Main entrance

Panoply of Canadiana

The main entrance to the building is at the base of the Peace Tower. Architect John Pearson’s design for the main archway includes large blocks of Wallace sandstone from Nova Scotia, which have been filled with heraldic decoration by a dedicated team of sculptors over the years since the opening of the building in 1920. Their work is a panoply of Canadiana, including provincial coats of arms, symbols of the United Kingdom and France, and natural wonders from bears to pinecones to beavers, mythical creatures such as unicorns, lions, and, of course, the maple leaf.