HomeThere are six official residences in the Capital region. These are heritage buildings — all designated by the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office — that house some of Canada’s most senior officials:
Rideau Hall
(Residence of the Governor General, representative of the Queen as Canada’s head of state)
Built as a country villa in 1838 by local industrialist Thomas McKay, Rideau Hall is now a landmark on Confederation Boulevard and a place associated with many historical events and personalities. In 1857, when Ottawa was chosen as capital of the new Province of Canada, the villa was rented as a residence for the first Governor General to come to Ottawa. It was later purchased outright and was gradually enlarged. Rideau Hall is a National Historic Site (designated by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board in 1977). The Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office also recognizes it, along with its 32 hectares of grounds, as a Classified Heritage Building.
Location: 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
24 Sussex Drive
(Residence of the Prime Minister)
This fine old limestone structure was built in 1868 as a residence for a local lumber baron. The government acquired the house in 1943 and transformed it into an official residence for the Canadian Prime Minister in 1949. The building is important in heritage terms because of its associations with generation after generation of leader. Also, as a building, it strongly reinforces the character of the neighbourhood. Though the house has been much altered over the years, it stands in unchanged relationship to the landscape, with sweeping views of the Ottawa River.
Location: 24 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
Harrington Lake (lac Mousseau)
(Country residence of the Prime Minister)
The Harrington Lake house was built in 1925 as a country house for Ottawa lumber baron, Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron Edwards. Its rustic design, with stone fireplaces and open verandas, was typical of cottages of the period. Since 1959, Canadian prime ministers have used the house as a country retreat.
Location: Gatineau Park, Gatineau
The Farm at Kingsmere
(Residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons)
The Farm represents the third phase of development on Mackenzie King Estate (following King’s purchase of a modest lakeside cottage in 1903 and the larger Moorside in 1924) and was the first house on the estate that could be lived in summer and winter. Originally a pioneer homestead, The Farm and its outbuildings were purchased by Prime Minister Mackenzie King in 1927 and converted in the 1930s into a comfortable year-round residence. It was here that King died in 1950 after serving an unprecedented 22 years as Canada’s prime minister. Since 1955, the Farm has been the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Location: Gatineau Park, Gatineau
Stornoway
(Residence of the Leader of the Opposition)
Stornoway was designed and built in 1914 by architect Allan Keefer, great grandson of Thomas McKay (builder of another official residence, Rideau Hall). In 1950, a citizens’ group set up a trust to buy Stornoway as a residence for the Leader of the Opposition. The Canadian government purchased it from the trust in 1970. Inhabited over the years by successive Leaders of the Opposition, Stornoway has strong associations with many Canadian history-makers. It is also contributes strongly to the character and dignity of its setting.
Location: 541 Acacia Avenue, Ottawa
7 Rideau Gate
(Official Guest House of the Canadian government)
The building that now serves as Official Guest House of the Canadian government was built in 1861–62 and is typical of Ottawa as it was at the time. Acquired by the Canadian government in 1966, 7 Rideau Gate was previously occupied by five successive families that were prominent in Ottawa society. With its neighbours — Rideau Hall, 24 Sussex Drive, the South-African Embassy, the French Embassy — 7 Rideau Gate is part of an enclave of official residences and international buildings at the east end of what is now Confederation Boulevard.
Location: 7 Rideau Gate, Ottawa
The ownership and responsiblity for these six official residences was transferred to the NCC in January 1988. The NCC is responsible for:
- property management activities
- maintenance of the grounds and gardens
- curatorial and interior-design services
- greenhouse services
- long-term planning for capital works
Management of the Interiors
In 1991, the NCC introduced a new differentiation between public rooms in official residences — places where officials act on behalf of the Canadian state — and private areas. Today, public or state rooms are managed to support official functions and events, and are decorated to reflect Canadian heritage, history and culture. Private rooms are managed to support the needs of the occupants and their families.