Visit to an old friend with a new purpose

By Michel Rossignol

I recently visited an old friend, the majestic old building at 2 Rideau Street which is starting a new career. The former Union Station building is now the temporary home of the Senate of Canada, which had to move because of the major renovations now underway in the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings. Everyone can now visit the Senate’s new home and admire the interior of Ottawa’s main train station between 1912 and 1966. (For further information see visit.parl.ca)

There are many reasons to visit the building. Firstly, for at least 10 years it will be the location of the Senate, which plays an important role in Canada’s parliamentary system. Secondly, after decades of little or no access, the public can now see the interior of a beautiful example of the imposing train stations of the early 1900s. Thirdly, many famous visitors, including Elvis Presley on April 3, 1957, arrived here in the days when air travel between cities was not as well developed as it is today. Fourthly, visitors can now admire the results of award-winning renovations which meet modern needs while keeping many elements of the original design. On February 19, 2019, during the City of Ottawa’s Heritage Awards ceremony, the Senate of Canada Building was declared the winner of the Award of Excellence in the Adaptive Re-use (government) category.

After passing through the security check, visitors can walk down the great marble staircase to reach the large hall which was the train station’s main waiting room. This is now where visitors wait before starting their guided tours. There is time to admire the very high ceiling and wonder how they painted it. I was happy to see one of the original wooden benches in the middle of the floor, but it was just as uncomfortable as the ones I sat on in the 1950s. The northern wall with its massive columns looks basically the same as it did in the past. Between the staircases leading up to Rideau Street is the famous tunnel leading to the Chateau Laurier Hotel across the street, but only Senate employees can use it today. In front of the other walls of the big hall are panels decorated to reflect the Senate’s role representing all the regions of Canada and the role played by trains in this country’s development. Older visitors may remember that they had to go down another set of stairs to reach the area where the trains were located, but the floor of the waiting hall now extends to the next hall where the Senate Chamber is located. In short, the old friend has changed a bit over the years, but clearly demonstrates that old buildings can be renovated to make them useful to the community again.