OTTAWA – From the top of the wide marble stairs in the new Senate building, Queen Victoria has a good view of the red chamber’s new home.
The Parliament Buildings are full of priceless pieces of Canada’s history. Planners for the massive project needed to ensure that history was protected and followed MPs and senators when they moved to their new temporary homes. “We basically created a frame that was the same size and then we walked it out of Centre Block,” she said. “Even if you have floor plans and a measuring tape, when you get into the space you realize that there is an exit sign or a door handle that gets in the way.”
Senate speakers get a portrait on the walls when their turn in the big chair ends, but there was only room for the last 12 people who have held the position, with the rest moving into storage. All of Centre Block’s walls were lined with art. There were the official prime ministerial portraits like John Diefenbaker wearing a red academic gown, or Pierre Trudeau wearing a green coat off his shoulders, as well as Jean Chrétien in front of a bright yellow background.
But moving the art off the walls was just the first step; now the team behind the project is looking at how to save the art that is the walls. Planners have also started to inspect the ornate ceilings in both chambers, which include hand-painted details and gold leaf, to come up with a preservation plan.
Mizgala said they could move the chair out of Centre Block, but they weren’t sure they could get it into West Block without disassembling it and they weren’t sure it could be put back together quickly.Prior to the 1920s, speakers each had their own chair built for parliament when they took office and took it with them when they were done presiding over the house.
All of the prime ministers’ portraits from Centre Block were moved to the new building. Space is tight, but the stern visages of everyone from Sir John A. MacDonald to Paul Martin hang on the walls or on temporary racks.
Why are they not locked away at the reserve?