City to recognize home of Canada’s first female MP

Toronto City Council recently gave notice of ­its intent to designate as heritage 720 Millwood Rd., the former residence of Canada’s first elected female member of Parliament, Agnes Macphail. It’s a move that came despite the current homeowner’s opposition and a recommendation from North York Community Council to simply receive a report on the home’s historic significance.

The issue dates back to 2001, when the East York local architectural conservation advisory committee panel first recommended the designation. Then-councillor Jane Pitfield held a meeting that led to a compromise between the homeowner and those interested in seeing the property’s significance formally recognized. In place of a heritage designation, the homeowner agreed to install a plaque noting that Agnes Macphail had lived in the home.

More than a decade later, with the plaque never installed, the issue was resurrected.

Coun. John Parker said he doesn’t dispute the fact that the property meets all three criteria for being formally recognized as heritage, but he couldn’t support the move without the homeowner’s support.

“I think you proceed with the settlement,” Parker said. “And if you’re going to deviate from the settlement, I think it’s best that everyone is in agreement with the new proposal — that you don’t proceed in opposition to the person with the most at stake in the whole matter.”

Lorna Krawchuk, chair of the Agnes Macphail recognition committee, was pleased to see the heritage designation move forward. Macphail only lived in the home for a couple of years, but it may well be the only home she ever owned herself, Krawchuk explained.

According to a staff report, the modern duplex, built in 1937, is quite unique to the Leaside area. Agnes Macphail owned the home for six years, between 1948 and 1954. A designation would give the city the power to reject applications that would tarnish the home’s heritage features.

Having owned the home for 20 years, Laura Simmons is upset about the way the process went. She had asked for a postponement of the matter due to a death in the family and planned travel, which was not granted. She has further concerns about how the designation will impact her and her husband. Simmons has heard varying accounts as to whether the designation would raise or lower the value of her home.

“We’ve made it very clear that we were against this,” Simmons said. “The North York council did not support it; no one expected it to breeze through council.” The Simmons are now looking at filing an appeal.

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