Aberdeen Pavilion
Exhibition hall in Ottawa
title: "Aberdeen Pavilion" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1898-establishments-in-ontario", "ice-hockey-venues-in-ottawa", "indoor-lacrosse-venues-in-canada", "national-historic-sites-in-ontario", "ottawa-senators-(original)-arenas", "designated-heritage-properties-in-ottawa", "defunct-ice-hockey-venues-in-canada", "sports-venues-completed-in-1898"] description: "Exhibition hall in Ottawa" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen_Pavilion" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Exhibition hall in Ottawa ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox building"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Aberdeen Pavilion |
| native_name | Pavillon Aberdeen |
| native_name_lang | fr |
| former_names | "Cattle Castle" (informal) |
| image | Aberdeen Pavilion 2021.jpg |
| caption | The Aberdeen Pavilion in 2021 |
| building_type | Exhibition Hall |
| architectural_style | Victorian |
| cost | (1878) |
| address | 1000 Exhibition Way |
| Ottawa, Ontario | |
| K1S 5J3 | |
| owner | City of Ottawa |
| coordinates | |
| completion_date | 1898 |
| architect | Moses C. Edey |
| awards | Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act |
| embedded | |
| :: |
| name = Aberdeen Pavilion | native_name = Pavillon Aberdeen | native_name_lang = fr | former_names = "Cattle Castle" (informal) | image = Aberdeen Pavilion 2021.jpg | caption = The Aberdeen Pavilion in 2021 | map_type = | building_type = Exhibition Hall | architectural_style = Victorian | structural_system = | cost = (1878) | address = 1000 Exhibition Way Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5J3 | client = | owner = City of Ottawa | landlord = | coordinates = | start_date = | completion_date = 1898 | inauguration_date = | demolition_date = | destruction_date = | height = | diameter = | other_dimensions = | floor_count = | floor_area = | main_contractor = | architect = Moses C. Edey | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | other_designers = | quantity_surveyor = | awards = Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act | embedded = | references =
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. 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 is no longer used for ice hockey. 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.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Aberdeen_Pavilion_1903.jpg" caption="The Aberdeen Pavilion in 1903"] ::
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 ($ in dollars) 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 3000 m2.
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.
Restoration
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Aberdeen_Pavilion_1991.jpg" caption="In 1991, the Aberdeen Pavilion was in such disrepair that City Council voted to demolish it; the decision was reversed in 1992."] ::
In 1982, the building was designated a heritage structure under the Ontario Heritage Act, but it was showing its age and required significant restoration work that would have cost several million dollars. Given serious structural problems, the pavilion had been closed to the public for a number of years Many of the structure's windows were broken, the exterior paint was peeling, and the words "Cattle Castle" had been ignominiously painted on the front of the once elegant structure. City Council agreed to help finance the pavilion's restoration, but the federal and provincial governments refused to assist financially. In 1991, Ottawa City Council voted to demolish the building rather than pay the full restoration cost. The fate of the Aberdeen Pavilion became a major issue in the 1991 municipal election, and in 1992, City Council reversed its earlier decision and approved a basic renovation plan that cost . The newly restored structure opened in 1994.
In 2000, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada chose the building as one of the top 500 buildings produced in Canada during the last millennium.
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Aberdeen_Pavilion_-Inside-_Winter.jpg" caption="Aberdeen Pavilion - Interior"] ::
Usage
The pavilion was used for many years to display cattle for the Central Canada Exhibition, which has since been discontinued. The pavilion is used for special events, and for the Ottawa CityFolk Festival in September each year since 2015. It is also used for a farmer's market during the winter months (during the summer, the market is outside) and a Christmas market in December.
In 2017, the pavilion was the host of Impact Wrestling's annual Bound for Glory pay-per-view pro wrestling show.
Sports usage
In 1902, the Ottawa Senators (then known as the Ottawa Hockey Club) built a hockey arena inside the Pavilion. In 1904, the club played the full 1904 season and Stanley Cup challenges in the Pavilion.
In 1918, the Ottawa Senators nearly moved to the Pavilion and investigated refurbishing it as an arena. Ted Dey (who had control over Dey's Skating Rink and The Arena) was not willing to rent time to the Senators. This turned out to be a ploy to gain control of the hockey club. The City of Ottawa was unwilling then to restore an ice rink inside the Pavilion, as bleachers had been built inside.
In 2017, as part of the NHL 100 Classic festivities, the Aberdeen Pavilion hosted participation events, exhibits, merchandise vendors and the like. After over 110 years, the Stanley Cup returned for a display at the Pavilion. The game itself took place nearby outdoors on the TD Place football field, played between Ottawa and Montreal.
References
Bibliography
References
- {{CRHP. 4114. Aberdeen Pavilion National Historic Site of Canada
- http://www.pch.gc.ca/newsroom/index_e.cfm?fuseaction=displayDocument&DocIDCd=8NR082 Canadian Heritage News Release - Aberdeen Pavilion Designated as a National Historic Site
- (19 July 2010). "Heritage Ottawa asks Minister to intervene to save heritage buildings at Lansdowne Park". Heritage Ottawa.
- Cook, Maria. (11 May 2000). "Cultural consequence". Canwest.
- . (October 5, 1918). ["Ottawa Hockey Club Talk Rink at Lansdowne Pk."](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal-ottawa-hockey-club-ta/138977192/). *[[Ottawa Journal]]*.
- Holzman, Morey. (2002). "Deceptions and Doublecross: How the NHL conquered hockey".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::