If asked where the constitutional centre of Canadian government resides, many Canadians might reasonably state that the answer is Parliament Hill. In this, however, they would be incorrect. The true constitutional centre of government in Canada lies (an inconvenient) three kilometres away at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General of Canada. The official representative of the Queen in Canada, the post of Governor General has been stripped of most official responsibilities but retains the symbolic responsibility of acting as a symbol of unity for a nation that has often been divided.

Rideau Hall itself finds its origins in 1838, when an Ottawa-based engineer named Thomas MacKay built a stone mansion overlooking the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers.[1] The original building, designed apparently entirely out of MacKay’s mind, can still be seen in the modern structure, but only barely; the west wing was demolished entirely and the east is now hidden behind significant renovations. Almost no aspects of the original house now remain, at least from the outside; significant renovations have also been completed in recent years. In 1864, when Parliament was preparing for its pre-Confederation move to Ottawa, it was realized that there was no government residence in the city, and MacKay’s former residence (the man himself being deceased) was leased from his family and significant sums spent on its expansion.[2] Many further additions have since been made; Rideau Cottage, the residence of the Secretary of the Governor General (and currently, while the official residence of the Prime Minister is being repaired, the home of the Prime Minister and his family) was added in 1866, a telegraph wire was run to the Hall in 1872, and many other such additions.[3][4] Rideau Hall was also officially purchased by the government in 1868 for $82,000, substantially less than had already been spent on its embellishment.[5] The building became the official residence of the Governor General only in 1913, despite its long use for that purpose beforehand.[6] In the years following the installment of Vincent Massey as Governor General in 1952, the building has repeatedly been renovated to make it more accessible to the Canadian public.[7]

The office which has become associated with Rideau Hall made its debut around the same time the Hall did. Lord Monck, a man of Irish descent, was the first governor general. His family was hardly impressed with Ottawa upon their arrival in 1866, and remarked that the government would almost certainly choose to relocate back to Montreal within five years of the initial move; fortunately for Ottawa, his prediction did not bear out.[8] It was the third Governor General (Baron Lisgar being the second), the Earl of Dufferin, who set the patterns for most of his successors. An ordinary day at Rideau Hall under the Dufferins is described as beginning “with breakfast at nine… at eleven the Governor General and suite went to the office in town… There he dealt with despatches[sic], received members of Parliament, and presided over formal meetings of the Privy Council. After lunch at home and various afternoon outings came tea, children’s games, reading, and dinner at half-past seven. By then, however, the day had barely begun. In the evening… the Dufferins held a series of balls in the oval room upstairs… musical parties in the drawing room, and dinners… To these, during the Christmas holidays, were added children’s teas and skating parties.”[9] The Dufferins loved both skating and tobogganing, which at the time was a fashionable activity for Victorians of all ages; a toboggan slide was installed in 1874, which lasted for some time and was used by various celebrities.[10] Dufferin made one key error during his time in office, which was to personally involve himself in the Canadian Pacific Scandal in 1876; as a result, his formal duties were much reduced.[11]

In the years since the departure of Dufferin, Rideau Hall has remained the centre of Canada, even if it has declined somewhat in recent years; future Governors (and Governesses) General would exert a significant impact over their country. Lord and Lady Aberdeen in particular had a great impact, but that is a story for a different post. The importance of the monarchy to Canadian society may have declined, but in its time it was a true unifier, bringing Canadians of all classes and identities together.

One of the more divisive figures to occupy Rideau Hall was Lady Aberdeen. To find out more about her, read part two of this series.

References:

1 The Canadian Encyclopedia. “Rideau Hall.” Last modified March 2015.

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/rideau-hall/

2 Hubbard, R.H. Rideau Hall: An illustrated History of Government House, Ottawa, from Victorian times to the present day. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 1977. 9.

3 Hubbard, R.H. Rideau Hall: An illustrated History of Government House, Ottawa, from Victorian times to the present day. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 1977. 13.

4 Hubbard, R.H. Rideau Hall: An illustrated History of Government House, Ottawa, from Victorian times to the present day. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 1977. 23.

5 Hubbard, R.H. Rideau Hall: An illustrated History of Government House, Ottawa, from Victorian times to the present day. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 1977. 17.

6 The Canadian Encyclopedia. “Rideau Hall.” Last modified March 2015.

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/rideau-hall/

7 The Canadian Encyclopedia. “Rideau Hall.” Last modified March 2015.

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/rideau-hall/

8 Hubbard, R.H. Rideau Hall: An illustrated History of Government House, Ottawa, from Victorian times to the present day. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 1977. 14.

9 Hubbard, R.H. Rideau Hall: An illustrated History of Government House, Ottawa, from Victorian times to the present day. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 1977. 24-5.

10 Hubbard, R.H. Rideau Hall: An illustrated History of Government House, Ottawa, from Victorian times to the present day. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 1977. 30.

11 Hubbard, R.H. Rideau Hall: An illustrated History of Government House, Ottawa, from Victorian times to the present day. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 1977. 34-5.

Featured Image: Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Rideau Hall in 1865: Hubbard, R.H. Rideau Hall: An illustrated History of Government House, Ottawa, from Victorian times to the present day. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 1977. 10.

Johnston: Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.