Cartier Square Drill Hall The Drill Hall at Cartier Square is a dedicated military training facility in Ottawa , Ontario , Canada . It has been a local landmark since its construction in 1879 . The drill hall is long and has two tall mansard towers . The hall is located on the bank of the Rideau Canal just south of Laurier Avenue . The area to the west was once a large open field used for drilling , but today is the location of the Ottawa City Hall and courthouse . Architecture . The building was designed by Thomas Seaton Scott , first Chief Architect of the Dominion of Canada . The building is a rare surviving example of a military training facility built in the immediate post - confederation era when establishing a military presence and asserting the role of the federal government were important government aims . Units . The building was designed to house The Governor General ' s Foot Guards ( GGFG ) and elements of the 43rd " Ottawa and Carleton " Battalion of Rifles ( later named The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa ( Duke of Edinburgh ' s Own ) ) . In the Canadian Forces , an armoury is a place where a reserve unit trains , meets , and parades . Today the Drill Hall remains home to the GGFG and The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa ( Duke of Edinburgh ' s Own ) . Both of these units are active components of Canada ’ s Primary Reserve s , providing trained volunteer soldiers to augment the Regular Army in peace and war . Each day during the summer months , it is from the Drill Hall that the Ceremonial Guard departs to initiate the Changing the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill . 2784 Governor General ' s Foot Guards , Royal Canadian Army Cadets , also parade at Cartier Square Drill Hall on Wednesday evenings from 1800 to approx . 2100 hrs . History . For over 125 years , the Drill Hall at Cartier Square has been at the centre of military mobilization and training for soldiers recruited from the Ottawa - Carleton area , overseeing soldiers deployed for service in : Sculpture . A statue dedicated to Privates William B . Osgoode and John Rogers , who were killed during the Battle of Cutknife Hill on 2 May 1885 during the North - West Rebellion , was moved to Cartier Square Drill Hall in 2006 from Confederation Park . Unveilled on May 2 , 1887 , a tablet is also dedicated to the memory of Privates J . Rogers and Wm . B . Osgood . Parade Square . The Parade Square provides ample area for training at the section , platoon and company level and it is often loaned out to a wide variety of civilian organizations to hold large dinners and entertainment events such as the City of Ottawa Christmas Party , the Ottawa Heritage Ball , and the Ottawa Garrison Ball . Officer ` s Mess . The Officers ' Mess is used by both the Governor General ' s Foot Guards and The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa ( Duke of Edinburgh ' s Own ) . Originally constructed in the 19th Century for the officers of the Foot Guards , the mess was the scene of Sir Sam Hughes ' ( the Minister of Militia and Defence at the time ) declaration of war by Canada in 1914 . In addition to an extensive art and regimental silver collection , the mess also houses the current Queen ' s and Regimental Colours of both regiments . in London on 15 October 1917 .