Office of Sir John A. Macdonald

Explore the East Block's historical office of Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald as re-created in the style of the early years of the Confederation.

This large room was Sir John A. Macdonald's office from 1866-73, and again from 1878-83. It has been restored to its appearance at a critical moment in Macdonald's career, the Pacific Scandal, which cost him the election of 1873.

This beautiful corner office has large gothic windows with stained glass in the south and west walls. Its heavy ceiling mouldings incorporate ornamental plant designs picked out in vibrant colours, and the large glazed oak door is framed with carved mouldings. In the hierarchy of office design, this room is at the top. There were several other offices of the same size with similar details in the East Block, all of them occupied by ministers or senior bureaucrats.

The furnishings and fittings of Macdonald's office show us what a modern executive's chambers would be like in 1872. Despite the huge windows, the light was often dim, so that large gas lamps were essential for working late into the evening, as Macdonald frequently did. The central heating plant of the East Block could maintain a reliable temperature of only 11 C during the long winter session. Each office was equipped with a hearth to make it more tolerable. A call buzzer hangs from the ceiling over the desk, used to summon his clerk.

Several of the furnishings in the room belonged to Sir John A. Macdonald, or are original to the East Block. Of special note is the fine "Partners' Desk" used by Macdonald when he occupied the office. The tufted horsehair sofa dates to the same period, and was used by Pierre Trudeau in his office across the street in the Langevin Block. Many other pieces of furniture were collected by the restoration team to recreate the 19th century ambiance of this room, including an antique clock which ticks quietly in the background, and must be wound daily to maintain the effect.