1913–1985
Meadowvale Cemetery
Section 7 Lot 289
William James McBain was a Canadian architect whose career developed during a formative moment in Toronto’s architectural history, when the city was beginning to embrace a modern design vocabulary. His earliest documented contribution appears in the 1958 Toronto City Hall and Square Competition, a landmark event that drew international attention and helped propel Toronto toward a more progressive civic identity.
McBain worked as part of Hart Massey’s team, placing him among the designers engaged with the city’s early experiments in post-war modernism. Hart Massey was the son of Governor General Vincent Massey and great-grandson of Hart Almerrin Massey who founded Massey Hall.
By the early 1960s, McBain was leading the architectural practice William J. McBain & Associates, which became involved in several public and institutional projects. The most significant surviving example is the Girl Guides of Canada National Headquarters at 50 Merton Street, completed in 1962. According to the City of Toronto’s heritage documentation, the building was designed by architect Carmen Corneil, who served as project architect within McBain’s firm. Corneil had previously worked in legendary Finnish architect Alvar Aalto’s studio, and the building reflects Aalto’s influence through its warm material palette, sculptural brickwork and careful modulation of natural light – an approach that brought a more human-scaled, organic sensibility to Toronto modernism.
McBain’s documented work reflected the broader architectural movement that emphasized functional clarity, material honesty and a departure from traditional ornamentation. Although only part of his career is preserved in public archives, his known projects helped establish the foundation of Toronto’s mid-century architectural identity, which continue to shape how the city understands and preserves its modern built environment.
Sources:
• Mount Pleasant Group – William J. McBain
• ACO Toronto – Girl Guides of Canada Headquarters (Architectural History & Context)
• City of Toronto – Heritage Report: 50 Merton Street
Photo: Bob Krawczyk
