peacock hotel toronto

Historic Toronto hotel was just destroyed by fire

One of the city's oldest hotels has just been decimated by a fire, leaving much of it destroyed and in ruins. 

The Peacock Hotel, established in the early 1800s, is of architectural and historic significance, being the site of where William Lyon Mackenzie helped start the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion.

Today, a three-alarm fire engulfed the building in the Junction, ripping through the interior and causing a partial collapse. The blaze began around 3:30 a.m. this morning, and took over sixty firefighters to get under control. It was downgraded and extinguished by about 7 a.m.

It is believed that the building was empty, but surrounding buildings were evacuated due to the smoke and heat. 

The Peacock Hotel actually burned down in the 1800s as well, before being rebuilt and given heritage status. Furthermore, it suffered a small wall collapse last year following a fire, too. 

Sections of Dundas West around the site of the fire will be closed for the time being. Honest Weight, a few doors down, has also announced it will be closed temporarily. 

Firefighters and other responders are on-site cleaning up debris. 

Lead photo by

Toronto Fire Service


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Huge TTC parking lot in Toronto about to close forever ahead of redevelopment

Justin Trudeau pledges to save Toronto's Santa Claus Parade

Closure-plagued Toronto streetcar line is finally back in full force

Olivia Chow is going to war with Doug Ford over controversial new bill

Over 55,000 Canada Post workers now on strike and here's how it'll affect you

Here are some Canadian government jobs based in Ontario that pay very well

University of Toronto named among world's best in another category

Toronto plans to install signs blaming Doug Ford for traffic