Canada 150 vignettes

Watch these short videos that show how Public Services and Procurement Canada has contributed to our national history.

On this page

Centre Block

Transcript: Centre Block vignette

Start of video.

(Rendering on parchment paper of men pouring concrete)

Did you know that construction of the Centre Block began 158 years ago in 1859?

(Scaffolding and the top of a building)

During the construction, the Dominion of Canada was formed and our nation was born.

(Vintage image of the centre block on fire, hoses and fire trucks surround the building)

The Library of Parliament is the only original surviving element from the Great fire of 1916.

(Image of a partially reconstructed Centre Block)

Rebuilt by 1920, the Centre block is the focal point of Canadian democracy, where laws are enacted and the issues of the day are debated.

Learn more about Centre block at http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/citeparlementaire-parliamentaryprecinct/decouvrez-discover/centre-eng.html.

(The Public Services and Procurement Canada wordmark appears, followed by the Canada wordmark.)

End of video.

Long Term Vision and Plan

Transcript: Long Term Vision and Plan vignette

Start of video.

(Vintage image of the Centre Block under construction circa 1916)

Did you know that development of the government precinct began 158 years ago in 1859?

(Ink rendering on parchment of the Parliamentary Precinct)

The precinct includes 34 buildings in Ottawa most situated around Parliament Hill.

(Ink spill animation converts into a 3D image of a mock-up of the new visitor centre under Centre Block)

The Long Term Vision and Plan will guide the restoration of these iconic but aging buildings into modern workplaces and maintain their rich architectural heritage.

(Ink drawing on parchment of a blueprint of the Centre Block separating the roof from the main building)

Learn more about the Long Term Vision and Plan at http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/citeparlementaire-parliamentaryprecinct/index-eng.html.

(The Public Services and Procurement Canada wordmark appears, followed by the Canada wordmark.)

End of video.

Wellington Building

Transcript: Wellington Building vignette

Start of video.

(Image of a mosaic)

Did you know the Wellington building is home to a recently restored 90 year old mosaic?

(Image of the façade of the Wellington building – windows and awning)

Originally build for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, the building was acquired by Canada in 1973.

(Ink rendering of the solar panels on the roof of a building)

Its restoration includes solar panels on the roof, a living wall and cutting edge modernizations.

(Picture of a wall made of plants and a circular staircase)

Learn more about the Wellington building at http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/citeparlementaire-parliamentaryprecinct/rehabilitation/wellington-eng.html.

(The Public Services and Procurement Canada wordmark appears, followed by the Canada wordmark.)

End of video.

Canada Gazette

Transcript: Canada Gazette vignette

Start of video.

(Vintage image of the Coat of Arms of Canada superimposed on parchment paper)

Did you know that the Canada Gazette is one of the oldest federal government publications?

(Three leather bound books)

Since 1841, the Canada Gazette has been a key link between Canadians and their government.

(Street vending machine containing issues of the Canada Gazette for purchase)

The Canada Gazette informs Canadians of notices that are of public interest, regulations and acts governing their daily lives.

(Image of an old printing press)

The Canada Gazette allows citizens to contribute to the federal regulatory process.

Learn more about the Canada Gazette: www.gazette.gc.ca.

(The Public Services and Procurement Canada wordmark appears, followed by the Canada wordmark.)

End of video.

Intercolonial Railway

Transcript: Intercolonial Railway vignette

Start of video.

(Ink spill animation shows an Intercolonial Railway grain elevator and train cabooses)

Did you know that the completion of a railway was a condition of Confederation?

(Image showing Canadian troops boarding a train during the Second World War)

Inaugurated in 1876, the Intercolonial Railway led to population growth and industrial development from Montréal to Halifax.

(Train engineers and workers standing on and next to a steam locomotive)

Today, VIA Rail’s passenger service called the Ocean travels between Montréal and Halifax along the same route.

(Image of an old wooden train bridge)

The railway maintains a historic link to Canada’s heritage.

Watch how the railway was built: www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/apropos-about/canada150/index-eng.html.

(The Public Services and Procurement Canada wordmark appears, followed by the Canada wordmark.)

End of video.

Canadian flag

Transcript: Canadian flag vignette

Start of video.

(Rendering in water colors on parchment paper of the Canadian flag)

The Canadian flag is a symbol of national pride, cultural identity and honour for Canadians.

(Vintage blueprint and specs for the design of the Canadian flag)

The standards for the Canadian flag allow Canada’s symbol of nationhood to fly with confidence.

(Archived newspaper article announcing the Proclamation of the flag)

The Canadian flag has been flying over the Peace Tower since 1965.

(Water color drawing of two Canadian flags and the Peace Tower)

Every weekday, the flag master changes the Peace Tower flag, except on statutory holidays and during poor weather conditions.

Watch the flag master change the flag: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/citeparlementaire-parliamentaryprecinct/decouvrez-discover/drapeaux-flags-eng.html.

(The Public Services and Procurement Canada wordmark appears, followed by the Canada wordmark.)

End of video.

PSPC Award

Transcript: PSPC Award

Start of video.

(Throughout the video, light music is playing in the background.)

(The narrator speaks.)

(Horizontal panoramic of the West Block construction site. View of the West Block building.)

The West Block restoration is the biggest project of its kind in Canadian history.

(High-angle view of a construction worker leaning on a ladder while cutting a piece of copper.)

(View of a man wearing a construction hat and holding a piece of copper.)

(Close-up of scissors cutting a piece of copper.)

(View showing a piece of sandstone with a construction worker using a hammer in the background.)

(Close-up of PSPC’s 2017 Award of Excellence.)

Materials reclaimed from the site as part of the restoration are being used to handcraft the 2017 Public Services and Procurement Canada Award of Excellence.

(The camera pans to the left of the West Block as the Canada 150 motif overlaps the image on the screen. Three images appear from right to left, each covering one third of the screen: a shot of a man working on the roof of the West Block, a close-up of scissors cutting copper and a view of a construction worker hammering a piece of copper. The Canada 150 motif made of copper from the West Block spirals on the screen.)

Designed with the Canada 150 motif, the award is made of copper from the historic building’s roof. The artists have retained most of the hues and patinas that the copper developed naturally through years of exposure to the elements.

(Panoramic of one of the West Block’s exterior walls.)

(Zoom-out of a construction worker using a level alongside a stone on the West Block.)

(A shot of tools slowly spirals in the background as two images appear overtop of its upper half. A close-up of an engraving tool and a view of a sander.)

The base of the award is comprised of Nepean sandstone reclaimed during the restoration, and PSPC’s heritage stonemasons have worked it to form the base of the award.

(Close-up of PSPC’s 2017 Award of Excellence.)

(Close-up of the copper Canada 150 motif on the award.)

(Zoom-in to the Award of Excellence in front of a white background.)

Newly engraved glass has also been used for the award. By using historic and new elements, we have designed an award representing both the historic building and the newly restored West Block.

(Vertical panoramic of the Award of Excellence with George-Étienne Cartier’s name engraved on it.)

(View of the Award of Excellence spinning.)

Through the creation of this special memento for the Public Services and Procurement Canada Award of Excellence, we are proudly celebrating our department’s historic role and mandate of over 150 years of service excellence.

Text on screen: Building on our past for tomorrow. Canada 150

(Music stops.)

(The Public Services and Procurement Canada wordmark appears, followed by the Canada wordmark.)

End of video.