178 Laurier comes crashing down
By Michel Prévost, University of Ottawa Chief Archivist
This week marks a historical milestone, with the demolition of 178 Laurier, home for more than thirty years of the Alumni Relations Office. This brick building was purchased by the University of Ottawa in 1966 for the sum of $38,000. The long fragile structure suffered a knockout blow during the June 23 earthquake. During this rare (for Ottawa) temblor, which registered 5 on the Richter scale, staff had to be rushed out of the building.
On June 3, 1969, the building became part of history when it welcomed its most renowned guests, Beatle John Lennon and his wife Yoko One.
While the couple’s famous “bed-in” in suite1742 of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal from May 26 to June 2 made headlines the world over, their visit the next day to the University of Ottawa went unnoticed, except for on campus, naturally.
After receiving a VIP welcome at the Ottawa train station by the president of the Students’ Union of the University of Ottawa, Allan Rock, and the group’s vice president, Hugh Segal, the celebrated couple arrived on campus, where Lennon was to take part in a roundtable on world peace.
Lennon also took advantage of his stay here to take a nap at 178 Laurier. At the time, the building was home to the chaplaincy and The Wasteland, a coffeehouse popular with students.
Later, Allan Rock drove the couple in his Volkswagen to 24 Sussex, residence of the prime minister of Canada. Unfortunately, Pierre Elliott Trudeau wasn’t there to welcome them, but Lennon left him a note.
And so, with this demolition, we lose a building with nearly a half century of history behind it. Luckily, documents illustrating this rich past remain in the University archives.
The building in 1978.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono pay a visit.
The back of the building is demolished.
The façade comes down last.
Memories
I met my husband on campus when we were both students here in the early 70’s. When we decided to get married, we went to see the Chaplain of the University. His office was at 178 Laurier East and the Wasteland Café was going strong in the basement of the building.
We had several marriage preparation sessions with the chaplain in his office, before he married us at the little chapel in the Faculty of Arts. In 2001, when I became an employee of the University, I reported to the Director of Alumni Relations, whose office happened to be in the same room as the former chaplain’s office. I spent 9 happy years working in the building, looking out at the two churches at the corner of Laurier and Cumberland, watching the students criss-cross the campus and listening to the sirens every time the firefighters left on another call, at least two dozen times a day!
Needless to say, the building held many fond memories for me and it was sad to watch it go down.
Anne-Marie Fontaine
‘At times I found eerie the fact that John Lennon sleep where I put my credenza and read a book where I used to meet colleagues and professional contacts. On the other hand, while I enjoyed working in that building, our new temporary location is a little more quiet: the fire station across 178 Laurier is one of the busiest in town! Moreover, this unfortunate loss of historical heritage nonetheless affords us a fabulous opportunity to enhance building capacity on our downtown campus.’
Guy Larocque
Directeur | Director
Relations avec les anciens | Alumni Relations
J’ai travaillé 1 an dans cet édifice et j’appréhendais toujours le bruit intense qui émanait de la caserne de pompiers, bruit qui me semblait, passait directement au travers des murs de l’édifice. Par contre, la vue était intéressante…
Lucie Gendron
Chef, Promotion de l’appartenance // Manager, Alumni Loyalty
Petite clarification: Les anciens n’ont pas toujours été au 178L.
En Février 1978, j’ai commencé à travailler au 178L, c’était pour le Bureau du Développement. Nous préparions le lancement de la Campagne du Fonds de l’Essor qui a eu lieu en 1980. Nous avons amassé un montant de $9 millions.
En 1982-83 le bureau de développement a déménagé au 190L et par la suite en 1984 ,le Bureau des anciens, qui était sur la rue Wilbrod a déménagé au 190L avec le Bureau du développement.
À ce moment là, le Bureau des Relations extérieures a pris la place au 178L.
En 1987-88, la section du Bureau des anciens a déménagé au 178L et le Bureau du développent a resté au 190L.
Carole Joly
Relations avec les anciens / Alumni Relations Office
Comments (7)
je me rappelle avoir travaillé dans cet édifice comme secrétaire réceptionniste avant le déménagement du Bureau des anciens au 190 Laurier (en 1982-1983). Ce dont je me souviens le plus a été le ménage du sous-sol…et la chance de connaître le directeur Monsieur Moreau…J’ai par la suite quitté l’Université mais je suis maintenant de retour depuis janvier 2008. Depuis mon retour, je voulais aller visiter le 178 Laurier, mais je ne l’ai pas fait, ce que j’ai regretté lorsque j’ai vu l’édifice démolie!
By Francine Beaudin on 2010 11 25
Comments (7)
Article très impressionnant! Bravo et bravo!
By Lucie Gendron on 2010 11 25
Comments (7)
Travaillant au Bureau international, le 178 Laurier était notre voisin. Je trouve triste la perte de cet édifice historique. Les petites maisons qui sont la propriété de l’Université rajoutent au cachet de notre campus et il est dommage de penser que ces dernières sont amenées à être remplacées par des tours de béton immenses ou des places de stationnement!
By Sophie Wauquier on 2010 11 25
Comments (7)
I was surprised when I saw that the building lay in rubble. I remember the Wasteland in the ‘70s and seeing a local band Les Barrettes play there. Who was the chaplain at that time, père Guindon?
Considering the age of the building and the state of its walls due to settling and the recent tremor, it is understandable that it had to come down. Was any part of the decorative entrance salvaged, the carved stone arch and capitals? Or are they also just a memory.
Michèle Roy
By Michèle R. on 2010 11 25
Comments (7)
Bonjour Dave,
Je viens de regarder la vidéo de démolition. C’est vraiment frappant. Ce bâtiment en pierre disparaît comme un château de carte. J’ai bien aimé lire les témoignages de ceux qui ont travaillé dans cet bâtiment, aujourd’hui disparu. Merci.
By Michel Prévost on 2010 11 25
Comments (7)
Michèle: I saw construction staff salvage the arch last week… Not sure for the capitals and I have no idea where they brought it or what they will do with it.
By Frédéric Grignon on 2010 11 25
Comments (7)
So, what will be done with this site now that the buiding is gone?
Where has the Alumni Relations Office moved to?
By MIKe on 2010 12 11