Snug in the south end of Centretown, Argyle Avenue is just over half a kilometre long.
Distant from the downtown commotion of buses and hustling street-side shops, it’s comparatively quiet.
Running parallel to the Queensway and a one-way street over part of its length, Argyle stretches between Bank Street and Elgin Street, where it veers south and resumes to Queen Elizabeth Drive.
The neighborhood features red brick townhouses closest to the canal, and apartment buildings further along. Trees line the sidewalk. A major landmark on the short stretch of road is the castle-like, recently refurbished Canadian Museum of Nature. Argyle also houses the National Capital Region YMCA-YWCA, which links well to the gentleman the avenue was named after.
Though he was Canada’s youngest governor general at age 33, Sir John Douglas Sutherland Campbell – also known as the Marquess of Lorne and later the Duke of Argyll — contributed much to the arts and sciences in Canada. He encouraged the establishment of the National Gallery of Canada and the Royal Society of Canada, and travelled the country, meeting Canadians of all sorts.
Lord Lorne was sworn in as Canada’s fourth governor general in 1878, and held that position until 1883. He didn’t actually become the ninth Duke of Argyll until after his father’s death in 1900. The street name eventually morphed into Argyle.
It was particularly exciting for Canadians when Lord Lorne’s was named Governor General, because his appointment meant Rideau Hall would have its first royal resident. He was married to Princess Louise, Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter. The couple entertained often at Rideau Hall, hosting skating and tobogganing events, formal dances and official dinners. Lord Lorne was also an accomplished author whose prose and poetry showed his admiration for Canada’s geographic marvels.