The Toronto Club is a
private members' club
Private members' clubs are organisations which provide social and other facilities to members who typically pay a membership fee for access and use. Most are owned and controlled by their members even to this day. Some were originally gentlemen ...
in
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 ...
, Ontario, Canada. Founded on March 20, 1837, it is the oldest private club in Canada, and third oldest in North America.
The clubhouse, located at 107 Wellington Street West (at York Street), was designed by
Frank Darling and
S. George Curry in 1888
and opened in 1889. The building had additions and alterations between 1911 and 1912 by
Darling and Pearson Darling and Pearson was an architectural firm based in Toronto from 1895 through 1937. The firm was prolific and produced consistently fine work though the patronage of notable figures of the Canadian establishment, and is responsible for enhancing ...
.
The building mixes different architectural styles and marks an important transition in Darling's career. The clubhouse was recognized as a
heritage property by the City of Toronto in 1984 and by the
Ontario Heritage Foundation
The Ontario Heritage Trust () is a non-profit agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. It is responsible for protecting, preserving and promoting the built, natural and cultural heritage of Canada's most populous province, Ontario. ...
in 2002.
Membership at the Toronto Club is by invitation only and is completely gender-neutral. The Club is strictly for members and their invited guests.
The clubhouse is a 40,000 square foot, three-storey building. The facilities include four lounges, two à la carte dining rooms, a cocktail lounge, business centre and five private dining rooms.
The Club provides reciprocal privileges with a collection of clubs in the United States and Europe.
The Club offers its members a programme of special events including: wine dinners featuring rare wines from its extensive cellar; regularly scheduled wine educational events; annual art dinners; an Annual Black-Tie Members’ Dinner at which a different distinguished member is honoured each year; high-profile guest speaker events; and a Christmas Buffet Luncheon.
Club histories
* Snively, Alexander C. ''History of the Toronto Club, 1835–1947''.
* Snively, Alexander C. ''Toronto Club, 1835-–1995: A History Compiled from Club Records and Contemporary Historical Notes''.
* Stoffman, Daniel. ''
Behind Carved Doors: The Toronto Club and Its Remarkable Members''. Douglas & McIntyre, 2012.
See also
*
List of gentlemen's clubs in Canada
The following list is of gentlemen's clubs that operated in Canada. A gentlemen's club is a private social club that serves as a place for men to dine, drink, read, and socialize. They originated in the 18th century as a type of British social ins ...
References
External links
Toronto Club websiteOntario Heritage Trust – Plaques Database
Buildings and structures in Toronto
City of Toronto Heritage Properties
Clubs and societies based in Toronto
Culture of Toronto
Gentlemen's clubs in Canada
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