Ponton, Archibald William | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

PONTON, Archibald William (1859-1915) was active in Regina, N.W.T. from 1883 where he was an architect and Dominion Land Surveyor employed in the Surveyor's Office of the Indian Department. He apparently had considerable skill as a delineator because '...as a draughtsman Mr. Ponton takes no second place' (J.W. Powers, History of Regina, 1887, 52, biog.). Born in Belleville, Ont. he trained there under Thomas Bolger, P.L.S., then moved west in 1879 as assistant land surveyor to Bolger. From 1883 to 1903 he was employed in the Indian Dept. of the federal government in Regina, and may have contributed to the design of the very first buildings constructed by government of the North West Territories, including a Council Chamber Building, and an Indian Office Building, both in REGINA, N.W.T. (inf. Peter C. Davies, Planning Dept., City of Regina). After 1903 Ponton was employed by the government of the newly formed province of Saskatchewan. He died in Edmonton, Alta. on 20 January 1915 (obituary Edmonton Bulletin, 22 Jan. 1915, 4; biog. & port. Annual Reports of the Ontario Land Surveyors, 1918, 197-98). He was a cousin of Lt. Col. W.R. Ponton who, in 1883, was noted as the architect of the Opera House, BELLEVILLE, ONT., 1883 (Globe [Toronto], 18 July 1883, 5, t.c.), and he may have assisted his cousin with the design of this building.