Ottawa

INTERACTIVE: The 100 most powerful buildings in Ottawa

Where politicians, lobbyists, watchdogs, judges, journalists, bankers, bureaucrats, diplomats, cops and spies spend their days

Ever wonder where Ottawa’s most powerful people toil away? Ever been curious about where the country’s top politicians, lobbyists, watchdogs, judges, journalists, bankers, bureaucrats, diplomats, cops and spies spend their days? Behold: our map of the 100 most powerful buildings in the nation’s capital.

  • BLUE: Political offices
  • RED: Federal departments
  • PURPLE: Appointed power
  • YELLOW: Newsrooms
  • TURQUOISE: Lobbyist offices
  • MAGENTA: Embassies
  • GREEN: Gatherings
  • BLACK: Cops and spies
  • DOTS: Power eateries
  • ORANGE: Mixed tenants

A bird’s eye view of the city’s downtown core demonstrates some pretty clear patterns. Most political power, not surprisingly, emanates from Parliament Hill. Most newsrooms congregate within a couple of blocks of the Hill. Most government watchdogs lie west of Bank Street. Federal departments surround the city’s core, and dominate downtown Gatineau across the river, too. Queen Street, right in the middle of the action, stands out for its variety of powerful tenants. Beyond the core, law enforcement and security organizations enjoy larger campuses. And in Rockcliffe Park, some of Canada’s most powerful politicians maintain residences.

Photos by Nick Taylor-Vaisey, with some exceptions. Photos of the Sir Leonard Tilley Building, Canadian Security Intelligence Service Headquarters and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Headquarters courtesy Google Street View.

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