French Embassy, Ottawa

The Embassy of France in Ottawa is the diplomatic mission of France to Canada, located at 42 Sussex Drive in the New Edinburgh neighbourhood of Ottawa.

The French embassy was founded in 1924 and was originally based in the Victoria Building with the first representative being Jean Knight.

In 1931 the embassy bought its current location, a prized piece of land overlooking the Rideau Falls from the Blackburn family. The legation was originally based in the Blackburn mansion. Construction on the new embassy building, designed by Eugène Beaudouin, began in 1936. The first stone was laid by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King on Bastille Day. The Art Deco structure opened in 1939, just in time for the turmoil of the Second World War. The French ambassador René Ristelhueber, appointed in early 1940, acknowledged the Vichy regime as did the Canadian government. In 1942 Canada switched and expelled the Vichy diplomats and the facilities were turned over to the Free French and Colonel Philippe Pierrené was made ambassador.

In 1951 the embassy's location was enhanced when neighbouring 24 Sussex Drive became the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada.

French ambassadors to Canada

• Jean Knight (1928–1930)
• Charles-Arsène Henry (1930–1934)
• Raymond Brugère (1934–1937)
• Robert de Dampierre (1937–1940)
• René Ristelhueber (1940–1942)
• Philippe Pierrenne (1942–1943)
• Gabriel Bonneau (1943–1945)
• Jean de Hauteclocque (1945–1948)
• Francisque Gay...... ...
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