Last updated: October 22 2026
The Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park was built in 1914 and designed by Francis C. Sullivan, according to the Canadian Register of Historic Places. The City of Ottawa rents it as a venue with a 6,300 square foot main hall and a maximum of 800 people (City of Ottawa).
At a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Built | 1914 (Canadian Register) |
| Designer | Francis C. Sullivan (Canadian Register; Ontario Heritage Trust) |
| Style | Prairie Style (Canadian Register) |
| Heritage designation | Part IV, Ontario Heritage Act. Ontario Heritage Trust lists By-law 8-94, enacted January 19 1994 |
| Main hall | 6,300 square feet, maximum 800 people (City of Ottawa) |
| Address | 957 Bank Street (Canadian Register; Ontario Heritage Trust). Sources differ: 1525 Princess Patricia, City rental page |
| Events this fall, per their organizers | Signatures Handmade Market, October 22 to 25 2026; 613flea, November 6 and 7 and November 27 and 28 2026 |
What the Horticulture Building is
The Canadian Register describes it as “one of eight permanent exhibition halls” at the Central Canada Exhibition, a Prairie Style structure with a stepped base, strong vertical corner piers and flat projecting roof planes. Character-defining elements include brick construction with stone trim, stucco panels and wood banding, and “grouping of upper floor vertical casement windows with geometric glazing patterns” (Canadian Register). The register also records use as a winter curling rink.
Heritage designation
- The Canadian Register records a municipal designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act through City of Ottawa By-law 208-89 (1989), council voting to remove it in 1991, and re-designation in 1994 (Canadian Register).
- The Ontario Heritage Trust lists By-law 8-94, registered and enacted January 19 1994, a notice of intention dated November 20 1993, and a second notice of intention dated July 21 2014. It lists protection as an “Ontario Heritage Trust easement agreement” (Ontario Heritage Trust).
- A City of Ottawa report dated August 5 2011 states that Council approved repealing By-law 8-94 and relocating the building on November 22 2010, and that staff proposed re-designating it after relocation (City of Ottawa report ACS2011-ICS-PGM-0152).
What it is used for now
The City of Ottawa describes it as “a renovated City of Ottawa building with an industrial feel” for dinners, banquets, weddings, and corporate or community events. Listed features: high ceilings and exposed beams, 16-foot windows along the east wall, barn board wall accents, an adjacent patio and garden, a catering staging area, outside catering, chairs and tables, and a portable stage (City of Ottawa). The City’s Lansdowne Park page calls it “a heritage building that has been revitalized for special events, recreation programs, and community use” (City of Ottawa).
Typical events
- Signatures Handmade Market runs October 22 to 25 2026 in the Horticulture Building, according to the organizer; Ottawa Tourism’s address line names the Aberdeen Pavilion. Hours and tickets are in our Signatures guide.
- 613flea lists the Horticulture Building for November 6 and 7 and November 27 and 28 2026; the marketplace is “always free to attend” (613flea).
- The Ottawa Farmers’ Market describes the building as “just steps away from the north-east corner of the Aberdeen Pavilion” (Ottawa Farmers’ Market).
- The City says East Court, between the Pavilion and the Horticulture Building, hosts the Summer Arts Series and the expanded Farmers’ Market (City of Ottawa).
- Other bookings appear on the What’s On page when announced.
How to get in and accessibility
- Address: the Canadian Register and Ontario Heritage Trust give 957 Bank Street. Sources differ: the City of Ottawa rental page gives 1525 Princess Patricia, Ottawa, ON K1S 5J3.
- The City rental page does not mention accessibility features. The City states: “All of the pathways leading to Lansdowne are fully accessible” (City of Ottawa).
Parking and transit
- The City rental page states underground parking has a private entrance into the event space; parking is not included, and renters can “negotiate and pre-purchase parking spaces” (City of Ottawa).
- The City lists on-street parking nearby and a commercial lot reached from Bank Street and Queen Elizabeth Drive. OC Transpo routes 6 and 7 serve Lansdowne (City of Ottawa). Rates are in the parking guide and cheaper options in free and cheaper parking near Lansdowne.
- 613flea states “nearly 1,000” paid car parking spaces, street parking nearby and 600 bike parking spaces (613flea).
Short history
- 1914: built; designed by Francis C. Sullivan (Canadian Register).
- The register links it to the Central Canada Exhibition, which it calls “the oldest continuously operating agricultural fair in Canada” (Canadian Register).
- 1989 to 1994: designated, designation removed in 1991, re-designated in 1994 (Canadian Register).
- November 22 2010: Council approved repealing By-law 8-94 and relocating the building from the west side of the Aberdeen Pavilion to the east side, per the City report dated August 5 2011 (City of Ottawa).
Next door: the Aberdeen Pavilion.
Sources
- Canadian Register of Historic Places, Horticulture Building: built date, designer, style, designation history, heritage value. Read October 22 2026.
- Ontario Heritage Trust, Ontario Heritage Act register entry: By-law 8-94, notices of intention, address, protection. Read October 22 2026.
- City of Ottawa, Horticulture Building rental: hall size, capacity, features, parking, address. Read October 22 2026.
- City of Ottawa, Lansdowne Park: use, East Court, accessibility, parking, transit. Read October 22 2026.
- City of Ottawa report ACS2011-ICS-PGM-0152, August 5 2011: 2010 Council decision on repeal and relocation. Read October 22 2026.
- 613flea: November 2026 dates, admission, parking. Read October 22 2026.
- Ottawa Farmers’ Market, temporary location page: location relative to the Aberdeen Pavilion. Read October 22 2026.
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