We Got to Check Out a Secret View of the City!

In celebration of CIBC’s 150th birthday, we were fortunate enough to celebrate with them by taking part in something that hasn’t been open to the public for a half a century. Alongside Canada celebrating 150 Years of Confederation, it was a perfect opportunity to “open the vault” on rarely seen treasures, historical Canadian artifacts and a breathtaking outdoor 360-degree view of the city.

If you’re familiar with downtown Toronto, you’ll know all about Commerce Court, located within the financial district. It’s a complex of four office buildings on King and Bay, with CIBC being the primary tenant. The buildings are a mix of Art Deco, International, and early Modernism architectural styles. 

One building in particular stands out, not only because it’s an absolute stunner, but because it has a rich history. You see, the Toronto skyline was born in the 1930’s with the construction of the oldest of these four buildings – an art-deco wonder constructed out of limestone. It quickly became the tallest building in the city, until the late 1960s. But until then, the best view in the city was the 32nd floor of the Observation Deck. 

This amazing and iconic view of the city has not been open to the public for upwards of 50 years. So, it was an absolute honour to be able to experience a potentially once-in-a-lifetime view that left many in awe of our beautiful city. One of the highlights for me was getting up close and personal with the famous bearded heads – which are gargoyle-like statues carved into the face of the building.

All in all, it was such a great way to take in a bit of history and a beautiful view, while celebrating CIBC’s birthday in style! Be sure to continue to learn about how people across the country are showing what it means to be Canadian using the hashtag #StandForCanada. 

 

I don’t think that @catherinescabinet could have found a better view than the one she took us to see yesterday on the @cibcnow observation deck yesterday ? Stay tuned to DoTheDaniel.com as we share the experience, what it was like to be one of the first people in 50 years to enjoy the space, and how our partnership has helped to remind us what it means to #StandForCanada ?? #Sponsored

A post shared by Do The Daniel (@dothedaniel) on May 12, 2017 at 9:50am PDT

For the history buffs out there, there is a bigger and fascinating story behind CIBC that plays into all of the excitement. To commemorate their 150^th anniversary, you are invited to download the CIBC150 App (on Google Play and The App Store on iTunes) and discover new stories every week from our collective history. To join in on the social media conversation, make sure to follow @CIBCnow on Instagram, @CIBC on Twitter & ‘Like’ their Facebook page. Make sure to use and follow the #StandForCanada & #EnsemblepourleCanada hashtags on social media to be of the excitement now and all year long!