Toronto's First Post Office

Toronto’s First Post Office in the St. Lawrence District is the oldest surviving post office in Canada and an important monument of the colonial era. The stately red-brick building was constructed in 1833 in the Georgian style. Its facade stands out for its neoclassical elements, such as columned porticoes, semicircular arched windows above the entrances, and multi-pane sash windows. It originally served the growing population of York, which was renamed Toronto the following year, and at times also housed the postmaster's residence.

After serving a variety of purposes over the decades, including as part of a Catholic school and later as a cold storage facility, the building underwent extensive renovation in the 1980s and was returned to its historic condition. Today it is run by the Town of York Historical Society and is a protected heritage site. You can visit the building seven days a week and admire its original wooden floors, fireplaces, and historic interior doors and window frames.

Inside, in addition to the usual postal services, you'll find philatelic exhibits and a model of the town of York from 1837. A special highlight is the chance to write a letter with a quill pen, seal it with sealing wax, and then send it anywhere in the world. As one of the few surviving buildings from Toronto's early history, the site offers an impressive glimpse into the administrative history of the region.