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Heritage Report: Reasons for Heritage Designation

1300 Steeles Avenuue East

July 2014

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Profile of Subject Property

Municipal Address 1300 Steeles Avenue East

PIN Number 141620167

Roll Number 10-09-0-014-11510-0000

Legal Description PL 676 PT BLK A RP 43R27212 PART 2,5 PT PARTS 1,4

Ward Number 3

Property Name -

Current Owner Hwy 410 & Steeles Professional Centre Inc.

Owner Concurrence N/A

Current Zoning Commercial

Current Use(s) Commercial

Construction Date c. 1975

Notable Owners or Bramalea Consolidated Developments Ltd.; Canadian Occupants Airline Pilots Association (CALPA) Heritage Resources on Building Subject Property Relevant Council - Resolutions

Additional Information -

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1. Current Situation:

The property at 1300 Steeles Ave East is worthy of designation under Part IV of the Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value or interest. The property meets the criteria for designation prescribed by the Province of Ontario under the Ontario Heritage Act, Regulation 9/06 for the categories of design/physical value, historical/associative value, and contextual value.

2. Description of Property

The subject property is located at the north-east corner of Steeles Avenue East and West Drive. The parcel is rectangular in shape with a square, two storey building located roughly in the centre of the parcel that was constructed in the 1970s.

3. Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design/Physical Value:

The subject property is an example of local modernist architecture influenced by the International Style, which was popular in Canada from the 1940s and 1970s. The style stressed square or rectangular, bold, and linear forms, functionalism, plain but bold surfaces, glass and metal curtain walls, and the intentional avoidance of any historical design references. The style was primarily used by the commercial sector. Many of these elements are evident at 1300 Steeles Avenue East.

Originally the upper section 1300 Steeles Avenue East appeared to be "free-floating" on the ground floor section, but in 1989 the pedestal section (originally housing staircases) was expanded outward to create additional ground floor office space. Although diminished in architectural impact as a result, the unique form and massing of the building is still apparent and the building retains much of its dramatic impact. Distinguishing features include a flat roof, large, horizontally arranged strip windows set flush into the wall surface, lack of applied decoration, and the ground floor triangular pillars. The building is a "one of a kind" in .

Historical/Associative Value:

The building at 1300 Steeles Avenue east is historically associated with the development of Bramaleac community. More generally, it is associated with the broader historical themes related to modernism, development and evolution of Bramalea and the .

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The building was originally constructed as the offices for the Bramalea Consolidated Developers Ltd (later Bramalea Ltd). Bramalea Ltd. was a real estate company that developed and managed properties throughout North America. Its properties ranged from shopping centres, office buildings, and residential and industrial holdings. Bramalea Ltd.'s origins lie in Bramalea Consolidated Developments Ltd., who developed Canada’s first satellite community, Bramalea, (in the former Township of Chinguacousy; now in the City of Brampton), and were one of the country’s largest real estate developers at the time.

In August 1960, the company was listed on the Stock Exchange. Over the next five years, it successfully acquired several properties and property development companies. Building a strong investment portfolio in rental income producing properties became the company's core business strategy during the late 1970s. The company's name was shortened to Bramalea Ltd. in June 1976.

The Canadian Air Line Pilots Association (CALPA) opened their headquarters at 1300 Steeles Avenue East in September 1976. An inaugural ceremony was held in the building and Jim Archdekin, Mayor of Brampton, performed the official opening rites. The event was also attended by the Jim Snow, Ontario Minister of Transportation, Ross Milne, the local federal MP, the CALPA Board of Directors, and other notables of the Association.

CALPA was first organized as a voluntary association in 1937, and became certified as a collective bargaining agent in 1944. The objective of the Association was to consolidate and present the professional view of the airline pilot and by 1981, it had about 2,800 members. CALPA was organized by local councils. The pilots of small airlines all belonged to the same local council, while larger airlines were organized into several councils, with one for each major pilot base. At CALPA's conventions, delegates of local councils were responsible for selecting the Board of Directors, which consisted of a president, first vice-presidents, treasurer and four regional vice- presidents.

CALPA played an important role in international aviation. The Association proposed an agreement of affiliation between the Canadian, British and American Air Line Pilots Associations to promote the orderly development of international civil aviation, which was signed in 1943. This affiliation was the predecessor of International Federation of Air Line Pilots Association (IFALPA), which was co-founded in 1948 by CALPA.

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CALPA was instrumental in the development of air transportation in Canada, and became a respected voice in aviation. The Asssociation had an leading role in a variety of initiatives including policies and procedures for bilingual traffic control in Canadian airports, aviation safety and security, air transportation system efficiency, firefighting, rescue work and airport disaster planning.

In 1996, Air Canada Pilots left CALPA to form their own organization, ACPA, and the remaining members of CALPA merged with the Air Line Pilots Association, whose headquarters is in Virginia, USA.

Contextual Value:

The subject building is considered to be a local landmark as it is a familiar component of the streetscape and contributes significantly to the character and identity of the general area. The subject property helps define and illustrate the history of Bramalea and its development.

4. Description of Heritage Attributes

Unless otherwise indicated, the reason for designation apply generally to all exterior elevations, facades, foundation, roof and roof trim, all doors, windows, other structural openings and associated trim, all architectural detailing, construction materials of wood, stone, brick, plaster parging, metal and glazing and related building techniques, fencing, all trees, shrubs, hedgerows, other vegetation and the grounds and vistas generally.

To ensure that the cultural heritage value of this property is conserved, certain heritage attributes that contribute to its value have been identified specifically and they include:

 Modernist architecture in the International style  Cantilevered, box-like upper level  Large, horizontally arranged strip windows set flush into the wall surface  Lack of applied decoration  Flat roof  Ground floor supporting pillars  Landmark status at the corner of Steeles Ave E and West Dr/Tomken Rd

5. Alteration History and Heritage Integrity

The following are the known alterations to the subject property:

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o The pedestal section that originally housed staircases was expanded outward to create additional ground floor space in the late 1980s.

6. Archaeological Potential

Currently the site has no known archaeological potential, however, within 300 meters of a large creek. Significant soil disturbance will require Archaeological Assessment.

7. Policy Framework

In the context of land use planning, the Province of Ontario has declared that the wise use and management of Ontario’s cultural heritage resources is a key provincial interest.

A set of Provincial Policy Statements (PPS) provides planning policy direction on matters of provincial interest in Ontario. These statements set the policy framework for regulating the development and use of land. The relevant heritage policy statement is PPS 2.6.1, which states that “significant built heritage resources and significant cultural heritage landscapes shall be conserved”. PPS 2.6.1 is tied to Section 3 of the Ontario Planning Act, which stipulates that land use planning decisions by municipalities “shall be consistent with” the Provincial Policy Statements.

The policy is also integrated with the Ontario Heritage Act. This piece of legislation grants municipalities powers to preserve locally significant cultural heritage resources through heritage designation. Decisions as to whether a property should be designated heritage or not is based solely on its inherent cultural heritage value or interest.

City Council prefers to designate heritage properties with the support of property owners. However, Council will designate a property proactively, without the concurrence of a property owner as required. These principles are reflected in Brampton’s Official Plan. The relevant policies are as follows:

Section 4.9.1.3: All significant heritage resources shall be designated as being of cultural heritage value or interest in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act to help ensure effective protection and their continuing maintenance, conservation and restoration.

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Section 4.9.1.5: Priority will be given to designating all heritage cemeteries and all Class A heritage resources in the Cultural Heritage Resources Register under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Section 4.9.1.6: The City will give immediate consideration to the designation of any heritage resource under the Ontario Heritage Act if that resource is threatened with demolition, significant alterations or other potentially adverse impacts.

In 2013, the City of Brampton released a new Strategic Plan to guide the evolution, growth and development of the city over the next two decades. Heritage preservation is one of the strategic priorities of this new Strategic Plan.

These principles are also guided by recognized best practices in the field of heritage conservation.

8. Resources

Borins, Sandford. The Language of Skies: the Bilingual Air Traffic Control Conflict in Canada. McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1983.

Bramalea Ltd. Reference for Business. http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/86/Bramalea-Ltd.html

Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. Canadian Air Line Pilot Association (CALPA).

Canadian Air Line Pilots Association. Pilot. Summer 1976.

Canadian Air Line Pilots Association. Pilot. Summer 1989. http://www.cahf.ca/belt_of_orion/CALPA.php

City of Toronto, Series 12, 1971 Aerial photographs of the Area. http://www.toronto.ca/archives/maps/s0012-fl1971-index.htm

Picketts, Shannon et al. A Guide to Canadian Architectural Styles: Second Edition. Peterborough: Broadview Press Ltd, 2004.

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9. Appendix

Figure 1: Map showing 1300 Steeles Ave E (Source: Brampton Maps)

1300 Steeles Avve E

Figure 2: Bird’s eye view of 1300 Steeles Ave E (Source: Bingg Maps)

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1300 Steeles Ave E

Figure 3: Aerial photograph from 1971 of the area surrounding Steeles Ave E and West Dr prior to the construction of the subject building (Source: City of Toronto)

1300 Steeles Ave E

Figure 4: Aerial photograph from 1978 of the area surrounding Steeles Ave E and West Dr showing the subject building (Source: City of Brampton)

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Figure 5: Rendering of the original building design (Source: Canadian Air Line Pilots Association)

Figure 6: Photograph of building before enclose of first level,1980 (Source: Canadian Air Line Pilots Association) .

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Figure 7: Opening ceremony of CALPAs new headquarters at 1300 Steeles Ave E, with Mayor Jim Archdekin cutting the ribbon.

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Figure 8: Former President of CALPA, date unknown (Source: Canadian Air Line Pilots Association)

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Figure 9: Image showing the enclose of the first level

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