regina
Toronto
TAYLOR, Sir Andrew Thomas
TETLEY, Charles Reginald
~HOMPSON, Charles J.
TOWNSEND, Samuel Hamilton
TURGEON, Joseph 0.
TURNER, Phillip J.
Montreal
Montreal
Vancouver
Toronto
Montreal
Montreal
VALLANCE, Hugh
Van EGMOND, William Gysbert
VANIER, Joseph Emile
VAN NORMAN, Charles Burwell K.
VENNE, Louis Alphonse
VIAU, Joseph Dalbe
Montreal
Regina
Montreal
Vancouver
Montreal
Mont rea 1
WAGNER, Charles Frederick
WARREN, Jesse
WATERS, Donald Mackenzie
WATSON, Joseph Francis
WATT, John M.
WEBSTER, David
WEST, Gordon Mossman
WEST, J. Pender
WHITE, Murray A.
WICKSON, A. Frank
WILSON, John
WILSON, William Ridgeway
WIZE, James Edward
WOOD, George W.
WRIGHT, Richard Cotsman
Toronto
Victoria
Toronto
Vancouver
Hamilton
Saskatoon
Toronto
Winnipeg
Toronto
Toronto
Victoria
Victoria
Edmonton
Montreal
Ottawa
9
SOCIETY NEWS
SSAC Annual Meeting
May 28 - June 2, 1980
Universite du Quebec
NOUVELLES DES SOCIETE
a Montreal
Canadian Architecture in Change:
Evolution or Revolution?
The SSAC Annual Meeting included, as always,
not only the presentation of very interesting
papers (which appear in precis form below) but
the informal exchange of information and ideas
which has always been such a vital part of our
meetings. We were fortunate this year that many
of these exchanges took place at receptions in
connection with fascinating exhibitions. The
Ministere des Affaires culturelles du Quebec
hosted a reception at their exhibition "L'evolution du dessin architecturale" and Concordia
University was our host at their exhibition of
"Cast-Iron Architecture in Montreal". These
were auspicious surroundings for our talks and
provided an interesting complement to the
proceedings.
Session 1 - Three Canadian Cities
Michael McMordie - Chair
R. J . Spaxman discussed recent trends in architecture and urban design in Vancouver. He
looked at these trends as reflections of new
goals in urban design such as public debate of
issues and flexibility in the planning process.
Michael Y. Seelig dealt with how Vancouver's
planners and designers took account of the
city's assets (waterfront, views, streets) and
the demands of the population, after they were
ignored during the rapid growth of the '60s and
early '70s. Four very different projects,
Robson Square, Granville Island, False Creek and
Fairview Slopes, were examined.
K. Greenberg discussed the precedents and current work of the Urban Design Group recently
formed within the City of Toronto, Department
of Planning and Development . This group has a
concern for Toronto's public spaces and the
preservation and enhancement of the city's urban
design 1egacy.
Marc J. Baraness looked at the reasons that the
Yorkville district of Toronto has managed to
retain an interesting, unified character during
an age in which cities are becoming conglomerations of barel v related uarts .
Alan Stewart and Helene Dumais examined
Montreal's development between 1760 and 1815
through the career of Pierre Foretier, land
dealer and building speculator. The paper
covered the two groups that his real estate
activities fall into, his personal and speculative transactions and his activities in the
St. Laurent suburb, as well as dealing with his
work outside the walls.
Aline Gubbay discussed the 300 year development
of Westmount through its architecture. The talk
centred on the community's ability to retain its
special individual character despite many foreign architectural influences and contemporary
urban pressures.
Maurice Amiel spoke about perception and information in three districts of Montreal: Old Montreal, Outremont and the Plateau Mont-Royal.
10
Session 2 - Theatre Architecture
Anton Wagner - Chair
Alistair Kerr discussed theatre architecture in
British Columbia, concentrating on Barkerville's
restored theatre and the theatre at Fort Steele.
Loew's Wintergarden Theatre was examined by John
C. Lindsay as a prime example of the rich, grand
and exotic type of escapist architecture which
typified the movie palace. The glamorous movie
palace is set in the context of the development
of theatres in Canada.
Dane Lanken spoke about Emmanuel Briffa, a
Maltese born, Italian trained artist who arrived
in Montreal in the early 1900s and designed the
interior of scores of Canadian movie theatres
before his death in 1955. Briffa's work, his
contribution to the decorative arts in Canada
and his place in the context of North American
movie theatre design is examined in this paper.
The destruction of Winnipeg's Capitol Theatre in
1979 occasioned salvage recording by Parks
Canada . Michel Soucy outlined the entire recording process. A series of eleven stereophotographic plates were produced for future photogrammetric plotting, if required at a later date
for restoration, reconstruction or research
purposes. Complete colour photographic coverage
of the interior was also conducted.
Session 3- Government in the Built Environment
Jacques C. Beauchamp examined the careers of two
former leading engineers, Samuel Keefer and
Thomas Coltrin Keefer, who greatly influenced
the development of transportation systems in
Canada before and after Confederation. Samuel
Keefer, the first Chief Engineer of Public Works,
desigr.ed the first Canadian Suspension Bridge at
the Chaudiere Falls. T. C. Keefer was a great
proponent of canals and railways and had an
international reputation in his field.
The birth of civil aviation in Canada in the
post-World War II period and the buildings which
were designed to accommodate the growth were
discussed by W. A. Ramsay. The evolution in
design of terminal buildings is traced with
illustrated examples of Canadian terminals.
Session 4- Public and Commercial Architecture
in Quebec to 1914
Laurier Lacroi x - Chair
Susan Wagg discussed Perch Nobbs' 1907 design
for the Macdonald Engineering Building, McGill
as an Edwardian response to the Victorian
melange of the McGill campus.
Michelle Nolin-Raynauld discussed the Bank of
Montreal at Place d'Armes, a neo-classical
building based on the desigr.s of two architects,
John Wells and David Rhind.
Gregory Utas - Chair
Mary Fraser dealt with William Coverdale's
professional development as an architect in
Kingston, Ontario as evidenced by his twelve
years spent designing and overseeing construction of the Kingston Penitentiary and later the
Asylum for the Criminally Insane at Portsmouth.
Robert Hunter spoke about David Ewart, who
directed the design and construction of federai
buildings from 1897 until 1914. Thus not only
did Ewart serve as Chief Architect during one of
the busiest and most productive periods of
government building in Canada's history, he also
figured significantly in the first concentrated
effort to transform Ottawa into a city evocative
of the term "national capital" .
The introduction and history of cast-iron architecture in Montreal was ably discussed by Jean
Belisle. First introduced to the city in the
middle of the 19th century, many examples of the
decorative material remain to the present.
Marc de Caraffe considered the perception of
justice during the mid-19th century and its
expression in judicial architecture in Quebec.
Focusing on the standard plan district court
houses designed by F. P. Rubidge and built between 1855 and 1863, they are examined for their
relationship to contemporary Ontario court
houses, and also to earlier Quebec ones .
11
Session 5- Housing Canadians
Joan Simon - Chair
Anne Schrecker investigated the relationship
between the structuring of built space and the
structuring of other facets of a pre-literate
culture, such as the Iroquois. Analysis of built
forms indicates a conscious choice from a range
of alternatives, also seen in family structure,
and linguistic and political structure which
show that the same formal structuring which
appears in buildings appears also in relevant
contexts in other structures. The house form
thus quite literally pictures the structure of
the culture.
Gerald C. Pocius looked at the contemporary
spatial usage pattern in the Newfoundland community of Calvert and emphasized the persistence
of traditional values regarding interior space .
Even recent architectural forms such as the CMHC
bungalow type have been adapted to fit the same
behavioural patterns that mark the early hallparlour and Georgian structures in the community.
Allen Penney traced the origins and development
of domestic architecture in Nova Scotia. From
the earlier pre-conquest structures dating before 1755, of which there are no remains, to
the slightly later structures prefabricated in
New England, or built according to the ethnic
ideals of each group of settlers, materials and
designs are discussed . Factors influencing the
development of an indigenous Nova Scotia housing
type are also considered.
Sarah McCutcheon examined the architecture and
interior design of the residence of Montreal
architect Ernest Cormier (188 5 - 1980) which was
designed and constructed in 1930-31. The house
is studied in the context of Cormier's other
buildings, especially the University of Montreal.
Pierre Beaupre described the Milton Pare project
as an attempt to curtail the dispersal of the
traditional residents of the Montreal city
centre to the outskirts of the city. The social
fabric of the area is being conserved with the
physical fabric. Co-op housing is being encouraged, which 1 eads to the development of services
which are an outgrowth, not of public sector
intervention, but of the decisions of users the~
s elves.
J . Grant Wanzel discussed the nature of post-war
housing in the Atlantic region. He believes
that developments in post-war housing are
regressive because they emphasize intra-regional
disparities and that excessive profit taking has
led to a housing stock that does not reflect the
fabric of Maritime life.
Peter Lankin dealt with the search for an appropriate architecture for the Cree community of
Nemaska, near James Bay. Both traditional Cree
building types and frontier style architecture
were researched to help produce designs that
reflected a newly developed sense of community
amongst the inhabitants of Nemaska. Constraints
such as transportation, funding and national
housing standards were also discu s sed. The
designs, the reaction of the Cree to them, and
the outcome of the project was d1scussed.
12
REGIONAL NEWS
NOUVELLES REGIONALS
BRITISH COLUMBIA
ALBERTA
The British Columbia Heritage Trust has established three post-graduate scholarships for
studies in archaeology, restoration architecture
and continuing education in British Columbia's
history, archival programmes and studies in
heritage conservation. Information on these
awards, valued at $5000 each, may be obtained
from the British Columbia Heritage Trust, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4.
Members of the University of Lethbridge
Regional History Project have compiled A Preliminary Guide to Archival Sources Relating to
Southern Alberta based on material in the Public
Archives of Canada, Provincial Archives of
Alberta, Glenbow-Alberta Archives, the Galt
Museum and Archives, and city, town and village
records. Further information may be obtained
from the University of Lethbridge Regional History Project, c/o Dept. of History, University
of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge,
Alberta TlK 3M4.
Stuart Lazear, a member of SSAC, has been
awarded the Peter Cot~on Memorial Scholarship
for post-graduate studies in heritage conservation. Stuart is studying for his M.A. at
U.B.C., specializing in heritage planning and
historic preservation.
The Vancouver League for Studies in Architecture and the Environment have announced their
lecture series schedule for 1980-81.
October 21
Jack Di amend
November 4 James Wines, New York
November 12 Robert Stern, New York
January 14
Eberhard Zeidle, Toronto
February 11 Sim Van Der Ryn, California
February 25 Frank Gehry, California
March 4
Peter Eisenam, New York
TBA (possibly Jan. 28) Charles Jencks, London
For more information, please contact:
Babs Shapiro ( 604) 6823283/8790221 .
The Fine Arts Library at the University of
British Columbia, in cooperation with the Fine
Arts Division of the Vancouver Public Library,
is working to establish more complete files on
Canadian architects and architecture. All contributions would be most welcomed, including
newspaper articles, pamphlets, photographs,
letters, etc. Please address mail to : Fine
Arts Reference Librarian, Library-Fine Arts
Division, U.B.C., 1956 Main Mall, Vancouver
V6T 1Y3
Alberta Culture and the SSAC, Edmonton will be
co-sponsoring a proposed series on Architects
and Architecture. It is hoped that this series
will allow members of the SSAC to meet each
other and perhaps generate local projects. The
lectures will be held in the Chapel of Old St.
Stephen's College, 8820 - 112 Street, Edmonton,
at 8:00 p.m. October 8th. Robert Hunter will be
delivering a paper on David Ewart. October 15th
Trevor Boddy will discuss Modern Architecture in
Alberta. For information, contact: Robert
Hunter, 4272020.
SASKATCHEWAN
The Energy Show will be held in Saskatoon October 23-26. Anyone interested in conterrporary
design of residential and commercial structures
will find this an informative exhibition. Information: The Energy Show, 230-23 Street E.,
Saskatoon, Sask., S7KOJ4.
MANITOBA
Winnipeg will host the Seventh Annual Conference
of the Heritage Canada Foundation, October 21-25.
Activities will include tours of the city's
architecture, seminars and technical workshops
on heritage preservation and an awards ceremony.
Information: Heritage Canada, Box 1358, Stn. B,
Ottawa, Ontario KlP 5R4.
13
ONTARIO
The Ontario Association of Architects have hired
SSAC member Geoffrey Hunt to investigate procedures for the preservation of architectural
records. He is currently studying exi s ting facilities for architectural records at major
institutions in Canada in order to advi s e OAA
members of the facilitie s and options available
when placing records in archival institutions.
It i s hoped that the resultant report will recommend standard procedures for retention of materials for architects and lead to a programme of
record management which could serve as a model
for other provincial ins titutions. OAA, 50 Park
Road, Toronto, Ontario M4W 2N5.
The Public Archives of Canada exhibit entitled
City Blocks, City Spaces : Historical Photographs of Canada's Urban Growth c .l 850-1900 will
be on display at the Centre for Canadian Photography, 596 Markham Street, Toronto until October 24 .
QUEBEC
L'assemblee annuelle de l'association pour la
preservation et ses techniques (APT) aura lieu
a Quebec a l'h6tel Le Concord du 2 au 4 octobre
1980. Cette annee, les deu x sujets du congres
ser6nt la preservation en milieu urbain et le
role des artisans dans le domaine de la preservation.
NEWFOUNDLAND
SSAC member Gerald Pocius, of Memorial Univers ity, conducted a study during the summer of
vernacular architecture on the Southern Shore
of Newfoundland. A r eport on the proiect will
be included in a future issue.
14
THE BACK PAGE
LE DERNIER TERM
CONFERENCES :
As the new edit0r of the SSAC Newsletter, I
would like to take this opportunity to thank
Leslie Maitland, who did such an excellent job
as editor during the last three years. With
this issue the Newsletter moves west. I think
that this will be a good thing, resulting in a
new perspective and perhaps a broadening of our
membership base . The Newsletter has been given
a new name and a slightly changed format. It
will take a few issues for us to adapt to our
relocation and to discover the quickest way to
account for services such as translation and
printing. Thus we must apologize for not having
been able to have the proceeding s of the annual
conference translated.
There are obvious advantages to the periodic
relocation of the newsletter. However, there
are extra problems. It becomes more difficult
to keep track of activities in the "far east"
or Quebec, for instance. It would be apprecia ted if members in those areas could send short
articles, notices of exhibitions conferences,
etc.
Any suggestions or criticisms would be most
welcome. The deadlines for material are:
November 1; January 1; March 1; May 1; July 1;
September 1 .
The National Service for Monuments and Sites,
Netherlands, in close collaboration with
ICOMOS, is organizing an international congress
on "Contemporary Architecture in Historic Surroundings". This will be held in conjunction
with the "European Campaign for Urban Renaissance" in Antwerp in Ma y 1981. An exhibition on
this theme is being organized for the occasion.
It i s hoped that repre se ntative examples from
various countries may be included. You are invited to send slide s, photos, plans, etc. relevant to these activities to: Mr . E. Goedleven,
Ministerie Van Nationale Opvoeding en Nederlande
Cultuur, Bestuur vor Kunsten en Kunstonderwijs,
Rijkdinn s t Voor Monumentum en Landschapszorg
Sparjaardstraat 7, 8000 Brugge .
INQUIRIES:
David B. Hanna, 4083 Beaconsfield Avenue,
Montreal H4A 2H4, wishes to consult prior
issues of the newsletter (i.e., Vols. 1-5) .
Is there anyone in the Montreal area with a
complete set who might assist him?
The Architectural History Research Unit, Graduate School of the Built Environment, University
of New South Wales, is pre sently researching
the possibility that there is a direct connection between timber construction in Canada and
in Australia . Any suggestions or information
on the avenues by which Canadian form s of timber
construction may have found their way to Australia, up to the end of the 19th century, would
be much appreciated. Plea s e contact : Robert
Irving, Director, Architectural History Research
Unit, Graduate School of the Built Environment,
University of New South Wale s, P.O. Box 1,
Kensington, NSW, Au s tralia, 203 3.
15
NEW BOOKS:
National Historic Parks and Sites Branch, Parks
Canada, Environment Canada, announces publication of new finding aids for architectural
re s earch in its series His~nd Archaeolo....91_.
La Direction des lieux et des pares nationaux,
Pares Canada, Environnement Canada, announce la
publication des nouveaux instruments de recherche dans la serie Historie et archeologie.
No 31
Genevieve wimont Bastien, Line Chabot et
Doris Drolet Dube, Inventaire des dessins
architecturaux aux de l'Universite Laval
(19so,-S2o;-oo-;-aut res-pa y51"24"""liQT- -
No 32
Robert Caron, Inventaire des permis de
construction des archives de la ville de
Quebec 1913-1930 (1980- $40.80 , 3 volumes) - --- - -
No 33
Christine Chartre, Jacques Guimont, Pierre
Rancour, Repertoire des marches de construction et des actes de societe des
Archives nationales du Quebec a TroisRivieres, de 1760 a 1825 (1980- $13.25,
au tres pays-$15. 90)
No 34
Christine Chartre, Jacques wimont, Pierre
Rancour, Repertoire des inventaires et
des inventaires apres deces des Archives
nationales du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres, de
1760 a 1825\1986- $23.25, autres pays
$27.90)
Editor / Redacteur Susa n Algie
With / Avec Sa ll y Co utt s,
Rohert Hunter, To m McFall (design)
For further information/pour des renseignements
supplementaires:
Christina Cameron, Head, Architectural Analysis,
Canadian Inventory of Historic Building, Ottawa,
Ontario KlA 1G2.
Christina Cameron, Chef, analyse en architecture,
Inventaire des batiments historiques du Canada,
Ottawa, Ontario KlA lG2
Box/ c.p. 129, SUB II
University of Alberta
Edmo nton , T6G 2EO
D. MacKellar Lemmon
102 N. Plum Street
Richmond, VA. 23220
U.S .A.