Ottawa Normal School facts for kids
The Heritage Building at 195 Elgin Street
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| Type | Teacher's College |
|---|---|
| Active | 1874–1986 |
| Location | , , |
| Official name: Former Ottawa Teacher's College | |
| Designated: | 1974 |
The Heritage Building is a cool old building in Ottawa, Canada. Today, it's part of Ottawa City Hall, where the mayor works! But it wasn't always a city hall. This building was first built in 1874. It was known as the Ottawa Normal School. A "Normal School" was a special college where people learned to become teachers.
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A School for Teachers
The building is located on Elgin Street and Lisgar. It has a unique look called Gothic Revival architecture. This style makes it look a bit like an old castle or church. Over the years, more parts were added to the back of the building.
Ontario's Teacher Training System
The Ottawa Normal School was part of a bigger system in Ontario. This system helped train teachers across the province. A famous educator named Egerton Ryerson first set up these schools.
Becoming Ottawa Teacher's College
In 1953, the way teachers were trained changed. The old system was updated. Because of this, the Ottawa Normal School got a new name. It became known as the Ottawa Teacher's College.
Joining the University of Ottawa
In the 1960s, leaders decided to combine teacher training colleges with universities. So, in 1974, the Ottawa Teacher's College joined the University of Ottawa. It became part of the university's Faculty of Education. Just four years later, in 1978, the building closed its doors as a college. The federal government then bought the building.
The Heritage Building Today
In 1986, the building was bought again. This time, it was purchased by the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. This was a local government group. They wanted to use the building as part of their new headquarters.
Part of Ottawa City Hall
A large new building was built next to the old college. Walkways were made to connect the new building to the old school. The old school was then renamed the Heritage Building. In 2000, the city of Ottawa was created in a new way. The Heritage Building officially became part of Ottawa City Hall. The mayor of Ottawa now has an office in this historic building, looking out over Elgin Street.
