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35-671: The origins of the Ontario Club lie in the 1908 Canadian federal election . In that election, the Liberal Party of Canada won 133 seats, while the opposition parties won 88. However, all seats in Toronto went to members of the Conservative Party of Canada. In response to this situation, a group of Liberal supporters decided to form a gentlemen's club to provide a social home for party members in Toronto, and to enhance

70-630: A new corporate headquarters, the building now called Commerce Court North. The new 34-storey limestone building was the tallest in the British Empire / Commonwealth for roughly three decades, until 1962. In 1961 the bank merged with the Imperial Bank to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) and construction soon began to establish Commerce Court as its headquarters complex of buildings. The tallest, and

105-559: A series of underground pedestrian tunnels that connect downtown Toronto . The first building, now known as Commerce Court North, was opened in 1931 as the headquarters of the Canadian Bank of Commerce , a precursor bank to the current main tenant. The Canadian Bank of Commerce head office (now Commerce Court North) was designed by the American bank specialists York and Sawyer with the notable Canadian firm Darling and Pearson as

140-604: Is made of limestone and features a one-ton chandelier with over 70 lights in the lobby. Along the roofline (32 stories up), are 4 bearded figures along each side of the building. Each head is 24 feet high, representing Courage, Observation, Foresight and Enterprise. In 1972, three other buildings were erected, thus creating the Commerce Court complex: glass and stainless steel glass curtain wall International Style Commerce Court West designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners with Page and Steele . Commerce Court West

175-406: The financial district of Toronto , Ontario, Canada. The four-building complex is a mix of Art Deco , International , and early Modernism architectural styles. The office complex served as the corporate headquarters for the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) and its predecessor, the Canadian Bank of Commerce , from 1931 to 2021. Although CIBC relocated its headquarters to CIBC Square ,

210-942: The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce to allow for the construction of the Commerce Court complex. The sale included an agreement for the club to lease the top floor of the south building in the group. In May 1969, the club vacated its historic quarters and moved temporarily into the 19th and 20th floors of the Royal York Hotel . On Tuesday, 9 May 1972, Premier Bill Davis opened the new quarters in Commerce Court South. The new clubhouse featured Louis XVI, Chippendale, Hepplewhite, and Queen Anne armchairs, Sheraton buffets, Persian carpets, 18th-century pewter chandeliers, silk draperies, Botticino marble walls, and 11-foot high beamed ceilings. At

245-531: The Engineers' Club, which had been founded in 1895, made the decision to redevelop its clubhouse at 105 Victoria Street. The new clubhouse would have retail at street level, club quarters on the first three floors, and 40 condominiums above. When the real estate market collapsed in January 1990, the club lost its building and was forced to find a new home. In November 1992, the Engineers' Club decided to merge into

280-550: The Great Depression and in 1938 imposed two assessments of $ 50 each. During World War II, any military officer could receive a membership free of charge, however, these memberships were revoked when the war ended. By the summer of 1945, membership was 419, with 309 resident members. To increase membership, that year the club created a new "junior member" category for gentlemen aged 21 to 29, with an amortised initiation fee and annual dues of $ 33 ($ 570 in 2023). Also that year,

315-565: The L.L. Odette Foundation of Windsor, Ontario . In popular culture, the plaza was used as a stand-in for Wall Street in a pair of Kids in the Hall sketches featuring Mr. Tyzik, the Headcrusher. The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is a major tenant for the complex, with the bank having formerly housed its headquarters there. However, CIBC announced plans to relocate its headquarters from Commerce Court to CIBC Square in 2021. However,

350-496: The NWT would gain or re-gain representation after being added to Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec in 1912. A seat would not be created for the NWT itself again (which then contained the modern NWT and Nunavut) until 1949 . This is the most recent election in which a prime minister was able to lead their party to a fourth consecutive mandate. Commerce Court Commerce Court is an office building complex on King and Bay Streets in

385-530: The Ontario Club. At the time, the Ontario's membership was around 755, while the Engineers' was 545, creating a total membership of around 1300. Although both clubs had in the 1980s ceased to be gentlemen's clubs, both still had less than 50 female members. The Star commented that, "the reason there isn't a higher proportion of female members is that luncheon clubs aren't recruiting many members of either sex these days. Times are tough, and habits have changed." At

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420-464: The bank intends to maintain a presence at Commerce Court. Commerce Court is a commercial complex made up of four structures, and a central courtyard. The complex is bounded by several major roadways, including Bay Street to the west, King Street West to the north, Yonge Street along its southeastern periphery, and Wellington Street West to the south. The structures are connected to the PATH network ,

455-496: The bank still maintains offices at Commerce Court. The site initially housed Toronto's first Wesleyan Methodist Church, a small wooden chapel surrounded by woods (which later became the Metropolitan United Church ) from 1818 to 1831, then as Theatre Royal from 1833 onwards. From 1887 to 1927 it was home to a seven-storey head office of the Canadian Bank of Commerce , which was then demolished to make way for

490-404: The building for $ 120,000. To complete the purchase, the club paid $ 20,000 in cash and received a $ 100,000 mortgage from Manulife . Once the sale was finalised, work began to raise money for the conversion of the building into a clubhouse. Costs for the renovations were estimated at $ 80,000, therefore, the club issued $ 75,000 in 20-year five per cent gold bonds maturing in 1931. Work was completed in

525-400: The club held a barber shop and cloak room. The entrance hall, main dining room, and servery were on the main floor. The second floor held the library, magazine room, and two private dining rooms. The third floor had a billiards room and two card rooms. The fourth and fifth floors consisted of bedrooms for members, though the kitchen occupied half of the fifth floor. By November 1913, membership

560-586: The club's auditors for decades. By November, the club had 433 resident and 130 non-resident members. In the late summer of 1909, the club moved into the former Bay Street clubhouse of the National Club, which that year had moved into its new clubhouse a block to the north. This building stood on the current site of the Toronto Stock Exchange Building. On 5 January 1910, the club hosted its first banquet, and Sir Wilfrid Laurier

595-563: The club. Original members of the club paid a $ 25 initiation fee, $ 10 of which was paid upon application, and the balance paid when the club incorporated. The club met for the first time on 20 January 1909 to choose a name and elect a provisional board. Directors elected to the first board were Haney, Somers, Ferguson, and McMahon from the founders group, as well as James Herbert Denton, Peter Charles Larkin , Maj Charles Alexander Moss, Thomas Saunders Hobbs, and James Frederick Martin Stewart. During

630-670: The end of March 2007, the club's lease in Commerce Court expired. At that time, it moved into new quarters on the 12th and 13th floors of the One King West Hotel & Residence . However, at the end of February 2009, the club lost its lease and was left homeless. In 2010, remaining members of the Ontario Club merged into the National Club. 43°38′52″N 79°22′44″W  /  43.6478°N 79.3788°W  / 43.6478; -79.3788 1908 Canadian federal election Wilfrid Laurier Liberal Wilfrid Laurier Liberal The 1908 Canadian federal election

665-486: The first meeting, a debate arose about the issue of temperance. William Raney , who led the group in favour of temperance, argued that the club should not create a possible policy conflict with the party. Haney, who was chairman of the meeting, was also in favour of a dry club. He said, "I'm not a temperance crank, but I believe the club will be better off without liquor." Attendees voted 50-9 in favour of asking for liquor privileges in their application to incorporate. The club

700-467: The initiation fee for regular members was reduced to $ 200 ($ 3,450 in 2023). During the late 1940s, the fifth floor was insulated, and roofing, painting, plumbing, and electrical improvements were undertaken. In 1954, air conditioning was installed in the dining room, the billiard and card rooms were relocated, and the cocktail lounge was redecorated. At the same time, much of the electrical system and plumbing were replaced. Consequently, an assessment of $ 100

735-538: The lease expired, in January 1911 the club moved into the Lumsden Building on Yonge Street. In 1910, Larkin, the chairman of the club's New Quarters Committee, began negotiating with the Standard Bank of Canada to acquire its head office building at 16 Wellington Street. The building had been erected in 1884 and was designed by David Brash Dick. In 1911 the club arranged a deal with the bank to acquire

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770-543: The local architects of record. Structural engineering was provided by Harkness and Hertzberg. At the time of its construction, the building was one of the most opulent corporate headquarters in Canada and featured a public observation deck (since closed to the public for safety and liability concerns). The building is protected under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act since 1991. The Art Deco-style building

805-460: The opening, Davis and John Robarts were given honorary memberships. In 1978, the club created a new membership category called "diplomatic," and was the first club in Toronto to have such a class. In January of that year, it admitted 16 new members to that category, all from foreign countries. Among them was Rita de Arismendi, the consul general of Venezuela. In 1985, the club voted to amend its bylaws to allow women to become full members. In 1989,

840-459: The party's status in the city. The founders of the club were Michael John Haney (1856–1927), James Houston Spence (1867–1939), George Tower Ferguson (1856–1932), Gabriel Thomas Somers (1867–1926), and Dr Thomas Franklin McMahon (1852–1925). In late 1908, the five founders created a list of 300 individuals they would approach to become members, and by January 1909 there were 312 applications to join

875-548: The summer of 1912, at which time the club moved into its new quarters. The first banquet at the new clubhouse took place in November 1913, and again Sir Wilfrid Laurier attended as the guest of honour. The renovations on the bank were designed by Sproatt & Rolph . While the exterior walls of the building were kept, the structure was otherwise gutted and rebuilt with new columns and floor beams. The basement of

910-473: The tallest in Toronto at the time, was Commerce Court West, completed in 1972. On Wednesday, January 9, 2008, a portion of a CIBC sign at the top of the Commerce Court West building blew off as a result of wind gusts. Police cordoned off the area as a precaution. As a result, Bay St. from Front to Richmond and King St. from York to Yonge were shut down. Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) service

945-629: Was around 800, with around 500 resident members. The club's initiation fee had been set in December 1912 at $ 300 (approximately $ 8,000 in 2023) and annual fees for resident members were $ 50 (approximately $ 1,300 in 2023). Seven members of the Ontario Club were killed in World War I. During the war, all clubs in Toronto stopped serving drinks after 8 pm. In 1925, membership reached an all-time high of 925, with 654 resident members. By 1929, total membership dropped to 845. The club struggled financially during

980-483: Was commissioned to renovate the Commerce Court urban plaza, the banking area at the base of Commerce Court West, and the below-grade retail area. There are 65 retail shops in the plaza below the complex. Surrounding the Commerce Court complex of buildings is a plaza featuring a fountain in its centre, and a three-piece bronze sculpture by Derrick Stephan Hudson entitled, Tembo, Mother of Elephants completed in 2002. The sculptures were installed on site in 2005 on loan from

1015-633: Was diverted. This took place eight months after a piece of white marble panel fell from the 60th storey of the First Canadian Place building, and ten months after layers of ice fell from the CN Tower . The CIBC sold the complex in April 2000, now managed by QuadReal Property Group , but the head office of the bank remains the anchor tenant. CIBC relocated its headquarters from Commerce Court to CIBC Square on 1 November 2021. However,

1050-407: Was granted a charter on 8 February 1909, and held its first board meeting on 26 March of that year. At that meeting, members elected an official board. Further directors added to the provisional board were Lloyd Harris , Leighton McCarthy , J. W. Curry, Dr John Herbert McConnell, John Bain, and Joseph Fisher Eby. Edward Clarkson was elected auditor. His firm, Clarkson Gordon & Co , would remain

1085-503: Was held on Monday October 26, 1908 to elect members of the House of Commons of Canada of the 11th Parliament of Canada . Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier 's Liberal Party of Canada was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term in government with a majority government . The Liberals lost four seats and a small share of the popular vote. Sir Robert Borden 's Conservatives and Liberal-Conservatives won ten additional seats. This

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1120-401: Was imposed on resident members. In 1955, the entrance fee was increased to $ 400 ($ 4,500 in 2023) and annual dues increased to $ 140 ($ 1,500 in 2023). In 1959, three private dining rooms were added to the fifth floor, which reduced the total number of bedrooms to five. That year, total membership was 749, with 556 resident members. In 1968, the club decided to sell its building for $ 1.5 million to

1155-580: Was its guest of honour. At the banquet, Laurier delivered a speech that began, "yet once again it is my privilege to be among the Grits of Toronto, because there is a double merit attached to being a Grit in Toronto. There are places in which it is as natural to be a Grit as to breathe the air of heaven. Of such I know many. But of such Toronto is not one. It must be recognised that the atmosphere of Toronto has never been conducive to Gritism." The Ontario Club remained at its first location until 31 December 1910. After

1190-488: Was the first election in which Alberta and Saskatchewan voted as provinces. Following their creation in 1905, the two new provinces continued to be represented by MP's initially elected under the old Northwest Territories riding boundaries, some of which straddled the new provincial border. The remainder of the Northwest Territories that previously had Parliamentary representation lost it, although parts of

1225-466: Was the tallest building among the three later additions, at 57 storeys and 287 metres (942 ft) it was the tallest building in Canada from 1972 to 1976. Originally, Commerce Court West's 57th floor was an observation floor. Commerce Court East (1972: 13 storeys) and Commerce Court South (5 storeys) are glass and applied masonry structures also designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners with Page and Steele in 1972. In 1994, Zeidler Partnership Architects

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