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28-673: The Central Experimental Farm ( CEF ), commonly known as the Experimental Farm , is an agricultural facility, working farm, and research centre of the Science and Technology Branch, formerly the Research Branch, of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada . As the name indicates, this farm is centrally located in and now surrounded by the City of Ottawa , Ontario , Canada. Located on 4 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi) of land,

56-513: A memorial was erected by NOAC and Royal Canadian Naval Association Ottawa and dedicated to the Naval Veterans and those who served at this station which provided a link during World War II between Canadian naval headquarters and ships at sea, allied naval headquarters and operational naval authorities. The CEF was the site of a large scale cannabis grow operation in the 1970s, producing tonnes of crop from plants standing 20 feet tall. It

84-481: A national network of 20 Research and Development Centres and 30 satellite research locations. The Science and Technology Branch has approximately 2,200 employees, including some 400 research scientists. The goal of all activities is to address the major scientific challenges facing 21st century agricultural production systems: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is also responsible for supporting corporate and local agricultural producers and suppliers. They do this through

112-754: A number of CEF buildings on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings between 1984 and 1997. The Cereal Barn Building 76 was classified in 1984. The Victoria Memorial Museum was classified in 1986. The Main Dairy Barn Building 88 was classified in 1987. In 1988, the Botanical Laboratory / Horticulture Building 74 and the Sheep Showcase / Small Dairy Barn Building 95 were recognized. The Nutrition Building 59

140-746: A number of buildings including: the Poultry Office Building, 1920; and the Botanical Laboratory Building, 1924–25. John Bethune Roper designed the Administration Building, Carling Avenue, 1934. William James Abra designed the Biological Building, 1935. Over the years the scope of research grew and changed, prompting a need to increase the farm's lands and buildings. The Horticulturalist's house and staff residences were removed by

168-541: A number of prominent public buildings in Canada including those at the CEF: Thomas Seaton Scott (1871–1881); Thomas Fuller (architect) (1880–1897); David Ewart (1897–1914); Edgar Lewis Horwood (1914–1918); Richard Cotsman Wright (1918–1927); Thomas W. Fuller (1927–1936), Charles D. Sutherland (1936–1947); Joseph Charles Gustave Brault (1947–1952) Thomas Seaton Scott and Thomas Fuller adopted

196-544: A single-storey cafeteria wing with an arched roof. It was demolished July 13, 2014, but the cafeteria wing is the only part of the building to remain. In the early 1950s, the offices for the federal agriculture department were scattered over 18 different sites, prompting the planning for the Carling Building, which began in 1954. Ottawa architect Hart Massey (1918–1996) designed the Sir John Carling in

224-532: A variety of programs and services including Agri-Geomatics which develops products and services for internal and external users, and program facilitation. The department supports market growth through its market access and trade negotiation activities, and it works with Canada's provinces and territories to promote Canadian products. The department also supports industry by focusing on science and technology advances and helping producers mitigate risks. Sir John Carling Building The Sir John Carling Building

252-603: Is head of the department, and provides policy/political direction, the day-to-day operations of the department are managed by the deputy minister (currently Lawrence Hanson), who is a public servant . The Department of Agriculture for Canada was formed in 1867. It was organized under the Department of Agriculture Act , which was passed by Parliament and given royal assent on 22 May 1868. The first minister of agriculture, Jean-Charles Chapais , and his deputy, Dr. Joseph Charles Taché , were soon presenting important Bills to

280-579: The Experimental Farm Stations Act dating back to 1886, farm stations across Canada were established, including the Central Experimental Farm. The officers of these stations had the duty of conducting research in a number of specific areas pertinent to agricultural productivity and conservation, and of making the results of such research known by publication. Today, the Science and Technology Branch includes

308-654: The Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office designated it as a recognized federal heritage building for its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values. The building was a good example of the modernist architectural style. In 2009, the building was deemed to be at its end-of-life and the agriculture offices were moved to the Skyline Office Campus on Baseline Road . Despite local objections and its recognized heritage status, deconstruction of

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336-615: The Neo-Gothic style . David Ewart embraced the Scottish baronial style . In 1887–1888, Chief Dominion Architect Thomas Fuller designed the Museum, laboratories, barn, stables, and Staff Residences on Prince of Wales Drive In 1887, Charles F. Cox lay out of the site and design of farm buildings. In 1887–1888, William John Beckett, a contractor, served as foreman during the building of the residences, offices and barns. In 1889, livestock

364-625: The Sir John Carling Building , which was demolished on July 13, 2014. The CEF housed, prior to its disestablishment on 29 September 2006 by the Harper government , the Canadian Agri-Food Research Council . Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada The minister of agriculture and agri-food (currently Lawrence MacAulay ) is responsible for the department to Parliament . While the minister

392-674: The 1930s (they were no longer needed since the city had grown around the farm), the forest belt gradually disappeared, and new larger centralized facilities were built, starting with the Saunders Building in 1935, followed by the Neatby Building, Geophysical Lab, Laboratory Services Building, and the Carling Building . From 1940 to 1947, building 136 operated as a high frequency Naval Radio Station-CFF which frequently intercepted enemy transmissions. On May 1, 1993,

420-465: The 1960s and it opened in 1967, Canada's centennial year. Massey was the son of Vincent Massey , former Governor General of Canada and a member of the famous Massey family of Toronto . The construction costs were C$ 10 million of which CA$ 800,000 was Massey's fee. Already by 1994, a study found that the building was suffering from long-term neglect and "may not be worth saving". By 2003, renovation costs were estimated at CA$ 57 million. A year later,

448-456: The House of Commons for the protection and improvement of Canadian agriculture. One of the first Bills was an Act Respecting Contagious Diseases of Animals , passed in 1869. This law gave the chief veterinary inspector, Dr. Duncan McEachran , who was also the dean of medicine at McGill University , authority to prevent the introduction of animal diseases into Canada. In addition to agriculture,

476-456: The Science and Technology Branch ( French : Direction générale des sciences et de la technologies ) has the mandate to propose solutions and opportunities based on science to support competitiveness and the sustainability of the agriculture and agri-food sector. It is also in the Branch's mandate to provide scientific information to inform departmental and governmental decision processes. Under

504-468: The farm is a National Historic Site of Canada and most buildings are protected and preserved as heritage buildings. The CEF's original intent was to perform scientific research for improvement in agricultural methods and crops. While such research is still being conducted, the park-like atmosphere of the CEF has become an important place of recreation and education for the residents of Ottawa. Furthermore, over

532-486: The minister and the department had many other wide-ranging national responsibilities including immigration, public health, censuses and statistics, patents, copyrights, and trademarks. Over time, these other responsibilities were transferred to other departments. For example, the collection of statistics was transferred to the Dominion Bureau of Statistics (now Statistics Canada ) in 1918, and healthcare in Canada

560-592: The west, and Carling Avenue to the north. The Victorian era was a time of great interest in the advancement of natural sciences and many nations built zoos , observatories , botanical gardens , and experimental farms. Canada followed suit and as the result of lobbying by John Carling , the Minister of Agriculture, and William Saunders , the first director of the research branch, the "Act Respecting Experimental Stations" came into force in 1886. The land owned by local Ottawa farmers including John Mulligan (1799–1886)

588-616: The years several other departments and agencies have encroached onto the CEF property, such as Natural Resources Canada , National Defence ( HMCS Carleton on Dow's Lake), and the Ottawa Civic Hospital (helicopter pad). The CEF is bordered by the Rideau Canal (a National Historic Site as well) to the east, Prince of Wales Drive to the South-East, Baseline Road to the south, and Merivale and Fisher Roads to

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616-541: Was designated as a National Historic Site in 1998. In 2003, Public Works and Government Services Canada bought the Skyline office complex on the corner of Merivale and Baseline Roads from Nortel Networks . The complex has been renamed to "NHCAP" (= National Headquarters Complex for the Agriculture Portfolio). The head offices of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have been relocated to this facility from

644-512: Was intended to provide Canadian scientists with reliable samples for research in response to an interim report of the Le Dain Commission . The plants were near Ash Lane, earning it the nickname " Hash Lane "; combined with the secrecy around the project, it became a local legend among area youth. In 1983, the agricultural museum was created in the former Dairy Barn. The Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office recognized or classified

672-630: Was introduced to the CEF. Chief Dominion Architect David Ewart designed the Dominion Observatory, Carling Avenue in 1902; Chief Astronomer's Residence, 1909; and the Geodetic Survey Building, 1914. Chief Dominion Architect Edgar Lewis Horwood designed the Cereal and Agrostology Building, 1915–16; Agricultural Building, 1915; and records storage building, 1937. Chief Dominion Architect Richard Cotsman Wright designed

700-566: Was located along Carling Avenue at the Central Experimental Farm , in Ottawa , Ontario , Canada . Until 2010, it was the headquarters of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , containing administration facilities and the offices of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Agriculture. Named after John Carling , it was an 11-storey building accommodating some 1,200 employees, with a 3-storey east wing for shipping and receiving and

728-759: Was recognized in 1992. In 1993, Heritage House, Building 60 was recognized. The William Saunders Building 49 was recognized in 1994. In 1995, Heritage House, Building 54; K. W. Neatby Building 20 and the Main Piggery, Building 91 were recognized. In 1996, the Main Greenhouse Range, Building 50 was recognized. In 1997, a number of buildings were recognized: ARC Biotech, Building 34; Carpenter Shed, Building 98; Cereal Crops Building 75; Dairy Technology Building 57; Engineering Research Building 94; Horticulture Building 55; Laboratory Services Building 22; Pottery Shed, Building 77; and Service Building 56. The CEF

756-513: Was sold to the government to create the experimental farm. The CEF started out with 188 hectares, chosen because of their proximity to Parliament Hill but (at that time) outside the city. Over the next few years the site was prepared by improving the land, building the facilities, and planting the Arboretum and forest belt. Early research projects focused only on entomology , botany , and horticulture . The Chief Dominion Architect(s) designed

784-682: Was transferred to the Department of Health when it was created in 1919. Today, organizations for which the minister of agriculture and agri-food is responsible for include: In 2013, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was moved from the Agriculture Portfolio to the Health Portfolio. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is responsible for a number of laws related to agriculture and food in Canada. As part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,

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