WEST, Gordon Mossman (1886-1961) was born in Toronto on 4 September 1886 and educated at Jarvis Collegiate. He trained under George W. Gouinlock, for whom he worked from 1901 to 1906. He then worked in the offices of S.G. Curry, Darling & Pearson, and Wickson & Gregg. It was during this period that his ability as a designer was evident; in 1905 he received Third Prize for his 'Design for A County House' (C.A.B., xviii, Feb. 1905, 23) and in 1910 he received an honourable mention for his 'Open Pavilion' design from studio work in the Atelier Lyle, an evening school established by John M. Lyle (Const., iii, April 1910, 49, illus.). After extenisve travels in Europe he returned to Toronto where he was invited by G.N. Molesworth and H.F. Secord to form a partnership in late 1913 (see list of works under Molesworth, West & Secord). The office ceased activity during WWI when West traveled overseas to serve with Canadian forces, but by 1919 their office had re-opened. They gained a reputation for designs of elaborate private residences in the Forest Hill and Rosedale neighbourhoods of Toronto. West preferred to involve himself in the organizational and financial affairs of architectural practise, and devoted much of his attention to professional activity. His was elected president of the Royal Architectural Inst. of Canada in 1932 and again in 1933, and served as president of the National Construction Council of Canada in 1935-36.
In late 1936 the partnership with Molesworth and Secord was dissolved, and West continued to work under his own name until 1947 when Roy J. Switzer joined him to form a new partnership. West remained active until 1958 and died in Toronto on 5 August 1961 (obituary R.A.I.C. Journal, xxxviii, Sept. 1961, 80; Globe & Mail, 7 Aug. 1961, 27; biog. and port. in Who's Who in Canada, 1928-29, 1572; National Reference Book, vi, 1940, 724-5; R.I.B.A., Directory of British Architects 1834-1914, 2001, ii, 960-61)
G.M. WEST (works in Toronto unless noted)
CHESTNUT PARK ROAD, residence for Mrs. Hugh Reid, 1908 (Toronto b.p. 11359, 9 June 1908)
MADISON AVENUE, near Bernard Avenue, three houses for T.H. Cooper, 1909 (Toronto b.p. 14048, 1 March 1909)
AVENUE ROAD, at Dupont Street, store and dwelling for H.A Haisley, 1912 (Toronto b.p. 33289, 13 April 1912)
HAWTHORNE AVENUE, near Dale Avenue, residence for William W. Beer, 1912 (Toronto b.p. 34362, 28 May 1912)
unnamed street, two houses in Toronto, c. 1912 (Const., vii, March 1914, 89-90, illus.)
YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, East End Branch, Gerrard Street East at Hastings Avenue, 1938-39 (Globe & Mail [Toronto], 11 Oct. 1938, 9, descrip.)
SHANTY BAY, ONT., 'Twelveacres', residence for Marjorie Rogers, c. 1939 (C.H.G., xvii, June 1940, 26-7, illus.)
HANOVER, ONT., Southern Food Products Ltd., factory, 1941 (C.R., liv, 14 May 1941, 31)
ETOBICOKE, ONT., British Drug House Ltd., Queen Elizabeth Highway, factory, 1946 (C.R., lix, June 1946, 140)
HANSON & VAN WINKLE LTD., Morrow Avenue, major addition to factory, 1947 (Financial Post [Toronto], 22 Feb,. 1947, 10)
LYONS TEA CO., a new office and factory, in Etobicoke, 1947 (Financial Post [Toronto], 17 May 1947, 10)
WEST & SWITZER (works in Toronto)
WAR AMPUTATIONS BUILDING, Wellesley Street West near Bay Street, 1947; demol. (C.R., lx, Nov. 1947, 143)
COMPETITIONS
CALGARY, ALTA., City Hall, 1907. This Toronto architect, together in a team with Murray A. White, was one of nine Canadian competitors for this major commission. Their plans were set aside and W.M. Dodd was declared the winner (Daily Herald [Calgary], 7 May 1907, 9, list of competitors).