Esther Hill

Esther Marjorie Hill (May 29, 1895 – January 7, 1985) was a Canadian architect and the first woman to graduate in architecture from the University of Toronto.

Early life Hill was born in Guelph, Ontario. Her father, E. Lincoln Hill, was a teacher and librarian for the Edmonton Public Library (where he served as Chief Librarian, 1912-1936), and her mother, Jennie Stork Hill, was one of the first 10 women to study at the University of Toronto. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Alberta in 1916, Hill started taking classes in architecture at the same institution, until the program was canceled and she had to transfer to the University of Toronto. She graduated in 1920, becoming the first woman from the University of Toronto to receive a university degree in architecture.

Career Hill struggled during her early career because of her gender. Backlash was felt from men in the architecture business, and opportunities were lacking for Hill. Upon graduation Hill was only able to find one job opportunity: as an interior designer at Eaton's department store. Eventually she returned to Edmonton. In 1920 and 1921 she authored a series of articles in the journal Agricultural Alberta, describing her functional approach to domestic architecture and her belief in designing to allow in as much natural light as possible. Upon returning to Canada, she reapplied to the Alberta Association of Architects. In 1925, Esther Hill became the first Canadian woman to be a registered architect. While in Victoria, she designed houses, churches, apartment buildings, retirement homes, and kitchens. She died in 1985.

Some of her drawings are in the Archives of the University of Toronto.