One of the most famous buildings in Ottawa is turning 100 this week, with everyone from political leaders to rock stars to everyday tourists having stayed at the Chateau Laurier.
Hundreds attended a centennial cocktail reception at the downtown Ottawa Hotel on Thursday night, complete with employees dressed in 1912-era costume.
Organizers said the evening was to pay tribute to the hotel's history.
"We've had everybody from Winston Churchill who stayed here during the war, to Pearl Jam, to Cher," said Deneen Perrin. "It's really the gamut."
The hotel was originally set to open in April of 1912 before its founder Charles Melville Hayes died aboard the Titanic.
A special rate of $19.12 was offered for the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking on April 15.
Other centennial celebrations include period costume tours Saturday and Sunday, themed menus and teas through November and stories of returned hotel memorabilia shared throughout the year.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Claudia Cautillo
