Francis R. Heakes

He was at one time Chief Architect of the Public Works Department of the Province of Ontario.

The Ontario Archives hold drawings for virtually all provincial buildings including courthouses, registry offices, gaols & lockups, schools and colleges, hospitals and other works executed under his supervision from 1896 until 1926.

Perhaps his most famous commission was Government House in Toronto (Chorley Park), designed in a style reminiscent of French châteaux.

It was one of the most expensive residences ever constructed in Canada at the time (1915), and was more impressive than even Rideau Hall in size and grandeur.

[citation needed] Other notable projects involving Heakes: Other Ontario provincial architects included:

The Whitney Block (formerly the East Block of Queens Park) in downtown Toronto. It was designed by F. R. Heakes and erected in two phases between 1926 and 1932.