Not many people know that tucked into the northwest corner of Queen’s Park is an apartment that’s been occupied by the Speaker of the Ontario Legislative Assembly for the past 88 years.
asserted
that → know → years
When the Lieutenant Governor’s former residence, Chorley Park, closed in 1937 it set off a series of office and living quarter shuffles that moved the Sergeant-at-Arms out of this apartment and the Speaker in.
asserted
that → close → apartment
Twenty-three men from across the province and political spectrum have made the apartment home since.
asserted
men → make → province
In April 2025, the first female Speaker, Donna Skelly, moved into the two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 2,900-square-foot space overlooking the University of Toronto grounds.
asserted
Speaker → move → grounds
She was surprised her predecessors had kept so quiet about it.
asserted
predecessors → surprise → it
“Previous speakers weren’t as interested in highlighting the beauty, architectural significance and history of the building,” Skelly told the Star.
asserted
Skelly → highlight → Star
“My mission has been to invite as many people into the building as possible.”
asserted
mission → invite → building
She planned to use the adjacent third floor, west-wing dining room to host events, especially for women, who have often been excluded from the space.
asserted
who → plan → space
Skelly splits her time between the apartment and her own home in her Flamborough-Glanbrook riding in Hamilton, so she wanted her two children and four-year-old grandson to be able to come and stay for overnight visits.
asserted
children → split → visits
Before Skelly was ready to welcome guests, the place needed a bit of a facelift.
asserted
place → welcome → facelift
It had a “beautiful, but heavy and dark” look and her aim was to lighten everything up while respecting the original architecture.
asserted
aim → have → architecture
“I wanted there to be a feminine touch,” said Skelly.
asserted
Skelly → want → ?
“I had a vision that spoke to being the first woman — a little lighter, a bit more welcoming.”
asserted
that → have → vision
Working on the design with only Jelena Bajcectic, the executive director of building services for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and Lani Kopczinski, the Government of Ontario Art Collection curator, Skelly’s refresh was finished in just four months.
asserted
refresh → work → months
No walls were moved or opened up, but the den was transformed into a second bedroom for family visits and the 1980s kitchen received an update.
asserted
kitchen → move → update
The entire apartment got a coat of paint, the original maple floors were refinished, fresh drapes were hung and an overall decluttering took place.
asserted
decluttering → get → place
“I’m hoping that I brightened the space, elevated it, made it more comfortable and a little bit more modern,” said Skelly.
asserted
Skelly → hop → it
“I feel very strongly that every original panel, moulding or piece of art has to be protected and preserved because I’m just passing through,” she said.
asserted
she → feel → art
“I have to ensure that this is here for centuries and generations to come.”
asserted
this → have → centuries
The primary bedroom’s fireplace, one of two in the apartment that were both recently decommissioned, dates back to the building’s opening in 1893.
asserted
that → decommission → 1893
A marble surround is complemented by an oak mantle and baseboards.
asserted
surround → complement → mantle
Above sits an oil-on-canvas painting of Saint Catherine of Alexandria by Antoine-Sébastien Falardeau, one of the first artworks purchased by the province.
asserted
painting → sit → province
“I intentionally asked the curator for art featuring strong, powerful women,” said Skelly.
asserted
Skelly → ask → women
The bedroom set, including the bedframe, nightstands and lamps, was in place when Skelly arrived.
asserted
Skelly → include → place
She added a new mattress and fresh linens.
asserted
She → add → mattress
In that bed, right after she moved in, Skelly and her eight-year-old French Bulldog, Louis, were woken up in the middle of the night by a woman screaming.
asserted
Skelly → move → woman
She doesn’t believe in ghosts, but the building’s security confirmed no one was there.
asserted
one → believe → ghosts
A fire in the early 1900s damaged most of the apartment, leaving only the living room unscathed and with higher ceilings than the other, restored rooms.
asserted
fire → damage → rooms
Brightening up the living room was one of the first tasks Skelly took on, removing heavy dark curtains and furniture, and painting the walls in a pale hue chosen by Kopczinski to complement the artwork.
asserted
Skelly → brighten → artwork
“We went from a dark terracotta to shades of creams and whites and splashes of colour,” says Skelly.
asserted
Skelly → go → colour
After a long day, one of Skelly’s favourite places to relax is on the newly purchased Restoration Hardware sofa in the living room, in front of the fireplace.
asserted
one → relax → fireplace
The sofa and chairs were chosen for comfort and their ability to fade from view rather than distract from the art.
asserted
sofa → choose → art
Behind the sofa is a series of sketches commissioned for textbooks by the Ministry of Education in the 1920s.
asserted
series → commission → 1920s
Look closely and you’ll spot early images of Fort York, the War of 1812 and a portage between Humber River and Lake Simcoe.
asserted
you → look → River
A longtime vintage enthusiast, Skelly loves a trip to the Aberfoyle Antique Market.
asserted
Skelly → love → Market
She met a man there who sells and repairs old phones, like the one now on the wall in the living room.
asserted
who → meet → room
The 100-year-old telephone is fully operational — as long as Skelly can find someone with a landline to call.
asserted
Skelly → find → landline
A consummate collector, Skelly saw a man repairing this gramophone at the Aberfoyle Antique Market and bought it on the spot for the living room.
asserted
man → see → room
She has a collection of 78s from her grandfather, including songs from the Second World War that she often plays for guests.
asserted
she → have → guests
She uses the space to host consuls general, ambassadors and dignitaries.
asserted
She → use → consuls
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
