Our House Over the Years
- 1858
- Ottawa is designated as the capital of the Province of Canada
- 1860
- Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, lays the cornerstone of the new Parliament Building on Parliament Hill
- 1865
- The East and West Departmental Buildings (Blocks) are completed
- 1866
- The original Parliament Building (Centre Block) is ready for occupancy
- 1867
- Confederation—Ottawa becomes the capital of the Dominion of Canada
- 1876
- Library of Parliament opens
- 1916
- Original Parliament Building (Centre Block) is destroyed by fire
- 1916
- Parliament takes up quarters in the Victoria Memorial Building
- 1919
- Edward, Prince of Wales and the future Edward VIII lays the cornerstone of the Peace Tower
- 1920
- Parliament resumes sitting in the new Centre Block
- 1927
- Peace Tower is inaugurated on July 1st—the 60th anniversary of Confederation; its 53-bell carillon sounds in Canada’s first national radio broadcast
- 1952
- Library of Parliament is damaged by fire
- 1956
- Library of Parliament reopens after renovation
- 1963
- West Block is renovated for parliamentary use
- 1973
- Confederation Building is converted from a departmental building to a parliamentary building
- 1982
- East Block is renovated for parliamentary use
- 1982
- Peace Tower undergoes major interior renovation
- 1997
- Peace Tower and Centre Block front facade exterior restoration is completed
- 2001
- Long Term Vision and Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct is endorsed by both the government and Parliament
- 2001
- Justice Building is converted from a departmental building to a parliamentary building
- 2006
- Library of Parliament reopens following major renovations
- 2011
- West Block closes for major renovations
Staying Informed
All Canadians are invited to learn more about—and become involved in—the activities of the House of Commons. They can do so by watching sittings in the Chamber and many committee meetings live on the Internet at parlvu.parl.gc.ca, or by coming to Ottawa and taking a seat in the public galleries in the House. Sitting days are posted on www.parl.gc.ca. Every committee has its own Web page at www.parl.gc.ca, a site that also includes information on each individual Member of Parliament.
