Fort York Armoury
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Fort York Armoury is a
Canadian Forces } The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force. ...
facility located near the grounds of the
Canadian National Exhibition The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also known as The Exhibition or The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the third Friday of August leading up to and including Canadian Labour Day ...
in
Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
,
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada. It is located at the intersection of Fleet Street and Fort York Boulevard, close to the historic Old Fort York in the neighbourhood of
Fort York Fort York (french: Fort-York) is an early 19th-century military fortification in the Fort York neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The fort was used to house members of the British and Canadian militaries, and to defend the entrance of t ...
. It currently hosts several units of the
Primary Reserve The Primary Reserve of the Canadian Armed Forces (french: links=no, Première réserve des Forces canadiennes) is the first and largest of the four sub-components of the Canadian Armed Forces reserves, followed by the Supplementary Reserve, th ...
and the
Canadian Cadet Organization The Canadian Cadet Organizations, marketed under the name of Cadets Canada, are a youth program known as the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, Royal Canadian Army Cadets, and Royal Canadian Air Cadets. The program is sponsored by the Canadian Armed For ...
.


History

The Armoury was built in 1933 with private funds and boasts the largest lattice wood arched roof in Canada. It was designed by Toronto architects Marani, Lawson and Morris. Fort York Armoury has been designated a recognized Federal Heritage building since 1991.
Toronto Transit Commission The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the public transport agency that operates bus, subway, streetcar, and paratransit services in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, some of which run into the Peel Region and York Region. It is the oldest and larges ...
service is provided by the 509 Harbourfront and the
511 Bathurst The 511 Bathurst is a Toronto streetcar route operated by the Toronto Transit Commission in Ontario, Canada. Route The 511 Bathurst operates between Bathurst station and Exhibition Loop north–south along Bathurst Street in mixed traffic, ...
streetcar lines.


Architecture

There are three small regimental museums within the armoury. Overlooking Lake Ontario there are a series of regimental officers' messes. These are excellent examples of the traditional British form. The exceptional architectural feature of Fort York Armoury is a
Lamella roof Lamella (plural lamellae) means a small plate or flake in Latin, and in English may refer to: Biology * Lamella (mycology), a papery rib beneath a mushroom cap * Lamella (botany) * Lamella (surface anatomy), a plate-like structure in an animal * ...
. It provides an uninterrupted span of nearly 125 feet, roofing for parades, military vehicles and the training of soldiers. The main entrance to the armoury has
pilaster In classical architecture, a pilaster is an architectural element used to give the appearance of a supporting column and to articulate an extent of wall, with only an ornamental function. It consists of a flat surface raised from the main wal ...
s of rusticated masonry with a large carved coat-of-arms. This is the coat-of-arms of the Dominion of Canada. It appears above the flat keyed arch of the entrance. The cap badges of each original regiment are carved in stone set in the parapet over doorways opening to ornamental iron balconies.


Lodger units

In the Canadian Forces, an armoury is a place where a reserve unit trains, meets, and parades. The Armoury is currently home to: *
Queen's York Rangers la, celer et audax, lit=swift and bold , colors = Green and amethyst blue , identification_symbol = , identification_symbol_label = , march = "Braganza" , notable_commanders ...
*The Royal Regiment of Canada * 32 Signal Regiment (formerly 709 (Toronto) Communication Regiment) *32 Brigade Battle School Former units: *The Toronto Scottish Regiment * 2 Field Engineer Regiment * 1st Battalion Irish Regiment *The 48th Highlanders of Canada


See also

*
List of Armouries in Canada A number of armouries and drill halls exist in communities across Canada. Of these, the majority were built in Ontario and Quebec. Architecture Chief Dominion Architects The Chief Dominion Architect(s) designed a number of prominent public b ...
* Denison Armoury *
Moss Park Armoury Moss Park Armoury is a Canadian Forces facility located at 130 Queen Street East in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is at the northeast corner of Jarvis Street and Queen Street East, in the neighbourhood of Moss Park. It currently hosts several unit ...
*
Toronto Armories The Toronto Armories, also known as the University Avenue Armories and the Toronto Drill Hall, was an 1894 armoury building in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was located on University Avenue, just north of Osgoode Hall. It was the largest ...


References

{{Canadian Forces Armouries in Canada Buildings and structures in Toronto Heritage sites in Ontario 1933 establishments in Ontario Government buildings completed in 1933 Royal Regiment of Canada Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment)