Senate of Canada Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Senate of Canada Building |
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Édifice du Sénat du Canada
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View from Rideau Street
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| Former names |
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| General information | |
| Type | Temporary legislative building |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Address | 2 Rideau Street |
| Town or city | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Current tenants | Senate of Canada |
| Opened | 1912 |
| Renovated | 2018 |
| Renovation cost | $269 million |
| Client | Grand Trunk Railway |
| Owner | Government of Canada |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 7,387.7 square metres (79,521 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Bradford Gilbert |
| Designations | Classified Federal Heritage Building |
| Renovating team | |
| Renovating firm |
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| Main contractor | PCL Construction |
The Senate of Canada Building (in French, édifice du Sénat du Canada) is a special building in Ottawa, Ontario. It is located at 2 Rideau Street. This building is currently the temporary home for the Senate of Canada. The Senate is a very important part of Canada's government, where laws are reviewed and discussed.
Inside, you'll find the temporary Senate chamber. This is where the Senators meet. There are also offices and meeting rooms for Senators to work. Before becoming the Senate's home, this building was Ottawa's main train station until 1966. From 1966 to 2018, it was known as the Government Conference Centre.
The building is close to other famous Ottawa landmarks. It sits near the Rideau Canal and across from the Château Laurier hotel. It is also about 600 meters from Parliament Hill, where Canada's main government buildings are.
Contents
Building History: From Trains to Parliament
The Senate of Canada Building has a long and interesting past. It started as a busy train station and later became a place for important government meetings. Now, it serves as a temporary home for Canada's Senators.
Early Train Travel in Ottawa
Before the 1900s, many different railway companies had train lines coming into Ottawa. They built their own train stations in various parts of the city. Some of these early stations included:
- Broad Street Station: This was a very important station. It was rebuilt several times after fires.
- Elgin Street Station
- Nicholas Street Station
In 1886, Ottawa became part of the Canadian Pacific Railway's cross-Canada train service. This meant trains could travel from Montreal all the way to British Columbia, passing through Ottawa. These trains used the Prince of Wales Bridge to cross the Ottawa River.
A Central Station for Ottawa
For a long time, Ottawa did not have one main train station. John Rudolphus Booth, a famous lumber businessman, helped change this. He owned a large sawmill in Ottawa and needed better ways to transport his goods. He had already started the Canada Atlantic Railway.
In 1895, Booth built a central train depot. But it wasn't quite right for all the railway companies. Then, in 1905, Booth sold his railway to the Grand Trunk Railway.
In 1910, the Grand Trunk Railway got permission to build a new, big station and a hotel. The hotel became the famous Château Laurier. The station became Ottawa's main "Union Station," meaning all major train services would use it.
Building Ottawa's Union Station
The building opened in 1912 as Ottawa's central train station. The Château Laurier hotel was built across the street for travelers. Over the next few years, all passenger trains moved to this new station. This made train travel in Ottawa much simpler. By 1920, it was officially called Ottawa Union Station.
The opening was quiet because the Grand Trunk Railway's general manager, Charles Melville Hays, had sadly died on the Titanic just two months before.
The station was designed in the Beaux-Arts style. This style is known for being grand and classical. The first architect was Bradford Lee Gilbert, but another firm, Ross and MacFarlane, finished the design. They also designed the Château Laurier and later Toronto's Union Station.
Both Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway used the station until it closed on July 31, 1966.
Life After the Trains (1966-2018)
In 1966, the National Capital Commission decided to remove the train tracks along the Rideau Canal. They wanted to create a scenic road instead. A new train station was built further east in Ottawa.
The old Union Station was almost torn down. But it was saved and became the center for Canada's 100th birthday celebrations in 1967. After that, it was turned into the Government Conference Centre. This is where many important government meetings and events took place.
In 1973, new bronze doors called Reflections of Canada were added to the building. These doors were sculpted by artist Bruce Garner.
Current Look and Design
The building has hosted many important gatherings. In 2001, it hosted the G20 conference, where finance ministers from 20 countries met.
Sometimes, the building was also used as an art gallery. A piece of the Berlin Wall was on display there for many years. It was later moved to the Canadian War Museum so more people could see it.
The building's main hall, which was once the train station's waiting room, is very grand. Its design was inspired by the ancient Roman Baths of Caracalla. It looks similar to the old Penn Station in New York City.
The building's large size wasn't always perfect for conferences. There were ideas to turn it into a sports hall of fame or a museum of Canadian political history, but these plans did not happen.
The Senate's New Home
In 2013, it was announced that the building would become the temporary home for the Senate of Canada. This was needed because the main Parliament building, the Centre Block, needed major repairs that would take many years.
The old train station's main concourse was turned into the Senate chamber. The old waiting room became offices and meeting rooms for Senators. The building needed a lot of work to get ready for the Senate. This included:
- Making the building stronger against earthquakes.
- Repairing the stone walls.
- Replacing the roof and skylights.
- Updating all the electrical and safety systems.
- Making the inside space new and modern.
- Making sure the building is easy for everyone to use, including people with disabilities.
- Removing any old, unsafe materials.
In February 2019, the Senate of Canada Building officially opened as the temporary home for the Senate.
Images for kids
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Broad Street Station in 1908
