National Trust for Canada Welcomes Plan for 24 Sussex Drive
June 29, 2026, Ottawa – The National Trust for Canada welcomes the announcement by Prime Minister Mark Carney of a national competition to restore the official residence at 24 Sussex Drive. The announcement defines a clear path forward for this heritage building, after decades of deferred maintenance.
The announcement launched an independent national design- and build- competition open to Canadian firms. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada will support the competition, convening a jury of leaders in architecture, heritage conservation and design, chaired by Moshe Safdie. The Chief Executive Officer of the National Trust for Canada, Dr. Patricia Kell, will serve on the jury.
The National Trust, Canada’s national charity dedicated to heritage places, has actively advocated for the future of 24 Sussex for many years. In October 2025, 24 Sussex was added to the National Trust’s Endangered Places List to draw attention to its precarious future. Launched in 2005, the annual Endangered Places List has become a vital national tool for raising awareness and mobilizing action to save heritage sites.
The National Trust has argued for the importance of 24 Sussex as a landmark and touchstone of Canada’s history, most notably as the home of Canada’s Prime Ministers for more than 60 years. But heritage conservation is not about enshrining the past – it is about addressing the needs of today and tomorrow. Rehabilitating 24 Sussex is an opportunity to reimagine something rooted in the past that continues to serve Canadians into the future.
At the press conference, the Prime Minister underscored the value of heritage places, stating, “At a time when much of the world is buffeted by crises, Canada’s history, our institutions, and our traditions matter more than ever. And while these foundations are expressed in language, practiced in custom and convention, and enshrined in law, they can also take physical form. They can be made of timber and stone, stand as landmarks, as testaments in which we recognize ourselves.”
Investment in this touchstone of Canadian history is an opportunity to elevate Canada’s expertise in heritage conservation and adaptive reuse. The Prime Minister’s residence reflects Canadian values to the world. The National Trust applauds the inclusion of its heritage value in that vision.
Quotes
“This historic reinvestment in 24 Sussex Drive is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to add new layers of meaning to this historic place. Rehabilitating 24 Sussex is an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the reuse of existing buildings.”
Dr. Shabnam Inanloo Dailoo
Chair, Board of Governors
National Trust for Canada
Media Contact
Allison Kerns, Manager of Communications
National Trust for Canada
akerns@nationaltrustcanada.ca
613-237-1066
