What to know
- U of T is preparing to demolish two buildings at 160 and 162 St. George St. to make way for a new Indigenous Hub.
- The hub will bring together the First Nations House Indigenous Student Services, the Centre of Indigenous Studies and the Office of Indigenous Initiatives.
- The 160 St. George St. building was constructed in 1894–95 and was home to the Kappa Alpha Literary Society from 1932 to 2022.
- The university says the central location is intended to make Indigenous spaces more visible and accessible on campus.
- Neither building is designated as a heritage property, according to the Architectural Conservancy Ontario and a Toronto and East York Community Preservation Panel document.
In recognition of Indigenous contributions, the University of Toronto is preparing to build a new Indigenous Hub, redeveloping two long-standing buildings that used to serve as fraternity houses.
The university first announced construction of the Indigenous hub back in May, saying the initiative had been a longstanding plan for its Indigenous community members.
“This Indigenous Hub at the University of Toronto will be more than a home for Indigenous academic, administrative and student supports – it will be a place of belonging, visibility and connection. Its construction is an important recognition of Indigenous presence and contributions across the university,” Shannon Simpson, executive director of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, said in an email statement to Now Toronto.
According to the university, the upcoming hub will be home for several Indigenous related initiatives or services, including:
- The First Nations House Indigenous Student Services, which provides academic advising and programming for Indigenous students.
- The Centre of Indigenous Studies, which fosters Indigenous scholarships through research grounded in Indigenous knowledge and experiences.
- The Office of Indigenous Initiatives, which leads university efforts on reconciliation and decolonization and supports Indigenous students and staff towards institutional change.
Indigenous hub will replace former frat house
At the time, U of T said the project was confirmed near the intersection of St. George and Bloor streets, but has not unveiled its exact location. However, back in April, the university obtained a permit to demolish two existing buildings located at 160 and 162 St. George St., as part of preparations for future redevelopment.
According to Architectural Conservancy Ontario (ACO), 160 St. George St. is a 2.5 storey building located right at the centre of U of T’s St. George campus. It was first built by prominent Toronto architect Edgar Beaumont Jarvis in 1894 and completed in 1895.
The building was first home to barrister and lawyer Columbus Hopkins Greene and his family between its construction and 1897. It then became the head Ontario office of the Bank of Montreal between 1897 and 1932.
From 1932 to 2022, the building was home to the U of T Kappa Alpha Literary Society, which was the second fraternity established in Canada, moving from 3 Hoskin Ave. to 160 St. George St. The building remained one of the few non-university owned properties on campus until 2022.
U of T officials have reportedly started to meet Kappa Alpha Alumni Association members in the 2010s to discuss its plans for campus development, and in 2018 disclosed their intention to acquire the building, threatening to expropriate the property if the fraternity refused to sell it. The university officially acquired the property in 2022.
Meanwhile, 162 St. George St. was home to the university’s Women’s Club of Toronto between 1929 and 2010. Founded in 1903, this first-of-its-kind club unites more than 150 women members of different backgrounds and experiences, providing opportunities for growth and advancement.
After the university acquired the property in 2010, the Women’s Club of Toronto joined forces with its Faculty Club at 41 Willcocks St.
While the two buildings have a decades-long history, they are not designated as heritage properties. According to a Toronto and East York Community Preservation Panel document, 160 St. George St. has also been vacant and fallen into disrepair since it was purchased by the university in 2022.
‘The location is significant’
A spokesperson for the University of Toronto told Now Toronto that securing this location for the new Indigenous Hub was important.
According to the spokesperson, having a central and prominent location along the main street of the campus will ensure that the Indigenous Hub maintains a symbolic presence for those passing by.
In addition, the location also offers convenient access to public transit and is at walking distance to Indigenous spaces on and off campus.
“The location of this new Hub on St. George Street near Bloor Street is significant on many levels. It reflects the University of Toronto’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action: that new Indigenous spaces be more visible and accessible, and created through meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities,” the spokesperson said in an email statement to Now Toronto.
“This location was identified by a university steering committee that included the voices of Indigenous students, staff, faculty, Knowledge Holders and senior leadership.”
