Confederation Square - History

History

A triangular plaza once located approximately at the site of today's Confederation Square was (originally) named after Governor General Connaught. Before 1910, today's Plaza Bridge over the Rideau Canal had been two separate bridges which were replaced at the time by a single bridge under which rail traffic would pass from the new Union Station past the (also new) Chateau Laurier. This work was finished by December 1912 and the location was named "Connaught Place" on March 24, 1913.

Two prime ministers had promoted the beautification of the capital city, Wilfrid Laurier from 1896-1911 and William Lyon Mackenzie King whose first term began in 1921. By 1927, a commission for improvements named the Federal District Commission was formed out of an earlier effort called the Ottawa Improvement Commission. King invited French architect Jacques Gréber to help with the design for a square which would include a war memorial.

The area at this time also had five notable structures, most which have been standing for decades. The old post office was located where the current war memorial stands, the Russell House hotel was on the southeast side of Sparks and Elgin, the Russell Theatre (adjoining the hotel) was on the corner of Queen and Elgin, the old City Hall was on the east side of Elgin between Queen and Albert, and Knox Presbyterian Church at Elgin and Albert, on the site of today's National Arts Centre.

King had plans involving widening Elgin Street even by 1927, with hopes of bringing emphasis to the Parliament Hill. The hotel was destroyed by fire on April 14, 1928. The Russell Theatre, which was also burnt on that date got expropriated for demolition in order to bring about these plans. The Federal District Commission later expropriated the hotel's site. The church was expropriated November 20, 1930. City Hall burned down March 31, 1931.

In 1937, Greber visited Ottawa but disagreed with King on on the placement of the war memorial, for fear of traffic problems.

Ottawa's former Central Post Office had been constructed in 1876. The old post office was demolished in (May and) June 1938 in order to build the square.

Knox Presbyterian Church had also been demolished on June 1938. The Royal Bank of Canada building (once James Hope and Company) at the northwest corner of Elgin and Sparks had been removed (for the new Post Office). By October, the War Memorial had been erected and the Plaza Bridge had been widened. Work was underway for the

building of the new Central Post Office. Elgin Street was widened in April 1939. and Confederation Square continued to be landscaped while post office was being completed. By this time, the square was renamed Confederation Square for the National War Memorial. It wouldn't be until June 1969 that the National Arts Centre would be opened. In May 1939, King George VI came to visit Ottawa and formally unveiled the new War Memorial.