Michel Prévost, chief archivist at the University of Ottawa
For the seventh year, the University of Ottawa Archives is participating in Doors Open Ottawa, taking place the weekend of June 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Doors Open Ottawa showcases our rich heritage by offering free access to historically and architecturally important buildings and sites within the capital.
New participants and a new category
This year, over 100 locations will be open to the public, including luxurious embassies and richly decorated churches. There will also be new participants, such as the Armenian Embassy and Dominican University College. In addition, a new category has been created: green sites, which include the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, the Maplelawn Garden and the Lester B. Pearson Building.
A number of buildings in Sandy Hill will open their doors, including the Canadian Heritage Foundation, Laurier House, the Croatian Embassy, the Algerian Embassy and the University of Ottawa’s Academic Hall.
Academic Hall
Academic Hall, located at 133 Séraphin Marion St., is the oldest auditorium in the region. It has been presenting cultural activities since 1923. Inaugurated in 1901, this heritage building, made of limestone taken from the Gatineau quarries at the site of the Casino du Lac-Leamy, is the work of Montreal architect L.Z. Gauthier.
Academic Hall originally housed the University’s science department and a natural history museum. It has been home to the Department of Theatre since 1986. For over a century, Academic Hall has reflected the rich cultural tradition of the University of Ottawa.
For the two days of Doors Open Ottawa, the Archives of the University will present an exhibition of historical documents in the lobby of Academic Hall and offer guided tours of the building.
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