1930s

Site of the current Lord Elgin Hotel taken from Laurier Avenue & Elgin Street.

1930s

1930s

The Lord Elgin site stood at the foot of the recently completed Elgin Street boulevard leading up to the National War Memorial, a project that had razed a swath of historic buildings through the heart of Ottawa to open this run down vista of Elgin's west side.

1930s

1940

The ground breaking ceremony of our hotel in 1940 with then Ottawa Mayor Stanley Lewis.

1940

1940

Construction of the Lord Elgin Hotel. Prime Minister Mackenzie King chose the limestone from a quarry in Niagara region. Architects Ross & Macdonald (Chateau Laurier Ottawa, Royal York in Toronto) were selected to design the Ottawa hotel.

1940

1941

Construction nears an end. Stone masons were brought over from Scotland as there was a shortage in Canada to build the hotel.

1941

1941

February 27th - Shortly after 2:30 pm King was joined on the dais by Mayor Lewis and contractor John Wilson. '...Mr. King was presented with a silver trowel to perform the ceremony. It was inscribed "Presented to the Rt. Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King on the occasion of the laying of the cornerstone of the Lord Elgin Hotel, February 27, 1941".' Ottawa Journal, February 28, 1941 King kept the trowel, and it's still on display in a cabinet in Laurier House.

1941

1941

After his speech Mackenzie King was guided around by Mr. John Clarence (Jack) Udd, the President of the Ford Hotels Inc. King noted; 'He took me to see a sample room which had been set up in an adjoining building, the walls having been made out of beaver board. It represented the smallest room in the hotel. It was really quite attractive.' Actually, all of the 400 rooms in the hotel were very small..

1941

1941

Lord Elgin Hotel welcomes Sir Winston Churchill

1941

1955

Lord Elgin Hotel damaged by fire which originated in Murray's Restaurant. Hoselines hauled up 13 storeys above street level on ropes lowered from the penthouse by firefighters.

1955

1967

Construction of National Arts Centre (taken from hotel).

1967

1960s

View of Hotel lobby from entrance

1960s

1960s

Laurel Lounge

1960s

1960s

Traditional Guestroom with double bed and TV

1960s

1970s

Lobby and Front Desk

1970s

1970s

View of Hotel from the North East corner.

1970s

1988

Hotel elevator landing after the first renovation.

1988

2004

Completion of hotel expansion

2004

2008

Lord & Lady Elgin visit the hotel

2008

2009

Owner Patrick Gillin passes away. 1949 International KB2. A replica of Mr. Gillin's first truck when he started Gillin Engineering in 1950. It was restored for Mr Gillin's 75th birthday in 2000 the 50th anniversary of ‎ Gillin Engineering. It stood in front of the Lord Elgin to commemorate it’s owner after his death.

2009

2013

National Capital Marathon, Canada’s largest marathon. Start line in front of the Lord Elgin Hotel

2013

2014

Lord Elgin wins Star Property of the Year in Stars of the City Program.

2014

2015

Lord Elgin Hotel unveils portrait of Governor General Lord Elgin 1848-1857 (Hotel’s namesake) on loan from National Capital Commission

2015

2015

Lord Elgin Hotel Ottawa in 2015.

2015

2016

Lord Elgin Hotel turns 75!!!

2016

2016

Lord Elgin Hotel celebrates 1940's style

2016

Fall 2016

Lord Elgin Hotel completes extensive renovation to all guestrooms and corridors. All feature rich custom Canadian millwork, artwork inspired by Ottawa’s world-famous Tulip Festival, exquisite seating, and marble-clad bathrooms with walk-in showers or tubs.

Fall 2016

2017

Canada celebrates 150th Anniversary. Lord Elgin Hotel located in the heart of the festivities

2017