What Is Rideau Cottage? Justin Trudeau To Live In Canada's 'New' White House

Canada’s Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau will not be moving into Canada’s equivalent of the White House, Canadian press reported Monday. The prime minister’s official residence, 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, is in need of millions of dollars' worth of repairs, forcing Trudeau to move into Rideau Cottage instead.

“Justin Trudeau, his wife, Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau, and their three children will be immediately relocating to Rideau Cottage, part of the Rideau Hall grounds in the National Capital Region,” said a news release. “Mr. Trudeau and his family will reside at Rideau Cottage until further notice.”

Trudeau, who led his Liberal Party to a landslide victory last Monday, tweeted about the decision with a link describing his new residence.

Rideau Cottage is a 22-room residence that was built in 1867 and was traditionally the home of the secretary to the governor-general, the British monarch's representative in Canada. The two-story cottage is a brick home built in the Georgian revival style and includes a “classically inspired doorway with pedimented porch … sash windows and paired chimneys,” according to Canada’s register of historic places. The cottage was named after the Rideau River in Ontario and built by businessman Thomas McKay.

The cottage is a “designated heritage building” and is located on the grounds of Rideau Hall at 1 Sussex Drive. The Rideau Cottage underwent a $400,000 rehabilitation in 2013 to fix a cracked and rotting foundation and upgrading the electrical system.

The prime minister’s traditional home at 24 Sussex Drive was built in 1868 and became the residence of Canada’s prime minister in 1950. Past families that have resided in the prime minister’s residence have been allowed to decorate the part of the house reserved for their own personal use.

Canada’s National Capital Commission is working to repair 24 Sussex. The needed renovations were estimated at $10 million in 2008. Trudeau’s father, Pierre, served as Canada’s prime minister for 15 years and Justin grew up at 24 Sussex Drive. Trudeau said in 2012 that the official residence was “slowly crumbling,” CTV News reported.