 The Centre Block, with the Peace Tower and Centennial Flame |  The dramatic rear view of Parliament Hill, with the Library of Parliament perched atop the deep gorge of the Ottawa River |  The changing of the guards in front of the Parliament | Parliament Hill is a scenic location on the banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Canada. Its Gothic Revival suite of buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada. The best known building is the Centre Block, with its prominent Peace Tower, a national symbol. The richly decorated interior of the centre block contains allegorical scenes.
The current Parliament Buildings were built between 1865 and 1927. The West Block was built in 1865 and the East Block in two stages in 1867 and 1910. The Library of Parliament was opened in 1876 and the original Centre Block completed in 1878. Parliament met for the first time in the new building on 8 June 1866.
The Centre Block burned in 1916; the edifice was entirely destroyed except for the Library of Parliament, whose treasures were preserved by a quick-thinking librarian who was able to close its massive doors. The Centre Block was immediately rebuilt, being completed in 1920, with the Peace Tower, commemorating the end of the First World War, being completed in 1927.
The Peace Tower is the most prominent part of the buildings. It replaced the 55-metre Victoria Tower, burned in the 1916 fire. Like the entire interior and exterior of the building, the tower is decorated with approximately 370 stone carvings, including gargoyles, grotesques, and friezes.
The entire parliamentary precinct measures 112,360 square metres. It is bounded on the north by the Ottawa River; on the east by the Rideau Canal; on the south by Wellington Street; and on the west by Bank Street.
Sometimes the Confederation Building and the Justice Building are also considered to be on Parliament Hill.
Parliament Hill has also hosted major events. Among them have been:
- annual Canada Day celebrations,
- the millennium celebrations,
- Canadians lying in state in the Hall of Honour (among them former prime minister Pierre Trudeau and Canada's Unknown Soldier), and
- Canada's memorial service to honor the victims of the September 11 attacks in 2001, which Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, and U.S. Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci presided over. While the rest of the world saw the service at the Washington National Cathedral, this simultaneous service, which over 100,000 people attended, was televised across Canada.
In 2012, the Centre Block is scheduled to be closed for five years for an extensive interior renovation. In preparation, the other buildings are being renovated and expanded first; the inner courtyards of the West and East Blocks will be enclosed, and temporary chambers for the Commons and Senate installed.
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