Cartier Square Drill Hall

Cartier Square Drill Hall

The Drill Hall at Cartier Square has been an Ottawa landmark and dedicated military training facility since its construction in 1879. The drill hall is seventy metres long and has two forty-three metre tall mansard towers.

The hall is located on the bank of the Rideau Canal just south of Laurier Avenue. The area to the west was once a large open field used for drilling, but today this is the location of the Ottawa City Hall and courthouse.

The building was designed by the legendary Thomas Seaton Scott, first Chief Architect of the Dominion of Canada, to house elements of the 43rd "Ottawa and Carleton" Battalion of Rifles (later named The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa) and The Governor General's Foot Guards (GGFG).

Today The Drill Hall remains home to the GGFG and The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. Both of these units are active components of Canada’s Primary Reserves, providing trained volunteer soldiers to augment the Regular Army in peace and war. It is from the Drill Hall that the Ceremonial Guard depart each day to initiate the Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill.

The building is a rare surviving example of a military training facility built in the immediate post-confederation era when establishing a military presence and asserting the role of the federal government were important government aims.

For over 125 years, The Drill Hall at Cartier Square has been at the centre of military mobilization and training for soldiers recruited from the Ottawa-Carleton area, overseeing soldiers deployed for service in:

• North-West Canada, 1885, • South Africa ,1899-1902,• The Great War, 1914-1918,• The Second World War, 1939 - 1945• Korean War, 1950-1953• Several Peacekeeping Operations including Cyprus, Sierra Leone and the Former Yugoslavia.• Afghanistan War, 2001-present

The Parade Square provides ample area for training at the section, platoon and company level and it is often loaned out to a wide variety of civilian organizations to hold large dinners and entertainment events such as the City of Ottawa Christmas Party, the Ottawa Heritage Ball, and the Ottawa Garrison Ball.

The Officers' Mess is used by both the Governor General's Foot Guards and The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. Originally constructed in the 19th Century for the officers of the Foot Guards, the mess was the scene of Sir Sam Hughes' (the Minister of Militia and Defence at the time) declaration of war by Canada in 1914. In addition to an extensive art and regimental silver collection, the mess also houses the current Queen's and Regimental Colours of both regiments.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Drill Hall (disambiguation) — The Drill Hall is a theatrical venue in London. Drill Hall, may also refer to: Drill hall, a building where soldiers practice and perform military drills Drill Hall (Edinburgh), a former military drill hall in Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, Scotland… …   Wikipedia

  • Ottawa City Hall — This article is about the building. For information on the municipal government, see City of Ottawa or Ottawa City Council. Modern section of Ottawa City Hall, as seen from Laurier Avenue The current Ottawa City Hall (French: Hôtel de ville d… …   Wikipedia

  • The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa — Infobox Military Unit unit name= The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa caption= Cap Badge of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa dates= 1856 1866 1881 present country= Canada branch= Militia type= Line Infantry size= One battalion garrison=Ottawa role …   Wikipedia

  • Architecture of Ottawa — Downtown Ottawa showcasing various design styles …   Wikipedia

  • Ceremonial Guard — For ceremonial military units in general, see honor guard. The Ceremonial Guard (CG) is an ad hoc military unit in the Canadian Forces with elements drawn principally from two Primary Reserve (militia) regiments of Foot Guards: The Governor… …   Wikipedia

  • Манеж на Картье-сквер — Дрилл холл. Январь 2005 г …   Википедия

  • List of buildings in Ottawa — This is a list of notable buildings in Ottawa, Canada.Museums*Portrait Gallery of Canada *National Gallery of Canada *Canadian Museum of Civilization (in Gatineau) *Canadian War Museum * Victoria Memorial Museum Building, housing the Canadian… …   Wikipedia

  • Canadian War Museum — The Canadian War Museum (CWM) is Canada’s national museum of military history. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, the museum focuses on military conflicts that occurred on Canadian soil, involved Canadian forces, or had a significant effect on the… …   Wikipedia

  • Governor General's Foot Guards — Infobox Military Unit unit name=Governor General s Foot Guards caption=Cap badge of the Governor General s Foot Guards dates=1861 country=Canada branch=Militia type=Foot Guards role=Light Role size= One battalion command structure= Royal Canadian …   Wikipedia

  • Filip Konowal — Infobox Military Person name= Filip Konowal lived= September 15, 1888 – June 3, 1959 placeofbirth= Kutkivtsi, Ukraine placeofdeath= Hull, Quebec caption= Portrait from The Royal Westminster Regiment nickname= allegiance= Imperial Russia, Canada… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”