Rideau Cottage

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Rideau Cottage
Rideau Cottage.png
Rideau Cottage in 1892
Rideau Cottage
Interactive map of Rideau Cottage
General information
Architectural style Georgian Revival
Location1 Sussex Drive
(on grounds of Rideau Hall), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates 45°26′37″N75°40′58″W / 45.443692°N 75.682738°W / 45.443692; -75.682738
Current tenants Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada and his family
Construction started1866
Completed1867
Cost$5,000 (1867) [1]
Owner The King in Right of Canada
Landlord National Capital Commission
Technical details
Size932 square metres (10,030 sq ft) [2]
Other information
Number of rooms22

Rideau Cottage is a historic residential building located on the grounds of Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario. The two-level, 22-room Georgian Revival home is owned by the Canadian Crown and has traditionally been inhabited by people associated with the governor general of Canada, including the viceroy's private secretary.

Contents

Due to the poor condition of 24 Sussex Drive, the historical residence of the prime minister of Canada and their family, Rideau Cottage has served as the prime minister's temporary residence since 2015.

History

Construction on the building, which was based on a design by architect F. P. Rubidge, began in 1866 and concluded in 1867. [3] [4] Though intended in the early days to serve as the residence of the governor general's secretary, the cottage was later designated for use by the government as an official guest house for visiting dignitaries. [5]

On his arrival in Canada in 1883, incoming governor general the Marquess of Lansdowne resided at Rideau Cottage while waiting for Rideau Hall to be vacated by the outgoing governor general, the Marquess of Lorne. [6] Other residents included: Lionel and Lilias Massey during Vincent Massey's time as governor general; [7] Georges Vanier, as Aide-de-camp to Governor General Byng; Barbara Uteck, private secretary to the governor general from 2000 to 2006, and her husband, Graham Fraser. Uteck's successor Sheila-Marie Cook resided at Rideau Cottage from 2006 until January 31, 2011. The house was then occupied by private secretary Stephen Wallace, until he vacated the premises in October 2015. [8]

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family occupied the cottage for the duration of his tenure, from November, 2015, to March, 2025, since the prime minister's official residence at 24 Sussex Drive had been closed for assessment and restoration. [9] However, Rideau Cottage was never ideal as a residence for the prime minister. It lacks the space, grandeur and security infrastructure typically required of an official residence (for instance, meals are prepared off-site). [10]

Design

Rideau Cottage is a two-level, 22-room Georgian Revival building. The structure originally had 14 rooms on a single floor. An 1872 remodel, using different brick, added the second floor and a verandah on three sides of the ground floor. [3] The exterior brick of the first floor was covered in stucco painted to appear like brick, which remained when the verandah was removed some time later. [11] Between 1999 and 2000, the building underwent major renovations to the basement, roof and interior finishes, and the mechanical and electrical systems were upgraded. Outside, the stucco was removed and each brick and joint was individually dyed to give a uniform appearance. [11] It was renovated again in 2013. [2]

Rideau Cottage is characterized and distinguished by its symmetry, simple lines, classically-inspired central entrance with pedimented porch, sash windows flanked by decorative shutters, and paired chimneys. [3]

Rideau Cottage was designated a Recognized Federal Heritage Building on 3 October 1986. [3]

References

  1. ↑ Butler, Don (26 October 2015). "Trudeau family moving to Rideau Cottage pending decision on 24 Sussex". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Justin Trudeau will move into Rideau Cottage, not 24 Sussex". CBC. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rideau Cottage . Canadian Register of Historic Places . Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Rideau Cottage: FHBRO 86-02 (PDF), Canada's Historic Places, archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2015, retrieved 8 November 2015
  5. ↑ Colombo, John (2011). Fascinating Canada: A Book of Questions and Answers . Toronto: Dundurn Press. p.  35. ISBN   978-1-55488-923-5.
  6. ↑ Buchan, John (2010). Lord Minto, A Memoir. Oxford City Press. p. 178. ASIN   B003KQ4Z20.
  7. ↑ "Mrs. Lionel Massey Leads Busy Social Life". Ottawa Citizen. 14 May 1954.
  8. ↑ The Canadian Press (26 October 2015). "From Rideau Cottage To 24 Sussex, Ottawa's Official Residences Have Long History". Huffington Post. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  9. ↑ Butler, Don (26 October 2015). "Trudeaus to call 22-room Rideau Cottage home while deciding on whether to move into 24 Sussex". National Post. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "Ottawa looking to drop 24 Sussex and build new home for PM elsewhere: sources | CBC News". Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Restoration work at Rideau Hall, the Official Residence of the Governor General of Canada". François LeBlanc. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
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