Few symbols are as evocative of Canada as the Parliament Buildings. Flanked by the East and West blocks, the Centre Block of Parliament--with its distinctive Peace Tower and Library--is familiar to Canadians and people around the world. Although the buildings are alive with the drama of modern day debates, the echoes of times and personalities long since past still linger in the chambers and halls.
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| The West Block | The East Block |
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Today's Parliament Buildings
The image to the right is a live shot of Parliament Hill! It is a camera located across Wellington Street that uploads the latest picture every minute to the internet.
- Construction - 1916-1922 (except the Tower)
- Architects - John A. Pearson and J.O. Marchand
- Contractors - P. Lyall & Sons Construction Ltd.
- Cornerstone - September 1, 1916, relaid by the Governor General, the Duke of Connaught
- Cost - $12,379,846
- Style - Gothic
- First Sitting - February 26, 1920
- Peace Tower
- Construction - 1919-1927
- Cornerstone - September 1, 1919 laid by Edward, Prince of Wales
- Inauguration of the carillon - July 1, 1927
- Renovation - 1980-1982
The Original Parliament Buildings
- Construction - 1859-1866 (except Library and Tower)
- Architects - Thomas Fuller and Chilion Jones
- Contractor - Thomas McGreevy
- Cornerstone - Laid by the Prince of Wales, September 1, 1860
- Cost - $1,750,720 (includes Library and Tower)
- Style - Gothic
- First Sitting - June 8, 1866
- Extension - Northwest wing, 1906-1909
- Tower - Victoria Tower completed 1878
- Destruction of the original building - February 3, 1916
A fire started in the reading room at 8:57 p.m. and spread throughout the building with the exception of the new northwest wing and the Library of Parliament. The fire claimed seven victims. The Nature Museum at Metcalfe and McLeod Streets housed the Senate and the House of Commons during construction of the new building.
The Parliamentary Library
- Construction - 1859-1861, 1870-1876
- Architects
- Thomas Fuller and Chilion Jones (1859-1861)
- Thomas S. Scott (1870-1876)
- Contractors
- Thomas McGreevy (1859-1861)
- Robert H. McGreevy (1870-1876)
- Cost - $304,858.51
- Official opening - February 28, 1876
- Style - Italian-Gothic
- Fire - August 4, 1952
- Restoration - 1953-1956
- Architects - E.A. Gardner, Mathers & Haldenby
- Contractor - Angus Robertson Ltd., Montreal
- Woodwork restoration - G.H. Randall Co., Montreal
- Cost - $2,398,000
- Official reopening - June 19, 1956
SOURCE: Government of Canada.
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