Peace Tower
Parliament’s Centre Block is about politics—and journalism, too
As the main building on Parliament Hill closes for renovations, a nostalgic look at how the place honours the printed word
What it feels like to play the bells in the Peace Tower
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSORg98oXbA
The secret graffiti on Parliament Hill
Hundreds of lucky Canadians have marked their visit to the top of the Peace Tower by signing their names. Why that shouldn’t make you freak out.
Mitchel Raphael on how MPs get wired and fete Robbie Burns
Some MP hotspots
A musical salute
When Jack Layton’s casket leaves Parliament Hill momentarily, the Peace Tower carillon will ring O Canada, Imagine (by John Lennon) and the Dominion March. The Dominion March was composed in 1898 by Phillip Layton, Mr. Layton’s grandfather. Phillip is noted in this piece by John Geddes and this entry from the Canadian Encyclopedia.
The Commons: And so it begins
Shortly after the bells chimed to signal three-quarters past nine—after the Prime Minister had gone to Rideau Hall and after the Governor General had formally dropped the writs—Michael Ignatieff walked out from under the Peace Tower and stepped into the sun.
Carillon rock
One of the indisputably finer experiences in Ottawa is to walk out of Centre Block’s main doors on a Friday at noon, having perhaps sat through that morning’s session of Question Period, to hear the Peace Tower Carillon ringing an end to another week with, say, Estudios, Op. 31, nos. 2, 3, 4, by Fernando Sor.