Philatelic Photograph: Library of Parliament - Ottawa, ON, Canada

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Library of Parliament

Ottawa, ON, Canada

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

GPS: N45° 25.544; W075° 42.030

Quick Description: 

The Library of Parliament is located between the Centre Block Parliament Building and a sheer bluff on the Ottawa River on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Long Description:

The Library of Parliament is the information and research resource for the Parliament of Canada. It is located in the rear of the Centre Block building on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The octagonal building was designed by Thomas Fuller and Chilion Jones in the High Victorian Gothic style. The library was established in 1876. The polychrome building is constructed of Nepean sandstone, white Gloucester limestone, red Potsdam and buff Ohio sandstone. The roof has three tiers and is topped by a copper covered cupola. The library survived intact after a fire destroyed the adjacent Centre Block building in 1916.

The library maintains a collection of 600,000 items and employs a staff of 300 persons. The library is reserved for parliamentary business. Research produced by the library is made available to the public. 

The stamp was issued by Canada on September 8, 1966 to commemorate the 12th General Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association held in Ottawa on September 8 to October 5, 1966. The view on the stamp is from the north side of the building looking west towards the two northwest towers on the Centre Block building.