GILLIES, Archibald (1885-c. 1955) was among the first professional architects to work in northern Ontario. He opened an office in Timmins, Ont. in 1927 and designed educational, commercial and residential works in the region. In 1929 he was credited with the design and drawings of the new Federal Post Office Building in Timmins. The building was completed under the supervision of Thomas W. Fuller, Chief Architect of the D.P.W. in Ottawa, but the commission may have been given to Gillies under a system of local political patronage. The presentation drawings published in December 1929 are signed by Gillies, not Fuller. Gillies was born in Colchester North Township, Essex County, Ont. on 14 January 1885 and graduated from the School of Practical Science at the University of Toronto in 1907. No information can be found on his training or early career, but he continued to practise in Timmins until after 1950. His membership in the O.A.A. lapsed in 1955 (inf. Ontario Association of Architects). A photographic portrait of Gillies was published in the Porcupine Advance [Timmins], 14 Aug. 1930, 1.
TIMMINS, ONT., Federal Post Office, Fourth Avenue at Pine Street, 1929-30 (Porcupine Advance [Timmins], 19 Dec. 1929, Section Two, p. 1, illus. & extensive descrip.; 14 Aug. 1930, 1 & 2, illus. & descrip.)
KIRKLAND LAKE, ONT., Federal Post Office, Duncan Avenue at Kirkland Street, 1935 (Porcupine Advance [Timmins], 26 Sept. 1935, Section Three, p. 1, descrip.)
TIMMINS, ONT., High School & Vocational School, Preston Street at Kent Avenue, 1939 (C.R., lii, 19 April 1939, 45; Porcupine Advance [Timmins], 4 May 1939, 1, descrip.)
COMPETITIONS
TIMMINS, ONT., Town Hall, 1937. Gillies was one of four architects who submitted drawings to the Town Council for the new Town Hall (Porcupine Advance (Timmins), 21 June 1937, 1). The design by Gillies was passed over and the commission was awarded to P.J. O'Gorman of Sudbury.