February 19, 2015 - London, United Kingdom - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Canada, has officially opened the renewed Canada House on Trafalgar Square.
Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in signature ceremonial red tunics were on hand as Canada’s former foreign affairs minister John Baird and High Commissioner Gordon Campbell greeted Her Majesty and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the Trafalgar Square entrance to Canada House, the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom. Her Majesty’s Personal Canadian Flag, a symbol of sovereignty, was raised over Canada House upon The Royal Couple’s arrival.
For the first time in more than 50 years, the revitalized Canada House brings together all Canadian high commission staff under one roof. The project to return Canada House to its former glory and connect it to the adjacent building on Cockspur Street emphasizes the key historic links between Canada and the United Kingdom.
To mark the occasion, Mr. Baird announced on behalf of the Government of Canada that the building’s atrium—clad in Canadian hemlock and featuring red oak flooring—will be named The Queen Elizabeth Atrium.
During her visit, Her Majesty signed the Royal Signature Book that her grandfather, King George V, signed in 1925 when, accompanied by Queen Mary, he opened the building as Canada’s diplomatic home in the United Kingdom.
“We are honoured that Her Majesty and His Royal Highness were able to join us to celebrate the opening of a high commission that is very dear to Canadians and that reflects the depth of our friendship with the United Kingdom,” said High Commissioner Campbell. “It is our pleasure to name such a distinctly Canadian feature of this building in Her Majesty’s honour.”
Mr. Baird presented Her Majesty with a ceremonial key to the building, made of Canadian gold. The key is an updated version of one presented to King George V and Queen Mary in 1925.
In addition to restoring the original features within Canada House, the project has created a modern workspace featuring Canadian materials, the work of Canadian designers and Canadian craftsmanship throughout.
“Canada House serves as our country’s front door to the United Kingdom,” said High Commissioner Campbell. “This revitalization project offered us an ideal opportunity to bring the best of Canada straight to the heart of one of the world’s great cities.”
The Cockspur Street side of the new high commission has deep Canadian roots. It was built between 1927 and 1929 by Sun Life Assurance of Canada and also served as headquarters for the Canadian Army during the Second World War.
The revitalized Canada House serves as a showcase for Canadian art and design and features more than 200 pieces, among them works by Emily Carr, Arthur Lismer—a member of the original Group of Seven—and Gordon Smith, another renowned Canadian painter, as well as photographs by Edward Burtynsky and sculptures by Gathie Falk and Joe Fafard, among many others.
The High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom is one of Canada’s largest overseas missions, offering a range of services, including consular support, trade promotion, foreign policy and diplomatic services, the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff, and immigration and visa processing.
A backgrounder follows.
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The official opening of the revitalized Canada House completes the consolidation of Canada’s diplomatic activities in the United Kingdom. This included the purchase of the adjacent building on Cockspur Street in 2012 and the subsequent sale of the property on Grosvenor Square for $562 million (£306 million). Staff moved into the newly refurbished Canada House in mid-December 2014. This move returns tens of millions of dollars to Canadian taxpayers through the sale of the Grosvenor Square building and provides rental income from tenanted floors within the Cockspur Street side of the building.
1824-1827—Sir Robert Smirke, who designed the British Museum, designed two buildings behind one common façade facing onto Trafalgar Square, which were constructed to house the Union Club and the Royal College of Physicians.
July 1923—Canada purchased the Union Club side of the building, located in the heart of what was then known as “Little Canada,” to house all of its high commission activities in the United Kingdom.
June 29, 1925—King George V and Queen Mary officially opened Canada House and were presented with a ceremonial key to the building.
July 1, 1927—The cornerstone was laid for the adjacent Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada building, located at 2-4 Cockspur Street.
1963—Canada purchased the Royal College of Physicians side of the building for use by the High Commission for its public events. Much of the High Commission’s administrative business moved to a second location, Macdonald House, in Grosvenor Square.
1993—Canada considered selling Canada House in light of the need for extensive repairs to the building, but the decision was made to revitalize it instead.
May 1998—Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Canada, reopened a restored Canada House.
November 2012—Canada purchased the adjacent building on Cockspur Street, and planning began to unite the buildings into the new revitalized Canada House.
November 2013—The administrative premises of the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom, located in Grosvenor Square, were sold for £306 million.
December 2014—Staff moved into the newly consolidated premises in Canada House.
February 2015—Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Canada, officially opens the revitalized Canada House.
