The Farm (residence)
The Farm Ferme |
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Historic Place of Canada Lieu patrimonial du Canada |
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Recognized since | 1984 |
Type | Recognized Federal Heritage Building |
ID | 11372 |
place | Chelsea (Quebec) |
Coordinates | 45 ° 29 '10 " N , 75 ° 50' 19.7" W |
Recognized by | Government of Canada |
Approved by | Treasury Board Heritage Buildings Policy |
Entry Canadian List of Monuments |
The Farm (French La Ferme ) is the official residence of the chairman ( speaker ) of the Canadian House of Commons . It is located in the area of the community of Chelsea near Gatineau , about 14 km northwest of the capital Ottawa in Gatineau Park .
The residence got its name because it emerged from a farmhouse that was built in the mid-19th century. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King acquired the building in 1927, completing his 231-acre Kingsmere estate . As a result, he did gardening and landscaping there in his spare time. In 1935 he expanded the building and installed heating and water pipes. In 1943 he made The Farm his permanent residence; he died there in 1950.
In his will, King bequeathed his country estate to the Canadian state. It is now administered by the National Capital Commission and most of it is open to the public. The Farm is exempt, as King's will has the house to serve as a quiet refuge for a high-ranking official.