Major's Hill Park will be a Chateau Laurier Hotel annex---again.

From the diary of Canadian Prime Minister W.L.M. King, July 15, 1937. Item Number 16783, National Archives.

The owners of the Chateau Laurier Hotel in the year 2021 want to integrate their property with Major's Hill Park. The park is federally-owned, managed by the National Capital Commission and was part of Parliament Hill.

House of Commons Ottawa July 6, 1908. Grand Trunk Railway Hotel Site. Mr. Haughton Lennox (Conservative): "...We want to know something about the cost of the building. What the minister has done is this: He has passed this order in council without knowing anything at all, without having the first tittle of information as regards to the cost. He lets these negotiations go on with the city; he says the city is vitally interested, but it is not nearly so interested as the people of Canada, as we who represent the people of Canada. I can think of no greater outrage perpetrated upon a people than this very transaction-going right into the centre of the property of the people, the beauty spot of the city of Ottawa, the place of which we are so proud, Major's Hill Park---to plant in the centre of that park a commercial ediface, a money-making institution-that is surely an absolute outrage upon the rights of the people."

"Now I asked the minister if there were outlets from this hotel direct to the park. The minister does not know. So little attention has been paid to this matter, so little interest has (he) taken in the preservation of public rights, that he does not know to-day whether there are one or a dozen outlets from that hotel to the public park. He does not know whether that is to be the backyard of a hotel where baby carriages will be trundled at will." 

The Hon. William Pugsley (Minister of Public Works) Liberal: "They do not trundle baby carriages in backyards, usually."

Mr. Lennox: "The hotel might just as well own the whole park."

Chateau Laurier Urban Design Guidance, April 2008. Interaction with Majors Hill Park.

"The face of the building should be set back from the edge of the park. The set-back area should be appropriately landscaped, fenced and raised above park level. There should be no direct access from building to park." (page 17/31.)

Nine years later, the Chateau Laurier and the National Capital Commission decided to "blend private and public space" and "focus on the interface between the canal promenade, Major's Hill Park, Mackenzie Avenue and the new addition." The Heritage Working Group also pondered the future of Major's Hill Park, including the overall character of the landscape, public access and continuation of celebratory events.

Heritage Working Group-Meeting #2-Chateau Laurier Redevelopment Project Meeting Notes, March 28th, 2017, Colonel By Room, Ottawa City Hall.

Discussion-Key Themes. Public Realm and Landscapes.

-In response to the directions coming out of the first meeting the discussion focused on opportunities to enhance the public realm, especially the question of whether or not to introduce a direct access between the building and the park at the north edge.

-Questions were raised about what the NCC's policy position is with creating a direct connection between the park and the addition on the north edge. The working group also had questions about the NCC's future plans for the park (including events, overall character, enhanced accessibility, etc.)

-All working group members agreed that creating visual connection between the park and the addition was important in order to better animate the park. Some felt that any direct public access, if any, should be subtle. Others suppported the idea of a more animated connection, such as the case of Bryant Park in New York City. (Note: Bryant Park is located behind the New York City Public Library and the park is an annex of the library; it is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and is managed by a private, not-for-profit organization.-savecfbrockcliffe.)