The Château Laurier opened in 1912 at the foot of Parliament Hill, where the Rideau Canal meets the Ottawa River. It was built by the Grand Trunk Railway, opposite its station, and named after Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister of Canada from 1896 to 1911. No luxury hotel in Ottawa is more prominent; Fairmont operates it.
History
The opening was overshadowed by the death of Charles Melville Hays, president of the Grand Trunk Railway, who died on the Titanic in April 1912, a few weeks before the hotel was due to open. Because of its position beside Parliament, the hotel has long been a meeting place for politicians, journalists and diplomats.
Architecture and design
The hotel is a landmark of the château style used by Canada’s great railway hotels, with copper roofs, turrets and limestone walls inspired by the castles of the Loire. It is a designated heritage property, and its silhouette is part of the skyline of the capital alongside the Parliament buildings.
Location
The hotel stands between Parliament Hill, the ByWard Market and the National Gallery of Canada, beside the locks of the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The hotel has a spa and an indoor pool.
Weddings and events
The Château Laurier hosts weddings, banquets and conferences in its historic ballrooms.
At a glance
What sets it apart
- 01Opened in 1912 by the Grand Trunk Railway
- 02Next to Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal
- 03Named after Sir Wilfrid Laurier
- 04Château-style copper roofs and turrets
Chronology
Dates that matter
1909
Construction begins for the Grand Trunk Railway beside its new Ottawa station.
1912
Charles Melville Hays, president of the railway, dies on the Titanic in April before the opening.
1912
The hotel opens on 12 June, named after Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
1924
The railway installs radio studios in the hotel; CBC broadcasts from there until 2004.
1929
The east wing is added.
1972
The photographer Yousuf Karsh opens his studio in the hotel, where he also lives.
1980
The hotel is designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
2013
Larco Investments buys the hotel; Fairmont continues to operate it.
