Results of a public survey to determine the future of 100 Wellington St. — the former U.S. embassy — are expected to be released by the end of 2016, according to Annie Trépanier, a member of the media relations team for Public Services and Procurement Canada.
Over a three-week period, 7,000 responses were submitted to the department’s online survey. Between Aug. 18 and Sept. 9, Canadians could participate, vote and share ideas on how 100 Wellington St. should be transformed.
The Beaux-Arts style building is three storeys tall, and looks across the street to Parliament Hill. Members of the public were allowed to visit the building during open houses. These sessions were intended to help visitors view the dynamic of the space in order to make an informed decision.
Once the home of the U.S. embassy, the historic building has sat unused since 1999, when the American diplomatic corps in Canada moved to its new, much larger location on Sussex Drive.
In January 2001, under the then-Liberal government, former heritage minister Shelia Copps announced the plan to convert 100 Wellington into a national portrait gallery. However, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government dismissed the plans for a gallery, and the project was never completed.
In August, the Canadian government announced six potential options for transforming the space. This included creating a Canada House to showcase the diversity and achievements of all the provinces and territories.
Another option was a Capital Information Centre. A combination of federal, municipal and tourism organizations would be included.
A third option was an Indigenous Culture Centre. Focusing on the prominent role Indigenous people have in the history and future of Canada, the centre would be in partnership with First Nation, Métis and Inuit organizations.
Another option was a Parliamentary Interpretive Centre. The aim of the centre would be to inform visitors to the Parliament Buildings, with information on how Parliament operates, as well as its history.
Other options include a museum, as well as a revived version of the national portrait gallery.
One of the many supporters backing the portrait gallery idea is Heritage Ottawa. The advocacy organization promoted participation in the survey, and spread word about its own stance via Twitter under #100Wellington.
“The long-standing desire for a national portrait gallery seems a natural union of purpose, place and opportunity,” said Leslie Maitland, a past president of Heritage Ottawa.
According to Maitland, the building isn’t large enough to accommodate the whole of the country’s vast national portrait collection. But the gallery could showcase the collections in a rotating display, creating opportunities for people to return, she says.
Maitland said she believes the location is perfect to “bring the face of Canada to all Canadians.”