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The Government of Canada provides official residences for the Governor General, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, and the Speaker of the House of Commons. In addition, the Government owns and manages an official guest house for visiting foreign dignitaries. |
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The official residences in Canada’s Capital are owned and operated by the National Capital Commission. Rideau Hall, the home of the Governor General, is the only official residence open for public visits. Public Works and Government Services Canada provides the same role for The Citadelle, the Governor General's historic second residence in Quebec City. Please choose one of the following options for more information.
Fast Facts
Rideau Hall - One Sussex Drive, OttawaRideau Hall is the official residence of the Governor General of Canada. In Canada's parliamentary democracy, the Governor General represents Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State.
Since Confederation in 1867, all Governors General have lived at Rideau Hall. The 79 acre estate features the residence, service buildings, a visitor centre, and extensive grounds and gardens. The property is assessed at approximately $47,600,000.The grounds feature more than 80 trees planted by visiting foreign leaders as well as distinctly Canadian points of interest like an Inukshuk. As the official residence of the Governor General, Rideau Hall is a place of dignity, grace and tradition. It also provides a warm welcome to visitors. Unless an official function is taking place, visitors are welcome on the Rideau Hall grounds year-round. Depending on the time of the year, you can:
In 1867, it was acquired by the newly formed Government of Canada as the official residence for Governor General Monck. Since then, the stone building has been enlarged to fulfill the needs of official events with large numbers of guests. One interesting feature is the "Tent Room", a wing that originally housed an indoor tennis court and has kept its tent character through the years. Rideau Hall is not only a residence, it is also a workplace. Here the Governor General carries out many constitutional, diplomatic, and ceremonial duties. The Governor General is an integral part of Parliament and some of his/her parliamentary duties are carried out at Rideau Hall. For example, the Governor General is responsible for ensuring that Canada always has a Prime Minister. After an election, the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers take the oath of office at Rideau Hall. Another key task involves international relations. Before diplomats can work in Canada, they must present their credentials to the Governor General in a formal ceremony in the ballroom of Rideau Hall. Canada maintains diplomatic relations with more than 100 countries, so receiving letters of commission and credence is an ongoing task. The residence comprises 88 acres of grounds, the main building with about 175 rooms covering approximately 95,000 square feet plus 24 outbuildings. About 5000 square feet in the main building are used for the private areas; the remaining 90,000 square feet are state, service, and administrative areas. Rideau Cottage (part of the grounds of Rideau Hall - One Sussex Drive, Ottawa)
Rideau Cottage is a generously scaled, Georgian Revival brick house located within the grounds of the Rideau Hall complex in Ottawa. It is historically significant for its role as an ancillary building at Rideau Hall and is intimately connected with the administrative machinery of the governor generalship. The building was constructed as a residence for the Secretary to the Governor General and is within easy walking distance of the Hall. The Secretary supports the Governor General in delivering his/her mandate and in fulfilling his/her constitutional, state, ceremonial and other traditional responsibilities. The residence has been the home of the Secretary or Military Attaché to all Governors General.In 2015, Prime Minister Trudeau decided not to move into Gorffwysfa, the official Residence of the Prime Minister, while decisions were made about potential renovations to that house. Instead, a decision was made for Prime Minister Trudeau and his family to move into Rideau Cottage. Then Secretary to the Governor General, Stephen Wallace, was involved in the decision and "graciously" accepted to be relocated to a nearby location. Rideau Cottage is approximately 10,000 square feet in size. The Citadelle - One Côte de la Citadelle, Quebec
Set on the heights of Cap Diamant in Quebec, The Citadelle is one of Canada's most formidable military works. The French government began an extensive fortress here that was not finished when the city fell to British forces in 1759. They redesigned and expanded the original plan, completing the ramparts in 1831 and most of The major buildings within the walls by the 1850s.In 1820, Lieutenant-Colonet Elias Walker Durnford of the Royal Engineers took charge of the construction of The Citadelle of Quebec, which completed the city's defensive works begun during the French regime. Set on the heights of Cap-Aux-Diamants, The Citadelle dominated the town, harbour and the surrounding countryside. The ramparts were completed in 1831, and the major buildings within the walls about 1850. The walls also contain Frontenac's 1693 redoubt and a 1750 powder magazine. Since 1872, The Citadelle has been an official residence of the Governor General of Canada, who spends the summer months of each year here. The residence is comprised of 153 rooms covering approximately 48,000 square feet. Gorffwysfa - 24 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
This house was built in 1866 by mill owner and Member of Parliament, Joseph Merrill Currier, as a wedding gift to his bride Hannah. He called the home, "Gorffwysfa," a Welsh word meaning place of peace. The home became the official residence for the Prime Minister in 1951. Part of the house is reserved for the use of the family. The other part is where the prime minister welcomes official guests for public functions. These rooms are decorated and furnished in keeping with their important public function. The first Prime Minister to live there was The Right Honourable Louis St. Laurent. Since his time, all Prime Ministers have lived at 24 Sussex Drive during their time in office. The property is 3.98 acres in size was is assessed at approximately $7,400,000 in 2008. The one main building has 34 rooms covering approximately 12,000 square feet, and there are four outbuildings. In 2015, Prime Minister Trudeau decided not to move into Gorffwysfa, the official Residence of the Prime Minister, while decisions were made about potential renovations to that house. It is considered in poor condition, but there is political hesitiation to be seen spending money on fixing up the residence. Harrington Lake/Lac Mousseau - 950 Chemin du Lac Meech, Chelsea
This country property is situated in Gatineau Park and was originally acquired as part of the federal government’s efforts to protect the forested natural areas around the Capital.When The Right Honourable John Diefenbaker, who hailed from Saskatchewan, became Prime Minister, several of his supporters suggested that he should have a country retreat near the Capital. Mr. Diefenbaker needed convincing. When he was taken on a tour of the property, the caretaker was instructed "to be sure Mr. Diefenbaker caught a trout." He did, and in 1959, Harrington Lake became an official country residence for the Prime Minister. The property comprises 13 acres of grounds, one main building with 16 rooms covering approximately 8300 square feet, and eight outbuildings. The Farm - 15 Barnes Road, Chelsea
The Farm, located in Gatineau Park, was an old farmstead dating back to the 19th century. In 1927, it was purchased privately by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King as part of his country retreat at Kingsmere Lake.At The Farm, King indulged himself as a "gentleman farmer" with cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, orchards, gardens, and bees. The contact with the land and nature was a welcome and necessary relief from the stress of public life. In 1935, King renovated The Farm as a year-round country retreat. When he died, he bequeathed the property to the Government of Canada in hopes that other public figures would enjoy it as much as he had. It now serves as the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons. The Farm is comprised of more than four acres of grounds, has one main building with 11 rooms covering approximately 5000 square feet, and five outbuildings. Stornoway - 541 Acacia Avenue, Ottawa
This house was built in 1914 by Asconio Joseph, an Ottawa grocer. It was given the name "Stornoway" by its next residents, the Perley Robertsons, after the ancestral home of the Perley family in the Outer Hebrides. Stornoway is known for its role as a refuge during the Second World War for Princess Juliana of the Netherlands and her daughters, one of whom was born in Ottawa.The house became a residence for the Official Leader of the Opposition in 1950, after concerned citizens raised money for this purpose. For twenty years, it was maintained by donations; in 1970, it was acquired by the Government of Canada for one dollar. It is situated on a one acre lot at 541 Acacia Avenue in Ottawa and is assessed at approximately $4,225,000. The one main building has 34 rooms covering approximately 9500 square feet and there is one outbuilding. Edgewood - 7 Rideau Gate, Ottawa
Canada’s official guest house offers a home-away-from-home for foreign dignitaries. It is located across the street from the residences of the Governor General and the Prime Minister and serves as a pied-à-terre in the Capital for official visitors. The house was built in 1862 by Henry Osgoode Burritt, an Ottawa mill-owner. It saw many different occupants, including several generations of the Lambart family before being acquired by the federal government in 1966 as an official guest house. In 1989, the house was restored and refurnished to function more efficiently as a guest house and to better reflect its own history. It is now a showcase for Canadian antiques and decorative arts. The property is located at 7 Rideau Gate, is approximately one-half acre in size and was assessed in the early 2000s at approximately $1,111,000. Edgewood is just the one main building with 30 rooms covering approximately 8500 square feet |
