Proposal Could Mean 128 Rental Apartments For Bala

By
Muskoka411 Staff
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What if some of Canada’s most trusted institutions helped lead the response to the housing crisis?
As the Royal Canadian Legion approaches its 100th anniversary this year, one branch in Bala, Ontario is using the milestone not to look back but to fundamentally rethink its future.

The Bala Legion Heritage Manor is a proposed mixed-use redevelopment that transforms an underutilized Legion property into a new, modern home for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 424, topped by four storeys of rental housing. The project brings together housing, community space, and long-term financial sustainability on a single, walkable site in the heart of Bala.

Designed by WZMH Architects and its research and development lab Sparkbird, the project is an application of ELEVATE — a forward-thinking concept that transforms underutilized sites into mixed-use community hubs integrating housing, innovation, and sustainability. In Bala, the concept has been adapted to reimagine a Legion property as a development that addresses Canada’s housing crisis while preserving the Legion’s civic role.

At street level, the new Legion is conceived as a welcoming civic anchor along Maple Avenue, with a transparent, glazed façade and a grand entrance displaying ceremonial and honorary items. Inside, a central bar and restaurant reinforce the Legion’s role as a place of fellowship, while a flexible ceremonial hall supports events, meetings, and community gatherings, ensuring continuity with the Legion’s historic mission in a contemporary setting.Above, 128 rental apartments provide much-needed housing in Muskoka. Designed as generous suites with balconies, abundant natural light, and connections to the surrounding landscape, the residences demonstrate how modest mid-rise density can be delivered sensitively in small communities.

For Dennis Mills, President of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 424 and former Member of the House of Commons of Canada, the project reflects a belief that institutions with deep community roots have a responsibility to evolve.With strong member support, active government engagement, and CMHC review underway, the Bala Legion Heritage Manor is being positioned not just as a local solution, but as a repeatable national model — one that could help Legions and other community organizations across Canada remain viable while contributing directly to housing supply.

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Entrance to Legion Halls

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Site Plan
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Elevation West; Main Entrance
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Elevation South

Additional Project Details

In 2024, Through its Sparkbird lab, WZMH developed a concept called ELEVATE, designed by Maryam Madsen in collaboration with the lab’s team. The concept reimagines underutilized Legion sites as mixed-use developments, helping address Canada’s housing crisis by building on well-serviced neighbourhood sites suited to low- and mid-rise, cost-effective construction.

In 2025, industry partner EBS Global invited us to bring this vision to Bala, Ontario. The Bala Legion Heritage Manor will provide a new ground-floor home for Royal Canadian Legion Branch 424 with four storeys of rental apartments above, combining housing, community space, and long-term financial stability on a single site. With strong member support, government engagement, and CMHC review underway, it represents a repeatable, service-efficient model for Legion-led development across Canada.

The Legion
The design presents a welcoming presence along Maple Avenue, with an open, glazed façade that is inviting both from the street and from within. From the outside it will appear warm and glowing, while the interior will feel bright and positive. A grand entrance leads past shelves of ceremonial/honorary items, opening to a central space anchored by a bar and restaurant on either side, reinforcing the Legion’s role as a place of fellowship and community.

Grand Ceremonial Hall: Adjacent to the restaurant, with direct access from both the hallway and the dining space, is the grand ceremonial hall. Designed for flexibility, it can host events, ceremonies, conferences, and meetings. A folding wall allows the room to be divided for smaller functions or private dining, while its connection to the restaurant enables the two spaces to expand into one, accommodating larger gatherings when needed.
Support Spaces: The Legion also incorporates an office and a medical clinic, enhancing its role as both a social and supportive hub. An elevator and stairs connect directly from the Legion level to the residences above, ensuring seamless accessibility between community spaces and living areas.Residential Units
The 128 residential units above are designed as larger suites featuring generous balconies, abundant glazing, and strong connections to natural light and outdoor views. The main residential lobby is located on the lower level, providing an entrance from the east side of the site. Due to changes in site elevation, part of the building is raised on columns, creating space for both the residential lobby and parking below. This east-facing entrance offers convenient access to nearby shopping facilities, making it a practical and welcoming point of arrival for residents.

Building Expression
The building features a clean, modern design with approachable, buildable minimalist details. The façade of the single-storey Legion combines expansive glazing with stone and warm wood textures. Drawing inspiration from Muskoka’s natural palette, it blends earthy tones with dark-framed windows to create a grounded yet contemporary presence.

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