Full Breakdown
Fundraising Drive Aims to Restore Canada’s Prime Ministerial Residence
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Event: Crowdfunded Renovation Campaign
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in June that the official residence at 24 Sussex Drive will undergo a public-donation-funded restoration, overseen by the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF). The plan includes a national design-and-build competition, with the winning team slated to receive a construction contract by the fall of 2027.
02
Data & Statistics
- The RHF reported on October 28, 2026 that it has raised more than $5.7 million from over 4,000 individual contributions toward a $50 million goal.
- A newly created “Council for 24 Sussex” comprises 23 members, among them gardener Mark Cullen, eyewear entrepreneur Roger Hardy, and investor Deanna Zumwalt.
- The National Capital Commission’s 2022 estimate of approximately $37 million for restoration has been revised upward, now expected to exceed $100 million.
- Maintaining the vacant property costs taxpayers roughly $150,000 annually.
03
Official Statements & Responses
Teresa Marques, president and CEO of RHF, highlighted the rarity of a project that allows Canadians to contribute personally to a lasting national landmark.
The residence has been empty since 2015, when former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau moved to Rideau Cottage due to extensive deterioration, including dead rodents, feces, water damage, and electrical problems. Carney continues to live at Rideau Cottage while the restoration proceeds.
04
Verbatim Quotes
- “As the official residence of Canada’s prime minister, 24 Sussex is part of the architecture of our democracy,” — Robert Prichard, chair of the RHF board of directors, in a news release
- “There are very few opportunities for Canadians to contribute personally to a project of national significance that will still matter generations from now,” — Teresa Marques, president and CEO of RHF
05
What’s Next
The RHF will select seven finalists in the first stage of the design competition, after which a national panel will choose the winning team to begin construction in late 2027.