Once upon a time… A Historical Snapshot of the Fairmont Royal York
It seems that the land on Front Street was always destined to become a hotel.
It all began in 1843 when Captain Thomas Dick, a respected lake boat captain, decided to build Ontario Terrace, four brick houses facing Front Street.
However, the captain was an ambitious man and the houses grew to become a row, and were occupied by the Knox Theological College. In 1853, the building was refurbished and became the Sword’s Hotel and following a change of ownership, renamed the Revere Hotel.
Captain Dick returned, purchased the property again in 1862 and then renovated it. The stately Queen’s Hotel became an integral part of the boomtown and was whispered to be the site of where Sir John A. Macdonald met with American Civil War sympathizers who plotted retaliation.
The tallest building in the British Empire
Canadian Pacific Railway Company announced plans to build the largest hotel in the British Commonwealth on the Front Street site, but citizens were shocked about the demolition of their beloved “Queen’s”. Nevertheless, construction began in 1927, immediately across from Union Station and Canadian Pacific Railway.
On June 11, 1929, the Royal York was officially opened by His Excellency Viscount Willingdon, Governor General of Canada and it was declared, “Now, in the year of grace 1929, the Royal York opens its doors to cater to those who care to sojourn with us, to provide the hospitality and good cheer for which Toronto has ever been noted!”
Over 2,000 of Canada’s who’s who attended the opening, the social event of the year.
The Royal York was the tallest building in the British Empire and truly set the standard of the day. It was a magnificent landmark with 28 floors of architectural splendour, mechanical genius and opulence that had never been seen by Torontonians in their city before. Total cost was $16 million.
It featured 1,048 rooms each with radio, private shower and bathtubs. The 1.5 acres of public rooms included a 12-bed hospital, a 12,000-book library, and 10 ornate passenger elevators.
The Concert Hall featured a full stage and a mammoth pipe organ and surpassed anything else like it in Canada with 300 miles of copper wire, its own engine, and weighing 50 tons.
The 176′ lobby ceiling was hand-painted – inch-by-inch – by the finest of brushes.
There was a glass-enclosed roof garden, the largest hotel kitchen in Canada with a bakery that could produce over 15,000 French rolls a day, a conference hall with public address system for over 1,000 delegates and a 66′ long switchboard manned by 35 telephone operators.
Not a coal bin in sight
In an unprecedented move, live steam was piped under pressure from the Terminal Company’s plant 4,000 feet away to heat and provide electricity for the building.
A room at the Royal York cost two dollars per person, and guests could enjoy a grilled Lake Ontario trout for 85 cents or a filet mignon for $1.75 in the dining room. A cab to the Steamship Docks was 50 cents, to North Toronto Station was 75 cents, or to Leaside Airport was $1.50.
Within a year, guest demand became too great and 152 rooms were added, bringing the total to 1,200 bedrooms, with conference facilities for 5,000.
As an expression of faith and confidence in the City of Toronto, Canadian Pacific Railway had built its landmark for the future. Torontonians were ecstatic and the Royal York became the flagship of all Canadian Pacific Hotels.
Restorations and renovations
Later years saw additional renovations.
In 1959, a 400-room tower opened on the east site with additional guestrooms and meeting and banquet facilities.
From 1988 to 1993 a $100-million project took place to restore Toronto’s “Grand Hotel” to its original elegance. Guest rooms were refurbished, all public spaces were redone and a health club and a sky-lit lap pool were added. In 2001, EPIC, a new signature dining room replaced the 27 year-old Acadian Room. The restaurant was part of an additional $12-million restoration program that has transformed the lobby and much of the public areas of the hotel.
In 1999, when the Canadian Pacific Hotels & Resorts chain expanded to become Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, The Fairmont Royal York became part of the largest luxury hotel management company in North America.
The Fairmont Royal York is sister to properties such as The Savoy in London, Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta, and The Fairmont in San Francisco, and although she has famous and has illustrious relatives, she is still Toronto’s landmark property and the flagship of the Fairmont hotels and resorts.
Today, after welcoming more than 40 million guests, The Fairmont Royal York continues to represent the epitome of hospitality. Although the years have brought changes, many of the features are still intact — the magnificent hand painted ceiling, the travintine pillars, ornate furnishings, crystal chandeliers and wall hangings. Guests walk where the rich and famous continue to walk and no. 9 elevator still carries illustrious guests such as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
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