Roman Column, Toronto City Hall @ Lucy Izon

Toronto, Ontario – Okay, so I knew that Toronto’s space-ship shaped City Hall was the only City Hall to have ever appeared in Star Trek, and that it was designed so that from the air it looks light a giant eye when you look straight down on it, and that it was used as a location for a number of movies from The Kidnapping of the President with William Shatner to The Tuxedo, which starred Jackie Chan. But, must have walked past it a few hundred times before I was aware that beside it stands a Roman Column that dates back to 300 AD.

Roman Column Sign @ Lucy Izon

The column, which stands in a grassy area to the west of the City Hall towers, was a gift from the City of Rome to the City of Toronto. It was presented to Mayor Nathan Phillips when he visited Rome in 1957.

The small granite column, which was quarried in Egypt between 300 and 400 A.D., was a gift from Rome as a token of friendship. Originally it had been a feature of an ancient Roman building, which was destroyed. It was erected at City Hall in 1967 with the help of the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association. Nathan Philips Square at the front is often a venue for outdoor concerts, art fairs, and community events. The square surrounds a fountain pool, which becomes a popular skating rink during winter months.

Toronto’s City Hall  looks like a space ship and was once in Star Trek. is located on the north side of Queen St., between Bay St. and University Ave. Across the street to the south is the Sheraton Centre hotel, and just a two minute walk away is the Eaton Centre and The Bay’s flagship department store. If taking the subway, go to the Queen or Osgoode stops.

Quick Tips: The 501 Queen streetcar service, which stops in front of City Hall, travels east-west for 24.8 km (15.4 miles). It is the longest streetcar route in Canada and was named by National Geographic Society as one of the 10 Great Streetcar routes.