Garden of the Provinces
Encyclopedia
The Garden of the Provinces is a 4 acres (1.6 ha) site along Confederation Boulevard
in Ottawa
, Ontario
, Canada
's capital city. It is bounded by the
Sparks Street escarpment on the south,
Wellington Street
on the west and north, and Bay Street to the east between Christ Church Cathedral
and the Library and Archives Canada
. It was officially opened on September 25, 1962, as a western gateway to the Parliament Buildings
. The Garden of the Provinces was renamed "Garden of the Provinces and Territories" on October 6, 2005 to recognize and include Canada's three territories. Scott Brison
, then the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada
, officially renamed the park.
. Bronze plaques include the floral emblems for each of the provinces and territories. A 6 metres (19.7 ft) tall fountain symbolizes a tree. A structure of concave concrete slabs portrays the Great Lakes
.
The Garden of the Provinces is a popular site when filled with tulips, and other flowers, during the annual Tulip Festival
. This garden links to the main pedestrian/bicycle paths, including a pedestrian tunnel under Wellington Street. It is located on a common route between the Portage Bridge
to government headquarters in Gatineau
, and Parliament Hill
and government central agencies headquartered downtown.
The site was once part of the Nicholas Sparks
(1794-1862) estate, a combination of swamp and wild forest bought by the major Bytown
landlord and philanthropist in 1826.
and the French urbanist, Jacques Gréber
, at a meeting at the 1937 Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne
in Paris
. It was formally proposed in the 1950 Gréber Plan. The modernist garden was designed in 1960 by Don W. Graham, and was built in anticipation of Canada's upcoming centennial
. A 6 cent centennial stamp commemorates the garden with Queen Elizabeth in the foreground.
The creation of the garden is associated with a rising sense of provincial identity in the early sixties which manifested as the creation of informal flags. When the garden was under development not all provinces had formal flags, but they did have arms. Four of the provinces appealed in favour of their formal flag, but this plan was rejected. The original flags which were displayed showed the shield of each province on a coloured field, and included the Yukon
and the Northwest Territories
despite their lack of provincial status. These flags were flown until sometime in the 1970s.
The renaming ceremony in October 2005 was also the reopening of the Garden after years of rehabilitation, such as restoring the signature tree-shaped metal fountain, upgrading the water supply, extensive stonework repairs, new access ramps, and updating the provincial and territorial Coat of Arms.
Confederation Boulevard
Confederation Boulevard is a "ceremonial and discovery route" in Canada's National Capital Region, running through Parliament Hill and encompassing downtown areas in Ottawa and Gatineau. Some of Canada's most important institutions and landmarks lie along its route. During state visits,...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's capital city. It is bounded by the
Sparks Street escarpment on the south,
Wellington Street
Wellington Street (Ottawa)
Wellington Street is an important street in Ottawa, Canada most notable for being one of the first two streets laid out in Bytown in 1826 Wellington Street (French: Rue Wellington) is an important street in Ottawa, Canada most notable for being one of the first two streets laid out in Bytown in...
on the west and north, and Bay Street to the east between Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral (Ottawa)
Christ Church Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The church is located in the northwest section of the city's downtown at the western end of Sparks Street at the top of a promontory looking down to the Ottawa River.-Beginnings:...
and the Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada is a national memory institution dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible for use in the 21st century and beyond...
. It was officially opened on September 25, 1962, as a western gateway to the Parliament Buildings
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill , colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildingsthe parliament buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural...
. The Garden of the Provinces was renamed "Garden of the Provinces and Territories" on October 6, 2005 to recognize and include Canada's three territories. Scott Brison
Scott Brison
Scott A. Brison, PC, MP is a Canadian politician from Nova Scotia, Canada. Brison has been the Member of Parliament for the riding of Kings-Hants since the 1997 federal election. Brison was originally elected as a Progressive Conservative but crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party in 2003...
, then the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Public Works and Government Services Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for the government's internal servicing and administration....
, officially renamed the park.
Description
One quarter of the site is composed of formal terraces, with the flags of the provinces and territories in the order of their entry to ConfederationCanadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
. Bronze plaques include the floral emblems for each of the provinces and territories. A 6 metres (19.7 ft) tall fountain symbolizes a tree. A structure of concave concrete slabs portrays the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
.
The Garden of the Provinces is a popular site when filled with tulips, and other flowers, during the annual Tulip Festival
Tulip Festival
Tulip Festivals are held in several cities around the world, including a number in North America — most often cities with Dutch heritage — such as Albany ; Ottawa ; Gatineau ; Montreal ; Holland ; Lehi ; Orange City ; Pella ; Mount Vernon ; and Woodburn , and in other countries such as Australia and...
. This garden links to the main pedestrian/bicycle paths, including a pedestrian tunnel under Wellington Street. It is located on a common route between the Portage Bridge
Portage Bridge
The Portage Bridge crosses the Ottawa River just down-river from the Chaudière Bridge, joining the communities of Gatineau, Quebec and Ottawa, Ontario, linking Laurier Street and Alexandre-Taché Boulevard in the Hull sector of Gatineau and Wellington Street at the Garden of the Provinces and...
to government headquarters in Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
, and Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill , colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildingsthe parliament buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural...
and government central agencies headquartered downtown.
The site was once part of the Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks (politician)
Nicholas Sparks was an early landholder of Ottawa, Canada who owned most of the lands in the present day commercial core of Downtown Ottawa.Sparks was born in Darrah parish, County Wexford in Ireland and came to Canada in 1816...
(1794-1862) estate, a combination of swamp and wild forest bought by the major Bytown
Bytown
Bytown is the former name of Ottawa, Canada's capital city. It was founded on on September 26, 1826, incorporated as a town on January 1, 1850, and superseded by the incorporation of the City of Ottawa on January 1, 1855. The founding was marked by a sod turning, and a letter from Governor General...
landlord and philanthropist in 1826.
Design
The garden was first envisioned by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie KingWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
and the French urbanist, Jacques Gréber
Jacques Gréber
Jacques-Henri-Auguste Gréber was a French architect specializing in landscape architecture and urban design. He was a strong proponent of the Beaux-Arts style and a contributor to the City Beautiful movement, particularly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Ottawa, Ontario.-Early life and...
, at a meeting at the 1937 Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne
Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (1937)
The Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne was held from May 25 to November 25, 1937 in Paris, France...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. It was formally proposed in the 1950 Gréber Plan. The modernist garden was designed in 1960 by Don W. Graham, and was built in anticipation of Canada's upcoming centennial
Canadian Centennial
The Canadian Centennial was a year long celebration held in 1967 when Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. Celebrations occurred throughout the year but culminated on Dominion Day, July 1. 1967 coins were different from previous years' issues, with animals on each...
. A 6 cent centennial stamp commemorates the garden with Queen Elizabeth in the foreground.
The creation of the garden is associated with a rising sense of provincial identity in the early sixties which manifested as the creation of informal flags. When the garden was under development not all provinces had formal flags, but they did have arms. Four of the provinces appealed in favour of their formal flag, but this plan was rejected. The original flags which were displayed showed the shield of each province on a coloured field, and included the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
and the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
despite their lack of provincial status. These flags were flown until sometime in the 1970s.
The renaming ceremony in October 2005 was also the reopening of the Garden after years of rehabilitation, such as restoring the signature tree-shaped metal fountain, upgrading the water supply, extensive stonework repairs, new access ramps, and updating the provincial and territorial Coat of Arms.