History

The Granite Club name is rich with meaning for those who honour the values of tradition and family.

For generation after generation, the Granite Club has been a place where families enrich their lives, value time together, and share special moments. With its warm, caring atmosphere, the Club fulfills its founders' vision by taking on an important role in the family traditions, celebrations and lives of members.

The Past

St. Mary Street Location 1875-1881

The traditions and prestige of the Granite Club can be traced back to 1836 when a half dozen gentlemen organized an "uptown" curling facility located at Chapel and St. Mary Streets which provided the members with a clubhouse and a covered two-sheet curling rink and an outdoor skating rink. During these first years several prominent Canadians became members, including Sir John A. Macdonald, Sir Edmund Osler, and J.D. Edgar, Speaker of the House of Commons and by 1875, there were approximately forty-two members.

St.Clair Location 1924-1970

After only five years on St. Mary Street, expansion was needed to improve existing facilities and to accommodate the increasing membership of the Club. In 1881, the Granite Club moved to 519 Church Street a location considered to be one of the finest residential areas in Toronto. In 1884 the first outdoor tennis courts were built and in 1885 lawn bowling became part of the Granite Club facilities. In fact the Club's greens became recognized, very early, to be among the finest in Canada. By 1886 the membership had reached 447 members.

The Church Street location also provided its members with beautiful social facilities for dining, billiards, cards and an area for reading. During the Club's tenure on Church Street it became the leading "uptown" social club, boasting the largest membership of any club in Canada. It became the scene of magnificent Victorian Balls, some of which were held by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club and the St. Andrew's Society.

In 1925 a piece of land on St. Clair Avenue West, near Yonge Street, was purchased to accommodate a growing membership, the changing face of recreational activities and conversion from a gentlemen's to a family club. The St. Clair location housed seven badminton courts, several five-pin bowling lanes, a swimming pool and two squash courts in addition to curling, skating, lawn bowling and tennis. In 1929, the Granite Club held its first Skating Carnival, which became a family tradition. Over time, demand required expansion, and additional curling, squash, bowling and social facilities were added.

In the early 60's, after thirty-five years at St. Clair, the need was felt to either make major alterations to the building or move to new quarters once again. Committees were struck to study the alternatives, with the decision to move being taken in 1969.

The Present

The fourth Granite Club home was opened in 1972 on a beautiful twenty-two acre site on BayviewAvenue, bordering on the Don Valley. A spectacular combination of the elegant and the athletic, it offered a modern answer to changing desires and trends, with scope to comfortably handle its now large and sophisticated membership.

The traditions that today are an integral part of the Granite Club, are founded on a history that is long, successful and prosperous. By offering the best facilities, and constantly evolving to meet the needs of our 10,000 members, the Granite Club continues to offer the best in a family, athletic, dining and social club-for today's members, and for future generations to come.