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Booth House (Ottawa) facts for kids

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Booth House
Booth House.JPG
Location 252 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 1R3
Built 1906–09
Original use House owned by lumber baron John R. Booth
Current use Laurentian Leadership Centre
Architect John W. H. Watts
Governing body Parks Canada
Website Laurentian Leadership Centre

Booth House is a special old building in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. You can find it at 252 Metcalfe Street, just south of Somerset in Downtown Ottawa. A very rich man named John R. Booth, who was a big boss in the lumber business, built this house in 1906. A famous architect named John W. H. Watts designed it.

Today, Booth House is home to the Laurentian Leadership Centre. This is a program for university students from Trinity Western University. They come to Ottawa to learn about how the government works.

The Story of Booth House

Booth House has a long and interesting history. It started as a grand family home and later became a special club. Now, it helps students learn about leadership.

Who Built Booth House?

Booth House was built between 1906 and 1909 for John R. Booth. He was a very successful businessman. He made his money in the lumber industry, which means cutting down trees and selling wood. People called him a "lumber baron" because he was so powerful in that business.

John W. H. Watts was the architect who designed Booth House. He was known for designing many other buildings in Ottawa.

From Family Home to Club

The Booth family lived in this large house until 1947. After that, it became the home of the Laurentian Club. This club was one of the most important social clubs in Ottawa. Important people would meet there for events and discussions.

The Laurentian Club was open for many years. However, it closed its doors in the year 2000.

A Learning Centre Today

After the Laurentian Club closed, Trinity Western University bought Booth House. This university uses the building for its Laurentian Leadership Centre. This program helps students get real-world experience.

Students from Trinity Western University live at Booth House while they work as interns. They intern in many different places, like government offices, cultural groups, businesses, news companies, or non-profit organizations. It's a great way for them to learn about different careers.

A National Treasure

Booth House is a very important building in Canada's history. In 1990, it was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means the building is recognized for its special historical value. It is protected so that future generations can also learn from its past.

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