The ten-storey skyscraper constructed in 1913 by the Confederation Life Assurance Company was nicknamed the ‘Wedding Cake’. Its nickname was sparked by two things: the unusual curve of the building that follows the bend of Main Street, and the white terracotta that resembles the icing of a wedding cake.

The company was adapting to an unusually shaped patch of land and drawing inspiration from the trendiest skyscraper style of the time period: Sullivanesque.

James Wilson Gray of Toronto was hired by the company to design the new office tower, which cost $400,000. A solid granite base sits below ten stories of intricate terracotta work. Columns that run the length of the first two floors support an entablature engraved with the company name. As the skyscraper is built with steel frames and the facade carries little of the weight, each floor has an abundance of windows. Inside, copper plated cage elevators move guests from floor to floor.

Though the Main Street facade is intricate and stunning, the remaining three exterior walls are plain construction with beige brick. Traveling down Main Street, the Confederation Life Building makes a striking impression. In 1976 it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.