Rideau Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Government House |
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Rideau Hall
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Main façade of Government House
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Regency, Norman Revival, Florentine Renaissance Revival |
| Address | 1 Sussex Dr. |
| Town or city | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°26′38″N 75°41′08″W / 45.443753°N 75.685641°W |
| Construction started | 1838 |
| Cost | $82,000 (1868) |
| Client | Thomas McKay (1838), The Crown in Right of Canada (1865, 1872, 1899, 1906, 1914, 1925, 2004) |
| Owner | The King in Right of Canada |
| Landlord | National Capital Commission |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 9,500 m2 (102,000 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Thomas McKay, David Ewart, etc. |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | ≈ 175 |
| Designated: | 1977 |
Rideau Hall (also known as Government House) is the official home in Ottawa for two important figures: Canada's governor general and the Canadian monarch (the King or Queen). It sits on a large 88-acre estate at 1 Sussex Drive in Canada's capital city. The main building has about 175 rooms and covers 9,500 square meters. There are also 27 other buildings on the property.
Most of Rideau Hall is used for official government business. Only a small part (500 square meters) is for private living. It also holds the offices for the Canadian Heraldic Authority and is the main workplace for the governor general and their team. When people say "Rideau Hall" or "Government House," they often mean this official branch of government.
Important visitors like foreign leaders, new and outgoing ambassadors, and Canadian government ministers come here for meetings. Rideau Hall is also where many Canadian awards are given out. New prime ministers and other government members are sworn into office here. It's also where official election documents are "dropped," among other important ceremonies.
Rideau Hall and its grounds became a National Historic Site of Canada in 1977. You can take guided tours of the house all year. About 200,000 people visit Rideau Hall every year. Since 1934, the National Capital Commission has taken care of the grounds.
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What's in a Name?
The name Rideau Hall was chosen by Thomas McKay for his house. He was inspired by the Rideau Canal, which he helped build. People also sometimes called his house McKay's Castle.
When the house became the official home of the governor general, it was formally called Government House. However, Rideau Hall remained the common, informal name. This caused some confusion. In 1889, Queen Victoria even told the governor general's wife, Lady Stanley, that it should be called Government House, just like in other parts of the British Empire.
Today, Rideau Hall is the name most people use. Government House is still used for very formal or legal documents, like official announcements from the King or Queen.
A Look Back: Rideau Hall's History
McKay's Original Home
The land and the first building of Rideau Hall were chosen and built by a stonemason named Thomas McKay. He moved from Scotland to Montreal in 1817. McKay was the main builder for the Rideau Canal. After the canal was finished, he built mills at Rideau Falls, helping to start the town of New Edinburgh (which is now part of Ottawa).
With his new wealth, McKay bought 100 acres of land overlooking the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers. He built a stone house, a villa, where he and his family lived until 1855. This villa was the beginning of what is now Rideau Hall. Locals often called it McKay's Castle.
Even before it became the governor general's home, the villa welcomed important guests. These included three Governors General of the Province of Canada. It's even said that watercolours painted by Lady Head, the wife of one governor, influenced Queen Victoria to choose Bytown (now Ottawa) as Canada's capital. In 1860, Prince Edward (who later became King Edward VII) also visited the grounds.
Becoming the Viceregal Home
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After Ottawa was chosen as the capital, a competition was held in 1859 to design new government buildings. A design for a new Government House was chosen, but it was never built because the parliament buildings cost too much.
In 1864, the government rented Rideau Hall from the McKay family for $4,000 a year. It was meant to be a temporary home for the viceroy until a proper government house could be built. The next year, Frederick Preston Rubidge oversaw changes and additions to the original villa. It was made three or four times larger, mostly by adding a new 49-room section. Once finished, the first Governor General of Canada, Viscount Monck, moved in.
Some people, like politician George Brown, thought the house was too small and not grand enough. Prime Minister John A. Macdonald also complained that too much money was spent fixing up Rideau Hall instead of building a new palace. Despite these complaints, the government bought the entire property in 1868 for $82,000.
After that, Rideau Hall became a very important social place in Ottawa and Canada. It hosted foreign visitors, award ceremonies, swearing-in ceremonies, parties, and even plays in the ballroom. The Earl and Countess of Dufferin started the tradition of theatrical productions. One of the biggest events was a costume ball in 1876, with about 1,500 guests!
Even with all the fun events, many early visitors didn't like the look of Rideau Hall itself. In 1872, the Countess of Dufferin wrote that seeing Rideau Hall "did lower our spirits just a little!" In 1893, Lady Stanley said the furniture was "very old-fashioned & not very pretty."
Over the years, many improvements were made. Gas lights were installed, and a telegraph wire was added. A ballroom was built. By 1878, when its first royal residents, John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne, and his wife, Princess Louise, moved in, many upgrades were complete. Lorne even said the house was "much superior to Kensington" in London!
Members of the royal family often stayed at Rideau Hall, either as governor general or as guests. This included Prince George (later King George V), Prince Arthur (later Duke of Connaught), and Princess Patricia.
Second World War at Rideau Hall
When King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, visited Rideau Hall in 1939, it was a very important moment. It showed that Canada was now a fully independent country, and the King of Canada was "home." While there, the King became the first Canadian monarch to personally receive an ambassador's credentials.
During the Second World War, it was thought that the King, Queen, and their two daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, might move to Canada to be safe from the war in Europe. However, they decided to stay in the United Kingdom to boost morale.
During the war, Rideau Hall became a temporary home for many royal families who had to leave their own countries because of invasions. These included royals from Norway, Luxembourg, Yugoslavia, Greece, Austria, and the Netherlands. The governor general's wife, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, even organized the royal ladies to make clothes for people who had lost their homes in the bombings. In 1940, the governor general's office moved from Parliament Hill to Rideau Hall. In 1941, Winston Churchill stayed at Rideau Hall and even held British government meetings from his bed!
After the War: Open Gates and Changes
After the war, life at Rideau Hall returned to normal. The first Canadian-born governor general, Vincent Massey, moved in. He was the first single governor general, so his daughter-in-law, Lilias, acted as the main hostess.
More formal events were held at Rideau Hall in the 1950s and 1960s as Canada became more important on the world stage. Many international leaders visited, including Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. More members of Canada's royal family also visited. In 1957, Queen Elizabeth II stayed there for the first time as Queen. She even made her first live television appearance from Rideau Hall, giving a speech to Canadians.
During the October Crisis in 1970, Rideau Hall was heavily guarded because of threats from a group called the Front de libération du Québec.
From 1984 to 1990, when Jeanne Sauvé was governor general, public access to the grounds was limited for security reasons. This caused some debate, as people had traditionally been able to visit the grounds since 1921. However, Sauvé's successor, Ray Hnatyshyn, reopened the house and gardens to the public.
Rideau Hall in the 21st Century
When Julie Payette became governor general in 2017, she did not live in Rideau Hall right away. The private apartments were being renovated to make them more private and comfortable. She lived instead at 7 Rideau Gate, a guesthouse nearby. Even after renovations were done, she spent time at the Citadelle of Quebec.
The grounds were closed for much of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, a man drove his truck onto the grounds and was later arrested. Neither the Governor General nor the Prime Minister (who was living at Rideau Cottage nearby) were on the property at the time.
What Happens at Rideau Hall?
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Rideau Hall's main job is to be the home and office for the governor general of Canada. This includes the Canadian Heraldic Authority. It's also where Canada's monarch stays when they visit Ottawa. A special team, called the royal and viceregal household, helps support the King or Queen and the governor general. This team includes chefs, footmen, and aides.
Most of Rideau Hall is used for official government events. Only a small part is for private living. About 200 events happen at Rideau Hall every year. Many of these are ceremonies where Canadian awards are presented. It's also where new prime ministers and other government members are sworn in.
Leaders from other countries, new and outgoing ambassadors, and Canadian government ministers meet at Rideau Hall for important discussions with the governor general or the King/Queen.
Even though there's a state dining room, large dinners are usually held in the bigger ballroom or tent room. Everything for formal meals is set up very carefully and precisely. The food and drinks are "100 percent Canadian," showing Canada's many cultures.
Rideau Hall is open to the public. You can take free tours of the state rooms all year. It's the only one of the six official residences in the National Capital Region that you can visit. There's a visitor's center on the grounds. Rideau Hall also takes part in Doors Open Ottawa every year, and children can even trick-or-treat at the house on Hallowe'en.
The Look of Rideau Hall
The first building from 1838 was quite small. It had two floors with a curved front. Thomas McKay designed it in a Regency style. The main entrance was on the west side. The rooms for entertaining, sleeping, and serving were spread out on both floors.
Rideau Hall has been made bigger many times. In 1865, a long section was added to the east. This part was built in a Norman style, similar to the governor general's home in Quebec at the time. It had a long, covered porch and a new staircase with a fancy stained glass lantern.
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In 1872, an indoor Tennis court and a ballroom were added to the western side of the house. The ballroom is made of heavy timber and stone. In 1898, the Minto wing was built on the east side for the Earl of Minto's large family. This was also meant to be a temporary fix. Later, the Earl Grey added the governor general's study to the far east end.
A big change happened in 1913 with the building of the Mappin block. This section connected the ballroom and what was then the tennis court (now the tent room). Architect David Ewart designed it in a "Florentine architectural style" using limestone.
The Mappin block is three stories tall. Its front has five sections separated by columns. The windows on the main floor have triangular tops. The second-floor windows are simpler. A heavy border separates the second and third floors. The entire front is topped with a narrow border and a triangular section with a carving of the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom.
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Rideau Hall's main entrance is part of the Mappin block. On July 1, 2017, this doorway was named the Queen's Entrance to honor Queen Elizabeth II. The bronze grilles on the doors show geometric patterns representing Canadian infrastructure. Circular etchings on the glass panels represent Indigenous cultures.
For formal arrivals, this addition also included a covered entrance called a porte-cochère. It has three arched openings. The center opening has a carved stone shield of the Royal Arms of Canada from 1868 to 1870. In winter, glass doors can be added to keep the entrance warm.
On the third floor of the Mappin block is an apartment for aides-de-camp.
Other projects completed by 1914 included making the state dining room larger and adding the long gallery. A simple, stucco-covered porch was added in 1927.
An accessible entrance, named after Anne, Princess Royal, was added in 1982. The Minto wing was changed from living spaces to offices. In 2006 and 2007, the main front of Rideau Hall was renovated. The stone was cleaned, original windows were fixed, and the copper roof was repaired. This was the first major work on the front since the 1960s. In 2012, a project began to replace the building's old cooling system with a new, eco-friendly geothermal heating and cooling system.
Rideau Hall was recognized as a top heritage property by the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office in 1986.
Inside Rideau Hall: Decor and Art
Rideau Hall has always collected Canadian art and furniture. From the very first governors general, the house has had pieces by famous Canadian furniture makers. Originally, the inside looked very Victorian. But later renovations have given it a more Georgian style. Until the 1960s, the look of the house changed with each new royal or viceregal family.
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Today, the rooms have both historical items and modern Canadian art. The long gallery's Chinese-inspired decorations were restored in 1993. This room is used to welcome ambassadors. It has carpets donated by a bank and a Steinway & Sons baby grand piano that belonged to famous musician Glenn Gould. Other governor generals' wives also left their mark, like Princess Louise's painted apple branches on a door.
Since Vincent Massey's time, the governor general has worked closely with the government to repair and update Rideau Hall. The National Capital Commission is in charge of decorating the rooms. Since 2004, they have been working to restore many of the main rooms to how they looked when they were first built.
McKay Villa and Mappin Block Rooms
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The only part left of the original McKay villa is the reception room on the ground floor and the royal suite directly above it. The reception room is used for small ceremonies. The royal suite, which was once the main living room, is now the monarch's bedroom.
To the west of these rooms is the Mappin wing, which has the entrance hall. Its walls are partly covered in wood panels and marble. The two floors are connected by a wide, white marble staircase.
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In 2012, bronze and art glass handrails were added to the staircase to make it more accessible and to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. Bronze plaques with the Queen's symbol and dates were placed at the base of the stairs.
On one wall of the entrance is the Royal Window, a stained glass piece celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's 40th year on the throne. It shows the Queen's Canadian royal standard and the Great Seal of Canada, surrounded by the shields of Canada's provinces. Another stained glass window celebrates the first Canadian-born governor general.
The Dufferin Wings: Ballroom and Tent Room
The Mappin wing is flanked by the tent room and the ballroom. The ballroom is the heart of official life at Rideau Hall. It's where awards are given and government members are sworn in. It's the second most photographed room in Canada, after the House of Commons. The ballroom also hosts ambassadors and large state dinners, serving up to 60,000 meals a year! It can hold 350 people for events without tables. Both the tent room and ballroom were added when the Earl of Dufferin was governor general.
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The ballroom is a tall room with arched windows and columns. A huge one-ton chandelier hangs from the center of the ceiling. It has 12,000 pieces of Waterford Crystal and was a gift from the British government in 1951. The north wall, called the Sovereign's Wall, is used to display portraits of monarchs. Another stained glass window in an alcove celebrates Canadian performing artists.
The current look of the ballroom, with blue walls and cream-colored details, was chosen by Adrienne Clarkson when she was governor general. This restored the room to a look closer to its original design from 1872. The carpet, which was the last part of a seven-year restoration, has gold, cream, and blue-green colors. It was handmade in Ontario. The floor underneath is made of oak wood.
The tent room looks like a large tent inside. It has red and gold striped fabric on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. This design comes from how the room was temporarily decorated when it was a tennis court, to turn it into a banquet hall.
The Monck Wing: Living and Dining Spaces
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The Monck wing, built in 1865-1866, has other living areas and dining rooms for less formal events. The Pauline Vanier room is a small sitting room used for informal meetings with visiting leaders. It has furniture and art by Canadian artists like Kenojuak Ashevak and Emily Carr.
For more formal gatherings, the large drawing room is used. It was renovated in 1901 to an Edwardian style. Portraits of past governor generals' wives hang on its walls. Across the hall is the state dining room, used for smaller state dinners (up to 42 guests). It was also renovated in 1909. Sterling silver sets on display here are on loan from Buckingham Palace.
The governor general's study is at the far east end of the Monck wing. It has carved wood panels installed in 1906. The names of each governor general are written around the room. When the prime minister visits the governor general, they use a special entrance on the north side of the Monck wing. The library, across from the study, has a complete collection of Governor General's Literary Award winning books.
The Monck wing also has a smaller drawing room and a billiard room. The viceregal suite, where the governor general lives, is at the far west end of the upper floor. Also on the second floor are the royal suite (the monarch's bedroom) and other guest bedrooms, each named after a former British governor. There is also a chapel on this floor, which was made open to all Christian faiths in 1967.
Art Collection
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At first, most of the art in Rideau Hall belonged to the governor general and was removed when they left. But starting in the 20th century, more and more art, sculptures, books, and furniture were added to a special Crown Collection for Government House. Today, this collection includes gifts and purchases, mostly of Canadian origin. It features works by famous Canadian artists like Lawren Harris and Emily Carr. The collection also includes pieces from other parts of the world.
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A copy of George Hayter's portrait of Queen Victoria in the tent room
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The Crown Collection is often added to with about 100 art pieces and antiques borrowed from museums and galleries. This tradition started in the 1930s. As Governor General Adrienne Clarkson said, "the mix of furniture and other objects here now reflects the country, the people who came and settled here, and became part of the Canadian story."
Since Adrienne Clarkson's time, special art exhibitions have also been held at Rideau Hall.
The Beautiful Grounds
Rideau Hall's 88-acre grounds have unique Canadian landscapes. They combine natural and formal garden styles, with large lawns, groups of trees (over 10,000 trees!), and winding roads and paths. A 2,500-meter-long Victorian-style fence surrounds the property. The Main Gate and Gate Lodge were designed in 1867-1868. These elements, along with the fence, are protected as federal heritage buildings.
The entire property is divided into five areas: a wooded entrance park, open parkland (meadow), a sugar bush (for maple syrup), ornamental gardens, and a farm area. The farm used to have cattle and grow hay. Today, only vegetable and herb gardens remain. Plants, fruits, and edible flowers from these gardens are used in the palace kitchens. A greenhouse and flower garden provide flowers for the hall and other government buildings. In early spring, the maple trees are tapped for syrup. There's also a 1-kilometer section of the Trans Canada Trail on the property.
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The grounds have also changed over time. Lady Byng created the existing rock garden. A totem pole was gifted to the Earl Alexander of Tunis. The Fountain of Hope was started by Gerda Hnatyshyn to honor people with disabilities. An inukshuk (a stone landmark) was built in 1997 to celebrate National Aboriginal Day. The Canadian Heritage Garden is a formal rose garden. Also, every member of the royal family or visiting dignitary is asked to plant a tree. So, the park has nearly 100 trees with small plaques showing who planted them.
The gardens have hosted many activities and events throughout history. Early governors general added things like a curling rink, a skating pond (which is still used today, making it one of the oldest in North America), and toboggan runs. Many guests, including prime ministers, would enjoy these outdoor activities.
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The grounds of Rideau Hall have been open to the public since 1921. Today, an expanded Visitor Centre helps with tours.
Garden parties are held by the governor general in the summer, a tradition started in 1869. Each year, the governor general also hosts a New Year's Levée, where the public can attend and enjoy skating, sledding, and refreshments. The park also hosts cricket matches, continuing a tradition that began in 1866.
Other Buildings on the Property
Besides Rideau Hall itself, there are 27 other buildings on the property. These include Rideau Cottage (where the Prime Minister and his family currently live temporarily), offices for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the National Capital Commission, and Public Works and Government Services Canada. There's also the Governor General's Foot Guards' House, the Dome Building (built in 1877 for gas storage), the Visitors Centre, the Farm Building, and stables. There are also six greenhouses.
Nearby Properties
Although not on the Rideau Hall grounds, St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church is located across MacKay Street. It was once part of the MacKay Villa estate. Governors general, their families, and sometimes the King or Queen use this church. Also nearby is 7 Rideau Gate, a guesthouse for important visitors to Canada.
Images for kids
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Floor plan of the original McKay villa superimposed over the present day footprint of Rideau Hall. The building was significantly expanded after its acquisition by the Crown.
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Costume ball at Rideau Hall, hosted by Governor General Lord Dufferin in 1876
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Rideau Hall from the southeast in 1884
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A May Day garden party at Rideau Hall, 1898
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Princess Patricia of Connaught and Major Worthington at Rideau Hall's skating rink, 1914
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Left to right: Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, Governor General Lord Tweedsmuir, and Lady Tweedsmuir at Rideau Hall on 20 May 1939
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In the state dining room, Queen Elizabeth II (seated, centre) presides over a meeting of the Privy Council, including Prince Philiip (to her left) and Prime Minister John Diefenbaker (at her right)
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Elizabeth II with her Cabinet inside Rideau Hall, 1967
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Governor General Jeanne Sauvé hosting a garden party outside Rideau Hall in 1985
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Governor General David Johnston with his newly sworn-in Cabinet in the ballroom of Rideau Hall, 4 November 2015
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Governor General Julie Payette and Abdul Jailani, ambassador-designate of Indonesia during a presentation of credentials ceremony at Rideau Hall, 2019
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Governor General David Johnston holds an audience with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Rideau Hall's large drawing room, 15 April 2015
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Floor plan of the main level of Rideau Hall, showing the various accretions onto the original McKay villa
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The Monck wing in 2018; the verandah was removed between 1911 and 1939
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A 1911 image showing the Monck wing (left), the Grey addition (centre right), with the bowed front for the governor general's study, and the Minto wing (far right)
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Image of the west facade of Rideau Hall before the addition of the Mappin block in 1914.
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Image of the west facade of Rideau Hall after the addition of the Mappin block in 1914.
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The porte-cochère of the Queen's Entrance, seen behind.
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The escutcheon of the Arms of Canada in 1868 as carved into a stone atop the porte-cochère.
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The chandelier light fixture and herringbone brickwork in the porte-cochère's vault.
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The royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom carved into the tympanum of the pediment atop the Mappin block in 1914, seven years before the creation of the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada. Evidence of the 2006-2007 restoration can be seen in the mismatched colouration of the stones in the hood mould.
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The long gallery features Chinoiserie decorations collected by the Marchioness of Willingdon
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The reception room of Rideau Hall, showing original windows of the McKay villa (right), now blind.
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The three original McKay villa French doors in the reception room.
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The Edwardian-style entrance hall inside the Mappin wing.
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The door across from the top of the stair enters into the reception room.
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The Royal Window in the entrance hall.
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The Viceregal Window in the entrance hall.
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The ballroom, with the Sovereign's Wall the far end.
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The ballroom's ornamental moulding.
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The tent room's appearance is drawn from the early use of striped fabric draped on walls.
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The Pauline Vanier room contains furniture and other cabinetry works crafted by Canadians.
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Governor General Adrienne Clarkson (right) with Russian president Vladimir Putin (left) in the governor general's study, 2000.
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Governor General the Earl Grey in the governor general's study, 1909.
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Works of art in the antechamber to the ballroom.
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A Haida carving in the Pauline Vanier room.
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The portrait of Governor General Jeanne Sauvé by Cleeve Horne.
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A copy of George Hayter's portrait of Queen Victoria in the tent room.
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Sentries from the Governor General's Foot Guards at the entrance of the property.
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The wrought iron fence as it runs along Princess Avenue.
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The sign at the main gate.
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The inukshuk created by Kananginak Pootoogook and erected in 1997.
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The skating rink on the grounds of Rideau Hall.
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The Fountain of Hope in the forecourt.
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The totem pole by Mungo Martin.
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The Visitor Centre is used to facilitate tours of the property.
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The Dome Building on the grounds of Rideau Hall, 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Rideau Hall para niños
- Government Houses in Canada
- Government Houses of the British Empire and Commonwealth
- List of buildings in Ottawa
- List of palaces
