List Of Oldest Buildings In Canada
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This is a list of the oldest surviving buildings and structures of significance in each province and territory of
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
.


Alberta

First Nations peoples in Alberta were generally nomadic and did not create permanent structures, however they did often occupy the same site annually for many generations, and created permanent markers in the form of
tipi rings Tipi rings are circular patterns of stones left from an encampment of Post-Archaic, protohistoric and historic Native Americans.Cassells, Steve. (1997). ''The Archaeology of Colorado.'' Boulder: Johnson Books. pp. 224-227. . They are found prima ...
and
medicine wheels Medicine wheels are petroforms or circular formations of rocks on the land. Historically, most medicine wheels followed a similar pattern of a central circle or cluster of stones, surrounded by an outer ring of stones, along with spokes radiatin ...
. The first Europeans to build in Alberta were the
fur trade The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal ecosystem, boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals h ...
rs of the
North West Company The North West Company was a Fur trade in Canada, Canadian fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in the regions that later became Western Canada a ...
who constructed the first
trading post A trading post, trading station, or trading house, also known as a factory in European and colonial contexts, is an establishment or settlement where goods and services could be traded. Typically a trading post allows people from one geogr ...
s in Alberta at
Fort Chipewyan Fort Chipewyan , commonly referred to as Fort Chip, is an unincorporated hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada, within the Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo. History Fort Chipewyan is one of the oldest European settlements in the Provi ...
and
Fort Vermilion Fort Vermilion is a hamlet on the Peace River in northern Alberta, Canada, within Mackenzie County. Established in 1788, Fort Vermilion shares the title of oldest European settlement in Alberta with Fort Chipewyan. Fort Vermilion contains many ...
in 1788. Few buildings from the fur trade era remain. There is said to be 25 buildings built prior to 1882 still surviving in Alberta. Most buildings considered "historic" in Alberta are from the post-railway era (e.g. after 1885 in Calgary, after 1891 in Edmonton). The following is a list of oldest buildings and structures in
Alberta Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...
constructed prior to 1900.


British Columbia

The following is a list of oldest buildings and structures in
British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
constructed prior to 1900.


Manitoba

The following is a list of buildings and structures in
Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...
constructed prior to 1900.


New Brunswick

Before 1784,
New Brunswick New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...
was part of the colony of
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...
and the majority of the population was aboriginal. The native populations of the land that is now New Brunswick were a nomadic people and thus there are few remains of their settlements. However, in 1784 New Brunswick became its own colony due to an increasingly non-aboriginal population. The area was mostly forest until
United Empire Loyalists United Empire Loyalist (UEL; or simply Loyalist) is an honorific title which was first given by Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, the 1st Lord Dorchester, the governor of Province of Quebec (1763–1791), Quebec and Governor General, governor ...
started to arrive, and European-style buildings were not constructed for the most part until after their arrival. Many
Acadian The Acadians (; , ) are an ethnic group descended from the French who settled in the New France colony of Acadia during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, most descendants of Acadians live in either the Northern American region of Acadia, ...
homes and settlements were destroyed by the
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
during the expulsion of the Acadians known as the
Great Expulsion The Expulsion of the Acadians was the forced removal of inhabitants of the North American region historically known as Acadia between 1755 and 1764 by Great Britain. It included the modern Canadian Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Br ...
from 1755 to 1763. Acadians were a people of French descent who lived in New Brunswick,
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island is an island Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. While it is the smallest province by land area and population, it is the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", ...
and Nova Scotia for over a century before the British took over the lands that were
New France New France (, ) was the territory colonized by Kingdom of France, France in North America, beginning with the exploration of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Kingdom of Great Br ...
. After the expulsion there was a short wave of settlement by a peoples known as the
New England Planters The New England Planters were settlers from the New England colonies who responded to invitations by the lieutenant governor (and subsequently governor) of Nova Scotia, Charles Lawrence, to settle lands left vacant by the Bay of Fundy Campaign ...
. They were a small group without a lot of remaining architecture. The following is a list of oldest buildings and structures in
New Brunswick New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...
constructed prior to 1890.


Newfoundland and Labrador

The following is a list of oldest buildings and structures in
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the populatio ...
constructed prior to 1860.


Northwest Territories


Nova Scotia

The following is a list of oldest buildings and structures in
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...
constructed prior to 1830.


Nunavut

The following is a list of oldest buildings and structures in
Nunavut Nunavut is the largest and northernmost Provinces and territories of Canada#Territories, territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the ''Nunavut Act'' and the Nunavut Land Claims Agr ...
constructed prior to 1960.


Ontario

The following is a list of oldest buildings and structures in
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
constructed prior to 1830, excluding the cities of
Markham Markham may refer to: Biology * Markham's storm-petrel (''Oceanodroma markhami''), a seabird species found in Chile and Colombia * Markham's grass mouse (''Abrothrix olivaceus markhami''), a rodent subspecies found on Wellington Island and the ne ...
,
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
, and the
Region of Waterloo The Regional Municipality of Waterloo (Waterloo Region or Region of Waterloo) is a metropolitan area of Southern Ontario, Canada. It contains the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo (KWC or Tri-Cities), and the townships of North Dumfrie ...
.


Prince Edward Island

The following is a list of oldest buildings and structures in
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island is an island Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. While it is the smallest province by land area and population, it is the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", ...
constructed prior to 1860.


Quebec

The first Europeans to arrive in Quebec were settlers from France. They founded
Quebec City Quebec City is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Census Metropolitan Area (including surrounding communities) had a populati ...
in 1608 and erected there the first foundations such as the Habitation made of wood and set up by
Samuel de Champlain Samuel de Champlain (; 13 August 1574#Fichier]For a detailed analysis of his baptismal record, see #Ritch, RitchThe baptism act does not contain information about the age of Samuel, neither his birth date nor his place of birth. – 25 December ...
. Despite the founding of other significant settlements in
New France New France (, ) was the territory colonized by Kingdom of France, France in North America, beginning with the exploration of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Kingdom of Great Br ...
in the 17th century, notably Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Trois-Rivières in 1634 and
Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
in 1642, there are only a few 17th-century buildings that still survive outside the
Capitale-Nationale Capitale-Nationale (; ) is one of the 17 administrative regions of Quebec. It is anchored by the provincial capital, Quebec City, and is largely coextensive with that city's metropolitan area. It has a land area of 18,684.78 km2. It reported ...
region. Therefore, the oldest buildings still standing in Quebec are found heavily in and around Quebec City. All such buildings date from the French regime and are protected as historical monuments under the law enforced by the Ministry of Culture and Communication of Quebec."Oups... - Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec"
''www.patrimoine-culturel.gouv.qc.ca''. The following is a list of old buildings and structures in
Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
constructed prior to 1750.


Saskatchewan

The following is a list of oldest buildings and structures in
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada. It is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and to the south by the ...
constructed prior to 1900.


Yukon

The following is a list of oldest buildings and structures in
Yukon Yukon () is a Provinces and territories of Canada, territory of Canada, bordering British Columbia to the south, the Northwest Territories to the east, the Beaufort Sea to the north, and the U.S. state of Alaska to the west. It is Canada’s we ...
constructed prior to 1900.


See also

*
Architecture of Canada The architecture of Canada is, with the exception of that of Canadian First Nations, closely linked to the techniques and styles developed in Canada, Europe and the United States. However, design has long needed to be adapted to Canada's climate ...
*
List of heritage buildings in Vancouver The following is a list of buildings and structures classified as Schedule "A" and Schedule "B" heritage buildings by the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. These are ''designated'' heritage buildings, and as such are legally protected ...
*
List of oldest buildings and structures in Halifax, Nova Scotia This is a list of oldest buildings and structures in Halifax Regional Municipality, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada that were constructed before 1935. 1750-1799 1800-1849 1850-1899 1900-1935 See also *History of Nova Scotia *List o ...
*
List of oldest buildings and structures in Toronto This is a list of the oldest buildings and structures in Toronto, that were constructed before 1920. The history of Toronto, history of Toronto dates back to Indigenous settlements in the region approximately 12,000 years ago. However, the oldes ...
*
Gothic Revival architecture in Canada Gothic Revival architecture in Canada is an historically influential style, with many prominent examples. The Gothic Revival style was imported to Canada from Britain and the United States in the early 19th century, and it rose to become the most ...


References


Architecture in Canada
''
The Canadian Encyclopedia ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (TCE; ) is the national encyclopedia of Canada, published online by the Toronto-based historical organization Historica Canada, with financial support by the federal Department of Canadian Heritage and Society of Com ...
'' *Kalman, Harold D. ''A History of Canadian Architecture.'' Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1994.
Canada by Design: Parliament Hill, Ottawa
at Library and Archives Canada * Baker, Marilyn, ''Manitoba's Third Legislative Building: Symbol in Stone:The Art and Politics of a Public Building'', Hyperion Press, Winnipeg, Manitoba 1986 * Cameron, Stanley, ''Stones of History: Canada's Houses of Parliament'', Film Board of Canada * Denby & Kilbourn, ''Toronto Observed: Its Architecture, Patrons, and History,''Oxford University Press, Toronto 1986 * Edwards, Gregory, ''Hidden Cities: Art & Design in Architectural Details of Vancouver & Victoria'', Talonbooks, Vancouver, BC 1991. * * Kalman, Phillips and Ward, ''Exploring Vancouver: The Essential Architectural Guide'', UBC Press, Vancouver 1993 * Kvaran, Einar Einarsson, ''Architectural Sculpture in America'', unpublished manuscript * Maitland, Hucker & Ricketts, ''A Guide to Canadian Architectural Styles'', broadview press, Peterborough, ON 1992 * McHugh, Patricia, ''Toronto Architecture: A City Guide'', McClelland & Stewart Inc., Toronto 1989 * McMullen, Barbara, ''Ottawa's Terra Cotta Architecture: Two Walking Tours'', Heritage Ottawa, Ottawa, 2003
skyscraperpage.com
* Taggart, Jim, ''The Architecture of Downtown Victoria'', Blue Steps – Pacific Walking Tour Guides, Vancouver, BC 2000 * The
Notman Photographic Archives The Notman Photographic Archives () is an archive of photographic images originally collected by photographer William Notman. It is conserved by the McCord Museum of Canadian History in Montreal, Quebec. Institutions and researchers worldwide consu ...
.


External links


Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada
 – biographies of Canadian architects and lists of their buildings from 1800 to 1950. {{DEFAULTSORT:Oldest Buildings In Canada