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RESTORING THE PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY Introduction In 1992, the government of Canada ern structure that the Library was Focus approved a Long-term Capital Plan renovated and repaired at that time. In 2006 the Library aimed at repairing and renewing some Fifty years later a new renovation was of Parliament, one of the nation’s most cherished build- required—and now it has been restored of the most beauti- ful buildings in ings—those standing on and around to its original glory. It also has been Canada, reopened Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Over the updated to serve the needs of Canada’s after a four-year next 20 years, it planned to spend more Members of Parliament for many years renovation that than $400-million on the work. to come. went almost $80- The ultimate figure will likely be Unfortunately, not all historic build- million over its original $83-million much higher—probably well over ings have powerful champions, and budget. This News $1-billion. There are probably many every year Canadians lose a bit more of in Review module people who would criticize how the their history and culture to the wrecking looks at the history money was spent and how the project companies. The Heritage Canada of the building and was supervised. Few, however, would Foundation, dedicated to preserving the restoration argue with the need to carry out the some of Canada’s most important effort. We also look at the work of two work—or with the quality of what was heritage buildings, regularly reports on major heritage finally achieved. the loss of many of them. These losses preservation or- Clearly the most magnificent ex- are staggering. “Over the past 30 years, ganizations. ample of what has been accomplished Canada has lost 23 per cent of its early is the restoration of and improvement buildings in urban areas and 21 per cent to the Parliamentary Library. The of building stock in rural areas. This YV Sections Library is the only remaining 19th- rate of destruction is disturbing both in marked with this symbol indicate century part of the original Centre terms of lost heritage and increased content suitable for Block, built in an ornate Victorian environmental waste” younger viewers. Gothic style. It survived the fire of (www.heritagecanada.org/eng/featured/ 1916 and is considered by most archi- lost.html). tectural historians to be one of the Canadians are noted for being some- most important structures in Canada. It what ambivalent about preserving their is also stunningly beautiful. history. Sometimes it seems much You might think that preserving, easier to tear down and build something maintaining, and restoring such a modern, more in keeping with current building would be automatic. How- tastes in architecture and design. Fortu- ever, following a 1952 fire in the nately we have fine examples like the Library’s roof, Canada almost lost the Parliamentary Library to remind us of building. It was only because MPs how the beauty of the past can be made refused to have it replaced by a mod- to well serve the needs of the present. CBC News in Review • December 2006 • Page 40 For Discussion Can a building built as recently as the 1960s be a heritage building? Toronto’s Inn on the Park (1963) was recently demolished to make way for an automobile dealership. The Inn was, for a long time, the most important and luxurious hotel in Toronto. Many famous people—including the Rolling Stones—stayed there. Others, like pianist Glenn Gould, lived there permanently. In addition, it was considered one of the best examples of architect Peter Dickinson’s work—a landmark “modernist” building. What factors make a building an important heritage site? In the space below, list at least four or five factors you feel should be considered in declaring a building an important part of a community’s cultural heritage. Compare your list with those of your classmates. Is there a consensus on some of the main factors? CBC News in Review • December 2006 • Page 41 RESTORING THE PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY YV Video Review 1. What architectural jewel has recently been restored in Canada? Answer the ques- tions in the spaces provided while 2. What makes the Parliamentary Library so special? reviewing the video. Archives To view audio- 3. Who chose the location for Canada’s Parliament Buildings? visual material on important historic events that took place on Parliament 4. When was the Library of Parliament completed? ________________________ Hill, consider a visit to the CBC Digital 5. What tragedy befell the Parliament Buildings in 1916? Archives at www.cbc.ca/ archives and ex- 6. What damaged the Library of Parliament in 1952? plore the files, “Fire destroys Parliament Buildings,” “Mon- 7. What was the most complex and dangerous work during the most recent day, October 17, renovations? 1977,” and ”First official Canadian flag raised.” 8. What object sits atop the crown of the Library of Parliament? 9. How important is it in your opinion to keep the Parliament Buildings in good working order? Explain. CBC News in Review • December 2006 • Page 42 RESTORING THE PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY The Jewel in the Crown Without a doubt, Canada’s Parliament original section have been restored to Further Research Buildings are the most famous heritage their appearance at the time of Confed- You can take a buildings in the country. Photographs of eration. virtual tour of both Parliament Hill and the Centre Block (where both the House the Library of of Commons and the Senate meet) are “The Most Beautiful Room in Parliament at immediately recognizable not only to Canada” www.360360.com/ Canadians, but also to people around The Library of Parliament has often nonrail/caparl.html, the world. been described as the most beautiful and at As you might expect, the Centre www.parliament room in Canada, and the building that hill.gc.ca/text/ Block of Parliament sits in the very contains it as the jewel in the crown that explorethehill_e.html. centre of a complex of buildings on is Parliament Hill. The Library was Ottawa’s Parliament Hill. The existing built slightly later than most of the building is not original, but was erected original Centre Block (it was completed after a fire in 1916 destroyed the Victo- in 1876), but in a similar Victorian Did you know . The 1910 addition rian Gothic structure built in the 1860s Gothic style. It remains one of the most to the East Block and 1870s. The Centre Block is sur- significant examples of that style in included six “mas- rounded by three buildings that formed North America. sive vaults, origi- part of the original grouping on the Hill. The building and the Library it con- nally used for These include the West Block, the East tains are magnificent, and they are the storing the nation’s Block and—attached to the Centre highlight of any tour of Parliament Hill. financial treasures before the Bank of Block by a short passageway—the The Library was modelled on the Canada was con- Library of Parliament. reading room at the British Museum. It structed. Rumours is round (actually 16-sided), designed have circulated for The West Block so that a person standing at the centre years that gold was The West Block was constructed (in can look toward any bookshelf in the once kept here. The vaults have been 1865) to house the offices of the Post- reading room. Standing in that very converted to office master General, Public Works, and centre is a marble statue of Queen space, but the Crown Lands. It has been extensively Victoria —Canada’s sovereign when original doors have extended and renovated, and it now the Library was completed. been preserved” contains the offices of ministers and The exterior is in the most elaborate (www.parliament members of Parliament. Gothic style, with flying buttresses, hill.gc.ca/text/ exploreeast decorative stonework and ironwork, and block_e.html). The East Block elaborate windows. All of this is The East Block, whose construction crowned by a circular lantern—a dome coincided with that of the West Block, designed to cast natural light onto the originally contained the offices of the floor many metres below. Like the governor general, the prime minister original Centre Block, it is mostly and members of the Privy Council. constructed of sandstone (the new In 1910 a new wing was added at the Centre Block is largely limestone). rear of the building, very different in The interior has been restored to its style from the original. The building original appearance in 1876. It is as now houses offices for a number of elaborate as the exterior. What im- senators. Many of the rooms in the presses the viewer first is all the wood. CBC News in Review • December 2006 • Page 43 The woodwork—bookshelves, panel- ful, it is also the information and re- Definition ling, and furniture—is mostly pine. It is search centre for Canada’s members of A flying buttress is all elaborately carved and polished. Parliament and Senate and for their a support on the outside of a build- The Library’s floors are glass, de- staffs. It houses an extensive collection ing designed to signed to ensure that as much light as of more than 600 000 books, and has help hold up a wall. possible permeates the entire room. The been upgraded to provide all modern It projects from a plaster walls above the woodwork are research technologies. Much of the point at ground painted white and decorated with blue collection is housed in basement quar- level to the wall and gold trim.

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