James Balfour did do some buildings in Toronto, St. Thomas, Detroit and Niagara Falls. He bid on the Toronto City Hall but lost. It's possible that it is his building at Spadina and Adelaide.
Alma College, St. Thomas by James Balfour
what a loss -- recently burned down, "demolition by neglect"
"Crocodile Tears" Andrew Dreschel? I know you read this.
It was a gorgeous building. Balfouresque design features included, a blend of Gothic Revival and Second Empire, Mansard Roof with gabled dormers, combined with dramatic steep roof pitches on the peaks, variety of textures, brick construction (no steel frame that came later in 19c/20c) with cut stone skirting (usually from Port Credit and brick from Beamsville), keystoning, and tall narrow windows framed with lighter stone and arched tops. It even had mini-flying buttresses, because it didn't have a steel frame and a height like Alma College had would need the support at the lower level. And an attention to details and embellishments without being garish.
This building was on the watch list of Heritage Ontario Buildings for years. It appears the owners finally get rid of it.... the fire was deemed 'suspicious'. It should make a good location for a Best Buy.
http://www.ontarioheritageconnection....200604_a.html
http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cg...846&s=politics
watch it burn on youtube
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=6bESrT...eature=related