1. Home
  2. Walks
  3. An Unauthorized History of Parliament Hill

An Unauthorized History of Parliament Hill

An Unauthorized History of Parliament Hill: From Indigenous Land to Headquarters of Canada's Elite
The Parliament Buildings under construction.
The Parliament Buildings under construction.

Parliament Hill is the most-visited site in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, yet few people are familiar with its real history: its character as stolen Algonquin land, the British plan to make it a military fortress, the strikes and accidents involved in construction of the buildings, and its use by corporations (like SNC-Lavalin) and protestors to influence political decision-making. This tour, led by Brian McDougall of Peoples’ History Walking Tours, focuses on controversial aspects of the history of 'the Hill' omitted from official tours.

For more information about this and other tours, visit www.ottawahistorytours.com.

Location
Route

The walk will start on the northeast corner of Mackenzie Ave. & Wellington St., at the concrete amphitheatre in front of Milestone’s restaurant (across Mackenzie from the Chateau Laurier).  From there, we'll proceed up Wellington to Parliament Hill, and then onto the Hill, visiting various sites outside the buildings, and ending at the Centennial Flame.

About the walk leader

Brian McDougall is the founder of Peoples’ History Walking Tours (2014), an Ottawa-based company inspired by ‘history-from-below.’  Brian is a socialist, long-time local activist, former university teacher, and public servant. His tours challenge ‘official’ versions of history that mainly reflect the interests of the 1%.

For more information about Peoples' History Walking Tours, see www.ottawahistorytours.com.

Guide:

Brian McDougall

When:
Date:Sun May 5, 2019
Time:10:30 AM
Duration: 2 hours
Language: English
Where:
Start:Mackenzie Ave. & \n Wellington St.
End:Centennial flame
Area:Parliament Hill
Distance:1.0 km
Accessibility:

The walk will follow paved paths and sidewalks. Note: there are stairs at various points near the Rideau Canal and on Parliament Hill. Those with mobility restrictions may need to omit a few stops on the tour while taking a longer route to reach other stops.

Gallery
The Parliament Buildings under construction. Gatepost near East Block, Parliament Hill. The Parliament Buildings from across the river. The West Block on Parliament Hill, the interim location of the House of Commons Chamber.
Volunteer to Marshal This Walk