Vision
Convert the original copper which covered Canada’s Parliament Buildings from 1918 to 1996, into mementos that celebrate our proud heritage, while creating employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.
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About Us
People behind the Product
Under One Roof is a social enterprise founded by the Ottawa-Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. OCAPDD's clients take the paper-thin sheets of copper and clean them with ordinary paint thinner and soap and water. They then take the sheets of copper and cut then to size using a punch and die. The raw material is then ready to be sent out for finishing work. Clients of OCAPDD are also involved in the handling and packaging to fulfill customer orders. Supervised by OCAPDD staff, the process is broken down, resulting in opportunities for meaningful work for people who would otherwise be unemployed.
How Under One Roof got started
In the early 1990's Public Works spent $265 million to renovate the Parliament Buildings. After two years clad in scaffolding for repairs, the Center Block on Parliament Hill was finally back in public view, but what to do with the 7,000 kg of the copper that had been on the roof since 1918?
On October 7th, 1996 the Hon Diane Marleau the Minister of Public Works announced a project to turn the recently removed south portion of the Centre Block's copper roof into heritage souvenirs. The original roof withstood plenty of wear over the past 80 years and was ready to be replaced. The original brown copper roof turned a pale green colour due to oxidization over time. It's the first time sections of the Parliament Buildings are being used this way, said Louise Proulx, a spokesperson for Public Works.
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