24 Sussex Drive | National Capital Commission 24 Sussex Drive | National Capital Commission 24 Sussex Drive 24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of Canada’s prime minister The house at 24 Sussex Drive is the official residence of Canada’s prime minister. Part of the house is reserved for the use of the family. The other part, which is public, belongs to the nation. This is where the prime minister welcomes guests and associates for public functions. These rooms are decorated and furnished in keeping with their important public function. The house was built in 1868. Its first three owners were prominent figures, successful businessmen and members of Parliament. From early on, the house has welcomed the political elite of Canada. Purchased by the government, it was refurbished as an official residence for the prime minister in 1950. The residence is not open to the public. However, there is a virtual tour of the residence. Virtual Tour of 24 Sussex Drive History Place of Peace Canada in the early 19th century was a magnet for young, ambitious immigrants. One of these was young Joseph Merrill Currier from Vermont.

He came to Ottawa in 1837 at age 17, and stayed to make a fortune in the lumber trade. In 1868, as a wedding gift to his third wife, Hannah, he built a house near the forests and water that had made his fortune. He called the house Gorffwysfa, which means “place of peace” in Welsh. Politics and business After the death of Hannah Currier in 1901, the house passed into the hands of William Cameron Edwards, member of another prominent lumbering family. Like the first owner, Edwards was both a successful businessman and a prominent politician. From 1893 on, his company owned all the mills east of Rideau Falls, and he turned them into an important wood-manufacturing complex. Edwards also served as a member of Parliament from 1891 to 1900, after which he was appointed senator. When Edwards died in 1921, the house eventually passed to a nephew, Gordon Edwards, who became a member of Parliament for Ottawa in 1926. Expropriation The battle to bring 24 Sussex into public hands was long and hard-fought.

By 1943, the federal government owned almost all the land stretching along the Ottawa River from the French Embassy to Earnscliffe (former home of Sir John A. Macdonald). There were fears at the time that the shoreline would be “commercialized,” which the government wanted to prevent at all costs. In 1943, an eviction notice was served on Gordon Edwards, who spent the last few years of his life fighting the order. The government won the dispute but, even after the courts settled the matter in 1946, it seemed uncertain what to do with the house. In 1950, a decision was finally taken to refurbish the property as a residence for the prime minister. This was the era of rampant “modernism” and, during the renovations, many Victorian features of the house — both inside and out — were removed, including bay windows, wood panelling, several fine fireplaces and elaborate wooden trim. Official Life The last thing Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent wanted in 1950 was an official residence. St. Laurent finally consented to move in, however, as long as he could continue to pay rent (a practice that continued until 1971).

Since then, the house has been occupied by a succession of government leaders, including John Diefenbaker, Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The list of visitors is even more glittering: people such as Sir Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, and John and Jacqueline Kennedy, to name a few. Today The house has changed relatively little since 1950, except for the addition of a windowed sunroom at the back, modernization of the kitchen, and the addition of an enclosed pool and sauna. Since 1986, 24 Sussex Drive has been managed by the NCC, which is now planning a long-term rehabilitation project to ensure that this valuable old heritage building remains in optimal condition. The work will continue in years to come. « About: 24 Sussex Drive About: 24 Sussex Drive An Entity of Type : architectural structure , from Named Graph : , within Data Space : dbpedia.org 24 Sussex Drive, originally called Gorffwysfa and usually referred to simply as 24 Sussex, is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada, located in the New Edinburgh neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario.

Built between 1866 and 1868 by Joseph Merrill Currier, it has been the official home of the Prime Minister of Canada since 1951. It is one of two official residences made available to the prime minister, the Harrington Lake estate in nearby Gatineau Park being the other. Property abstract 24 Sussex Drive, originally called Gorffwysfa and usually referred to simply as 24 Sussex, is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada, located in the New Edinburgh neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario. Built between 1866 and 1868 by Joseph Merrill Currier, it has been the official home of the Prime Minister of Canada since 1951. It is one of two official residences made available to the prime minister, the Harrington Lake estate in nearby Gatineau Park being the other. As of January 2016, the residence is unoccupied as the National Capital Commission is drafting plans for necessary major renovations. (en) Le 24, promenade Sussex, à Ottawa, est l'adresse de la résidence officielle du premier ministre du Canada.

Située sur les rives de la rivière des Outaouais, elle a vue sur la ville de Gatineau, au Québec. Elle est située à côté de l'Ambassade de France au Canada, face au Haut-Commissariat de l'Afrique du Sud, et à quelques pas de Rideau Hall, la résidence du Gouverneur général du Canada. La résidence est située dans un quartier cossu de la capitale du Canada, mais pas dans le centre administratif de la capitale où se trouve les bureaux du premier ministre, dans l'édifice Langevin. (fr) 24 Sussex Drive (auch als Gorffwysfa bekannt, fr. 24, promenade Sussex) ist die offizielle Residenz des kanadischen Premierministers. Es befindet sich in der Hauptstadt Ottawa im Stadtteil New Edinburgh, nördlich der Mündung des Rideau-Flusses in den Ottawa. Erbaut wurde es zwischen 1866 und 1868 von Joseph Merrill Currier. 1950 war Louis Saint-Laurent der erste Premierminister, der hier einzog.

(de) 加拿大总理官邸（英语：24 Sussex Drive，法语：24, promenade Sussex，亦有威尔士语别称Gorffwysfa，意为“休憩之地”或“安息所”）位于加拿大渥太华萨塞克斯路24号。 (zh) The Prime Minister of Canada (en) comment Le 24, promenade Sussex, à Ottawa, est l'adresse de la résidence officielle du premier ministre du Canada. Située sur les rives de la rivière des Outaouais, elle a vue sur la ville de Gatineau, au Québec. Elle est située à côté de l'Ambassade de France au Canada, face au Haut-Commissariat de l'Afrique du Sud, et à quelques pas de Rideau Hall, la résidence du Gouverneur général du Canada. La résidence est située dans un quartier cossu de la capitale du Canada, mais pas dans le centre administratif de la capitale où se trouve les bureaux du premier ministre, dans l'édifice Langevin.

(fr) 24 Sussex Drive (auch als Gorffwysfa bekannt, fr. 24, promenade Sussex) ist die offizielle Residenz des kanadischen Premierministers. Es befindet sich in der Hauptstadt Ottawa im Stadtteil New Edinburgh, nördlich der Mündung des Rideau-Flusses in den Ottawa. Erbaut wurde es zwischen 1866 und 1868 von Joseph Merrill Currier. 1950 war Louis Saint-Laurent der erste Premierminister, der hier einzog. (de) 24 Sussex Drive : definition of 24 Sussex Drive and synonyms of 24 Sussex Drive (English) 5 External links History The house at 24 Sussex Drive was originally commissioned in 1866 by lumberman and Member of Parliament Joseph Merrill Currier as a wedding gift for his wife to be. [1] He named it Gorffwysfa, Welsh for "place of rest." In 1943, the federal Crown used its sovereign power of expropriation to divest Gordon Edwards of his title to the house, in order to put it to its current use.

Edwards had fought the action, but eventually lost the dispute with the Canadian government in 1946 and died at the house later that year. [2] Louis St. Laurent became the first prime minister to take up residence there in 1951. Except for Kim Campbell , every prime minister since that date has resided at 24 Sussex Drive for the duration of their mandates ; previous prime ministers lived at a variety of locations around Ottawa: Sir Wilfrid Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King , for instance, lived at Laurier House in Sandy Hill when they were prime minister. Laurier House was willed to the Crown upon Mackenzie King's death in 1950 and was thus also available for designation as the prime minister's official residence at the time. Security at 24 Sussex was overhauled following a November 1995 attempted assassination by André Dallaire , who wandered around the house and grounds for nearly an hour before being confronted outside Jean Chrétien 's bedroom by the Prime Minister's wife, Aline ; she locked the door to the bedroom while Chrétien guarded it with an Inuit stone carving. Ultimately, Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers arrested Dallaire.

Measures put in place after the attempted assassination include the addition of several more guards to the house's attache, the installation of crash-proof barriers within the main gates, and the addition of several more security cameras. [3] Despite the building not having any bureaucratic function, it has been the location of protests, such as when farmers drove their tractors in a convoy past the front of the property in 2006, [4] and when Greenpeace activists chained themselves to the front gates in March 2007. [5] Architecture and use 24 Sussex is a large limestone structure of 34 rooms spread over four floors, set on 1.6 hectares (4.0 acres) on the edge of the Ottawa River , next door to the French embassy and opposite the main entrance to Rideau Hall . Unlike 10 Downing Street or the White House , it is used almost exclusively as a place of residence; the prime minister's work is carried out in the Langevin Block , near Parliament Hill , though informal meetings between the prime minister and other government or foreign officials may take place in the residence [6] (foreign heads of state on state visits are officially received by the Governor General of Canada at Rideau Hall).

RCMP and security officers at the residence The residence is spread on four floors, from the basement to the third floor. The basement consists of support rooms, including the laundry room . The main floor of the residence includes the dining room , which is used for both official and unofficial dinners, the living room , the kitchen , which is staffed by a head chef and various support staff, the main stair hall, the prime minister's library , and a sun room. The second floor is mostly bedrooms, and includes the master bedroom; however, the prime minister's spouse's office is also on this floor. The third floor contains additional bedrooms, as well as a private study for the prime minister. The National Capital Commission maintains a selection of historic furnishings from the Crown Collection for use in the public rooms of the mansion, ranging from musical instruments to chairs and tables to paintings by famous Canadians. Due to the lack of restraints on the prime minister of the day to do what he/she pleases with the mansion, several prime ministers have left their own marks on the building; for example, unnamed business associates of Pierre Trudeau installed a swimming pool for his frequent workouts.

Being the first to publicly reveal the renovation costs, the high tab for Brian and Mila Mulroney 's changes to the building caused political controversy, especially when some of the costs were paid for from the PC Canada Fund, which raised money from individual donations to fund the Progressive Conservative Party . 24 Sussex Drive, front view in winter Since then, very little has been spent on renovating the building, leaving parts of it somewhat tattered and outdated. Most notable is the leopard spot carpet Mila Mulroney put on the staircase, which was only recently removed by the current occupants, Stephen Harper and his family. The house lacks central air conditioning and is cooled by a series of window-mounted air conditioners. In November 2004, Prime Minister Paul Martin complained about the house's heating system. According to his statement, the century-old house gets "too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer." Harper moved in on February 9, 2006, and has said he may move out temporarily during a future summer, so that renovations may be done.

On May 6, 2008, the Auditor General reported that the house is in poor condition and needs about $10 million in repairs and upgrades, which would require at least 12 to 15 months of "full access" to complete. [7] See also How the PM's residence became a nightmare at 24 Sussex - Macleans.ca Email The Canadian prime ministers’ residence, 24 Sussex, is seen on the banks of the Ottawa River in Ottawa on Oct. 26, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Given the tortuous history of 24 Sussex Dr., there’s delicious irony in the fact that Margaret Trudeau—whose disdain for the country’s most famous address is legend—was the one to announce that her eldest son was not moving his family into the Prime Minister’s official residence. A “large, cold, grey mansion,” is how the former wife of prime minister Pierre Trudeau described the place in her 1979 memoir, Beyond Reason, which chronicled the claustrophobia of life in the heavily guarded 34-room house.

She was more caustic this summer, calling it the “crown jewel of the federal penitentiary system” on The Residences: Inside 24 Sussex—Home of Canada’s Prime Minister, an upbeat documentary hosted by Catherine Clark, daughter of former prime minister Joe Clark. It’s a good line, if overly generous. For if Canadian prison inmates were expected to live in a firetrap with no fire-suppression system, next to asbestos, radon gas and mould, human rights groups would protest, and rightly so. Yet for years, it’s been no secret that the home of 10 prime ministers was not merely deficient but dangerous, a property standard insurance companies would not typically cover. Maureen McTeer, Joe Clark’s wife, spoke of electrical circuits overloading. Paul Martin’s wife, Sheila, reported severe drafts in winter. That complaint, and word of similar problems in the Chrétien years, inspired political satirist Rick Mercer to film a segment in 2005, in which he goes to Canadian Tire with prime minister Paul Martin to buy plastic window insulation.

The house’s decrepitude became public in 2008, when then-auditor general Sheila Fraser announced that renovations to the heritage-designated building, a federal government-owned property managed by the National Capital Commission (NCC), were urgently required to repair cracked windows, 50-year-old knob-and-tube wiring, deficient plumbing, a leaky roof, old window air conditioners, a lack of universal disabled access, and “not functional” laundries. The work, estimated to cost $10 million, required the “residents,” as the NCC calls them, to move out for at least 18 months, something then-prime minister Stephen Harper refused to do. The state of the house now is unknown. Photographs of the Harpers’ moving boxes labelled with mould warnings do not bode well. Now Justin Trudeau’s family is ensconced in the 22-room Rideau Cottage behind Rideau Hall, the 175-room home and workplace of the Governor General, a residence people in the know say is more secure and in much better nick. “What to do with 24 Sussex?” is now being framed in the “Tear down or gut?” lingo of an HGTV reality show .

Everyone has an opinion, with former residents and preservationists at odds. Raze the place, McTeer told the CBC. It’s a heritage property, says Ottawa architect Barry Padolsky: “Why replace something old and wonderful with something new and wonderful, when we’re losing part of our legacy? That’s 1950s thinking. It’s 2015.” Colouring the debate is the current real-estate frenzy , a moment in which a house is no longer merely shelter, but a reflection of its owner’s aspiration and taste. That makes rotting 24 Sussex a symbol of a nation neglectful of its past. “The address has a mythical hold on the Canadian imagination,” says historian and author Charlotte Gray, who lives nearby. “When you say ‘24 Sussex,’ everyone knows what you mean. But they do not have a mental picture of it, unlike the White House, unlike 10 Downing St.” Instead, 24 Sussex has become Canada’s The Picture of Dorian Gray—invisibly falling into disrepair while the facade never changes in photo ops, with furnishings in the public rooms that haven’t been recovered or drapes replaced, since chintz balloon shades were fashionable in the ’80s.

Mercer’s three televised visits, the last a “sleepover” in 2006 with Stephen Harper, provided rare glimpses. That “the 2-4,” as Mercer calls it, has been allowed to fall into disrepair defies logic, he tells Maclean’s. “There is not a single homeowner in this country who does not understand that if you have a hole in your roof, you have one priority in your life and that is to get that hole patched. There is no scenario where you leave that hole, because water will destroy your entire home.” He’s talking about the PM’s official residence, a house owned by Canadians. But, as in all discussions about real estate, much more. 24 Sussex Drive as it appeared before 1950, before it was renovated and transformed into the prime minister’s residence. The 1950-51 renovation removed much of the decoration seen in this photo, including the tower and turret. (The Ottawa Citizen) On a mid-November morning, 24 Sussex Dr. stands solidly grey behind a wrought-iron fence and scrim of pines. Though unoccupied, two police cruisers, a limo and a van are parked in the curved driveway.

Rust-coloured mums in stone pots flank the front door, a homey touch. The once-Gothic revival mansion, erected in 1867-68 on four acres by lumber baron Joseph Merrill Currier, is not the grandest residence timber money built in the capital, but its vantage point overlooking the confluence of the Ottawa and Gatineau rivers is unrivalled. It’s also Canada’s Taj Mahal. Currier, later an MP, built the 2½-storey limestone-clad house as a wedding gift for his third wife, Hannah Wright, naming it “Gorffwysfa”—Welsh for “place of peace”—a bid for tranquility after tragedy. His first wife died disconsolate in 1856, after three of their four children perished of scarlet fever. His second wife’s skirt caught in a machine during a mill tour months after their 1861 wedding; she was crushed in front of him. His third marriage was, by all reports, happier: Their house was a glittering social hub; its housewarming brought 500, including then-prime minister John A.

Macdonald and his wife, who lived down the drive at Earnscliffe. The property passed to the Edwards family in 1901; massive renovations added a turret and porte cochère. Transition to official residence began with bad karma: In 1943, the government moved to evict owner Gordon Edwards, an MP known for housing one of North America’s largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. As owner of almost all the land along the Ottawa River, the feds said they wanted to prevent the shoreline from being “commercialized.” Edwards’s final years were spent fighting for his house; the case was settled in 1946 with the government paying him $140,000 and court costs. What to do with it was “a source of friction between bureaucrats and elected officials,” McTeer writes in her 1982 book, Residences: Homes of Canada’s Leaders, a foreshadowing of events to come. In a 1948 parliamentary exchange, then-prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King was asked when the government was “going to repurpose” the property.

Mackenzie King was vague: “at the appropriate time and depending on circumstances,” he said. The idea of an official residence had been floated. Unlike leaders of other democracies, Canada’s prime ministers housed themselves. Nor was there interest in preserving that heritage. Earnscliffe, home of Sir John A. Macdonald, was sold to the British government in 1930 and is now the residence of the British High Commissioner. “They’ve done a splendid job of upkeep,” says Gray. By 1950, then leader of the opposition, George Drew, was living in Stornaway in Rockcliffe Park, which had been purchased by group of Conservatives. (The government bought the property in 1970, making Canada one of the few countries to subsidize housing for the runner-up.) Renovations to 24 Sussex between 1949 and 1951 neutralized the exterior; they also extracted historical grandeur. Bay windows, wood panelling, marble fireplaces, gingerbread trim were removed. So was a morning room, a coach house, the porte cochère and turret. Left intact: the coffered dining room ceiling, one mantel and two chandeliers.

Such “modernizing” was typical in a new country built by immigrants, says Padolsky. “Everything new was good, everything old needed to be trashed.” From the outset, 24 Sussex was a poisoned chalice—a perk with hidden costs. Its first inhabitant, Louis St. Laurent, moved in reluctantly in 1951. His family was settled in Quebec City and he was comfortable in his bachelor apartment. He agreed after insisting to pay rent (a practice until 1971). Unlike American and British official residences, 24 Sussex has no executive function (the Prime Minister’s Office is in Langevin Block), making the house a federally run Airbnb of sorts. Social functions are thrown (lunches, parties, dinners with the likes of Winston Churchill), but true pomp and moments of historical importance take place at Rideau Hall. Nor has the official house of the prime minister ever held a nationally shared pride of place, as seen in the U.S. America watched Jacqueline Kennedy’s 1962 televised tour of her painstaking restoration of the White House; Canada saw McTeer showing off a $15,000 reno on the cheap.

McTeer, no doubt, understood the residence was a convenient lightning rod for what Gray calls the “Ottawa-bashing and bureaucrat-bashing” that took root in the 1960s. “The physical fabric of government was seen to be self-indulgence, a little too comfortable for people living on the taxpayers’ dime,” she says. Successive governments upgraded the house (Lester B. Pearson enclosed a winterized patio, Trudeau installed a restaurant-style kitchen and enclosed pool, the Clarks had their modest reno), but spending became an anathema. Trudeau got heat for not disclosing the secret donors who paid for the pool; Mulroney came under fire for “Gucci-gate,” revelations that the Progressive Conservative party spent $308,000 on 24 Sussex and Harrington Lake, the prime minister’s country home. The details—12 m of closets for 100 pairs of shoes, leopard-print carpet, $100-a-role wallpaper —summoned very Canadian “Who do you think you are?” clucking.

Liberal MP Don Boudria spoke of “Imelda Marcos-like closets” and “clear abuse of the Elections Act.” It’s difficult to imagine similar outrage over Michelle Obama’s closets. Members of the press inspect Prime Minister Trudeau’s 20×40 foot pool at 24 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ont., July 11, 1975. The $200,000 pool took six months to construct and was a source of political headaches for the prime minister. (Chuck Mitchell/CP) When the property was designated a heritage site in 1985, the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office released a revealing summary: The property’s “outstanding feature” is “its location and the view it affords.” The residence, it made clear, is not architecturally special, but good enough: “The house itself is undistinguished, but its size and general appearance are appropriate for the head of Canada’s government,” one of the most Canadian sentences ever written.The report, issued in the Mulroney years, notes that the house “was originally well-constructed and is in a generally good state of repairs.” It’s been downhill since then, says Gray, with prime ministers wanting to be seen as regular folk.

That’s double-edged, she says: “There’s an admirable modesty and dislike of ostentation, but there’s also an almost unbelievably shallow understanding of our history.” Journalist Stevie Cameron, author of On the Take: Crime, Corruption and Greed in the Mulroney Years, who calls 24 Sussex “beautiful,” with “gracious rooms,” agrees: “People have been so burned by stories, they don’t want to look at updating it.” And when you do, you don’t notice decay, says Gray, who visited the house during the Chrétien, Martin and Harper regimes. “It’s all sparkling silver and comfortable chairs. But there are no ‘aha!’ moments,” meaning great art or furniture, “just a stunning view.” It looks fine on TV, Mercer says, “because the wallpaper is nice.” Mercer wanted to spark outrage after he heard about the state of disrepair a decade ago. “I thought that was ridiculous, a travesty—and that it was short-sighted of Chrétien to refuse repairs,” he says.

“You’re basically throwing up your hands and saying Canadians aren’t sophisticated enough to understand that the roof getting fixed is not money going into my personal pocket.” Harper refusing to allow the repairs is “criminal,” says Mercer: “It has nothing to do with the comfort of individuals living in the house; it’s allowing a building like that to fall into disrepair.” Not spending on 24 Sussex, best known as a cat sanctuary during the Harper years, dovetailed with the Conservatives’ austerity mandate, as well as its promise to return power to the provinces, says architectural historian Leslie Maitland, past president of Heritage Ottawa. “Harper made it clear he didn’t care to spend any money on Ottawa, and he didn’t care to spend any money perceived to be of benefit to him.” Padolsky agrees: “He was doing a Gandhi: willing to live in impoverished circumstances.” Prime Minister Stephen Harper plays guitar in the living room at 24 Sussex on the evening of February 18th, 2011. (Jason Ransom) Yet the impoverishment was ultimately the taxpayers’. The PM is just the tenant, a point made by Harper’s hero, Margaret Thatcher, in a forward to No.

10 Downing Street, The Story of a House. She called the British PM’s residence, rebuilt over three decades beginning in the 1960s, a “jewel”: “All prime ministers are intensely aware that, as tenants and stewards of No. 10 Downing Street, they have in their charge one of the most precious jewels in the nation’s heritage.” When Harper refused to vacate because of the optics, his living conditions aped policy decisions: As his government supported the export of asbestos, he was living with the toxic substance. The house was also an energy sinkhole; the 2012 utility bill for five buildings at 24 Sussex was $69,000: $56,566 in hydro and $12,573 in natural gas, the Ottawa Citizen reported, up 20 per cent from 2006 due to increased energy costs. (Meanwhile, solar panels were installed in the White House in 2013.) The NCC, which did not respond to Maclean’s request for an interview, has taken on small projects to improve energy efficiency by upgrading windows and insulating the roof.

Hundreds of pages released under Access to Information reveal various bills, including: patching and painting for $6,752; replacing “rotting” kitchen pipes for $1,218; fixing and buying appliances for $1,715; and replacing carpets for $1,790. While doing the least possible at 24 Sussex, the Harper government appealed to the electorate with home-reno tax credits: a permanent home-renovation tax credit to “help generate jobs, jobs for professional tradespeople” was the first big-ticket promise of the 2015 campaign. Meanwhile, both Rideau Cottage and Stornoway have been updated: “The joke is that the leader of the Opposition has a better house,” says one Ottawa insider. That’s because 24 Sussex exists as an underutilized and neglected national symbol. It’s only one of a long list of federal properties that have been allowed to languish, says Maitland. Gray points to the fact that it took so long for the current restoration of the Parliament buildings, which include repairs to leaking roofs. “It’s unbelievable, especially when you see how well Congress or Westminster are looked after,” she says.

“They’re seen as historic sites and shrines to their particular styles of democracy.” Canada had to change governments for a Prime Minister who lived at 24 Sussex as a child to say he’s not going back. “I don’t blame anyone—left or right—for not wanting their children to sleep in a bedroom with asbestos,” says Mercer. “They say it’s not a problem unless it’s disturbed. Well, leave it to a 10-year-old to disturb it.” 24 Sussex exterior. (National Capital Commission) Mercer believes in preserving heritage buildings, but not this one: “If it was up to me, I’d save a fireplace, put up a plaque, knock it down and put something fantastic and new there.” Maitland disagrees: “It’s such an integral piece of a suite of buildings that speak to Canadian democracy. It’s across the road from Rideau Hall, down the street from Earnscliffe and related to the Parliament buildings down the river.” McTeer would like new construction “treated as a true national project to create a house that is an international showcase . . . perhaps as part of our 150th anniversary-year projects,” she writes in an email.

In the bloodless parlance of property values, the house is worth nothing, says Ottawa relator Marilyn Wilson, who specializes in Rockcliffe Park properties. She’d price 24 Sussex at $20 million: $16 million for land, with a $4-million premium “for location and provenance.” The house doesn’t add to the direct value of the property, says Wilson: “The home has not been maintained. This is the major way it differs from other homes of its kind.” Obsession with dramatic before-and-after transformation sparked by HGTV, as well as the tear-down-and-build-bigger trend in Canadian cities, has informed discussion. Predictably, stars of reality TV have jumped into the fray: Mike Holmes announced he and his tool belt are at the ready on Facebook. Bryan Baeumler, host of Disaster DIY, revealed that he and eTalk host Ben Mulroney, son of Brian Mulroney, discussed creating a TV show around renovations to the house.

Canadian corporations could supply products, Baeumler told the Toronto Star: “There’d certainly be sponsorship opportunities.” The NCC is reviewing plans for 24 Sussex, the Crown corporation recently said in a boilerplate statement that promised more information “in due course.” Until then, a house originally built as a gesture of love sits vacant. PM's, GG's official homes falling apart: audit - Canada - CBC News PM's, GG's official homes falling apart: audit Posted: May 06, 2008 4:40 PM ET Last Updated: May 06, 2008 4:37 PM ET Related Stories Parts of the six official residences in poor to critical condition: Rideau Hall, Ottawa, home of the Governor General: Walls. Thirteen of 27 other buildings on grounds. 24 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, home of the prime minister: Windows. Stornoway, Ottawa, home of the leader of the opposition: None, but building has a limited number of sprinklers. Harrington Lake (Lac Mousseau), Gatineau Park, secondary residence of the prime minister: Windows. Heating and air conditioning systems. Four of nine other buildings on grounds.

The Farm (Kingsmere), Gatineau Park, residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons: Plumbing. Three of six other buildings on grounds. 7 Rideau Gate, Ottawa, Canada's official guest house: Windows. La Citadelle, Quebec City, secondary residence of the Governor General: Air conditioning in west wing. One of three other buildings on grounds. The windows and plumbing at the prime minister's official residence are in "poor to critical condition" and some parts of the Governor General's home don't fare much better, the auditor general has found. An audit of the federal government’s six official residences, tabled as part of Sheila Fraser’s report Tuesday, found the government has let slide some of its duties as a landlord. In the worst shape is 24 Sussex Drive, the prime minister's official residence. Repairs to that building, which has not undergone major renovations in 50 years, would cost about $10 million and would require "full access" to the residence for 12 to 15 months, estimated the National Capital Commission, the federal agency that manages the official residences. Specifically, the home’s windows, plumbing, electrical systems, heating and air conditioning are in poor to critical condition.

The report called the repairs "an urgent matter" and warned that delays could result in higher costs. Fraser emphasized that maintaining the buildings is important not just for the comfort of the occupants. "The official residences are more than housing provided to the country's senior government leaders," Fraser said in a statement. "They are part of Canada's heritage and need to be preserved." The prime minister’s three-storey home was built between 1866 and 1868 and has 34 rooms. The NCC made some repairs to Rideau Hall, the home of the Governor General, with federal money provided in 2005, but the roof, windows, walls and foundations of that building are only in fair condition, the report found. Repairs were also made to the other four residences in the National Capital Region with the money provided in 2005.

Photo Essay: Celebrating Sussex Drive, His Highness the Aga Khan and, Five Years on, the Crystalline Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building | Simerg Photos - Photos, Images and Videos from Around the World Simerg Photos – Photos, Images and Videos from Around the World To translate this page into 100+ languages, please scroll down to foot of page. Photo Essay: Celebrating Sussex Drive, His Highness the Aga Khan and, Five Years on, the Crystalline Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building Compiled and prepared by Malik Merchant Editor, Simergphotos INTRODUCTION: Sussex Drive with some other connecting streets in the National Capital Region, makes up what is known as the Confederation Boulevard or the “ceremonial and discovery route”. In order to connect these streets visually, urban designers employed the use of consistent street paving (using pink Canadian granite), lamp posts adorned with bronze maple leaves, and distinctive street furniture. Along the route, art exhibits and interpretation panels can also be found.

Ottawa’s Confederation Boulevard in a nutshell – the inlaid piece at the top, covered with light snow from the previous day, is a model depicting the connecting streets and historical sites which make up the National Capital Region’s ceremonial route. Photo: Malik Merchant. Photo date: 24 November 2013. Copyright. Some of Canada’s most important institutions and landmarks including the residences of the Governor General and the Prime Minister are on Sussex Drive, a 2.9 kilometre street that begins at Rideau Street at the north end of Colonel By Drive, runs north and then bends northeast until MacKay Street, where it becomes the Rockcliffe Parkway. During state visits, Confederation Boulevard is toured by foreign dignitaries and on Canada Day, July 1, much of Confederation Boulevard is closed to cars. Other important historical and cultural landmarks along Sussex are Major’s Hill Park, the National Gallery of Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint, Rideau Falls Park, the Peacekeeping Monument, the National Laboratories, the Connaught Building, the Lester B.

Pearson Building, the Global Centre for Pluralism, and 700 Sussex Drive, a residential condo and retail complex, as well as the embassies of France, Japan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, South Africa (High Commission) and the United States. CLICK ON MAP FOR LARGE VERSION Sussex Drive is denoted by the yellow line. Going East, you start at Rideau Street (blue line) where the 700 Sussex Condominium building is located. Between Rideau Street and #35 on the map, you pass the Connaught Building (550 Sussex) and the US Embassy (490 Sussex). The National Gallery of Art (380 Sussex) and the Basilica (385 Sussex) as well as Reconciliation Monument are located at or around #35. Then just a hundred metres east of #35 are located the Global Centre for Pluralism (330 Sussex), the Royal Canadian Mint (320 Sussex) and the Embassy of Kuwait (333 Sussex).

The Saudi Embassy (201 Sussex) and the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building (199 Sussex) are at #36, with the Lester Pearson Building (125 Sussex) and the John G. Diefenbacker or the Old City Hall (111 Sussex) approximately 100-200 metres further east. At #37 you reach Rideau Falls Park (50 Sussex) and the French Embassy (42 Sussex). Finally, Sussex Drive winds down (or starts if you are travelling South!) at #38, the residences of the Prime Minister (24 Sussex) and the Governor General (1 Sussex) as well as the High Commission of South Africa (15 Sussex). One of the pictures of the Delegation Building shown below was taken from Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau, which is denoted by #30 on the map. Map credit: The National Capital Commission (with minor edits by Simergphotos to represent Sussex Drive more clearly). We are delighted to present this piece highlighting Sussex Drive, with its magnificent heritage buildings, monuments, parks as well as important works of art.

The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat stands as an architectural gem on the street with its representative rock crystal drawing one’s attention to it from numerous nearby and distant locations in the Capital Region. The views from King Edward Street, driving in either directions, are particularly stunning. To truly appreciate its architecture, it is good to view it from different vantage points on Sussex Drive, walking toward it from the Saudi Embassy, then taking a circular walk around the building. Finally, crossing the Ottawa River into Gatineau on the Quebec side will make one realize the prominence of the building from Jacques-Cartier Park! Rideau Hall: The Governor General’s Residence, 1 Sussex Drive Front façade of Rideau Hall Of the six official residences and historic properties in Canada’s Capital Region, two are located on Sussex Drive, just 50 to 100 metres apart. They are the residences of the Governor General at 1 Sussex and the Prime Minister at 24 Sussex. Rideau Hall has been the official residence and workplace of every governor general since 1867.

This heritage site is a national gathering place, where the governor general lives, honours Canadians for their excellence, hosts foreign dignitaries and performs the functions of Canada’s Head of State, as the representative of the Crown in Canada. A classified federal heritage building, Rideau Hall is the largest official residence in Canada’s Capital Region and the only one open to visitors. Tours of the residence, art collection and grounds are offered all year long. The grounds of Rideau Hall are open to the public in all seasons of the year for a range of concerts, ceremonies, celebrations and sporting events. Heads of State and royalty stay at Rideau Hall during visits to Ottawa. Most recently, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II stayed at Rideau Hall during the 2010 Royal Tour of Canada. His Highness the Aga Khan has been received by Governor Generals on numerous occasions. In 2005, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, decorated him with the Order of Canada at Rideau Hall.

His Highness the Aga Khan is seen being welcomed at Rideau Hall on October 7, 2010, by the present and 28th Governor General of Canada, His Excellency Right Honourable David Johnston, during the 49th Ismaili Imam’s visit to Ottawa on the occasion of the inaugural board meeting of the Global Centre for Pluralism. Photographer: Sgt. Serge Gouin, Rideau Hall. The Prime Minister’s Residence, 24 Sussex Drive The Prime Minister’s Residence 24 Sussex Drive is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada. Built between 1866 and 1868 by Joseph Merrill Currier, it has been the official home of the Canadian prime minister since 1951. It is one of two official residences made available to the Prime Minister, the Harrington Lake estate in nearby Gatineau Park being the other. Part of 24 Sussex is reserved for the use of the family. The other part, which is public, belongs to the nation. This is where the Prime Minister welcomes guests and associates for public functions. These rooms are decorated and furnished in keeping with their important public function.

His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Photo: Website of the Prime Minister of Canada. The first three owners of the house were prominent figures, successful businessmen and members of Parliament. From early on, the house has welcomed the political elite of Canada. Purchased by the government, it was refurbished as an official residence for the prime minister in 1950. Unlike Rideau Hall, the Prime Minister’s residence is not open to the public. The house has changed relatively little since 1950, except for the addition of a windowed sunroom at the back, modernization of the kitchen, and the addition of an enclosed pool and sauna. Since 1986, 24 Sussex Drive has been managed by the National Capital Commission (NCC) which is now planning a long-term rehabilitation project to ensure that this valuable old heritage building remains in optimal condition. The work will continue in years to come. The High Commission of South Africa, 15 Sussex Drive The South African High Commission The South African High Commission in Ottawa is the high commission of South Africa in Ottawa, Canada.

It is located at 15 Sussex Drive directly across from 24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada. East of the high commission is 7 Rideau Gate, Canada’s official guest house for visiting dignitaries. Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General of Canada is also nearby at 1 Sussex Drive. The building was constructed for James Stevenson, the Bank of Montreal’s representative in Ottawa, in 1841. In 1867 it was purchased by Moss Kent Dickinson an industrialist and mayor of Ottawa. During the apartheid era the embassy was the scene of frequent protests. When South Africa was expelled from the Commonwealth of Nations it was reduced to being only an embassy and there was pressure to end diplomatic relations between the country. With the end of apartheid it was restored to high commission status and the embassy received its first black envoy, Billy Modise, in April 1995. A former leader of the African National Congress Youth Wing, Modise spent 31 years in exile after fleeing South Africa in 1960. The current High Commissioner is His Excellency Membathisi Mdladlana.

Embassy of France, 42 Sussex Drive The Embassy of France, pictured on November 24, 2011, with the compound dusted in light snow from the previous day’s fall. Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright. The Embassy of France in Ottawa is the diplomatic mission of France to Canada, located at 42 Sussex Drive, Ottawa. Inaugurated in 1939, this diplomatic mission was designed by French architect Eugène Beaudouin in the Art Deco style. Housing both the residence of the ambassador and embassy services, the building of grey granite is three stories and is organized around the Great Hall. Rideau Falls Park and Green Island, 50 Sussex Drive A picturesque night view of Rideau Falls. Rideau Falls Park is 2.89 hectares in size and a Confederation Boulevard landmark. It has the Embassy of France and the National Research Council Canada Laboratories on either sides. The Park gets its name from the impressive twin waterfalls where the Rideau River empties into the Ottawa River. The Park has several commemorations. Rideau Falls on 24 November 2013, a bright but cold and windy day.

Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright. The falls are divided by Green Island, with the Old City Hall just to the south. In the 1800s the site was an industrial area powered by the waterfalls. Rideau Falls Park was developed after the Second World War when the area was acquired by the federal government and cleared of industry. The National Research Council Canada laboratories , 100 Sussex Drive “temple of science” Designed by the famous Canadian architect, Henry Sproatt, and built in 1932 the building is often dubbed the “Temple of Science”. This building was designed as both a showpiece of artistry and a practical research facility. Made of Canadian limestone, sandstone and granite materials, the interior features the best of Italian-inspired Renaissance sculpturing. Includes a magnificent foyer, marble-wall auditorium, two-storey reading room, Council Chambers, and the Herzberg rooms occupied by Gerhard Herzberg, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (1971). NRC plays a leading role in providing Canada with strategic S&T information, intelligence and connections to centres of advanced S&T around the world.

NRC has created valuable international linkages and networks that help transfer S&T information back to Canadian firms, universities and public sector partners, and also generate new business opportunities for Canadian SMEs. Today, NRC is composed of 19 different institutes, as well as 6 technology and innovation centres located across the country. John G. Diefenbaker Building, 111 Sussex Drive The John G. Diefenbaker Building formerly served as Ottawa’s city hall from 1958 to 2000, and is commonly known as the Old City Hall. Purchased in 2003 by the Government of Canada, it was known by its municipal address, 111 Sussex Drive, until September, 2011 when it was renamed after Canada’s 13th prime minister, John Diefenbaker. Today, the building mainly houses Foreign Affairs employees. See also Lester Pearson Building (below). The Lester B. Pearson Building, 125 Sussex Drive The Lester B. Pearson Building is the headquarters of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

It is located at 125 Sussex Drive and was built between 1968 and 1973. It is named after Lester B. Pearson, former external affairs minister, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Prime Minister of Canada. The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building, 199 Sussex Drive The address neatly embossed at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal. Copyright. Designed by award-winning architect Fumihiko Maki, the building was opened on December 6, 2008 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the presence of His Highness the Aga Khan, exactly a week before the culmination of the celebration of the Ismaili Imam’s Golden Jubilee. His Highness the Aga Khan and the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, at the opening of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building on Saturday, December 6, 2008. Collage prepared from photos at the Prime Minister’s website. The Ottawa Delegation is the first building in the world that will represent the Ismaili Imamat and its institutions.

It is configured as an elongated, rectangular ring, surrounding an interior atrium and an exterior courtyard that features a traditional Chahr-bagh Islamic garden. A view of the char-bagh at the Delegation Building. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal. Copyright. A rendering of His Highness the Aga Khan’s Imamat crest on a glass panel at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building located on Sussex Drive in Ottawa. Photo: Muslim Harji. Montreal. Copyright. The size and scope as well as dominance of the dome glass structure in the form of a rock crystal is best appreciated when the Delegation building is viewed from afar as in this image (see arrow). The shot was taken on 24 November 2013 from Jacques-Cartier Park located across the Ottawa River in Gatineau. Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright.. The building rests on a solid linear granite podium, and is covered by a glass dome through which light illuminates the atrium and courtyard. The building as a whole is inspired by natural rock-crystal and is an interplay of visual clarity, opacity and translucency. It houses meeting rooms, exhibition areas, a lecture theatre, resource center, and private apartments.

A majestic view of the interior of the Delegation Building from the main floor, where the Rays of Light exhibit was held recently. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal, Copyright. Two Canadian Flags at either end with flags of Ontario (2nd from left) and the Ismaili Imamat at the front compound of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building. Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright. The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat viewed through the security iron spindles of its next door neighbour, the Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Photo: Malik Merchantm Ottawa. Copyright. The Delegation Building has been included amongst other architecturally interesting and historically significant buildings in Doors Open Ottawa since its opening five years ago. It marks its 5th anniversary on December 6. Embassy of Saudi Arabia, 201 Sussex Drive The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Ottawa is Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic mission to Canada. The building is located at 201 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, next to the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat and overlooking the Ottawa River. Nations that choose to build a new structure to hold the embassy often incorporate local styles and motifs into their buildings, bringing added diversity to Ottawa’s architecture.

The new Saudi Arabian incorporates distinctly Middle Eastern design elements. The Saudis bought the prime land in 1978 and top Canadian architect Arthur Erickson was hired to do the design. It was many years before construction began. The exterior of the building was completed in 2001; however it remained empty for some time. Work on the interior resumed in March 2004 and the embassy was opened in August 2005. The Royal Canadian Mint, 320 Sussex Drive Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright The Royal Canadian Mint’s headquarters occupy the historic building in central Ottawa where the Mint was founded in 1908. Today, the Ottawa facility produces hand-crafted collector and commemorative coins, gold bullion coins, medals and medallions. This is where the master tooling is done to create the dies that strike coin designs for both circulation and commemorative issues. The Mint’s gold refining and advanced engineering operations are also located here in Ottawa. The Mint is open to the public. The Global Centre for Pluralism, 330 Sussex Drive Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright.

The Old Canadian War Museum will become the future site of the Global Centre for Pluralism, once renovations are completed inside the building. The Centre is governed by an international Board of Directors chaired by His Highness the Aga Khan. The Global Centre for Pluralism was inspired by the example of Canada’s inclusive approach to citizenship, and works to advance respect for diversity worldwide, believing that openness and understanding toward the cultures, social structures, values and faiths of other peoples are essential to the survival of an interdependent world. Embassy of the State of Kuwait, 333 Sussex Drive Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright. The National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Drive The National Gallery of Canada, with the huge spider sculptor dominating the front side, just by Sussex drive. Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright The National Gallery of Canada is a striking landmark against the capital’s skyline. Designed by architect Moshe Safdie and opened in 1988, this treasure house in granite and glass is the home of Canada’s exceptional art collection. Light, spacious galleries and quiet courtyards lead you on a voyage of discovery through the Canadian collection, a reflection of the rich diversity of Canada’s heritage and culture.

Over 1,200 works from the permanent collection are on view. Special exhibitions, organized by the Gallery with other museums across Canada and around the world, highlight the work of Canadian and international artists. From the religious art of the past to the avant-garde of today, the Gallery offers a journey of exploration through the collective imagination of Canadian artists. A close up of the Maman statue, a 9.144 m or 30 ft bronze cast of a spider located at the National Gallery of Canada. Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright Nepean point, 380 Sussex Drive Nepean Point in Ottawa offers a magnificent panoramic view of Parliament Hill and the heart of Canada’s Capital Region. At the top of Nepean Point is a majestic statue of Samuel de Champlain, who explored the Ottawa River in 1613. Nepean Point is the home to the Astrolabe Theatre. The Theatre was built in preparation for Canada’s centennial (1967) and served as a viewing point for the sound and light show on Parliament Hill. Over the years the Astrolabe Theatre has hosted various events and productions, including the Carnival of Cultures.

Statue of French explorer Samuel de Champlain at Nepean Point in Ottawa. The explorer is seen holding his famous astrolabe upsidedown. Nepean Point overlooks the Ottawa River, Parliament, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and other features of downtown Ottawa and Gatineau. It is located between the National Gallery of Canada and Alexandra Bridge. The sculpture was made by Hamilton MacCarthy in 1915. Photo: Malik Merchant, Copyright. A monumental new sculpture now graces one of Ottawa’s most picturesque skylines, thanks to a new acquisition by the National Gallery of Canada. At 30.5 metres high, One Hundred Foot Line by critically-acclaimed contemporary artist Roxy Paine is his most ambitious sculpture to date in terms of upward scale. Overlooking the Ottawa River from Nepean Point, One Hundred Foot Line beautifully references Canada’s capital and its proximity to nature as well of industry in this region. The Stainless steel is 30.48 meters tall, 1.3 meters wide and weighs 5216 kg. Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, 385 Sussex Drive Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa.

Copyright Designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990, the Basilica pictured from the National Gallery of Art across the street is the oldest and largest church in Ottawa and the seat of the city’s Roman Catholic archbishop. Its twin spires and gilded Madonna (photo, below) are easily identifiable from nearby Parliament Hill and the surrounding area. Governor General Georges Vanier and Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier both were given state funerals at the Cathedral. The Peacekeeping Monument, Sussex Drive at McKenzie Avenue Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright. This special monument commemorates Canada’s role in international peacekeeping and the soldiers, both living and dead, who have participated or are currently participating in peacekeeping operations. Since 1947, Canadian peacekeepers have served overseas in a variety of United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and other multinational task forces. Canada played a leading role in the peacekeeping movement from the outset. In fact, a Canadian, Lester B. Pearson, won the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering vision in helping establish a United Nations force during the Suez Crisis of the 1950s.

Since then, Canada’s commitment to international peace efforts and other overseas military actions has continued. The monument depicts three peacekeepers — two men and a woman — standing on two sharp, knifelike edges of stone, cutting through the rubble and debris of war and converging at a high point, which symbolizes the resolution of conflict. The inscription on the monument is a quote from Lester B. Pearson: “We need action not only to end the fighting but to make the peace… My own government would be glad to recommend Canadian participation in such a United Nations force, a truly international peace and police force.” Japanese Embassy, 255 Sussex Drive The Embassy of Japan in Ottawa is the diplomatic mission of Japan in Canada. Since 1978 the chancery has been located on Sussex Drive near the Lester B. Pearson Building. The ambassadorial residence is at Waterstone (Alan Keefer, architect, built 1928-31), one of Ottawa’s largest manors in Rockcliffe Park. Japan first opened a consulate in Vancouver in 1889 and the embassy opened in 1928.

With the outbreak of war the Japanese diplomats were expelled in 1941, and the embassy was not reopened until 1951. The Embassy of the United States of America, 490 Sussex Drive Photographed from Major’s Hill Park. Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright. The United States Embassy in Ottawa, with its design and its function, creates a bridge between places, peoples and ideas. As an important work of architecture, the building makes a statement about the United States and its significant relationship with Canada. The fine art which has been incorporated into the building also servies as a bridge, connecting peoples, cultures and values. The artwork in the Embassy is a diverse selection of American arts and crafts representing the broad range of possibility and creativity in the American visual arts. More than 60 works of art by artists from across the United States are included. The embassy was dedicated by President Bill Clinton on October 8, 1999, the first time in American history a president had personally dedicated a new embassy. The building was included amongst other architecturally interesting and historically significant buildings in Doors Open Ottawa, held June 2 and 3, 2012.

The Connaught Building, 550 Sussex Drive/555 MacKenzie Street The Connaught Building is a large, multi-storey Tudor Gothic-style government departmental building located in central Ottawa facing Major’s Hill Park, Parliament Hill and the Chateau Laurier Hotel. The Connaught Building was designated a national historic site in 1990 because it is a tangible expression of Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s commitment to the enhancement of architecture in the National Capital. The designation refers to the building on its legal lot at 550 Sussex Drive. The main entrance is from 555 MacKenzie Street just south of the American Embassy. To the east the building looks out on to Sussex Drive and the Byward Market and to the west is MacKenzie Avenue and Majors Hill Park. Today it houses the headquarters of the Canada Revenue Agency. The Minister and Commissioner of the CRA have offices in the building. The heritage value of this site resides in its architectural style, design, materials and location.

As Prime Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier aimed to transform Ottawa into a more handsome national capital and supported a federal building program led by David Ewart, Chief Architect of the Department of Public Works (1897-1914). Under Ewart’s direction, a modified Tudor Gothic style, compatible with the buildings on Parliament Hill and thought appropriate for a capital associated with the British Empire, was used to build a federal identity in Canada’s capital. It originally served as the new Ottawa Customs Examining Warehouse and offices for the Department of Customs and Internal Revenue. It was named in honour of HRH The Duke of Connaught, who served as Canada’s Governor General between 1911 and 1916. IMPORTANT WORKS OF ART AND MONUMENTS ON SUSSEX DRIVE ANISHINABE SCOUT This bronze sculpture of an Anishinabe scout is located in Major’s Hill Park, in Ottawa. This work recognizes the role of First Nations people in the development of Canada. The sculpture used to be in front of the statue of Samuel de Champlain at Nepean Point. It was intended to show how Aboriginal peoples helped the explorer navigate the Ottawa River.

The sculpture was created in 1918 by Hamilton MacCarthy. Originally, the figure was supposed to be kneeling in a canoe. However, the citizens’ group had not raised enough funds in the 1920s, so an alternative solution was found. THE OTTAWA MEMORIAL (or the Commonwealth Air Force Memorial) Unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on July 1, 1959, The Ottawa Memorial (Commonwealth Air Force Memorial) is located on Green Island, on Sussex Drive, overlooking the Ottawa River near the Rideau Falls. It is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It commemorates approximately 800 men and women who sacrificed their lives during the Second World War. The men and women commemorated were in active service or in training with the Commonwealth Air Forces in Canada, the Caribbean and the United States. They have no known grave, or were buried at remote crash sites that are considered to be inaccessible. TOTEM POLE This totem pole stands on Sussex Drive, near Rideau Falls Park. It features symbols of the unique heritage of the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples of the Pacific coast.

At the top sits a thunderbird, which can cause lightning by blinking its eyes and thunder by flapping its wings. The pole also shows a man holding a salmon and a double-headed serpent known as a sisiutl, one of the most powerful beings in the myths of these peoples. The totem pole is the work of Mungo Martin. It was a gift to Governor General Lord Alexander in 1946, when he was named Honorary Chief Nakupunkim. REFLECTION “Reflection” located in Rideau Falls Park in Ottawa honours Canada’s commitment to international development and humanitarian aid abroad. It also honours those who have risked their lives or died in the line of duty. This monument is dedicated to two such individuals, Nancy Malloy and Tim Stone, whose deaths inspired the project. The monument was created by John Greer in 2001 Halifax, Nova Scotia, who won the monument’s national design competition in May 1999. His design was entitled “Reflection” which also became the name of the monument. It consists of a rectangular bronze arch with two bronze feathers, one on the top and the other at the side of the arch, all standing on a granite platform.

There are also two granite benches where visitors can sit. The height of the monument is 3.35 metres with a base area of 4.27 x 4.88 metres. The monument has three key messages. First, it is intended to appreciate Canada’s long-standing activities in international development and humanitarian assistance; second, it honors all Canadians who died while serving in these fields abroad; third, it pays a personal tribute to two Canadian aid workers, Nancy Malloy and Tim Stone who were killed in two separate incidents. Part of the project was to create a permanent list of all Canadian aid workers who have lost their lives in foreign deployments. The list currently holds 88 individuals, marking their names and dates of birth and death. HUNGARIAN MONUMENT Unveiled on October 4, 2006, the Hungarian Monument stands on Maple Island, near Sussex Drive, in Ottawa. In 1956, thousands of Hungarians fled their country to escape an oppressive Soviet regime. Canada responded by offering significant humanitarian assistance. It also permitted the rapid resettlement of close to 40,000 Hungarian refugees in Canada in the months following the revolution.

Fifty years later, this monument was erected to commemorate Canada’s response to this desperate situation. The monument inscription reads: “May this monument be a lasting symbol of the gratitude of Hungarian refugees who, having escaped after the revolution in Hungary, were welcomed and provided a safe haven to rebuild their lives in Canada.” SAMOTHRACE Samothrace is on Ottawa’s Sussex Drive, between the York Steps and the Connaught Building. This cast iron sculpture, painted black, was created by Armand Vaillancourt, a world-renowned avant-garde artist from Montréal who is best known for his monumental abstract, urban sculptures, as well as for his social and political activism to support causes he embraces. Armand Vaillancourt was awarded some 15 prizes in Quebec, Canada and the United States. Shops and Residence A block of specialty shops and boutiques on Sussex Drive, closer to the Byward Market and Rideau Street. Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright. 700 Sussex, a high profile condominium building at the junction of Sussex Drive and Rideau Street. The iconic hotel Chateau Laurier is at the left. Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright.

A peek down Sussex Drive from the point where it (nearly) meets Rideau Street (see last photo). The Connaught Building can be seen about 100 metres on the left. It is soon followed by the US Embassy on same side (not visible). The Basilica spires can be seen further down the road about 750 metres to the right. Photo: Malik Merchant, Ottawa. Copyright. Date posted: Monday, November 24, 2013 Date last updated: Saturday, July 19, 2014 (New photo and text updates) ____________ 1. The Free Encyclopedia, 2. The National Capital Commission, 3. The Prime Minister’s Website – Profile of Malik Merchant at Contributors . For a complete list as well as links to photo essays published on this blog please click on Table of Contents or visit the Home Page . Share this: Interesting facts about Harrington Lake - The Full Wiki The Full Wiki Facts on topics related to Harrington Lake 24 Sussex Drive in 1995 , André Dallaire attempted to assassinate the Prime Minister of Canada , Jean Chrétien after breaking into his residence at 24 Sussex Drive ? Advertisements

Question: 24 Sussex Drive, and Harrington Lake in Gatineau Park are the official prime ministerial residences of which nation?
Answer: Canada