FRIENDS OF THE CHÂTEAU LAURIER, Media Advisory

Taking action to bring about the redesign of the proposed addition to the iconic Château Laurier Hotel located across from Parliament Hill, a national advocacy group FRIENDS OF THE CHÂTEAU LAURIER launched today.

The coalition of concerned Canadians is asking other Canadians to join the “FRIENDS OF THE CHÂTEAU LAURIER” in convincing elected decision-makers in Ottawa and Queen’s Park, and the owners of the Château Laurier, Larco Investments Ltd. of Vancouver, to adopt a design that is visually sympathetic to the historic hotel, which is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and is also a National Historic Site of Canada.

Formed in collaboration with Heritage Ottawa, the coalition insists that any contemporary addition must be compatible with, and must respect and enhance, the architectural features of the Château Laurier, and its nationally significant landscape within the panorama of Parliament Hill. While the noteworthy hotel is situated in Ottawa, its “FRIENDS” consider this to be a national issue of importance to all Canadians.

We support

• The expansion and renovation of the Château Laurier, the creation of a new addition of rooms, meeting spaces and underground parking.
• A compatible, contemporary, harmonious addition that would be a welcome contribution to the Nation’s Capital and a legacy project for the owner, community and country. 

We do not support

• The current proposed addition to the Château Laurier, which is visually unappealing and incompatible with the attributes of the Château Laurier and its picturesque surroundings.

The Château Laurier, which features prominently in Canada’s most memorable views, is treasured by all Canadians, as so must its addition. Its majestic site is located across from Canada’s Parliament Buildings, the National Gallery of Canada, and adjacent to the famous Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the historic Major’s Hill Park, the capital’s first park, a major gathering place for national events.

To that end, the FRIENDS OF THE CHÂTEAU LAURIER invite all Canadian to join them in this national effort to save this architectural treasure. The group members are requesting meetings with elected officials at the municipal, provincial and federal levels of government and the Lalji family of Larco Investments Ltd.

On Wednesday, July 10th, the City Council of Ottawa will be debating the conditional heritage permit, issued in June of 2018, prior to design approval. City Council will require a majority vote to rescind the permit.

We ask all concerned Canadians to contact the Mayor of Ottawa, Jim Watson, and all members of City Council before July 10, 2019, to request a redesign of the currently proposed addition.

Follow this link to directly contact the Mayor and city councillors by phone or email: https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/mayor-and-city-councillors .

The Canadian public is also encouraged to make their concerns known to Ontario and federally-elected officials, and the media.

In the weeks ahead, FRIENDS OF THE CHÂTEAU LAURIER will update the public on its relevant initiatives. Please follow us on Twitter at @ChateauLfriends.

In addition, follow @HeritageOttawa on Twitter and/or Facebook and

visit the Château Laurier section on Heritage Ottawa's website* for the latest news.

* Under NEWS on our Main Menu

Founding members of FRIENDS OF THE CHÂTEAU LAURIER include:

Christina Cameron C.M., Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage, Université de Montréal
Peter Coffman, Associate Professor, History and Theory of Architecture, Carleton University @TweetsCoffman
The Honourable David Collenette, PC , Former Federal Cabinet Minister 
Penny Collenette, O. Ont., Adjunct Common Law Professor, University of Ottawa, @penottawa
Thomas d’Aquino C.M., CEO Intercounsel, @Thomas_d’Aquino
Shannon Day-Newman, Day-Newman Network
Lyette Fortin, Instructor, Architectural Conservation, School of Architecture, Carleton University
Heritage Ottawa:
• Richard Belliveau, President
• David Flemming, Co-Chair, Advocacy Committee
• Leslie Maitland, Past-President, @LeslieMaitland2
• Robert Moreau, Vice-President Development
Margaret Huber, Former Ambassador, @HuberMargarethe
The Honourable Serge Joyal, PC, OC, GOQ, Canadian Senator 
Phyllis Lambert, CC, GOQ, Founding Director Emeritus, Canadian Centre for Architecture
Bill Malhotra, CEO Claridge Homes
Maureen McTeer, Lawyer, author, @MaureenMcTeer
Barry Padolsky, Barry Padolsky Associates Inc. Architects
Carolyn Quinn, Vice-Chair, City of Ottawa Built Heritage Sub-Committee