Canadian figure skater Tessa Virtue and her husband, Morgan Rielly, have been advised to halt an exterior paint job on their Toronto home, located in the North Rosedale Heritage Conservation District. The renovations on the heritage property were brought up at a Toronto and East York Community Council meeting, where it was revealed that a building permit was initially issued in May 2023, with a revised permit issued in September of the same year. City staff noticed during a visit that the west façade of the house was being painted without the necessary approvals under Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act. Heritage Planning staff recommended masonry repairs, repointing, and brick cleaning instead of painting the brick masonry.
Rodney Gill, one of the solicitors representing Virtue and Rielly, explained to the council members that they had obtained a letter from an engineer stating that applying a layer of limewash to the home would greatly enhance its long-term structural performance. He also presented photos of other painted brick homes in the area to support their case. Despite their arguments, Ward 11 University-Rosedale Coun. Dianne Saxe was a vocal supporter of the staff recommendation to deny the couple’s appeal. She pointed out that the couple had purchased the house with full knowledge of the heritage conservation plan and should have hired an expert to ensure compliance with the rules.
After the council meeting, the matter was forwarded to city council without recommendations, with meetings scheduled for the end of June to discuss the issue further. The North Rosedale Residents’ Association expressed disappointment that the recommendations of Toronto Heritage and the Heritage Preservation Board were not endorsed in the motion to move the matter to city council. The association highlighted the importance of balancing private property interests with the preservation of heritage properties, noting that the brick masonry of the home is considered one of its most important attributes. They emphasized the need for proper approvals and adherence to heritage conservation guidelines.
The documents obtained by Global News revealed that the original building permit for Virtue and Rielly’s home included plans to paint the brick masonry on the front elevation, which was not approved by Heritage Planning staff. When city staff noticed the painting of the west façade during a visit, they advised the owners to stop the work and seek the necessary approvals under the Ontario Heritage Act. The report recommended masonry repairs, repointing, and brick cleaning as alternatives to painting the brick, citing the antique brick masonry as a crucial aspect of the property’s heritage value.
Rodney Gill, their solicitor, argued that applying a layer of limewash would improve the long-term structural performance of the home and provided evidence from an engineer to support their case. Despite their efforts, Coun. Saxe and other council members supported the staff recommendation to deny the couple’s appeal, emphasizing the importance of respecting heritage conservation guidelines. The matter has now been passed on to city council for further discussion, with a decision expected at the end of June. The case highlights the delicate balance between private property interests and the preservation of heritage properties in Toronto’s historic districts.
