HISTORICALLY AND ARCHITECTURALLY POWERFUL After fourteen decades, two world wars, and the countless ups-and-downs of history, the building continues to be cherished and is now itself defended by the community it long protected. Standing ready to house those trying to solve the next generation of our great community’s challenges. For most of its 144-year history, this local monument was home to The Dominion Life Assurance Company, which would come to be the local titan known as Manulife Financial. Before that though, in 1868, The Ontario Life Assurance Company was co-founded by Moses Springer, the first mayor of the Town of Waterloo. Achieving much success, the group rapidly outgrew their office by the late 1870s and planned to construct a building worthy of its purpose, to protect and provide stability for the company and the community. With this high ambition in mind, they hired the prestigious D.W. Gingrich to be the architect. Gingrich, having recently in 1873 completed the breathtaking Waterloo Town Hall across Albert St., was undoubtedly the man for the job. Gingrich did not disappoint, using a Greek Revival styling, he created a gorgeous building with bold pilasters, a dentilled cornice, pediment, and roofline highlighted with ornamental finials. Throughout the years, the building has grown and shifted shape to accommodate the fortunes of its thriving occupants.