Rideau Hall

• Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada

• Architect: Thomas McKay (for McKay Villa), David Ewart (for Mapping Block including the façade)

• Style: Regency, Norman Revival, Florentine Renaissance Revival

• Completed in: 1838 (for McKay Villa), 1913 (for Mapping Block)

Rideau Hall (officially "Government House") is the official residence of the governor general of Canada. It is one of two official residences of the governor general of Canada (the other one is Citadelle of Quebec, located in Quebec City, Que.).

"Long approach from the gate to the building"

"Façade of Rideau Hall"

The building serves not only as the residence but also as a workplace of the governor general where the governor general swears the prime ministers and other members of the federal Cabinet into office and performs constitutional duties including issuing of writs of federal election, among other various ceremonial, diplomatic and constitutional functions.

"Historic Sites plaque"

Rideau Hall was not built as an official residence of the governor general of Canada from the beginning but it has a long history behind its stone wall.

"Pediments containing the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom"

The royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom was curved inside the pediment, because it was before the creation of the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada in 1921.

"Main Hall"

"Looking from the Main Hall to the Reception Hall"

The governors general in the portraits of the Main Hall are all Canadian governors general since 1952. The portraits of British governor general are in the Tent Room.

"Reception Room"

"Pauline Vanier Room"

Pauline Vanier was not only the wife of the first French Canadian governor general, but also the first woman Chancellor of the University of Ottawa.

"Long Gallery"

"Tent Room"

The Tent Room was added in 1876 to the residence and originally intended to be used both as an indoor tennis court and reception room (a real tent used to be hung from ceiling when used as a reception room, hence the name "Tent Room"). It is now used for official and ceremonial functions and events. The governors general in the portraits of the Tent Room are all British governors general before 1952.

Thomas1313, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>

"Ballroom"

"Rideau Hall viewed from the Grounds"

"View in the Grounds"

"Another view in the Grounds"

References:

The Governor General of Canada. (n.d.) Retrieved 2023-11-13, from https://www.gg.ca/en/visit-us/rideau-hall 

Rideau Hall. Wikipedia. (n.d.) Retrieved 2023-11-13, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rideau_Hall

Monarch and Governor General. Parliament of Canada. (n.d.) Retrieved 2023-11-13, from

https://learn.parl.ca/understanding-comprendre/en/people-in-parliament/monarch-and-governor-general/ 

A Crown of Maples - Constitutional Monarchy In Canada. Canadian Heritage. (2015 Edition) Retrieved 2023-11-13, from https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2015/pc-ch/CH4-129-2015-eng.pdf