Professional Career
Howard was an associate of William Ford from 1824–1832, with one notable engineering project working on the Cromford Canal in Derbyshire, England.
When Howard arrived in Toronto (at that time still the town of York) in 1833, he was the first professional architect in Toronto. His first public appointment was a teaching master at Upper Canada College (UCC), while developing an architectural practise. He remained affiliated with UCC until 1856. His practise thrived with commissions ranging from cottages to banks to public projects, including Queen's College of Kingston, Ontario, the King Street Gaol and the Provincial Lunatic Asylum in Toronto (modelled on the National Gallery (London)).
Howard started surveying work in 1836, become Toronto's official surveyor in 1843, a position he held until 1855. He surveyed Toronto harbour, laid out the 'Esplanade' on the waterfront, and subdivided the harbour's peninsula (now known as Toronto Island). He also did surveying work for cemeteries and private land sub-divisions. He also bought some land of his own, including the property now known as High Park, bought as a sheep farm and Sunnyside Farm to the east of the Park, now the site of St. Joseph's Health Centre. The area retains the nickname of 'Sunnyside'.
In 1873, in return for a yearly pension of $1,200, Howard deeded 120 acres (0.49 km2) of his High Park property to the city as a public park; the remaining 45 acres (180,000 m2) and Colborne Lodge became city property at his death. Howard was appointed forest ranger by the city in 1878, with responsibility for improving the park.
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