Aberdeen Pavilion
| Aberdeen Pavilion | |
|---|---|
The Aberdeen Pavilion in 2005
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| Former names | "Cattle Castle" (informal) |
| General information | |
| Type | Exhibition Hall |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Location | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Completed | 1898 |
| Cost | CAD75,000 (1878) |
| Owner | City of Ottawa |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Moses C. Edey |
| Awards and prizes | Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act |
| Official name | Aberdeen Pavilion National Historic Site of Canada |
| Designated | 1983 |
| Type | Municipal Heritage Designation (Part IV) |
The Aberdeen Pavilion (Pavillon Aberdeen in French) is an exhibition hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Overlooking the Rideau Canal, it is located in Lansdowne Park, Ottawa's historic fairgrounds. For many years, the building was known as the "Cattle Castle", due to its use for the Central Canada Exhibition's agricultural exhibits and shows, and some people still refer to it by this nickname today. It is the last surviving Canadian example of what was once a common form of Victorian exhibition hall, and was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1983.
It is one of the oldest surviving indoor ice hockey venues in the world, although it has not hosted a hockey game in many years. It is the oldest surviving venue in which the Stanley Cup was contested, having hosted Stanley Cup challenge matches in 1904 between the Ottawa Hockey Club and challengers.
The pavilion was built in 1898 to serve as the central hall for the Central Canada Exhibition. Designed by Moses C. Edey, it was inspired by London's Crystal Palace. It was named after Governor General Lord Aberdeen who presided over its opening. The structure was built by the Dominion Bridge Company, and took only two months and $75,000 to complete. The structure consists of a series of large steel arches holding up the roof. This allows for a large and column-free interior space of some 3,000 square metres (32,000 sq ft).
For many years, the main purpose of the structure was for agricultural shows, and from this came its "Cattle Castle" nickname. In wartime, the building became an important military structure. It was the home of Strathcona's Horse before they departed for the Boer War. In the First World War, it was the mustering point for Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and it served as a general recruiting centre and the home to the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa and the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards during the Second World War.
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