Master Plan for the Ontario Legislature at Queen’s Park

The image of the Legislature building and grounds terminating the vista up University Avenue in downtown Toronto is both a popular icon and an important symbol of the central role that open, democratic government plays in the Province of Ontario, and in Canada as a nation. Since its creation in the late 19th century, the Legislature and its setting have undergone incremental changes that have cluttered its landscape and impacted its security. The master planning project was undertaken in order to ensure that the grounds continued to provide a welcoming, inclusive and open character while incorporating necessary functional improvements. The first phase of work involved a comprehensive inventory and evaluation of the physical setting in order to identify those aspects that needed to be kept and enhanced, and those that could be altered or removed. As part of that work, Bray Heritage prepared a comprehensive history of the evolution of the Queen’s Park landscape, beginning with research into its origins as the site of King’s College (later the University of Toronto) straddling a creek and anchoring a large institutional precinct outside the early city and culminating in the identification of the original design intent underlying subsequent changes to the setting. Working with renowned garden expert Mark Laird, Carl Bray used the historical background to prepare a Statement of Historical Significance, list of heritage attributes, and a heritage character analysis as underpinnings for the Master Plan. This Plan for the Grounds surrounding the Legislature is now based on a clear understanding of the property’s heritage character and focuses on the clarity and simplicity of the original landscape design. A second phase of work has been the result of a security audit and plan for the site. Bray Heritage is part of the expanded team that has prepared designs for making the Grounds more secure while maintaining their essential open views and welcoming settings.