Welcome to Welcome to Parliament HillParliament HillA Virtual Tour of the “Centre A Virtual Tour of the “Centre

Block” brought to you by:Block” brought to you by:

Mr. J. SaulnierMr. J. Saulnier

Let’s Begin!Let’s Begin!

Today we are going to visit the Today we are going to visit the centre stage of Canadian democracy centre stage of Canadian democracy by taking a guided tour of the Centre by taking a guided tour of the Centre Block of the Parliament building!Block of the Parliament building!

What is in the Centre Block?What is in the Centre Block?

ExteriorExterior RotundaRotunda Senate FoyerSenate Foyer Senate ChamberSenate Chamber House of CommonsHouse of Commons Commons FoyerCommons Foyer

What is in the Centre Block?What is in the Centre Block?

Commons Commons ChamberChamber

Hall of HonourHall of Honour

ExteriorExterior

The Centre Block is made of The Centre Block is made of sandstone from Nepean, Ontario, sandstone from Nepean, Ontario, Ohio, United States, and Wallace, Ohio, United States, and Wallace, Nova Scotia. Its south facade alone Nova Scotia. Its south facade alone contains 550 windows and contains 550 windows and approximately 50,000 stones. approximately 50,000 stones.

It is of a Gothic designIt is of a Gothic design One of Canada’s most distinct and One of Canada’s most distinct and

identifiable buildings!identifiable buildings!

ExteriorExterior

RotundaRotunda

The Rotunda, also called Confederation The Rotunda, also called Confederation Hall, is located inside the main Hall, is located inside the main entrance of the Centre Block. entrance of the Centre Block.

It is the midpoint of the building.It is the midpoint of the building. From its initial designs in 1916, the From its initial designs in 1916, the

Rotunda was meant to represent the Rotunda was meant to represent the coming together of the diverse coming together of the diverse elements of Canada in a strong elements of Canada in a strong federation. federation.

RotundaRotunda

The SenateThe Senate

The Senate is at the The Senate is at the east end of the Centre east end of the Centre Block.Block.

The Senate plays a The Senate plays a central role in our central role in our country's legislative country's legislative process, examining process, examining and debating bills and debating bills passed by the House passed by the House of Commons as well as of Commons as well as introducing new introducing new legislation. legislation.

Senate FoyerSenate Foyer

The Foyer is framed by a series of The Foyer is framed by a series of columns and arches rising to the columns and arches rising to the ceiling. ceiling.

The art and architecture reflect The art and architecture reflect Canada's Constitutional Monarchy.Canada's Constitutional Monarchy.

Senate FoyerSenate Foyer

A Picture of the Stained glass ceiling.

Senate ChamberSenate Chamber

Entering the Senate Chamber for the Entering the Senate Chamber for the first time can take one's breath first time can take one's breath away. Masterful stone and wood away. Masterful stone and wood carvings, beautiful paintings, large carvings, beautiful paintings, large ornate chandeliers, the gilt coffered ornate chandeliers, the gilt coffered ceiling, and brilliant red carpeting ceiling, and brilliant red carpeting and accents all lend a sense of and accents all lend a sense of grandeur to this proud historic grandeur to this proud historic chamber. It is an architectural gem!chamber. It is an architectural gem!

Senate ChamberSenate Chamber

Notice the red Notice the red carpet, sometimes carpet, sometimes the chamber is the chamber is referred to as the referred to as the “red chamber”“red chamber”

Senate ChamberSenate Chamber

The Throne

Senate ChamberSenate Chamber

The seats, this is where all the action comes from

House of CommonsHouse of Commons

This is at the West end of the Centre This is at the West end of the Centre Block.Block.

In the House of Commons Chamber, In the House of Commons Chamber, Members of Parliament assemble to Members of Parliament assemble to debate issues and make laws for all debate issues and make laws for all Canadians. Canadians.

House of Commons FoyerHouse of Commons Foyer

The Foyer is probably most familiar The Foyer is probably most familiar to Canadians as the setting for the to Canadians as the setting for the ritual known as "the scrum", where ritual known as "the scrum", where Members of Parliament field Members of Parliament field questions, surrounded by journalists, questions, surrounded by journalists, cameras and tape recorders, cameras and tape recorders, following Question Period and following Question Period and debates in the House of Commons. debates in the House of Commons.

House of Commons FoyerHouse of Commons Foyer

A “scrum”

House of Commons House of Commons ChamberChamber

In the House of In the House of Commons Commons Chamber, Members Chamber, Members of Parliament of Parliament assemble to assemble to debate issues and debate issues and make laws for all make laws for all Canadians. Canadians.

House of Commons House of Commons ChamberChamber

The Speaker’s Chair is the Focal point of the Chamber.

Constructed in 1921.

In the North end of the Chamber so the Speaker can oversee everything in the Chamber.

House of Commons House of Commons ChamberChamber

Governing Party

Opposition Parties

Speaker

Hall of HonourHall of Honour

Separating the Centre Block into east Separating the Centre Block into east and west sections, the Hall of Honour and west sections, the Hall of Honour serves as the principal ceremonial serves as the principal ceremonial space and a dividing line between the space and a dividing line between the House of Commons and the Senate. House of Commons and the Senate.

The Hall of Honour was intended to The Hall of Honour was intended to commemorate events and individuals commemorate events and individuals with distinctive plaques and sculptures. with distinctive plaques and sculptures.

Hall of HonourHall of Honour

FINFIN

The marks the end of our tour of the The marks the end of our tour of the Centre Block.Centre Block.

Refer back to the website for other Refer back to the website for other tours, or learning activities.tours, or learning activities.