Forbes, William | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

FORBES, William (1878-1949), partner in the Toronto firm of Sparling, Martin & Forbes, was born in Belhelvie, Scotland, near Aberdeen, on 8 May 1878. He served an apprenticeship with George Coutts from 1895 to 1899 while studying art and architecture at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, then worked as assistant to Coutts until 1906. Forbes emigrated to Canada in 1907 and worked as a draftsman with J. Francis Brown (in 1907-10), with Curry & Sparling (in 1910-16), and with W. F. Sparling (1916-28). In early 1928 he was invited to become a partner in a new firm of Sparling , Martin & Forbes. The firm was active until 1933 when Martin departed, and Sparling & Forbes continued until 1937 when Forbes resigned from the Ontario Association of Architects. He died in Toronto on 30 June 1949 (obituary Globe & Mail [Toronto], 1 July 1949, 24; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects; inf. Mr. John F. Allen, Toronto)