Château Laurier

23 December 2009By Zhu 12 Comments

Château Laurier is quite famous in Ottawa — more than an hotel, it is a landmark and an heritage building. Located between the Parliament, the Rideau Canal, the National Gallery of Canada, the Byward Market, the National War Memorial, the U.S. Embassy, and the Rideau Centre, it is in the heart of the city.

The Château Laurier was constructed between 1909 and 1912 and named after Sir Wilfrid Laurier, then the Prime Minister of Canada. Over the years, it met with history. For instance, the hotel was to be opened on April 26, 1912, but chairman Charles Melville Hays, who had commissioned the hotel and was returning to Canada fo its opening, perished aboard the Titanic when it sank on April 15.

From July 1924 to October 2004, the sixth floor of the hotel was home to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s local English and French language radio stations. It was also home for many years to Yousuf Karsh, one of the world’s most renowned portrait photographers.

And of course, it is supposed to be haunted by the ghost of Charles Melville Hays who died on the Titanic.

Château Laurier Towers	Big Cars Parking
Revolving Doors	Flowers
Lobby	Quiet Room
Christmas Tree	Unfocused Lights
Hockey Cards In Xmas Trees	Einstein Picture
Reading Light	Snow Man

12 Comments »

Zhu (author) said:

@Bluefish – I think all castles are “supposed” to be haunted, it’s part of the picture!

@Guillermo – A calendar is actually a great idea! I should also add more pictures to my shop.

@Tulsa Gentleman – It has a great location too. I must admit I have never stayed there so I don’t know how comfortable are the rooms… but I don’t think you’d be disappointed!

@shionge – Thank you!

@Nigel Babu – Canada has the best Christmas setting

@Gledwood – I think it takes more than my salary Thank you for your wishes!

@Linguist-in-Waiting – I must admit I have never really stayed in this kind of hotel. I’d say it’s a bit over my budget…! But I love going in and taking pictures though, it’s so cozy inside.

@Gabriel – Thank you! For the pictures, it’s a lot of practice, trials and mistakes

@London Caller – Really? I rarely hear about it here, maybe in the USA?

@Seraphine – You’re right! I’d love to haunt this place too.

# 26 December 2009 at 9:32 pm

Seraphine said:

i suppose, if i were a ghost, that this beautiful chateau would be a perfect place to rattle some chains and make random floor squeaks.
Seraphine´s last blog ..Merry Christmas

# 25 December 2009 at 2:25 pm