Military site.
Details of Site Location: On the original shoreline within the present CNE grounds.
Boundary History: The fort occupied approximately 4 acres including the palisades. On the south side there was a drop to Lake Ontario.
Current Use of Property: The site is cleared of all but one structure and is used by the CNE for various purposes such as parking and special events.
Historical Description: After the destruction of most of Fort York and a good part of the Town of York in 1813, plans began to be laid for improved defences. The Western Battery was built first. Several layouts for a new fort were put forward, and all were for the location referred to at the time as French Fort Point – a point of land from which both the harbour and Humber Bay could be seen, and from which entrance to the harbour could be controlled. The location was due east of the third French fort and west southwest of the old Fort York. By the 1830s, the layout or plan of New Fort was being rendered on maps in roughly the configuration it eventually assumed. By 1842 several structures were built within the palisades around three sides: an officers barracks, a soldiers barracks, an armourer’s shop, a canteen, a hospital with a separate dead house, a wash house, and cleaning sheds. There were also various small structures in the group. All were circled around a large parade square. From the outset, the fort was busy, as soldiers were trained there for every major conflict: the Fenian Raids, the Northwest Rebellions, the Boer War, and World Wars I and II. For a hundred years, the fort was the main headquarters of the North West Mounted Police (later the Royal Canadian Mounted Police). The fort saw changes and more buildings to accommodate horses and changes in armaments. Both Fort York and New Fort had been built by the Imperial government on designs by Royal Engineers. They were the essential elements in Garrison Common. In 1867, the Imperial government handed over the properties to Canada at Confederation. The Canadian government began to sell off blocks or lots of land, a practice that was carried on extensively when Canada handed over the two forts to the City of Toronto on condition that they be fully restored. The focus fell on Old Fort York, and New Fort began to be eroded away, first by city-approved roads and railways, and next by the expanding Exhibition. Building after building in New Fort was demolished until only the officers quarters was left. During both World Wars, New Fort was used as an internment camp for enemy aliens and prisoners of war. As those who sickened and died could not be buried in any of the City’s cemeteries, and because government records of these periods pertaining to prisoners have either been destroyed or are being withheld, it is believed that many of the prisoners are buried either within the palisaded area or just outside of the palisades of New Fort.
Relative Importance: As one of only two forts built by the British in Toronto, New Fort has an impressive and honourable history and deserved far better treatment than it received. All that remains of it is the building called Stanley Barracks and whatever archaeological investigation may uncover, including burials.
Planning Implications: Stanley Barracks is owned by the City of Toronto and has been handed over to the jurisdiction of the CNE. The CNE has an extremely poor record in caring for its inventory of historic buildings, most of which are on the City’s Inventory of Heritage Properties. Stanley Barracks has been placed on that Inventory and, like Old Fort York, is eligible for National Historic Site designation. It stands empty and abused by temporary uses by the CNE.
The City has put forward neither plans nor funding for its preservation or appropriate use, nor have funds been allocated for a full archaeological investigation. Like Fort York, the area including the remaining building merits the fullest protection under existing heritage legislation and as a special category in the Official Plan. It is most strongly recommended that a full archaeological investigation be under-taken and that no more change to the area be permitted until this investigation has been done. The Toronto Military Heritage Association has a proposal and is developing a business plan to convert the building to a museum for all of Toronto’s military history. The building would have to be handed over on a long-term lease for $1 per year on the condition that the building be fully restored by the lessees, and be fully available to the public. The restoration would have to include as much of the original fort’s area as is possible so that the locations of former structures could be marked and so that space is available for programs. A Walk of Heroes – consisting of concrete slabs each with the name of a Torontonian who gave service, would link New Fort to Old Fort York, to the Western Battery, to Coronation Park, to Little Norway, and to Fort Rouille, and to all of the military burial areas – is part of the plan. This is the most appropriate form of commemorating New Fort and would take a number of years to complete. A plaque is simply not adequate. The Canadian Camp Committee has been campaigning for plaques at all locations where prisoners of war were detained. In view of the potential for burials at New Fort, a plaque could serve on an interim basis, until the full story has been learned.
Reference Sources: Files of the Toronto Military Heritage Association and the CHP Heritage Centre; Public Archives of Canada; Department of National Defence.
Acknowledgements: Toronto Military Heritage Association; CHP Heritage Centre.