The Peace Tower Clock
The Peace Tower, which towers over Parliament Hill at nearly 98 meters, is arguably the second most well-known symbol of Canada after the flag. On days when it is flown at half-mast and every day from Monday to Friday, the Peace Tower flag is changed. During inclement weather or statutory holidays, the flag is not changed.
The United Kingdom presented the Peace Tower clock to Canada in 1927. The gift commemorated Canada's 60th anniversary of confederation. The original clock is no longer operational and has been replaced. Visitors to the Peace Tower, on the other hand, can see it on display in the Tower's observation deck.
In total, there are four clock faces: one on each side of the Tower. An electric motor drives the hour and minute hands on each face. Its controls are on the master clock, ten storeys down the Tower. The National Research Council's atomic clock in Ottawa maintains the precise timing of the clock.
The fact that the Tower's master clock cannot be rolled back always piques people's interest. Therefore, a government employee stops the clock for an entire hour overnight at the end of Daylight Saving Time in the autumn. The hour hand advances by one hour in the spring. Its chimes are momentarily turned off to stop them from ringing while work is being done.
The Peace Tower carillon is one of North America's oldest and most beautiful carillons. It has 53 bells and weighs 54 tons. The weight of these bells ranges from 10,090 kilograms to only 4.5 kilograms. The bourdon bell is the largest and heaviest, and it plays the low E note. The smallest and lightest bell, which is four and a half octaves higher, plays the A! The bourdon produces the sound you hear every hour. A large keyboard, resembling an organ, is used to play the carillon. A carillonneur is the person who plays the bells. The bells are chimed by carillonneurs hitting the keys with their fists. They must use their feet to press the keys in order to play the bigger bells. Actually, the bells don't swing. Instead, each bell is struck by a clapper with the same force as the carillonneur does with the key. The chiming clocks in Belgium and the Netherlands from the 17th century served as the inspiration for the Peace Tower carillon. International musicians travel to Ottawa to study this expertly tuned instrument.
Year of construction: 1927
Total Height: 322 feet (98 m)
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
