Parliament Hill

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For the hill in London, see Parliament Hill, London.
Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario
Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario

Parliament Hill (French Colline du Parlement), "The Hill" to locals, is a scenic location on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Its Gothic revival suite of buildings – the Parliament Buildings – serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada. The best known of the buildings is the Centre Block with its prominent Peace Tower, a national symbol. The richly decorated interior of the Centre Block contains allegorical scenes.

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[edit] Parliament Buildings

The entire parliamentary precinct measures 112,360 square metres. It is bounded on the north by the Ottawa River, on the east by the Rideau Canal, on the south by Wellington Street, and on the west by a service road near the Supreme Court. The buildings were erected on Barracks Hill, a large hill over looking the Ottawa River. The land had been in the government's possession for many decades because of its strategic importance, and had previously been home to a number of military facilities.

The structure was originally designed as the legislature for the Canadas, and was already under construction by the time of Confederation in 1867. The current Parliament Buildings were built between 1865 and 1927. The West Block was built in 1865 and the East Block in two stages in 1867 and 1910. The Library of Parliament was opened in 1876, and the original Centre Block completed in 1878. The Legislature of the Province of Canada met for the first time in the new building on 8 June 1866, and the new Parliament of the Dominion of Canada began its first session there on November 6, 1867.

The Centre Block as it appeared around 1870.
The Centre Block as it appeared around 1870.

The original structure was designed by Thomas Fuller and Chilion Jones. It was in the Gothic Revival style that was popular at the time. The British Palace of Westminster had recently been rebuilt in this style, and the choice of a gothic rather than an American inspired neoclassical design, was a symbol of Canada's continued links to Britain. The building was erected in the High Victorian Gothic style. By this time the desire to faithfully imitate medieval designs had faded, and architects were freely remixing Gothic elements in new and innovative manners. Thus the tower comes from German architecture, the roofs from French, and the library distinctly English.

Library of Parliament Reading Room
Library of Parliament Reading Room

In spring of 2006, major inside and outside renovations of the Library of Parliament [1] were completed. The renovations, which began in 2002, are the first ones since repairs were made in 1952-1956 after a small fire in the dome attic. The reading room of the library is once again open to the public and is considered, by some, to be the most beautiful room in Canada.

[edit] Great fire and rebuilding

The Centre Block the morning after the 1916 fire
The Centre Block the morning after the 1916 fire

The Centre Block burned in 1916; the edifice was entirely destroyed except for the Library of Parliament, whose treasures were preserved by a quick-thinking librarian who was able to close its massive, iron doors. The Centre Block was immediately rebuilt, being completed in 1920, with the Peace Tower, commemorating the end of the First World War, being completed in 1927. The new structure, designed by John Pearson and Omar Marchand, again embraced Gothic Revival, but also integrated the Beaux Arts ideas current at the time.

The Peace Tower is the most prominent part of the buildings. It replaced the 55-metre Victoria Tower, burned in the 1916 fire. Like the entire interior and exterior of the building, the tower is decorated with approximately 370 stone carvings, including gargoyles, grotesques, and freizes.

The centrepiece of the new buildings is the Hall of Honour in the Centre Block, which is notable for being the only place where Canadians can lie in state.

Since then there have been a number of significant incidents in the building's history. In 1966 Paul Joseph Chartier killed himself in a Centre Block washroom while preparing to bomb the House of Commons. In 1989 Charles Yacoub hijacked a Greyhound bus and drove it up onto Parliament Hill.

[edit] Future plans

The monument on Parliament Hill to fallen Canadian police officers
The monument on Parliament Hill to fallen Canadian police officers

In 2012, the Centre Block is scheduled to be closed for five years for an extensive interior renovation. In preparation, the other buildings are being renovated and expanded first; the inner courtyards of the West and East Blocks will be enclosed, and temporary chambers for the Commons and Senate installed.

[edit] Major events

Pierre Trudeau lying in state
Pierre Trudeau lying in state
Canada's 9/11 Memorial Service
Canada's 9/11 Memorial Service

Every July 1, Canadians gather on Parliament Hill to celebrate Canada Day. During the summer months, people gather to watch the Changing of the Guard on the lawn in front of the Parliament Buildings. A similar ceremony is also performed at Rideau Hall, the Governor General's residence.

Among the major events Parliament Hill has hosted:

[edit] Statues and monuments

Other memorials on Parliament Hill include:

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Library of Paliament 2002-2006 Renovations
  2. ^ Trudeau: 1919-2000, video
  3. ^ CBC Video Clip
  4. ^ Archives - Paul Martin
  5. ^ CNN LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER, Interview With Paul Martin

[edit] External links

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