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Parliament Hill
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Parliament consists of 3 buildings atop Parliament Hill. The Centre Block, the main building with the distinctive Peace Tower, houses the chambers of the House of Commons and the Senate. The historic East Block looks much the way it did at the time of Confederation. Inside are the restored offices of Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald and other early statesmen. The West Block houses offices for members of parliament and is closed to the public.
Parliament Website
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Centre Block
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Home to the Senate, the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament, the Centre
Block forms the heart of Canada's parliamentary system. The current building was
built to replace the original building destroyed in a fire on February 3, 1916,
which destroyed all except the Library. The Peace Tower, a free-standing bell tower in
the middle of the Centre Block, rises 92.2 metres from the base to the bronze flagpole.
The Tower contains an observation deck, a clock with four faces 4.8 m (16 ft.) in
diameter, a carillon and the Memorial Chamber, honouring Canada’s war dead.
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Peace Tower
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The Peace Tower, so named to honour the thousands of Canadian men and women who sacrificed their lives for their country in World War I, stands at the front of the Centre Block. Its walls are made of Nepean sandstone. They rise 92.2 m (302 ft. 6 in.) from the base to the bronze flagpole. The roof is reinforced concrete covered with copper. The Tower contains an observation deck, a clock with four faces 4.8 m (16 ft.) in diameter, a carillon and the Memorial Chamber, honouring Canada's war dead.
More Information
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Base
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West Block
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Officially opened in 1866, the West Block then contained the Postmaster General,
Public Works and Crown Lands departments. Two extensions were later added to the
original structure. The Mackenzie Wing and Tower was completed in 1878 and the Laurier
Tower and Link was completed in 1906. The first renovations of the West Block took
place from 1961 to 1965. Today, it is occupied by Ministers, Members of Parliament
and their staff. The Confederation Room, one of the largest reception rooms on
Parliament Hill, was created during renovations in the early 1960s. It is used
for some state occasions, committee work and conferences.
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East Block
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The East Block on Parliament Hill was built in two stages. The main section went up
in the mid-1800s at the same time as the West Block and the original Centre Block.
Then, in 1910, a wing was added at the rear. The purpose, style and appearance of the
1910 wing were quite different from those of the earlier structures. The original
East Block was once the domain of some famous Canadians. Sir John A. Macdonald
and Sir George-Étienne Cartier had offices in this block, as did a number of
Governors General and members of the Privy Council. The 1910 wing had 6 massive
vaults, originally used for storing the nation's financial treasures before the
Bank of Canada was constructed. Rumours have circulated for years that gold
was once kept here. The vaults have been converted to office space, but the
original doors have been preserved.
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Statues
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Front Gates
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Changing of the Guard
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