Most of us have had that feeling of driving past a building and thinking, “that used to be something.” It’s usually accurate. Many places across Canada used to have landmarks that were rather important to their towns, but now, they’ve completely vanished.
Here are ten lost landmarks that our readers said they still miss. Which one would you like to bring back?
Honest Ed’s, Toronto, Ontario
Honest Ed’s was a landmark for the local people in Toronto. It opened its doors in 1948 at Bloor & Bathurst, but sadly closed them on December 31st, 2016.
Many locals loved the store for its bright sign and winding aisles. But what really attracted people was the annual free turkey giveaway. Many Torontonians still remember bargain-hunting there.
Eaton’s building, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Lots of people in Winnipeg have fond memories of Eaton’s Department Store. It opened in 1905. Sadly, financial issues led to the chain closing in 2002, and the building was taken down to make room for the Canada Life Centre.
Our readers said they remember stepping into its upscale department floors & going downtown for holiday shopping. You couldn’t beat it.
Taylor Field (old Mosaic Stadium), Regina, Saskatchewan
Quite a few readers from Saskatchewan mentioned Taylor Field, which closed down after the 2016 season. They said they remember the smell of the popcorn & cold prairie air during late-season.
But what people really seemed to love was the fact that this stadium wasn’t fancy. It had heart, noise, and soul like nowhere else in the province.
Denman Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
Denman Arena was another famous venue that some older Canadians talk about. It went up in 1911 & was gone by fire in the ‘30s, but the stories about it are apparently still floating around.
One reader said their grandpa told them the Denman Arena was louder than Rogers Arena ever was. Sadly, only photos are left now.
BC Place’s inflatable roof, Vancouver, British Columbia
Many readers told us they really hated the changes to BC Place. It originally had a huge white balloon roof, but officials swapped it for an open design that still stands. A few readers called the old roof “the marshmallow.”
They said they missed how goofy it was because it gave the stadium a sense of personality that’s missing from the modern version.
Daly Building, Ottawa, Ontario
Most people who used to work in downtown Ottawa probably remember the Daly Building. A few readers said they were heartbroken when the building was demolished in the ‘90s.
They said the city lost a large chunk of its character. It didn’t help that the lot was replaced with an apartment building afterward.
Birks Building, Vancouver, British Columbia
A few readers remember walking down Granville & Georgia before 1975. They said you couldn’t miss the Birks Building. It had a grand corner that everyone recognized, thanks to the arched windows & detailed stonework.
Unfortunately, the building came down to make way for modern office towers. Many Vancouverites weren’t shy about how they felt about that.
Sunnyside Amusement Park, Toronto, Ontario
Sunnyside Amusement Park used to be Toronto’s version of Disneyland. It had rides & concerts galore, from 1922 until the mid-1950s.
Major highway plans then took over the shoreline, and fires in 1955 sealed the deal for Sunnyside’s closure. Yes, the Bathing Pavilion survived. But it’s nothing like the original amusement park.
Harbin Gate, Edmonton, Alberta
Harbin Gate once marked the friendship between Edmonton and Harbin, a city in China. It was built in 1987 and was essentially a red & gold gateway. But in 2017, LRT construction forced the iconic landmark to come down.
The city promised to rebuild it nearby. But these plans never happened. The old structure is still in storage, and many readers said Chinatown feels empty without it.
Van Horne Mansion, Montréal, Québec
Sir William Cornelius Van Horne’s mansion was the kind of place in Montreal that people would stop to look at. It was that impressive. That is, until 1973, when it was torn down, despite the pleas of heritage activists.
The backlash forced the city to pay more attention to preservation. But quite a few readers told us that it was too little, too late.
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