Canada Life Building, Toronto

Canada Life Building in Toronto is the fourth headquarters of Canada’s largest and oldest insurance company, Canada Life. The 15 storey limestone building is famous for its weather beacon at its pinnacle which was built in 1931 by Sproatt and Rolph. The 285 feet (361feet with the weather beacon) Beaux Arts building was supposed to have more storeys but due to the Great Depression, the construction came to a halt.

The one of a kind weather beacon, was not a part of the initial design and was added in 1951 and built at a cost CAD$25,000. It is famous for providing onlookers with weather conditions at one glance which is reported through colorful and flashing lights. If the weather is cloudy the beacons gives steady red light, if it is expected to snow then a white light flashes, it turns green if the weather is clear and red if it is expected to rain. Lights running up represent a steady rise in temperature and the opposite, i.e. lights running down, a fall in temperature.

Designed by Kuwabara Payne McKenna and completed in 2005, the Canada Life Tower is located to the west of Canada Life Building and is connected via an enclosed elevated walkway.