The Ontario Club was a private club in Toronto, Ontario that existed from 1909 to 2010. The club was founded as a gentlemen's club, but in 1978 became mixed-sex. The Ontario was organised as a home for members of the Liberal Party of Canada, and as such, was the counterpart to the Albany Club, which was for members of the Conservative Party of Canada. From 1912 to 1969, the Ontario Club had a clubhouse on Wellington Street. After it sold the property to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, from 1972 to 2007, it occupied the top floor of Commerce Court South. In 2010, the Ontario Club merged into the National Club.
History
Early history and first clubhouse, 1909–1972
The origins of the Ontario Club lie in the 1908 Canadian federal election. In that election, the Liberal Party of Canada won 133 seats, while the opposition parties won 88. However, all seats in Toronto went to members of the Conservative Party of Canada. In response to this situation, a group of Liberal supporters decided to form a gentlemen's club to provide a social home for party members in Toronto, and to enhance the party's status in the city. The founders of the club were Michael John Haney (1856–1927), James Houston Spence (1867–1939), George Tower Ferguson (1856–1932), Gabriel Thomas Somers (1867–1926), and Dr Thomas Franklin McMahon (1852–1925). In late 1908, the five founders created a list of 300 individuals they would approach to become members, and by January 1909 there were 312 applications to join the club. Original members of the club paid a $25 initiation fee, $10 of which was paid upon application, and the balance paid when the club incorporated. The club met for the first time on 20 January 1909 to chose a name and elect a provisional board. Directors elected to the first board were Haney, Somers, Ferguson, and McMahon from the founders group, as well as James Herbert Denton, Peter Charles Larkin, Maj Charles Alexander Moss, Thomas Saunders Hobbs, and James Frederick Martin Stewart. During the first meeting, a debate arose about the issue of temperance. William Raney, who led the group in favour of temperance, argued that the club should not create a possible policy conflict with the party. Haney, who was chairman of the meeting, was also in favour of a dry club. He said, "I'm not a temperance crank, but I believe the club will be better off without liquor." Attendees voted 50-9 in favour of asking for liquor privileges in their application to incorporate. The club was granted a charter on 8 February 1909, and held its first board meeting on 26 March of that year. At that meeting, members elected an official board. Further directors added to the provisional board were Lloyd Harris, Leighton McCarthy, J. W. Curry, Dr John Herbert McConnell, John Bain, and Joseph Fisher Eby. Edward Clarkson was elected auditor. His firm, Clarkson Gordon & Co, would remain the club's auditors for decades. By November, the club had 433 resident and 130 non-resident members.