Sir John A. Macdonald’s Summer Residence National Historic Site of Canada

Designated in 2014. It is closely associated with the Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald, one of the principal Fathers of Confederation and the first prime minister of Canada, who played a pivotal role in the country’s history. Purchased in 1882, the house served as a place of relaxation and work while he continued to govern the country. Issues addressed while Macdonald was in residence included the construction of the railway in western Canada, the economic challenges during the early 1880s, the development of the West, as well as the “Riel Affair,” which was discussed during a cabinet meeting held at the house in 1885; Known as “les Rochers,” this large house is a representative example of the summer residences found in Saint-Patrice, in the lower St. Lawrence River region which became a popular resort community at the end of the 19th century frequented by businessmen, senior government officials and politicians including Governors General Lord Monck and Lord Dufferin, former Prime Minister Louis St-Laurent, and Lord Shaughnessy who purchased this property in 1895. (HSMBC, 2015.)