East Block
Built in the Victorian High Gothic style, the East Block is, along with the Library of Parliament, one of only two buildings on Parliament Hill to have survived mostly intact since original construction.
On 7 May 1859, the Department of Public Works sent out a call for architects to submit proposals for the new parliament buildings to be erected on Barrack Hill, which was answered by 298 submitted drawings. After the entries were narrowed down to three, then Governor General Sir Edmund Walker Head was approached to break the stalemate, and the winner was announced on 29 August. Thomas Stent and Augustus Laver were the architects commissioned to design East Block. Construction on the East Block commenced by the end of 1859 and was completed in 1866. The building was four years behind schedule and costs had risen to $706,549, when $150,000 had originally been allocated.
As the home of the office of the governor general and the offices for all the Cabinet ministers, the East Block was immediately occupied by the Viscount Monck and his prime minister, John A. Macdonald; the same room was also used by Lester B. Pearson when he was Secretary for External Affairs. George-Étienne Cartier used an office at the northern end of the west wing, which was thereafter used by every prime minister until Pierre Trudeau.
The Queen’s Privy Council chamber was used for cabinet meetings for 105 years, and was where the British North America Act 1867 was formulated, decisions about the Red River Rebellions were made, and Canada's war involvement was orchestrated.
Though the building contained many examples of the cutting edge technology of the time, such as a system of electric bells for communications, and state of the art sanitary, ventilation, and heating equipment, its spaces were continually chilly in winter and overheated in summer. Over time, the East Block showed more and more decay, which was further exacerbated by crude renovations and interventions. At several points, the idea of demolishing the building in favour of a modern office block was put forward.
Today, in addition to being a national landmark in its own right, the East Block plays a critical role in establishing the overall character of the Parliament Hill complex, plus the restored historical rooms help visitors learn about the history of Parliament and Confederation.
Notes
Heritage Ottawa, The East Block, Parliament Hill.
Government of Canada, Explore the East Block.
Parcs Canada, Parliament Hill East Block.
Photo
Privy Council Session, East Block, 1930. Photo: Library and Archives Canada / C-009060
