Embassy of France in Ottawa
Encyclopedia
The Embassy of France in Ottawa
is the diplomatic mission
of France
to Canada
, located at 42 Sussex Drive in the New Edinburgh
neighbourhood of Ottawa
.
The French embassy was founded in 1924 and was originally based in the Victoria Building
with the first representative being Jean Knight.
In 1931 the embassy bought its current location, a prized piece of land overlooking the Rideau Falls
from the Blackburn family. The legation was originally based in the Blackburn mansion. Construction on the new embassy building, designed by Eugène Beaudouin, began in 1936. The first stone was laid by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King
on Bastille Day
. The Art Deco
structure opened in 1939, just in time for the turmoil of the Second World War. The French ambassador René Ristelhueber, appointed in early 1940, acknowledged the Vichy regime
as did the Canadian government. In 1942 Canada switched and expelled the Vichy diplomats and the facilities were turned over to the Free French and Colonel Philippe Pierrené was made ambassador.
In 1951 the embassy's location was enhanced when neighbouring 24 Sussex Drive
became the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada
.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
is the diplomatic mission
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, located at 42 Sussex Drive in the New Edinburgh
New Edinburgh
New Edinburgh is a small neighbourhood in Ottawa, Canada. It is located to the east of the downtown core. It is bordered on the west by the Rideau River, to the north by the Ottawa River, to the south by Beechwood Avenue, to the east the border is less regular but is marked in part by Springfield...
neighbourhood of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.
The French embassy was founded in 1924 and was originally based in the Victoria Building
Victoria Building (Ottawa)
The Victoria Building is an office building at 140 Wellington Street, just across from the Parliament of Canada. It houses the offices of a number of parliamentarians, mostly members of the Canadian Senate. The building, designed by John Albert Ewart, was completed in 1928 by private developers,...
with the first representative being Jean Knight.
In 1931 the embassy bought its current location, a prized piece of land overlooking the Rideau Falls
Rideau Falls
The Rideau Falls are two waterfalls located in Ottawa, Canada where the Rideau River empties into the Ottawa River. The falls are divided by Green Island, with the Old City Hall just to the south. To the west of the falls is the headquarters of the National Research Council while to the east are...
from the Blackburn family. The legation was originally based in the Blackburn mansion. Construction on the new embassy building, designed by Eugène Beaudouin, began in 1936. The first stone was laid by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
on Bastille Day
Bastille Day
Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July of each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale and commonly le quatorze juillet...
. The Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
structure opened in 1939, just in time for the turmoil of the Second World War. The French ambassador René Ristelhueber, appointed in early 1940, acknowledged the Vichy regime
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
as did the Canadian government. In 1942 Canada switched and expelled the Vichy diplomats and the facilities were turned over to the Free French and Colonel Philippe Pierrené was made ambassador.
In 1951 the embassy's location was enhanced when neighbouring 24 Sussex Drive
24 Sussex Drive
24 Sussex Drive is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada, located in the New Edinburgh neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario. Built between 1866 and 1868 by Joseph Merrill Currier, it has been the official home of the Canadian prime minister since 1951.-History:The house at 24 Sussex...
became the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
.
French ambassadors to Canada
- Jean Knight (1928–1930)
- Charles-Arsène Henry (1930–1934)
- Raymond Brugère (1934–1937)
- Robert de Dampierre (1937–1940)
- René Ristelhueber (1940–1942)
- Philippe Pierrenne (1942–1943)
- Gabriel Bonneau (1943–1945)
- Jean de Hauteclocque (1945–1948)
- Francisque Gay (1948–1949)
- Hubert GuérinHubert GuerinQuirin Marie Hubert Guerin was a French diplomat and military officer. He served as an ambassador to Canada , Brazil and the Netherlands , and represented the exiled French Committee of National Liberation during World War II.-Early career:Before entering France's diplomatic corps,...
(1949–1955) - Francis Lacoste (1955–1962)
- Raymond Bousquet (1962–1965)
- François Leduc (1965–1968)
- Pierre Siraud (1968–1972)
- Jacques Viot (1972–1977)
- Xavier Daufresne de la Chevalerie (1977–1979)
- Pierre Maillard (1979–1981)
- Jean Beliard (1981–1984)
- Jean-Pierre Cabouat (1984–1987)
- Philippe Husson (1987–1989)
- François Bujon de l'EstangFrançois Bujon de l'EstangFrançois Bujon de l'Estang was the Ambassador of the Republic of France to the United States.-Career:He graduated from the Sciences Po, ENA, and the Harvard School of Business Administration....
(1989–1991) - Alfred Sieffer-Gaillardin (April 1, 1992 – 1997)
- Loïc Hennekinne (April 3, 1997 – 1998)
- Denis Bauchard (September 9, 1998 – 2001)
- Philippe Guelluy (2002–2004)
- Daniel JouanneauDaniel JouanneauDaniel Jouanneau in Vendôme is a graduate of the École Nationale d'Administration and former French Ambassador to Canada, after being appointed to the position in 2004 until 2008...
(2004–2008) - François DelattreFrançois DelattreFrançois Delattre is the Ambassador of the Republic of France to the United States. He was appointed Ambassador in February 2011.-Career:He graduated from Sciences Po and ENA with a degree in international law....
(2008–2011) - Philippe Zeller (2011-present)