Main entrance

The Peace Tower is dedicated to the fallen of the First World War. It is the focal point of the Parliament Building, symbolic of the country and the aspirations of its people.
Photo gallery for Panoply of Canadiana photo 1
© HOC-CDC

Panoply of Canadiana

The main entrance to the building is at the base of the Peace Tower. Architect John Pearson’s design for the main archway includes large blocks of Wallace sandstone from Nova Scotia, which have been filled with heraldic decoration by a dedicated team of sculptors over the years since the opening of the building in 1920. Their work is a panoply of Canadiana, including provincial coats of arms, symbols of the United Kingdom and France, and natural wonders from bears to pinecones to beavers, mythical creatures such as unicorns, lions, and, of course, the maple leaf.

Objects from the collection

Photo gallery for Spandrel photo 1
© HOC-CDC

Spandrel

The spandrel atop the main doors bears Canada’s coat of arms and, in Latin, the words of the poet John A. Ritchie, “The wholesome sea is at her gates . . . her gates both east and west.”