Parliament Hill

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Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2(613) 239-5000

Description: Perched on a hill overlooking the southern banks of the Ottawa River, this suite of Gothic Revival buildings was constructed from 1859-1865, and acts as the center of Ottawa’s governing bodies, housing the House of Commo...Read More

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Outdoors, Sightseeing
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Federation's heart

by MagdaDH_AlexH

Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom

November 21, 2010

Best of IgoUgo Ottawa's Parliament Hill is a complex of buildings which pretty much from the moment Ottawa was chosen as Canada's capital functioned as the heart of the administration of the country. The buildings themselves are Neo-Gothic and look like a mixture ...Read more Ottawa's Parliament Hill is a complex of buildings which pretty much from the moment Ottawa was chosen as Canada's capital functioned as the heart of the administration of the country. The buildings themselves are Neo-Gothic and look like a mixture of London's Houses of Parliament and some Oxford Colleges: imposing, ornate and a bit forbidding, and yet quite beautiful if you get rid of the preconceptions which prescribe treating 19th century architecture with disdain if not outright contempt.

East, Central and West block complete the old set, and all those buildings (as well as a simply magnificent library occupying a rotunda to the back of the Central Block, covered with a conical roof and supported by soaring set of flying buttresses that would not look out of place in a French cathedral) are still very much in use by the Canadian federal legislative.

There are free tours (which we didn't manage to catch, but apparently they are quite good, especially when the Parliament is not in session in the summer) as well as a Light & Sound show (ditto). But instead of doing a reduced tour we did something even better: we actually went to see the Canadian Federal Parliament debating. It required going through several security screenings and depositing all our cameras and phones (as well as stones that our younger child picked up outside – I wonder what they thought of those) for collection later.

The Parliament looks uncannily like the UK House of Commons, with the opposing benches and wooden panelling, and the public gallery high above. The debate was attended by just a few MPs, but it was actually rather interesting, being concerned with restrictions on disclosure of government information relating to the war in Afghanistan on the grounds of security. Even more interesting was that in less than five minutes we spend there before the younger child started to create unacceptable levels of noise, we heard two references to British legislation from the eighteen- and seventeen- hundreds. They might not have the Union Jack on the flag any more, but the British colonial heritage is at the core of Canada's political system in the way that only the separatist Quebecois seem to either realise or be bothered about.

Around the buildings are finely landscaped lawns, and, especially on the riverside, numerous statues including some staid rulers and politicians as well as rather charming, larger than life Barbara Patterson's Women Are Persons Too. The views across the Ottawa river to the Gatineau side with the striking, modern buildings of the National Gallery and the Canadian Museum of Civilisation are excellent too.

In front of the Central Block (this is the one that looks most like London's Houses of Parliament, especially with the 1920's added Peace Tower that can be accessed for views) there is the Centennial Flame, or the thing the older child called the Fire Fountain. Around the edge, provincial crests with dates of joining remind the visitor of the way that geography and history created this country. We spend quite a while throwing coins in and even meet a couple that somehow embody the Canada itself: he is an air plane pilot from British Columbia, with Scottish and French roots, she, a Cree a
painter from a reserve in the remote North of Saskatchewan, now living in Toronto and here for a visit to the heart of the Federation which Canadians often deride, but which I suspect they are often proud of, and rightly so.

Highly recommended, and try to see the interiors or some of the Parliament action. Close

From journal The centre and the periphery

Parliament Hill

by Muchmor

Belleville, Ontario

June 1, 2008

We visited Parliament Hill on a glorious hot and sunny spring day, so the views were magnificent. The buildings are just great with superb architecture. They are very reminiscent of the parliament buildings in the UK, but different in their own ...Read more

From journal City Break in Ottawa

Local Secrets, Big Finds 2007 Pick

by Local Secrets

New York, New York

March 18, 2008

"Even if you've never tried yoga before," you can practice under the Gothic revival architecture on the banks of the Ottawa River. These "guerilla yoga" classes, sponsored by yogawear designer Lululemon Athletica, "celebrates this ancient tradition" ...Read more

Parliament Hill

by Jim Rosenberg

Wausau, Wisconsin

September 28, 2000

Best of IgoUgo Canada's Parliament Hill is an impressive collection of structures that dominate the skyline, bordered by the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal. Tours are available, or simply enjoy the impressive grounds, together with the military band concert at ...Read more

From journal Ottawa, Ontario: A North American Gem

Parliament Hill

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Federation's heart

Parliament Hill

Local Secrets, Big Finds 2007 Pick

Parliament Hill