Alberta Register of Historic Places

Canada Permanent Building

Edmonton

Other Names:

Canada Permanent Mortgage Company Building
Canada Permanent Trust Building
Japanese Village Restaurant
Perma Building

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place
The Canada Permanent Building is a three-storey brick, stone, and reinforced concrete building situated on two lots of land in Edmonton's Downtown district. The building embodies the Edwardian Baroque architectural style and features Ionic pilasters, entablatured entrance, an open topped segmentally arched pediment, a balustraded parapet, and a variety of ornate, classical stone detailing.

Heritage Value
The heritage value of the Canada Permanent Building lies in its impressive Edwardian Baroque architecture and its association with the establishment in Edmonton of the Canada Permanent Loan Company, the oldest and largest loan institution in Canada at the time.

Designed by well-known architect Roland W. Lines, the Canada Permanent Building was erected in 1910 and remains one of the finest examples of Edwardian Baroque architecture in Edmonton. Billed as Edmonton's first "fireproof bank", the building's structural skeleton was composed of reinforced concrete framing. It was one of the earliest buildings in the city to employ this innovative construction technique. The building's exterior boasts a rich variety of classical stone detailing, including Ionic pilasters, a segmentally arched pediment, and a balustraded parapet. Carved in stone below a semi-circular pediment crowning the main entrance is the company's logo - a winged lighthouse. With its elegant facade and its brick, stone, and reinforced concrete construction, the Canada Permanent Building projected solidity, balance, and strength - desired qualities for the nation's premier loan company. The building was perceived at the time of its construction as one of Edmonton's most modern and expressive commercial structures.

The Canada Permanent Loan Company was initially established in Toronto in the late nineteenth century and would develop into one of Canada's largest and most venerable loaning institutions. Founder W. Herbert Mason traveled extensively throughout western Canada in the late nineteenth century and positioned his enterprise to capitalize on the population boom in the Prairies near the turn of the twentieth century. The first Edmonton branch of the company was established in 1901 - four years prior to the creation of the Province of Alberta - and reflected the heady optimism that compelled many financiers and entrepreneurs to locate in the community at the time. The branch became the company's provincial headquarters in Alberta and was a vital part of the local economy, serving the city and surrounding regions by providing capital for small farms, commercial ventures, and private residences.

Source: Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Resources Management Branch (File: Des. 167)

Character-Defining Elements
The character-defining elements of the Canada Permanent Building include such features as:
- mass, form, scale, and style;
- flat roof;
- three distinct bays separated by pilasters;
- upper level stone balustrade on east and part of south elevation featuring central date stone with Adamesque swag garland with tassels, topped by urns;
- "CANADA PERMANENT BUILDING" set in relief on front facade;
- brick parapet on south elevation;
- upper level stone cornice wrapping around east and south elevations;
- red stretcher bond brick on east and south elevations;
- east and part of south facade faced mainly with ashlar cut stone;
- square headed window openings on east elevation;
- pilasters with Ionic capitals;
- heavy second storey cornice, decorated with modillions and a central segmental pediment;
- open topped segmentally arched stone pediment above second storey;
- decorative brick and stone detailings, including voussoirs and keystones on east facade and winged lighthouse above entrance doorway;
- fenestration pattern and style, including multi-paned windows on east and south elevations;
- steel window casements;
- original interior elements, including staircase elements.

Location

Street Address:	10126 - 100 Street NW
Community:	Edmonton
Boundaries:	Portion of Lots 31 and 32, Plan F
Contributing Resources:	Buildings: 1

ATS Legal Description:

Mer	Rge	Twp	Sec	LSD
4	24	53	4	4 (ptn.)

PBL Legal Description (Cadastral Reference):

Plan	Block	Lot	Parcel
F F		32 (ptn.) 31 (ptn.)

Latitude/Longitude:

Latitude	Longitude	CDT	Datum Type
53.541763	-113.490839	GPS	NAD 83

UTM Reference:

Northing	Easting	Zone	CDT	Datum Type

Recognition

Recognition Authority:	Province of Alberta
Designation Status:	Provincial Historic Resource
Date of Designation:	1995/01/03

Historical Information

Built:	1910 to 1910
Period of Significance:	N/A
Theme(s):	Developing Economies : Trade and Commerce Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life : Architecture and Design
Historic Function(s):	Commerce / Commercial Services : Bank or Stock Exchange Commerce / Commercial Services : Office or Office Building
Current Function(s):	Commerce / Commercial Services : Eating or Drinking Establishment
Architect:	Roland W. Lines
Builder:	Pheasey and Batson
Context:	HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE This structure was built for the Canadian Permanent Mortgage Corporation of Toronto, at that time considered to be the oldest and largest loan institution in Canada. Incorporated in 1855, the firm came to Alberta in 1901. The new three-storey brick and stone building was designed by Roland Lines of Edmonton and constructed in 1910 by Pheasy and Batson at a cost of 65,000 dollars. Mr. Colin Strathey was the first manager at this branch and he dealt primarily with mortgages for farms, private residences, and small commercial ventures. The company maintained its office here from 1910 to 1961. The building was constructed of reinforced concrete and was the first such building in Edmonton. It also featured a steel staircase and other steel fittings, including the window casements. The interior featured tile flooring, plaster columns and pilasters, enriched cornices, and oak fittings. The entire ground floor was occupied by the Canada Permanent and the second floor was designed for the caretaker's rooms, lavatories and cloak rooms. The Canada Permanent Building is the best example in Edmonton of the Edwardian Baroque style, and the finest of Roland Lines' commissions. All the classical design elements have been well-handled, including: the balustraded cornice, the open topped segmentally arched pediment, the Ionic pilasters, entablatured entrance, and the urns, cartouches, and swags, all of which are carved stone. Aside from signage on the first storey, the exterior is unaltered.

Additional Information

Object Number:	4665-0458
Designation File:	DES 0167
Related Listing(s):	4664-0470
Heritage Survey File:	HS 5267
Website Link:
Data Source:	Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Resources Management Branch, Old St. Stephen's College, 8820 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P8 (File: Des. 167)