Save the Dominion Observatory campus.

Astronomers at the Dominion Observatory discovered Planet X in 1928.

House of Commons   Ottawa  June 1, 1961

MP William Peters (CCF) "Do we carry out regular tracking of satellites and other phenomena? Do we do this from the dominion observatory and correlate reports that are submitted from other observatories on the continent and from across the world? Do we now have facilities for communication between those observatories in order to maintain our share of a world-wide observatory system?"

Hon. Paul Comtois (Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys) "Yes, we do track satellites...we collect and compute all the information which is obtained from other observatories in the world."

MP Douglas Mason Fisher (CCF) "...I am interested in the whole question of defence from missiles of various kinds. I know this may sound fantastic but there is speculation that space platforms may be built, or that satellites from which attacks may be made may be sent into space. I am wondering if there is any intention of building up the dominion observatory so that in time it can be part of the whole space study program."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At least 24 buildings in the vicinity of the Sir John Carling Building grounds may be flattened so that a redevelopment can proceed:

  "Located on the northeast portion of the Central Experimental Farm. The parcel is bounded by Carling Avenue, Maple and Birch Drives, Prince of Wales Drive and the CEF Pathway and Queen Juliana Park." It is noted that there are 24 buildings on the site. "Extensive demolition and/or relocation of buildings is required..."(From a 2007 report.) Google: "The Sir John Carling site-Greenspace Coalition of Canada's Capital."

 I believe the National Capital Commission has little interest in preserving the Observatory campus:

 1.)  The NCC divested many historic properties in Ottawa including The Mackenzie King and Laurier Avenue bridges that span the Rideau Canal;

 a Ladies College that is part of Ottawa City Hall;

 a famous address in Canada---"This is Lotta Hitschmanova of the Unitarian Service, 56 Sparks Street, Ottawa 4."

2.)  The new owner does not want irregularily shaped parcels of land. The William Saunders Building can be seen at the very bottom/centre of the photo below. And it is vacant.

3.)  The Astrophysical Observatory faced demolition in 1995. And intervention by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Astronomer Arthur Covington and many other individuals saved the telescope and artifacts during the 1970's.

My Dad (right) with the Hon. Paul Hellyer and another Parliamentarian: