Fossils, Cats, and a 22,000-lb Bell: Parliament Hill by the Numbers

An illustration of the scale of the 22,244-lb Bourdon bell, which outweighs two full-grown African elephants.

Located in the heart of Ottawa, Canada, Parliament Hill is the symbolic home of the nation's government. While most visitors come to see the striking Gothic Revival architecture, the site’s most famous feature—the Peace Tower—holds a massive secret. Hidden behind its stone walls is one of the finest musical instruments in North America: a 53-bell carillon.

THE HEART OF THE HILL

The Peace Tower isn't just a clock; it's a massive, live musical instrument. A musician called the Dominion Carillonneur sits at a specialized keyboard near the top of the tower, 92.2 meters (302 feet 6 inches) high, to play the bells for the crowds below.

The Singing Tower: To be officially called a carillon, an instrument must have at least 23 bells. The Peace Tower has 53 bells with a total weight of approximately 54,000 kg (54 tonnes).

The Giant Bell: The largest of them all is the Bourdon bell. It stands 2.1 meters (6 feet 10 inches) tall and weighs a staggering 10,090 kg (22,244 lbs).

Sofistikateit Visual Archive

"Restoring the Bourdon: The Peace Tower Bells" — Field Research Footage

The Elephant Scale: That single bell weighs more than two full-grown African elephants combined, which typically weigh around 5,000 kg (11,000 lbs) each.

The Range: The bells span four and a half musical octaves, ranging from the massive Bourdon to a tiny 4.5-kg (10-lb) bell that is only 17 centimeters (7 inches) wide.

THE HEIGHT BATTLE: PEACE TOWER VS. THE U.S. CAPITOL

Since we are looking at the numbers, here is how Canada's icon stacks up against the United States Capitol dome in Washington, D.C.

The Peace Tower Height: The tower stands at 92.2 meters (302.5 feet) tall from the ground to the tip of the flagpole.

The U.S. Capitol Height: The U.S. Capitol dome stands at 88 meters (288 feet) from the ground to the top of the Statue of Freedom.

The Difference: The Peace Tower is officially 4.2 meters (14.5 feet) taller than the American Capitol dome.

THE SECRET SCULPTURES AND ANCIENT WALLS

There are approximately 370 carvings on the Peace Tower alone, including gargoyles, grotesques, and friezes that watch over the grounds. The interior walls of the Centre Block are sheeted with Tyndall limestone from Manitoba, which is 450 million years old and famous for its visible fossils of ancient sea creatures.

Heritage feline residents of the Hill.

THE PURR-LIAMENT CATS

For nearly 40 years, the Hill was home to a famous colony of stray cats that lived in a volunteer-run sanctuary on the west side of the grounds.

Rodent Control: Cats were first brought into the Parliament buildings in 1924 to handle a rat and mouse infestation in the brand-new Centre Block.

The Colony: At its peak, the colony housed about 30 cats who lived in cold-weather shelters built by volunteers to resemble European houses.

The Retirement: The sanctuary officially closed in January 2013 after the last remaining cats were adopted into forever homes. 

The "Cat Man" of the Hill: While many volunteers helped, the colony was famously maintained for years by a man named René Chartrand, who took over in 1987 and built the iconic "European-style" houses seen in your photo.

The Resident Count: While the number fluctuated, the colony typically maintained a steady population of 15 to 20 residents at any given time.

A Royal Menu: The cats weren't just eating kibble; they were often treated to leftovers from the parliamentary restaurant, including premium scraps of fish and meat.

The Legacy Fence: Even though the cats are gone, a small portion of the original sanctuary fence was preserved as a quiet memorial to the feline "civil servants" who lived there.

Sofistikateit Visual Archive

"Purr-liament Hill: The Capital Cat Colony" — Field Research Footage

THE STONE THAT TALKS

The Memorial Chamber at the base of the Peace Tower is a room of deep reflection. The floor of this room contains stones collected directly from the First World War battlefields where Canadians fought. Architect John A. Pearson personally traveled to Europe in 1921 to collect these stones, ensuring Canadians could literally "stand on the same ground" as those who served and died.

The floor's design features a large cross made of stone from key battlefields, including Vimy Ridge, the Somme, Ypres, and Verdun. The central Altar of Sacrifice, where the Books of Remembrance are housed, is made from Hoptonwood limestone (a gift from Great Britain) and rests on steps quarried directly from Flanders Fields in Belgium. The entire chamber is a testament to shared sacrifice, as its walls are built with stone gifted from Great Britain, France, and Belgium as a tribute to Canada’s fallen.

THE CONTINUING LEGACY

Parliament Hill is currently the site of the largest heritage rehabilitation project in Canadian history. As of early 2026, the Centre Block remains a hive of activity with approximately 400 to 900 workers on-site daily during peak phases, supported by over 4,000 tradespeople throughout the project's duration.

Significant progress has been made on the new Parliament Welcome Centre, which is now roughly 20% complete as foundation work and elevator shafts take shape. A major visual transformation is set for Spring 2026, when the 92-metre Peace Tower will be fully enclosed in a massive steel scaffolding frame to facilitate critical masonry and structural repairs. While main construction is slated for completion between 2030 and 2031, the building is expected to officially reopen to the public approximately one year later following extensive systems testing.

Resources:

Government of Canada. Centre Block Project Progress and Milestones (2026).

House of Commons. Building the Future: The Parliament Welcome Centre.

Library of Parliament. Historical Archives: The Great Fire of 1916.

National Post: Parliament Hill’s cat sanctuary ‘disbands’ after more than fifty years

Canadian Museum of History. The Cats of Parliament Hill: A Cultural Legacy.

Brandon University. Geological Analysis and History of Tyndall Stone.

Architect of the Capitol. U.S. Capitol Building: Height, Dimensions, and Architecture.

Public Services and Procurement Canada. Heritage Rehabilitation Standards for the Parliamentary Precinct.

Government of Canada. Peace Tower: History and Design of the Memorial Chamber.