David Ewart, ISO (18 February 1841 – 6 June 1921) was a Canadian architect who served as Chief Dominion Architect from 1896 to 1914.
As chief government architect he was responsible for many of the federal buildings constructed in this period. He broke with the Neo-Gothic style adopted by his predecessors Thomas Seaton Scott and Thomas Fuller; rather, he embraced the Baronial style exemplified in several important buildings.
In 1903, Ewart was awarded the Imperial Service Order.
Personal
Ewart was married to Jeanne Marie Doyen until her death in 1885. He was then married to Annie Sigsworth Simpson from 1887 to his death in 1921.
His son John Albert Ewart was an acclaimed Ottawa architect.
Works
BuildingYear completedBuilderStyleLocationImage Rideau Cottage 1905 David Ewart - 1905 rear addition Georgian Revival Ottawa, Ontario Connaught Building 1913 David Ewart Tudor-Gothic Ottawa, Ontario Victoria Memorial Building 1912 David Ewart Baronial style Ottawa, Ontario Royal Canadian Mint 1908 David Ewart Tudor-Gothic Ottawa, Ontario Mappin Wing (or front facade) of Rideau Hall 1913 David Ewart Baronial style Ottawa, Ontario Customs Examining Warehouse, Sinclair Centre 1911-1913 David Ewart Scottish Baronial architecture Vancouver, BC Moose Jaw City Hall 1914 David Ewart Edwardian Classical Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Strathcona Public Building 1913 David Ewart Baronial style Edmonton, Alberta Post Office Building, Sinclair Centre (home to Postal Station A; clock by John Smith & Sons, 1909) 1905-1910 David Ewart Edwardian Baroque architecture Vancouver, British Columbia Prince Edward Building 1906 David Ewart Baronial style Regina, Saskatchewan Bowmanville Post Office David Ewart Baronial style Bowmanville, Ontario Humboldt Post Office 1911 David Ewart Baronial style Humboldt, Saskatchewan Royal Military College of Canada Fort Lasalle Dormitory Building R33 1912 David EwartBaronial styleKingston, Ontario recognized Federal Heritage Building 1990 honours René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. The limestone carvings are of a crown, the initials GR (for George V), 'Dormitory', and 'RMC 1912'. Royal Military College of Canada Building 9 Rideout Row (1908)1908David EwartBaronial styleKingston, Ontario after renovations known as Rideout Square; recognized Federal Heritage Building 1994Royal Military College of Canada Building 9a Rideout Row (1908)1908David EwartBaronial styleKingston, Ontario after renovations known as Rideout Square; recognized Federal Heritage Building 1994Royal Military College of Canada Gymnasium, Old Building R25 1903 David EwartBaronial styleKingston, Ontario recognized Federal Heritage Building 1989Royal Military College of Canada Headquarters, Former RMC Riding Establishment, Building R5 1908 David EwartBaronial style Kingston, Ontario recognized Federal Heritage Building 1994 Royal Military College of Canada Panet House, Building R27 1903 David EwartBaronial style Kingston, Ontario recognized Federal Heritage Building 1994 honours Lt Col. Charles-Eugène Panet Royal Military College of Canada Tailor Shop, former Gun Shed, Building R24 1914 David EwartBaronial style Kingston, Ontario recognized Federal Heritage Building 1994 Dominion Observatory, Carling Avenue 1902David EwartBaronial style Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, OntarioChief Astronomer's Residence1909David EwartBaronial style Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, OntarioGeodetic Survey Building1914David EwartBaronial style Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario
As federal architect he oversaw the design and construction of several buildings at the Central Experimental Farm including the Dominion Observatory, Carling Avenue in 1902; Chief Astronomer's Residence, 1909; and the Geodetic Survey Building, 1914. He also oversaw the design and construction of numerous post offices (such as the Humboldt Post Office). He oversaw the design and construction of numerous armouries across Canada.
Alphabetical listing (by community) of Canadian Army Reserve Armouries Site Date(s) & architect Designated Location Description ImageAmherst Armoury, Acadia Street1914-1915 David EwartCanada's Register of Historic Places; Recognized - 1990 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings Amherst, Nova Scotia large centrally located stone and brick Baronial style building featuring two sturdy towers, a triple-arched entrance way and a large drill hallBrigadier Angle Armoury 720 Lawrence Avenue1904 David EwartCanada's Register of Historic Places; Recognized - 1997 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings Kelowna, British Columbia one-storey, T-shaped Baronial style structure with a hipped-roof, clad in aluminum siding. Baddeck Armoury1901 David EwartBaddeck, Nova Scotia centrally located Baronial style building with a hipped-roofBarrie Armoury 37 Parkside Dr, High Street1913-14 David Ewart1997 Recognized - Register of the Government of Canada Heritage BuildingsBarrie, Ontario Housing The Grey and Simcoe Foresters, this large, mansard roofed Edwardian Baroque structure with sturdy projecting towers and a three-arched entrance is in a residential area near the centre of the city.Beatty Street Drill Hall 620 Beatty Street at Dunsmuir Street1899-1900 David EwartCanada's Register of Historic Places; Vancouver landmark and class-A heritage buildingVancouver, British Columbiamassive, low-massed symmetrically composed Baronial style structure with two large castle-like turrets complete with battlements, whose main entrance is a central troop doorBeauport Armoury or Building 11913-4 David EwartCanada's Register of Historic Places; Recognized - 1991 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings; Beauport, Quebec Centrally located two-storey, red brick Baronial style drill hall with a low-pitched, gable-roofBelleville Armoury, Bridge Street East at 187 Pinnacle Road1907-8 David EwartCanada's Register of Historic Places;1992 Recognized - Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings Belleville, Ontario Housing The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, this centrally located, low-pitched gambrel-roofed, stone and brick Baronial style building features a pair of tall towers Brampton Armoury 2 Chapel Street1914-15 David Ewart1991 Recognized - Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings Brampton, Ontario Housing "B" Company, 32 Canadian Brigade Group this centrally located, mid-size, rectangular Baronial style building has a low-pitched gable roofBrandon Armoury 1116 Victoria Avenue 1907-8 David Ewart Canada's Register of Historic Places; Recognized - 1994 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings Brandon, Manitoba a solid looking Baronial style structure constructed of brick and stone featuring a three-storey midsection located in a mixed commercial and residential areaBrantford Armoury 18 Brant Avenue1893 David Ewart 1992 Recognized - Register of the Government of Canada Heritage BuildingsBrantford, Ontario centrally located near the War Memoria; the Baronial style drill hall with a low-pitched gable roof is fronted by a monumental, fortress-like façade of brick and stoneBurford Armoury, King Street 1905 David Ewart Burford, Ontario This centrally located, large, low-massed, structure in the Baronial style features a low-pitched gable roof. Cambridge Armoury Ainslie Street South1914-5 David Ewart1987 Recognized - Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings Cambridge, Ontario Housing The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada, this centrally located, brick and stone Baronial style structure features a façade, flanking towers and a low-pitched gable roof; it projects a solid, fortified appearance.Chatham Armoury, Colborne Street1905 David EwartChatham, Ontario This Baronial style building has a low-pitched gable roof.Coaticook Armoury1914 David EwartCoaticook, Quebec This Baronial style building has a low-pitched gable roof.Cobourg Armoury, King Street1904 David EwartCobourg, Ontario This Baronial style building has a low-pitched gable roof.Connaught Armoury 85th Avenue1911 David EwartCanada's Register of Historic PlacesEdmonton, Alberta, Canada The oldest armoury in Alberta, this two-storey, rectangular brick Baronial style building with a low-pitched gable roof, was built in the historic district to house 19th Alberta Dragoons.Colonel D. V. Currie VC Armoury, 1215 Main Street North1913-14 David Ewart1998 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage BuildingsMoose Jaw, Saskatchewan large, low-massed Baronial style brick structure is located in a mixed commercial, recreational and residential neighbourhood. Currently the home of the Saskatchewan Dragoons; it has housed 95th Saskatchewan Rifles, the 60th Rifles, the King’s Own Rifles of Canada, the 77th Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, the 19th Medical Company, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, and the 142nd Transport Company, Royal Canadian Army Service CorpsDundas Armoury King Street at Market Street1900 David EwartDundas, Ontario large centrally located Baronial style building with a low-pitched gable roofDurham Armoury, Garafraxa Street1908 David EwartDurham, Ontario large centrally located Baronial style building with a low-pitched gable roofEnderby Drill Hall George Street1914 David EwartEnderby, British Columbia Built for $15,000 of Enderby bricks on donated land, the 42' x 92' Baronial style building has a birch floor and a single front doorFraserville Armoury 1910 David EwartFraserville, Quebec Designed in a Baronial style, this centrally located massive, fortress-like building is centrally located.Manège Henri-Julien, 3721 Henri Julien Street1911 David EwartCanada's Register of Historic Places; Recognized - 1992 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage BuildingsMontreal, Quebec Housing Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, this centrally located Baronial style armoury is on a corner site, in a densely packed, mixed neighbourhoodGalt Armoury, Mill Street1914 David EwartGalt, Ontario large centrally located Baronial style building with a low-pitched gable roofGuelph Armoury Farquahar Street at Huskinsson Street1906-7 David Ewart 1991 Recognized on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings; Canada's Register of Historic PlacesGuelph, OntarioDesigned in a late Baronial style, this centrally located massive, fortress-like brick building is heavily ornamented and centrally located on a sloped siteJR Vicars Armoury, 1221 Mcgill Rd 1902 David EwartKamloops, British Columbia Housing The Rocky Mountain Rangers, this Baronial style structure is centrally locatedJoliette Armoury, Park Street1909 David EwartJoliette, Quebec This Baronial style structure is centrally located.Kingston Drill Hall or 100 Montreal Street1899-1899 David Ewart1989 Classified on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage BuildingsKingston, Ontario