Burgess, Charles

BURGESS, Charles (1835-1925) arrived in Canada in 1882 and was was one of the first architects to practise in western Canada. Born at Barnstable, Devonshire, England on 20 August 1835 he was brought to Canada by his parents in 1842 and educated in Hamilton. He is likely the same 'C. Burgess, Architect' listed as being active there in 1856 (City of Hamilton Directory, 1856, 86). He moved to Regina in 1882 and worked in construction, then relocated to Winnipeg in 1884 where he remained for the duration of his career. A veteran of the Fenian Raids he continued to work as a contractor and as local supervising architect for the federal Dept. of Public Works until after 1905. Few references to his independent commissions can be found, the most important being that for the WINNIPEG INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION BUILDING, a substantial octagonal structure built in 1891 and enlarged by Burgess in 1892 and 1897, but later demolished c. 1920 (C.R., ii, 2 May 1891, 2; Winnipeg Tribune, 12 May 1892, 8; C.A.B., x, Feb. 1897, 38). He also designed a major addition to the Police Station, James Avenue at King Street, WINNIPEG, MAN., 1893 (C.R., iv, 25 May 1893, 2). In 1899 he was recorded as the architect of major additions and alterations to St. Peter's Church, Selkirk Avenue, WINNIPEG, MAN. (Winnipeg Tribune, 3 Nov. 1899, 6, descrip.). Burgess retired in 1910 and died in Winnipeg on 22 February 1925 (obituary in the Manitoba Free Press, 24 Feb. 1925, 4; obit with port. Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 25 Feb. 1925, 1 & 5; inf. from Canada, 1901 Census, Manitoba: Winnipeg A2W 1, page 11, line 44)