Canadian House (French: Maison du Canada ) is a Greek Awakening building at Trafalgar Square in London. This is Grade II Registered Building since 1970. This office serves as the office of the Canadian High Commission in England since 1925.
Video Canada House
Histori
The building which came to be known as the Canadian House was built between 1824 and 1827 for design by Sir Robert Smirke, architect of the British Museum. Originally it was two buildings used by the Union Club and the Royal College of Physicians. Under the leadership of High Commissioner Peter Charles Larkin, the Canadian government acquired the Union Club in 1923 for an amount of £ 223,000. It was Larkin's intention to concentrate the work of 200 Canadian employees spread among the offices on Victoria Street in one main building. Renovations cost $ 1.3 million CDN and were supervised by architect Septimus Warwick, who moved the main entrance from Trafalgar Square to Cockspur Street. The designers import furniture, carpets and maple and Canadian birch flooring. The exterior is coated with Portland stones to match the facade of the Royal College of Physicians. The building was officially opened on June 29, 1925 by King George V.
When he declared that the Canadian House was open, King George said: "Canada is a great country: the same in the literal sense of the vastness of 'sea to sea' and great in achievement and promise: and it is true and necessary that its official representative here must placed in a proper way from Dominion and enough to carry out their ever-growing and important task. "
During the London Blitz, a bomb fell near the building, just 20 yards (18 m) from Canadian prime minister Lester B. Pearson, who was secretary of the High Commissioner at the time. Canada increased its presence by acquiring the upcoming Macdonald House, located at 1 Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, in 1961.
In 1993, Canadian House was shut down by the Canadian government as a cost-cutting measure with the aim of selling it. The change of government in Canada saw this decision reversed and renovations were planned, beginning in 1997. The building was officially reopened by Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, in May 1998. To commemorate the reopening, a detachment of the 3rd Battalion. , Female Light Infantry Princess Patricia, came to London and boarded the Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace.
Canada House closed back in 2010 and reopened in 2012 for Diamond Jubilee. It was used as Canada Olympic House during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The main occupations of the High Commission, including consular functions, public affairs, politics, commerce and administration were then carried out from Macdonald House in Mayfair. In February 2013, the Canadian Government announced that it would consolidate its diplomatic presence at Canada House and sell Macdonald House. As part of a building plan next to Canada House, known as 2-4 Cockspur Street, was acquired by Canada in 2013 (till this date 2-4 Cockspur Street served as the headquarters of the Department of Culture, Media and Sports). The building on 2-4 Cockspur Street was built between 1926-29 for Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada and had served as the headquarters of the Canadian Army in London during World War II. For the next two years 2-4 Cockspur Street and Canada House were renovated. As part of the renovation, 2-4 Cockspur Street merged into Canada House in July 2014. In November 2013, Macdonald House was sold, although as part of the transaction, the diplomatic staff was allowed to stay until the renovation to Canada House was completed and the diplomatic staff did not move to Canada House until December 2014.
The Canadian High Commission transferred all its diplomatic functions to Canada House on December 15, 2014. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh once again officially reopen Canada House on 19 February 2015.
Maps Canada House
Current function
Canada House is the home of Canada's High Commission to the United Kingdom. It provides consular facilities for Canada to renew passports or apply for emergency assistance, immigration visa and processing services, military relations offices, trade officials, political officials and public affairs. Canada House is used for special occasions, organizing conferences, receptions, lectures and lunches. The Canada House Gallery exhibits historic and contemporary arts and artefacts.
Gallery
See also
- Canada House (Berlin)
References
External links
Media related to Canada House on Wikimedia Commons
- "Canada House at 80" (PDF) . Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade . Retrieved 2 November 2008 .
- The Canadian High Commission to the United Kingdom in London
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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