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Walking Tours
The Château Laurier is a most
central location, with a rich assortment of restaurants, landmarks, historic
sites and museums located within walking distance. Below
are two suggested walking tours that would enable you to visit several of Ottawa’s most significant
sites. More detailed information about the specific sites is available under
Major Sites and Other Sites.
Confederation Boulevard is the
Capital’s ceremonial and discovery route. This 7.5 kilometre route serves the
most important sites and institutions of the nation. These suggested walking
tours cover the central portion of Confederation
Boulevard, the part within walking distance of
the Château Laurier.
WALKING TOUR ONE
Rideau Street, the byWard Market, south
Sussex Drive, the National Gallery, the Canadian Museum of Contemporary
Photography
Leaving the Château Laurier,
turn left and head east along Rideau
Street. On your right is the Rideau Centre,
downtown Ottawa’s
major shopping mall. Turning left onto
Sussex Drive and then right onto George Street will bring you into the
historic ByWard Market. One of Ottawa’s
oldest commercial areas, the original market was constructed in 1848 and the
current one was built in 1926. While the vendors’ stalls do not operate
during the colder months, the market area has an array of shops and
restaurants. Head west back towards Sussex Drive and
begin walking north. You will note the U. S. Embassy on your left. Continue north to St. Patrick Street, where you will see
the National Gallery of Canada on the left.
The Rideau Canal in winter, the world’s longest skating
rink
After visiting the Gallery, walk
through Major Hill’s Park across the street, to enjoy the view of Parliament
Hill. At the south end of the park, you can keep to the right and look over
the Rideau Canal locks. Climbing the stairs,
you will find yourself back at the Château Laurier. Before heading back to
your room, take a quick visit to the Canadian Museum
of Contemporary Photography located next to the hotel.
WALKING TOUR TWO
Parliament, the Supreme Court of Canada,
Sparks Street, the National Arts Centre, the National War Memorial, the
Rideau Canal
Leaving the Château Laurier,
turn right and head west along Wellington
Street. You will see the National War Memorial
on your left and the Rideau Canal on your
right. Keep going until you reach the
Parliament Buildings on your right. Walk up onto the Parliament grounds
towards the Eternal Flame which burns in the fountain in the middle of the
Hill. A walk around the grounds is a
must in order to view the statues and monuments to famous Canadians. Be sure
not to miss the “Women are Persons!” monument, a tribute to Canada’s Famous Five: Nellie
McClung, Irene Parlby, Emily Murphy, Louise McKinney and Henrietta Muir
Edwards. Together, these women won the historic “Persons” Case, a 1929 ruling
of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (U. K.), which legally
declared women as “persons” under the British North America Act (1867). This
ruling made women eligible for appointment to the Canadian Senate and is a
landmark case in early Canadian feminism.
Continue along Wellington Street
past Parliament Hill and you will see the Confederation Building
on your right. This historic building is currently home to offices for Canada’s
federal government. To the left of Wellington
is centretown, where most of Canada’s
federal bureaucracy is located.
Continuing west on Wellington will bring
you to the Supreme Court of Canada. This imposing building is set back from
the street with a view over the Ottawa River.
Tours of the Court, Canada’s
highest, are available. Continuing
west on Wellington
will bring you to the Library and Archives Canada on the right. From there,
you can continue to walk about another seven minutes down Wellington
to the Canadian
War Museum.
Should you want to return to the conference hotel, take historic Sparks Street on
your way back. It runs parallel to Wellington Street,
one block south. This pedestrian-only street provides several restaurants,
pubs and shops for a browse before you reach Elgin Street. You will see the National Arts Centre
immediately ahead of you once you reach Elgin
and Sparks,
and you will see the Château Laurier diagonally to the left.
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