At first glance, the unassuming brown building at the corner of Dixie and Lakeshore Road might look like a worn-down pile of bricks (to say nothing of the construction work going on in and around it), but that betrays the fact that the Small Arms Building is one of Lakeview's most important properties.
I have a lot of memories tied up in this place. When I used to practice with the Emerald Knights Drum & Bugle Corps, we used this building as our site for practices and weekend get-togethers. I still remember trying to get an hour of sleep while curled up on a table in the dead of night while surrounded by 60 other members all sleeping in the same room.
This building has a lot of heritage, not just for its association with local groups, but its past as a munitions planet that produced ammunition and guns during World War I. You want to talk about "bomb girls"? Look no further than the members of the Ladies' Auxillary who worked tirelessly as teens to support the war effort.
That's why I was very happy to attend the groundbreaking ceremony earlier this summer for the site, which is now being turned into a creative hub for artists as part of the Inspiration Lakeview redevelopment project. I've been fortunate enough to attend several events related to the site this year, including an art show called "In Situ" that featured live entertainment and fundraising efforts from local painters and dancers.
The building itself still has a long way to go - it had asbestos lined in the structure, which was only removed a couple years back. Make no mistake: Small Arms has a long way to go. It was very nearly demolished before the City stepped in to save it, and it will need several more years before it can become a rehabilitated site that opens to the public.
Yet, I see the promise of something greater here. Aside from planting new trees at the site, there are plans to hold programs and workshops in the future for local artists.
This is one of my favorite buildings in Mississauga, and one I have a large amount of affinity for. It will take a while, but the Small Arms Building will become a favored site in Lakeview.
The site is well worth a look if you drive by. read more