East Block

The East Block: Witness to History
Preserving the East Block

Today, the East Block contains many senators' offices, as well as some rooms re-created in the style of the early years of Confederation.

The East Block on Parliament Hill was built in two stages. The main section went up in the mid-1800s at the same time as the West Block and the original Centre Block. Then, in 1910, a wing was added to the rear. The purpose, style and appearance of the 1910 wing were quite different from those of the earlier structures. Today's conservation and renovation work aims to preserve the distinctive characteristics of both sections.

The East Block: Witness to History

The original East Block was once the domain of some famous Canadians. Indeed, Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier had offices in this block, as did a number of Governors General and members of the Privy Council.

When the 1910 wing was added, in effect linking the two ends of the original building and enclosing a courtyard, the intent was to provide space for government employees, not legislators and their staff. Consequently, this section is less ornate than the rest of the building. Nevertheless, parliamentary functions gradually encroached.

The 1910 wing had 6 massive vaults, originally used for storing the nation's financial treasures before the Bank of Canada was constructed. Rumours have circulated for years that gold was once kept here. The vaults have been converted to office space, but the original doors have been preserved.

Preserving the East Block

In the fall of 1997, renovations to the 1910 wing of the East Block (the northeast section, facing the Rideau Canal) were completed. Renovations comprised rebuilding the interior of the wing and restoring the masonry and roof.

The 1910 wing had never been modernized prior to this. Before this work was done, the wing had been mostly unoccupied and uninhabitable. Much work needed to be done on the masonry, which was damaged by moisture, freezing and thawing, and earth tremors.

Most of the washrooms were of 1910 vintage. Mechanical systems were ancient. Electricity was installed at a time when computers, fax machines and photocopiers only quickened the imagination of science fiction writers. All of this needed to be upgraded.

Since an extensive restoration was necessary, it was essential to remove asbestos-reinforced plaster from the 1910 wing.

• Completed: fall 1997.