Canada's History as Told by the Architecture on Wellington Street

You can trace the development of the country by seeing how government has expanded from the original parliament buildings ( the centre block of which burned down in 1916) to the extended parliamentary sector and the ancillary private-sector buildings that have been built up. The different styles of architecture reflect the times in which they were built. And each tells a story of how Canada has evolved and how it has changed the City of Ottawa. There are also many statues of important figures in Canada’s history both on the hill and around it.

While it isn’t a very long walk across the Parliamentary precinct, it is one chock full of meaning, art, and history.

Location
Route

We'll meet in front of the Senate Building (the former Union Station) and then walk west along Wellington Street to Library & Archives with a stretch behind the Parliament buildings.

About the walk leader

Hello there! I'm Rob Collins, from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where I've lived for more than four decades. Following a fulfilling career in the high-tech sector, I decided to embark on a new adventure and returned to school to study history. In 2008, I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree. My passion and my goal now is to make history accessible and engaging to the broader public. Popular history, as I see it, should be lively, thought-provoking, and, above all, fun. It's about storytelling. I do this through Jane's Walks, private guided tours and web sites including one about the founding of Ontario by refugees from the American Revolution and one developed with Larry Capstick, fellow War Museum Volunteer Interpreter, outlining a bike tour to see Ottawa's military memorials.

Guide:

Rob Collins

When:
Date:Sat May 4, 2024
Time:2:00 PM
Duration: 2 hours
Language: English
Where:
Start:Senate Building (former train station)
End:Library & Archives Canada on Wellington
Area:Parliament Hill
Distance:1.25 kms
Accessibility:

The walk follows city sidewalks and paved pathways. Occasionally, stairs are needed to approach statues but they can be viewed from the pathway.

Walker Sign-up

This walk requires you to sign up to attend or join a waitlist if walk is full. Please submit your email and the number of walkers that will be attending with you below.

Gallery
The former Union Station, recently converted into the temporary home of the Canadian Senate.
Volunteer to Marshal This Walk