François-Eugène-Alfred-Évanturel
An MPP representing the riding of Prescott in eastern Ontario from 1886-1904, François-Eugène-Alfred-Évanturel served as Ontario’s first Francophone Speaker (1897-1902) and Minister (1904-1905).
An MPP representing the riding of Prescott in eastern Ontario from 1886-1904, François-Eugène-Alfred-Évanturel served as Ontario’s first Francophone Speaker (1897-1902) and Minister (1904-1905).
Although other locations at Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake) were used for meetings of Upper Canada’s Legislature, Navy Hall – one of a set of military structures on the banks of the Niagara River - is considered the principle site in town where much of the activity of the new colonial government
In October 1951, Princess Elizabeth – just months away from becoming Queen – visited Ontario’s Legislature for the first time with her husband Prince Philip. As Queen, she has paid 3 official visits to Queen’s Park - in 1973, 1984 & 2010.
As part of the 200th anniversary commemoration of Ontario’s Legislative Assembly, the Legislature adopted its own unique Coat of Arms – the first provincial Legislature in Canada to do so.
Women in Ontario won the right to vote on April 12th, 1917 and the right to hold office in 1919. Agnes Macphail – a school teacher from Grey County, Ontario, was elected Canada’s first woman Member of Parliament in 1921.
Work is ongoing in phases to ensure that essential repairs to the sandstone exterior are carried out. All of the original sandstone on the Legislative Building was sourced from a quarry northwest of Toronto and carved on the grounds at Queen’s Park by English stone carvers.
In February, 2013, Kathleen Wynne became Ontario’s first woman Premier. She led the provincial Liberals to an election victory in 2014 – a vote that resulted in the highest number of women to be elected as MPPs in the province’s history - 38 of 107.
Queen Elizabeth visited the Ontario Legislature once again on July 6th. She unveils a plaque commemorating the 150th anniversary of Queen’s Park, opened as a Toronto public park by her great grandfather Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) on September 11, 1860.
The Ontario Veteran’s Memorial is unveiled on the Legislative Building’s south grounds in 2006. Featuring photos and illustrations of military campaigns laser-etched into stone, it honours those who served from the mid-19th century to present-day.
Elected Ontario Premier in 2003, Dalton McGuinty went on to win three consecutive terms – the first Liberal Premier to do so in the province’s history since Sir Oliver Mowat in the 1890s.