Peace Tower
The Peace Tower is larger than the Victoria Tower of the original Centre Block. It is the dominant feature on Parliament Hill, and probably the most widely recognized symbol of Canada after the flag.
In the base of the tower is the Memorial Chamber, dedicated to Canadians who have died in conflicts around the world. It contains the Books of Remembrance. The soaring stone tower is covered with carved figures, grotesques and gargoyles that can only be properly seen when scaffolding is erected for repair work.
Changing of the Peace Tower Flag
The Peace Tower flag is changed every day, Monday to Friday and on days when it is flown at half-mast. The flag is not changed on statutory holidays or, for safety reasons, during poor weather conditions.
The responsibility for changing the flag lies with the flag master. Since the space on top of the Peace Tower is very narrow, the flag master must prepare the flag beforehand. This consists of unfolding the flag to ensure its quality, and then refolding and placing it in a satchel. After taking the elevator to the observation deck, the flag master must climb another 33 m, using stairs and ladders, to reach the top of the tower. The flag master then lowers the flying flag and raises the new one on the 10.7 m flagpole. The entire process takes 20 to 30 minutes. As a sign of respect, the flag must not touch the ground. To learn more, watch the flag master video.
Want to learn more on the Canadian flags that fly on Parliament Hill? Read our frequently asked questions.
Peace Tower Clock
Time passes, but certain key features of Parliament Hill remain unchanged. The clock in the Peace Tower, presented to Canada by the government of the United Kingdom to mark the 60th anniversary of Confederation, has been ticking in the heart of our capital since 1927. The original timekeeping mechanism built by British clockmakers no longer works and has since been replaced. The original mechanism is now exhibited inside a glass case in the observation area of the Peace Tower, visible to the public as they emerge from the elevator.
The clock faces have particular aesthetic value. They were assembled with great care and precision. The metal and glass faces are constructed of bronze segments bolted together. The glass sections, slotted into the frame, are held in place by small bronze angles and bedded in putty. The hands are made of riveted aluminum.
The Peace Tower Clock is set according to the time indicated on the National Research Council’s atomic clock in Ottawa. The four clock faces are controlled by a single electric motor located directly behind each face in the middle of the room. The controls for this motor are located approximately ten storeys below, making it necessary to use a pilot clock to mimic the four clock faces.
To set the master clock ahead in the spring, a PWGSC employee speeds up the motor; however, the timekeeping and chime mechanism must be disconnected beforehand to avoid the chimes, set to sound every 15 minutes, from ringing during the process.
Setting the master clock back in the fall is surprisingly simpler than turning the clock forward. Since the clock mechanism cannot be moved backwards, an employee instead must stop the mechanism in the master clock and restart it an hour later. This time change is usually done overnight.
Carillon
Concerts are heard regularly on Parliament Hill from the Peace Tower carillon. The 54-t (60-ton) instrument, developed from the 17th century chiming clocks in Dutch and Flemish cities, contains 53 bells, ranging in size from the 4.5 kg (10 lb.) A-bell 16.6 cm (7 in.) in diameter to the 10,090 kg (22,244 lb.) bourdon tuned to E. It is the bourdon that strikes the hour.
The carillon is played from a large keyboard similar to that of an organ. To play, the keys are usually struck with the closed fist, but in the case of the heavier bells, which are fixed, the carilloneur must use his feet. Connected wires swing the clappers against the bells.
Musicians come from all over the world to study this superbly tuned carillon. The Peace Tower contains one of the earliest and finest carillons in North America.
Memorial Chamber
A central component of the Peace Tower is the Memorial Chamber, dedicated to the Canadian men and women who have given their lives in the service of their country.
The design of the Chamber is Gothic Revival. However, its high stained-glass windows, cusped arches and fan-vaulted ceiling create an atmosphere more in keeping with the memorial chapel of a cathedral.
The Memorial Chamber is rich with symbolism. The floor is made of stones taken from the World War I battlegrounds where Canadians fought. The walls and columns are faced with stone from France and Belgium; the two countries where Canadians saw the most combat. At the centre of the Chamber stands the central Altar carved from a block of Hoptonwood, the same British stone used for the tombstones in military cemeteries.
The central Altar, and similar altars in the Chamber, contains the Books of Remembrance, inscribed with the names of Canadians who have died in battle.
Visitors to the chamber speak in hushed, respectful tones. Although it is not a chapel, the room inspires awe and respect for the enormous sacrifice it honours.
Books of Remembrance
These beautiful books were created by hand, and list the names of all Canadians who have lost their lives in battle. Protected within glass cases, they are displayed open and every day at 11 o'clock a new page is turned. The families and friends of those listed in the books can find out when their loved one's name will be shown. Over the years, Canadians have visited in huge numbers to pay their respects.
Stone Carvings
What are those stone figures and carvings staring down from the Peace Tower of the Centre Block on Parliament Hill? Some are fanciful human figures; some are animal figures, while others portray lurid ancient creatures.
Whatever they are, all of them are original carvings that were incorporated into the Gothic Revival architectural style of the buildings on Parliament Hill.
There are still many uncarved blocks of stone in the interior of the Centre Block that are waiting to be transformed into notable works of art.
Although the carvings are generally referred to as gargoyles, there is a descriptive difference between "gargoyles" and "grotesques", "friezes" and "bosses".
Gargoyles were created with a two-fold practical purpose. First, to ward off evil and, second, to eject excess water from the exterior of buildings. A gargoyle, although sometimes mistaken for a grotesque, is a spout or eaves trough carved in the form of a human or animal figure projecting from a roof gutter to catch rainwater and throw it clear of a building.
A grotesque is a style of decorative art characterized by fanciful human or animal figures that may distort the natural into absurdity, ugliness or caricature. At the turn of the century, grotesques were carved as designs of figures for decoration or adornment on buildings. At the same time, they were made to symbolize a desire to fight the power of evil.
Some grotesques or reliefs were carved onto a frieze, which is a horizontal band of decoration around the upper section of a wall, often ornamented with sculpture.
The term boss is used to describe an ornamental projecting block that can be found at the end of a moulding or an arch.
Grotesques
Four of the many grotesques that can be found on the Peace Tower are made from Wallace sandstone (olive green) from Wallace, Nova Scotia, Canada. They are each approximately 105 cm (42 in.) high by 55 cm (22 in.) wide.
Reliefs
A number of decorative relief carvings can be found on the many friezes on the Peace Tower. These have been sculpted from Wallace sandstone (olive green) from Wallace, Nova Scotia, Canada and vary in size.
Bosses
Many bosses can be found on the Peace Tower. Some are carved from Wallace sandstone (olive green) from Wallace, Nova Scotia, Canada; others are carved from Birmingham buff sandstone from Ohio, United States of America.
Gargoyles
There are four non-functional gargoyles on the Peace Tower. Each is approximately 2.5 m (8 ft. 4 in.) long by 75 cm (2 ft. 6 in.) high by 45 cm (1 ft. 6 in.) thick. They have been carved from Stanstead grey granite, which originates from Beebe, Quebec, Canada.
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