ARTH3810 2019F Class Projects (Publication)

Making the Past Present: Union Station Restoration – A Political Facelift?


Preface


My essay deals with the heritage aspect of the historic Union Station and its new life as the Senate of Canada Building. In exploring this topic, I have used the lens of critical heritage studies, a way of examining “contemporary relationships between people, heritage and power” (Wells 2017). The purpose of this methodology is to study how “heritage” has been used to create new meanings for a building which may conflict with its original intent. I argue that the original narrative of Union Station and its place in Ottawa’s history has been co-opted to give a favourable new face to the institution of the Senate. To support my argument, I describe Union Station’s historical context, then examine the interior furnishings, artifacts, tour guides' scripts, and the architects’ public statements about the building restoration program. 

 

This page has paths:

  1. Bibliography Maegen Sargent
  2. Conclusion Maegen Sargent

Contents of this path:

  1. A New Home for the Senate
  2. Union Station’s Importance in Ottawa History
  3. The Restored Interior
  4. The Senate Chamber
  5. Conclusion
  6. Bibliography

This page references: