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Canada Life Building, Montreal facts for kids

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Canada Life Building
Canada Life Building - 1898.jpg
Photo of the then-new building, 1898
General information
Status Complete
Address 275 Saint Jacques Street
Town or city Montreal, Quebec
Country  Canada
Coordinates 45°30′10″N 73°33′34″W / 45.5029°N 73.5595°W / 45.5029; -73.5595
Design and construction
Architect Richard A. Waite
Type: Immeuble patrimonial classé
Designated: 2002-09-10
Part of: Montreal Heritage Site
Reference #: 93433

The Canada Life Building in Montreal, Quebec, Canada is a very old and important building. It was finished in 1895. A famous architect named Richard A. Waite designed it. This building is a great example of an early skyscraper. It was one of the first really tall buildings!

A Historic Building in Montreal

The Canada Life Building is located in the heart of what used to be Canada's main financial area. This area is on St. James Street in Old Montreal. Back then, this street was super important for banks and businesses.

What Makes It Special?

The Canada Life Building was built in a style called Renaissance Revival. This means its design was inspired by the beautiful buildings of the Renaissance period in Europe. Think of grand, classic looks!

It was also one of the very first buildings in Montreal to use a special construction method. It had an eight-storey steel structure. This made it very strong and allowed it to be much taller than older buildings. This new way of building helped create the first "skyscrapers."

A Protected Heritage Site

Because of its history and unique design, the Canada Life Building is now a protected heritage site. In 2002, it was named an "Immeuble patrimonial classé" in Quebec. This means it's a special building that needs to be preserved for the future. It's part of the larger Montreal Heritage Site.

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