Princes' Gates

Often incorrectly called the Princess Gates; they were built in 1927 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Canadian Confederation and stand at Strachan Avenue and Lakeshore Blvd, the eastern end of the Exhibition Grounds.

Designed by Chapman and Oxley Architects in a Beaux-Arts style, they were constructed of a mix of stone and concrete. The nine pillars on either side of the main arch represent the Canadian provinces at the time of construction. On the top of the central arch is the statue 'Goddess of Winged Victory'. It was designed by architect Alfred Chapman and carved by Charles McKechnie. On either side of central arch are various figures representing progress, industry, agriculture, arts and science.

Originally they were going to be called "The Diamond Jubilee of Confederation Gates" but when it turned out princes Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII), and George (later The Duke of Kent), were going to officialy open the gates, the name was changed. The opening ceremony was held on August 31, 1927, with a Veterans Parade the first to pass through.

By 1986 it was clear that the Winged Victory statue was in very bad shape, so it was taken down and replaced the next year with an exact scale, glass-reinforced polymer plastic copy. The nine north coumns were replaced in 2004, with work on the rest of structure in 2010.

 
 

List of all subjects. You can also see all the historic photos for a given neighbourhood. We also have a list of all the photos arranged by date.

And you can also go up a level to see the other photos we've put under the category of ornamental gate photos.

1927 Historic photo from 1927 - Illuminated Princes Gates at night in CNEIlluminated Princes Gates at night
97 years ago - CNE - 1927
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1927 Historic photo from 1927 - Prince of Wales entrance [Princes Gates] in CNEPrince of Wales entrance [Princes Gates]
97 years ago - CNE - 1927
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1927 Historic photo from Wednesday, August 31, 1927 - Prince of Wales opens the Princes' Gates in 1927 in CNEPrince of Wales opens the Princes' Gates in 1927
97 years ago - CNE - Wednesday, August 31, 1927
Max temp: 23.3°C - Min temp: 15.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1928 Historic photo from Saturday, August 25, 1928 - Princes Gate with balloon overhead and the Warriors Parade passing through the gates in CNEPrinces Gate with balloon overhead and the Warriors Parade passing through the gates
96 years ago - CNE - Saturday, August 25, 1928
Max temp: 22.2°C - Min temp: 11.1°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1928 Historic photo from Wednesday, May 23, 1928 - Main Arch - Prince of Wales entrance, Exhibition Grounds with roller coaster in background in CNEMain Arch - Prince of Wales entrance, Exhibition Grounds with roller coaster in background
96 years ago - CNE - Wednesday, May 23, 1928
Max temp: 13.9°C - Min temp: 7.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1929 Historic photo from Monday, August 12, 1929 - Full view of the Princes Gates from the north in CNEFull view of the Princes Gates from the north
95 years ago - CNE - Monday, August 12, 1929
Max temp: 25.0°C - Min temp: 14.4°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1930 Historic photo from 1930 - Cyclists lined up for race, CNE in CNECyclists lined up for race, CNE
94 years ago - CNE - 1930
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1931 Historic photo from Monday, September 14, 1931 - Veterans on parade through the Princess Gates at the opening of the Ex in CNEVeterans on parade through the Princess Gates at the opening of the Ex
93 years ago - CNE - Monday, September 14, 1931
Max temp: 27.8°C - Min temp: 20.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location
1933 Historic photo from Tuesday, October 24, 1933 - Lakeshore Park looking northwest to Princes Gates in CNELakeshore Park looking northwest to Princes Gates
91 years ago - CNE - Tuesday, October 24, 1933
Max temp: 3.9°C - Min temp: 0.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1935 Historic photo from Thursday, July 18, 1935 - Debris from under base of south flagpole Princes Gates, C.N.E. in CNEDebris from under base of south flagpole Princes Gates, C.N.E.
89 years ago - CNE - Thursday, July 18, 1935
Max temp: 31.7°C - Min temp: 17.2°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1937 Historic photo from Thursday, September 9, 1937 - Crowds inside the Princes Gate - looking east - Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in CNECrowds inside the Princes Gate - looking east - Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)
87 years ago - CNE - Thursday, September 9, 1937
Max temp: 26.1°C - Min temp: 12.2°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location
1938 Historic photo from Friday, March 25, 1938 - Closeup of pedestal base and a character - Princes Gates in CNECloseup of pedestal base and a character - Princes Gates
86 years ago - CNE - Friday, March 25, 1938
Max temp: 7.8°C - Min temp: 0.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1938 Historic photo from Friday, March 25, 1938 - Goddess of Winged Victory atop main arch in CNEGoddess of Winged Victory atop main arch
86 years ago - CNE - Friday, March 25, 1938
Max temp: 7.8°C - Min temp: 0.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1938 Historic photo from Friday, March 25, 1938 - Pieces from base of main figure - Goddess of Winged Victory - Princes Gate in CNEPieces from base of main figure - Goddess of Winged Victory - Princes Gate
86 years ago - CNE - Friday, March 25, 1938
Max temp: 7.8°C - Min temp: 0.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1939 Historic photo from Saturday, April 1, 1939 - Close-up of Princes Gates looking west in CNEClose-up of Princes Gates looking west
85 years ago - CNE - Saturday, April 1, 1939
Max temp: 8.3°C - Min temp: 1.7°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1951 Historic photo from Thursday, March 8, 1951 - Princess Gates - Lakeshore Boulevard looking southwest from east of Strachan Avenue in CNEPrincess Gates - Lakeshore Boulevard looking southwest from east of Strachan Avenue
73 years ago - CNE - Thursday, March 8, 1951
Max temp: 2.2°C - Min temp: -2.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1953 Historic photo from 1953 - Aerial night view of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in CNEAerial night view of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)
71 years ago - CNE - 1953
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1965 Historic photo from 1965 - CNEs first marathon car rally - car 305, leaving CNE grounds via Princes Gates in CNECNEs first marathon car rally - car 305, leaving CNE grounds via Princes Gates
59 years ago - CNE - 1965
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
2010 Historic photo from Sunday, December 5, 2010 - Scaffolding on the Princes Gates in 2010 in CNEScaffolding on the Princes Gates in 2010
14 years ago - CNE - Sunday, December 5, 2010
Max temp: °C - Min temp: °C - 1.9cm of snowfall (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location