Factory building that once housed East Toronto’s Canadian Ammonia Company Ltd. added to heritage registry
By MATTHEW STEPHENS
The former home of the Canadian Ammonia Company Ltd. In East Toronto has been registered by the City of Toronto as a building of cultural heritage value under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Located on the east side of Heward Avenue, one block east of Carlaw Avenue and south of Eastern Avenue, the registered property consists of one two-storey factory/warehouse facility that was constructed in 1914. The factory was located from 65 to 87 Heward Ave., and is the original building at the north end of the factory site that has been registered as heritage by the city.
The Canadian Ammonia Company Ltd. building was later expanded through additions which eventually facilitated the reuse of the property for film studios. It now operates as the Six5 Studios.
The property now meets the criteria under Ontario Regulation 9/06 of the Ontario Heritage Act, which has deemed the building to be of significant cultural heritage due to its structures’ design value being representative of early-20th century brick factory/warehouse type buildings.
The historic structure features common bond brickwork, stone stills, decorative brick lintels, and brick columns between window bays – all of which are characteristic of early 20th century architecture, and reflective of Eastern Avenue’s earlier days as a hub of manufacturing and industry.
As part of the Ontario Heritage Act, the property owner is now prohibited from demolishing or removing a building or structure on the property.
