RESTORATION, 1966 TO PRESENT

Canada Day 1967
East Block Museum Rooms
Peace Tower Renovations
1990s Centre Block Restoration
2000 Death of Pierre Elliot Trudeau
The Long-Term Vision and Plan for Parliament Hill

Canada Day 1967

Canada's 100th anniversary was a huge birthday party. The celebration went on all year, all across the country. Parliament Hill was celebrated as a symbol of our heritage, while Expo '67 in Montreal was the symbol of the future.

At the stroke of midnight marking the start of the year, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson lit the Centennial Flame, a fountain on Parliament Hill that was decorated with the coats of arms of the provinces and territories. The flame was supposed to be taken away again when the celebrations were over but it has become a permanent and very popular feature on the Hill.

On July 1st, thousands gathered on Parliament Hill to celebrate. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth was there, along with other dignitaries, politicians, and celebrities. It was a magical, exciting time for Canada. Canadians were discovering their rich history, celebrating their accomplishments and looking forward to a bright future.

East Block Museum Rooms

National Archives of Canada, C-000991

The East Block is one of Canada's most beautiful and historic buildings but it was also an office building. The same rooms that Sir John A. Macdonald and his contemporaries had used were still occupied more than a century later by Prime Ministers, politicians and bureaucrats. Like many old buildings, the East Block had been "modernized," and every available space had been pressed into service for offices. One staircase was even blocked off and turned into work space! It was looking pretty tired and ordinary.

In 1976, the Prime Minister's Office moved from the East Block into the Langevin Block.

The East Block's most important rooms were about to be painstakingly restored to their former glory. Using old photographs and written records, the restoration team researched every tiny detail. They found original furniture, recreated the wallpaper, and carefully scraped through years of paint to discover original colours. They made the lighting dim to match gaslight and made sure each room had an old wall clock ticking quietly in the background.

The restored offices are now open as museum rooms so that Canadians can experience what it was like to visit Parliament Hill 125 years ago. The Privy Council Chamber, where the cabinet met, a clerk's office and the offices of Sir John A. Macdonald, Georges étienne Cartier and Lord Dufferin take visitors back to a time when Canada was just beginning a new phase of her history.

Peace Tower Renovations

By 1980, the Peace Tower was more than 50 years old, and in need of repairs. Since 1927 the observation deck at the top of the tower was a popular destination for visitors. Unfortunately, they could only go part of the way up by elevator because the carillon was in the way! If you were unable to climb the stairs, you were out of luck.

A brilliant solution was found: an elevator that could actually go around the bells. The world's first slanting elevator was installed as part of a huge renovation project. The carillon was also removed and reconditioned. The observation deck below the clock was enclosed to protect visitors from the howling winds that are so common on the Hill. Most of the interior of the tower above the Memorial Chamber was removed to do the work.

When the Peace Tower was reopened, visitors could ride all the way to the top. Along the way, they could now see the bells of the carillon through a window in the elevator cab. The view from the top is a spectacular panorama of the city, the Gatineau Hills in Quebec, and the Ottawa River. It is also the best place to see the four monstrous gargoyles that stick out from the corners of the tower.

1990s Centre Block Restoration

© Fern Graham

The maintenance of the Centre Block is an ongoing job, but once every century or so major work must be done. Visitors to the Hill during this period must have been frustrated to find the Centre Block completely covered in scaffolding as masons and conservation experts swarmed over the building, cleaning, repairing and replacing stone that had been in place for 75 years.

Old buildings were built differently and they have special repair problems. The mortar between the stones breaks down and must be replaced from time to time. This is called repointing. Chemicals in the air can blacken or discolour the stone. Cleaning the stone without damaging the beautiful carvings takes time and care. Copper is one of the most durable roofing materials available but even copper will wear out over time. Much of the roof was replaced with shiny new metal. It looked very strange for several years but it is gradually turning green.

© FernGraham

2000 Death of Pierre Elliot Trudeau

The lawn of the Parliament Buildings served as the national gathering place as thousands of Canadians from all walks of life and every political stripe stood in eerie silence waiting for a chance to pay their final respects to former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Parliament Hill has always been a place where Canadians have gathered to mourn, to celebrate, to rally and to protest. It stretches back to 1865 when Victoria's birthday was celebrated there, with the public huddled on boardwalks to avoid the mud.

Over the years there have been many great events marked on the Hill: the funerals of statesmen, e.g. Sir John A. Macdonald, William Lyon Mackenzie King, Georges P. Vanier, and Lester B. Pearson, the deaths of a queen and kings, coronations and Royal Visits. Jubilees, remembrance, declarations of war and peace and moments of uncertainty such as the October Crisis and the Quebec Referendum have brought Canadians to Parliament Hill. Events of great national pride, e.g. Newfoundland's entry into Confederation and the Patriation of the Constitution have all been celebrated on the Hill.

The lawn in front of the Centre Block has turned into a public forum for Canadians. Like the old-fashioned village common, it is a place where we meet as neighbours and participate in the life of the nation.

The Long-Term Vision and Plan for Parliament Hill

As Canada moves into the 21st century, there is a real challenge for Parliament Hill. Designed in the mid 19th century, when "high tech" was a horse-drawn streetcar, the Parliament Buildings in 2002 are expected to provide all the modern conveniences in a secure setting.

The business of government has also grown. The buildings that were supposedly going to be too big for 200 years are bursting at the seams with Senators, Members of Parliament, the Library, civil servants, the media and visitor services.

Other changes have happened in the past 150 years. Things that weren't issues in 1860, or even 1920 are very important now, e.g. access for people with limited mobility, security, parking, heritage preservation, and visitor services.

In order to preserve the best of the past and to carry on the work of government in the present, the government has adopted a plan for rehabilitating Parliament Hill. The Long-Term Vision and Plan will guide renovation and construction over the next 25 years to provide new offices and committee rooms, to enhance the heritage character of the Hill and to preserve this great symbol of Canadian democracy.

The Long Term Vision and Plan addresses the needs of everyone who comes to the Hill whether to work in government, visit the historic site or to take part in public events. The goal of the Long-Term Vision and Plan is to make sure that Parliament Hill continues to be a place that all Canadians can enjoy a safe and efficient place to carry out the work of government.

More details about the Long-Term Vision and Plan.