Everyone knows Ottawa is the capital of Canada. It has the Parliament Hill towers, the Rideau Canal, and those famous beaver tails. But if you’d asked that same question 170 years ago, you might have gotten a different answer depending on which week it was. Honestly, the story of how Canada picked its seat of government is a total mess involving angry mobs, burned-out buildings, and a literal game of musical chairs between four different cities.
If you're wondering what was the capital of Canada before it finally settled down, the answer isn't a single place. It’s actually five.
Before Canada became a proper country in 1867, it was a colony called the Province of Canada. Back then, politicians couldn't agree on a single spot for more than a few years at a time. They ended up dragging their desks and paperwork across the wilderness from Kingston to Montreal, then Toronto, then Quebec City, and back again. It sounds exhausting because it was.
The First Winner: Kingston (1841–1844)
When the British combined Upper and Lower Canada into one province in 1841, they needed a central hub. They landed on Kingston. It was a solid choice on paper—safe from American attacks and right on the water. But it didn't last.
The local vibe in Kingston was a bit too "small town" for the big-city politicians from Montreal and Toronto. They complained about the lack of fancy hotels and the generally "unrefined" atmosphere. Plus, it was too close to the U.S. border for comfort, which was a huge deal back then. After only three years, they packed up and headed east.
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The Montreal Disaster: When Parliament Burned Down
Montreal took over in 1844. It was the biggest, most sophisticated city in the colony. Everything seemed to be going great until 1849.
A massive riot broke out over the Rebellion Losses Bill, which was basically a law to compensate people whose property was destroyed during the 1837 rebellions. A mob of angry protesters stormed the Parliament building, smashed the windows, and set the whole place on fire. The politicians barely escaped, and the building was a total loss.
Needless to say, the government decided Montreal was way too chaotic to be the capital. They literally couldn't stay there without fear of being lynched by the local crowd.
The Traveling Circus: Toronto and Quebec City
Since they couldn't agree on one city, they tried something truly bizarre: the "perambulating system." Basically, they decided the capital would switch every four years between Toronto and Quebec City.
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- Toronto (1849–1851): The government spent two years here.
- Quebec City (1851–1855): Everyone packed their bags and sailed down the St. Lawrence.
- Toronto (1855–1859): Back to the west for another round.
- Quebec City (1859–1865): One last trip to the historic walls of Quebec.
Can you imagine the logistics? Moving every single civil servant, file cabinet, and printing press hundreds of miles back and forth by boat and horse-drawn carriage? It was a nightmare.
Why Queen Victoria Finally Chose Ottawa
By 1857, the politicians were tired of moving. They threw their hands up and asked Queen Victoria to just pick a spot so they could stop arguing. There were six contenders: Toronto, Quebec City, Montreal, Kingston, Hamilton, and a "rough and tumble" logging town called Bytown (now Ottawa).
Most people thought she’d pick one of the big cities. When she chose Ottawa, everyone was shocked. At the time, Ottawa was basically a backwater filled with lumberjacks and muddy streets. People called it "the Westminster in the wilderness."
There were two main reasons the Queen (and her advisors) went with Ottawa:
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- Safety: Ottawa was far from the U.S. border, tucked behind a thick forest. If the Americans ever invaded, they’d have a hard time getting there.
- Location: It sat right on the border of Canada West (Ontario) and Canada East (Quebec). It was the perfect compromise between the English and French-speaking populations.
The move wasn't instant, though. It took until 1866 for the new buildings to be ready. By the time they finally moved in, Confederation happened in 1867, and Ottawa officially became the capital of the brand-new Dominion of Canada.
Taking a Piece of History With You
If you're a history nerd or just love a good road trip, you can actually visit these former capitals today. They all still have remnants of their brief time at the top:
- Kingston: Visit City Hall; it was originally built with the hope of being the permanent Parliament building. It’s huge and gorgeous.
- Montreal: You can see the archeological site of the burned-out Parliament at the Pointe-à-Callière museum. It’s haunting to see the charred remains of the foundation.
- Quebec City: Walk the plains of Abraham and the old fortifications. While the actual parliament buildings from that era are gone, the city’s role as a powerhouse is undeniable.
- Toronto: Front Street was the site of the old legislative buildings. Today, you’re standing in the middle of a massive financial hub, but the history is right under your feet.
Basically, if you ever feel like your work-life balance is a mess, just remember the 19th-century Canadian government. They spent twenty years living out of suitcases because they couldn't decide where to sit.
Actionable Next Steps
- Visit Kingston's Waterfront: Take a tour of the Kingston City Hall to see the grandeur they intended for the capital.
- Explore Montreal’s Underground: Head to the Pointe-à-Callière museum in Old Montreal to see the literal foundations of the parliament that burned down in 1849.
- Walk Parliament Hill: When you're in Ottawa, look at the orientation of the buildings—they were specifically designed to be defensible, a direct result of the chaos in the previous capitals.