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Ontario's History
located in the heart of Toronto!
Queen's Park: Meeting Place for Ontario's Parliament
Address:
Queen's Park, Toronto,
Ontario, M7A 1A2
Tel.: (416) 325 7500
Opening hours: 8:30-18:30 Monday to Friday;
Saturday and Sunday, from Victoria Day to Labor Day
9-16:30
http://www.ontla.on.ca
Located in the heart of Toronto's downtown, Ontario's
Legislative Building at Queen's Park has been the meeting
place for Ontario's parliament since 1893. At a site where
past meets present, one could discover Ontario's history
and learn about the province's parliamentary system of
government.
The grand staircase in the lobby leads up to the richly
decorated Chamber, with its hand-carved wood detailing
made of mahogany and Canadian sycamore. Here, Ontario's
Members of Provincial Parliament take part in
parliamentary debates and pass laws for the province. The
house is in session during spring and fall and visitors
may watch the debates from public galleries.
It is designed by architect Richard Waite and took six
years to construct. Waite chose to use Romanesque Revival
style for the building, influenced by Northern Italian
architecture. Popular at the end of 19th century, this
architectural style is distinguished by rounded archways
and heavy stonework.
An interesting contrast within the interior is the
distinction between East and West wings. A fire in 1909
destroyed the West wing and it was rebuilt using marble
imported from Italy. Look carefully along the marble
columns and you may see dinosaur fossils!
The East wing of the building, in the original
construction of wood and iron, features a number of
exhibits highlighting Ontario's history and culture.
Portraits of Ontario's former Premiers line walls of the
grand staircase and the second floor of this wing, while
the portraits of former Speakers are displayed along the
first floor.
A gift shop in the main lobby has gifts, jewelry,
Ontario's craft and souvenirs.
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