Join Us For Doors Open Toronto - May 23 & 24

For the very first time The National Club will be participating in Doors Open Toronto and allowing the public a rare look inside our 108-year-old clubhouse at 303 Bay Street.

The 16th annual Doors Open Toronto presented by Great Gulf is held on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, offering free and rare access to more than 155 architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings across the city. 

Founded July 6, 1874, the National Club's first clubhouse opened at 96 Bay Street on March 30, 1875 as a home for the "Canada First Movement". Its first decade was a little rocky, suffering “financial embarrassment” in 1879 and again in 1883, with an appeal to its members to set the accounts in good shape. By 1893 the Club was ready to move out of the building it was renting and buy its own on King Street, but then the economic depression of 1894 hit and the Club decided it was more prudent to walk away from it’s $2,000 deposit on the United Empire Building and concentrate on renovating the current building. The Club moved next door to 94 Bay Street (owned by a Club member) during most of 1896 and moved back in that November to enjoy “an era of prosperity unparalleled in its history” – at least looking back from 1900 when one of the first club histories was written.

The National Club was so successful by the beginning of the 20th century that it was again contemplating new and enlarged premises. By 1903 membership had increased from 300 to 500 and the premises at 96 Bay Street were feeling cramped. Despite objections that moving north of King Street would put the Club “out of the core”, a location was found between King and Adelaide Streets known as Robinson House. The deep lot included an apple orchard at the back. The National Club  saved and raised a $140,000 from its members to buy the land and erect a new clubhouse at 303 Bay Street with all the conveniences, including delivery through the alley of large blocks of ice for the state of the art wooden refrigerators and cooking meals over coal ranges. On September 12, 1906 the cornerstone was laid and on December 17, 1907, The National Club’s new premises opened.

The 48,000 square foot clubhouse has been renovated, restored and maintained over the past 108 years to all its Edwardian glory. It houses the club's art collection, 40,000+ bottle wine cellar and many surprises.

Book your tour through the Doors Open Toronto website.

Panel Discussion - April 10, 2014

Join a panel of senior care specialists as they discuss and share their expertise on:

“Answering Your Questions On Assisting Aging Parents”

THURSDAY, APRIL 10TH, 2014

The National Club is proud to host a special “Speakers Series Dinner” which addresses the issues and challenges with caring for the elderly in todays society. Our special guests for the event will be Jill O’Donnell, the President of IRIS Consulting for Seniors Inc., and Graham Webb, a Staff Litigation Lawyer with Advocacy Centre for the Elderly.

They both will be on hand to discuss and answer your questions regarding caring for the elderly in Canada. Guests are also welcome to email: rohit@arcadiaseniorcare.com or leave a note at the front desk of the club with questions you would like addressed by two individuals who excel at assisting the elderly and their families.

$54.95 Per Person + HST (Includes A 3-Course Dinner Complete With Wine)
Reception: 6:15 PM ● Dinner: 6:45 PM ● Panel Discussion: 7:30 PM

Please reserve by contacting Margaret Creador at the Front Desk (416-364-3247) or email: frontdesk@thenationalclub.com.

BUSINESS ATTIRE ● GUESTS ARE WELCOME

Rooftop Patio Progress Photos

The view along Bay Street

Dear National Club Members,

I was up on the rooftop this week to inspect the progress with the construction. I am happy to say we're on schedule for a late October opening.

The wiring and plumbing is going in now, and as soon as that is done we will see very quick changes. The stairs have also been installed leading up from the 4th floor, and so access from inside the building is much easier.

Something I didn't appreciate until now is how good the view will be from the deck at the front of our roof along Bay Street. Another thing that is hard to visualize is how large the whole space will be at about 3,000 square feet.

I'll post more pictures as the project moves quickly to completion.

Best regards,

Stephen

Stephen Lautens
President
The National Club

The East Deck looking towards the pavilion

Part of the enclosed bar area

Another view of the bar area

What's Behind The Secret Door?

National Club members will know what's behind this "secret" door.

If you haven't seen it, this unmarked door is in a corner of the concourse level of Scotia Plaza. It leads into The National Club from The PATH complex of underground tunnels and walkways under Toronto's financial district.

The tunnel was built and the door installed when Scotia Plaza was completed in 1988. Since then National Club members have been able to sneak in (or out) without having to worry about the weather outside.

Rooftop Patio Progress

Dear Fellow National Club Members,

Last week I ventured onto our rooftop construction site for a look at the progress. Construction is moving fast and the deck sub-floor is now installed.  With the rapid progress I thought I'd share a look before it gets covered up with the wood flooring.

Here is where the elevator will go directly up into the year-round rooftop pavillion.

We'll keep you posted.

Best regards,

Stephen

Stephen Lautens
President

National Club Rooftop Patio Floor Plan

The construction of the rooftop patio continues this week now that the foundation and frame is in.

Access to our 4th floor at the moment is limited to the elevator and back service stairs as we have closed off the top of the front stairwell to extend it to the roof. The elevator will also be extended to the roof so you can step out right into the enclosed year-round pavilion.

Here is the floor plan for the rooftop patio.

National Club Rooftop Patio Installation Photos

On Saturday, July 27th, the foundation of The National Club's new rooftop patio was installed. Bay Street was blocked off for the crane to deliver and install the steel beams and prefabricated structures.

Here are some of the photos of this major addition to our historic clubhouse.

After Bay Street being closed off and on for years for the construction of
Trump Tower next door, we get to close it for an hour for our crane.

The custom made lightweight beams come in.

Beams being guided into place.

The supporting cross beams are installed.

The frame for the year-round pavilion goes up.

The National Club's Rooftop Patio

Artist's conception of The National Club's rooftop patio (looking west from
one of the open spaces towards the year-round pavilion).

As you know, The National Club has undertaken an exciting new addition to our historic clubhouse - a rooftop patio. This large roof-top patio will be the only one on Bay Street in the financial district. It will feature elevator access to a year-round heated pavilion, with decked seasonal patio open space on either side.

The National Club has now been issued our building permits for our new rooftop patio. You'll see them on the front door as you enter at 303 Bay Street. Preparation work is already underway on the roof and the structural steel support frame has been ordered and is expected to be delivered at the end of the month.

Check back regularly for updates and photos as the construction progresses.