About

Our Inn

185 Daly was built as the family home of John McGee, clerk of the Privy Council in 1886. Their son, Frank McGee was a member of the Ottawa Silver Seven hockey team and one of hockey’s greatest scorers. Frank won the Stanley Cup twice and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.

The Armstrong family took over the Inn in 2003. It’s now run by Ken and Judy, their son Jason and his wife Sarah. They did extensive renovations and redecorating, turning it into one of the top inns in Canada. McGee’s Inn has won the BedandBreakfast.com award two years running and has been profiled in several magazines and on local television. A stay at McGee’s Inn has been a prize on “Wheel of Fortune” on two separate occasions.

Walk through the Inn and you will see the fruits of their labour. The dining room features part of Ken’s Norman Rockwell collection; including the “Four Freedoms” posters. The parlour features the works of Canadian artist Walter Campbell and a collection of antique cameras. The highlight is a player piano that’s been in the family for generations. 

Climb the staircase and you’ll find more collections and antiques, including a manual typewrite, adding machine and even a spinning wheel. Each of the 14 rooms have been individually decorated. The Egyptian Room and the Victorian Suite each feature a double jacuzzi tub and fireplace. The John McGee Room is decorated with interesting antiques and also features a fireplace. On the top floor is the Windsor Room with a four poster canopy bed and a bathroom that includes a combination double whirlpool tub and shower with a built in TV.

McGee’s Inn is just steps from the Rideau Canal, the ByWard Market, the Congress Centre, the University of Ottawa and Parliament Hill. Whether you’re in town for a weekend getaway, visiting friends or for a convention, just about every major attraction is within walking distance. Ottawa is one of the most exciting cities in Canada, with almost too many museums and festivals to count and great shopping. Even in the middle of winter, it’s a great place to be. Skate on the world’s largest skating rink — right in the heart of the city! Skiing is only a short drive and the Casino is even closer. For skiers, it’s only a short drive, minutes away from Camp Fortune. 

If you’re planning a trip to Canada’s capital, you can’t go wrong with a stay at McGee’s Inn.
 

Our Neighbourhood: Sandy Hill

Historic Sandy Hill

Sandy Hill is a quiet and  fashionable residential area within easy walking distance of Ottawa's commercial and political centre. It has been that way since the 1800's! Back in the day, it was the neighbourhood for many powerful figues in Canadian and local politics and business. Many of the beautiful houses they built for their families still exist today manking Sandy Hill a wonderful place to be.

 In addition to Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Mackenzie King, a number of prominent political figures found Sandy Hill a desirable place to live: Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald and his wife, Agnes, lived in three different houses in Sandy Hill, the only one of which survives being the impressive stone house known as Stadacona Hall on Laurier Avenue, near Laurier House. Sir Charles Tupper, who became prime minister in 1896, lived a few streets away from Laurier House in the early 1870s. Sir Robert Borden, the man who defeated Sir Wilfrid Laurier in 1911 and led Canada during the First World War, lived in Sandy Hill as did Lester B. Pearson who owned a quaint Gothic cottage just around the corner from Laurier House. Pearson served as prime minister from 1963 to 1968

Few streets have as much Canadian history and politics as Daly Avenue. McGee's Inn gets it's name from John McGee who originally lived here.  From the late 1800 there lived:
 
• 3 Prime Ministers
• clerk of the Privy Council
• lawyer for John Whelan
• 6 fathers of Confederation
• several Superior Court judges
• mayors
• lumber barons
• doctors
• Lieutenant Governors
• a major Canadian poet
• and Canada's first woman Senator

Canada Day

On July 1, join us in Ottawa–Gatineau to celebrate Canada’s birthday!!

Canada’s Capital Region buzzes with activity, as Canadians from across the country flock to the Capital to show their national pride.

The festivities take place on Parliament Hill, in downtown parks and on the streets. Witness the ceremonies, take in the musical talent from across the country, see the fireworks — and more!

Ottawa, Canada’s Capital, is the place to be July 1 for the country’s biggest annual birthday celebration. It’s a giant patriotic party on the lawns of Parliament Hill, Major’s Hill Park, Jacques Cartier Park and on the closed streets of downtown.

The crowds start to gather on Parliament Hill early, for a 9 a.m. carillon concert featuring the Peace Tower bells, followed by the official flag raising and the Changing the Guard ceremony. Be there at noon for a thrilling performance by the Snowbirds aerobatic team, and a noon hour show filled with cultural entertainment. Performers include Carly Rae Jepsen, Terri Clark and Metric to name a few and there will be a special appearance by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield.

Excitement continues throughout the day at major sites and attractions downtown and across the Capital. The evening show on Parliament Hill features a stellar lineup of Canadian performers. And as always, the evening will be topped off by a giant fireworks show you simply don’t want to miss!


 

History of McGee’s Inn

The former home of famous John McGee

John McGee was born in Wexford, Ireland on August 6, 1845 and came to Canada in 1863 after his famous brother, D’Arcy McGee, poet, colourful politician, and one of the founding fathers of Confederation. After completing his university degree at McGill, John McGee worked as Dominion Land Surveyor. In 1882, Canadian Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, appointed him Clerk of the Privy Council of Canada as well as Deputy Governor to the Governor General. He worked for the Privy Council until 1907 when he retired at the age of 61.

When this house was built for John McGee in 1886, his property extended all the way down to Besserer Street. He had stables and tennis courts built in the gardens behind the house. Originally built as his family home, this was a house of grandeur and Victorian charm. Tile workers and artisans were commissioned from as far away as Toronto to build this house. Their work still remains today in the stunning hand-carved cherry-wood fireplace mantels and beautiful tile hearths. John McGee and his family resided at 185 Daly Avenue for over 30 years.

John McGee married Elizabeth Crotty in 1871. Together, they had three daughters and six sons, two of whom were killed during the First World War. His son, Frank was a famous Ottawa Silver Sevens player and still holds the world record for scoring 14 goals in one Stanley Cup playoff game.

Frank McGee, the hockey legend

One-eyed Frank McGee (Francis Clarence McGee) was the cornerstone of one of the greatest teams in hockey history. During his tenure with the Ottawa Hockey Club and Ottawa Silver Seven, the franchise won or defended the Stanley Cup over three consecutive years from 1903 to 1905. McGee's superior puck handling skills and gifted scoring touch made him one of the most feared offensive threats of his day.

McGee enjoyed a successful Canadian Amateur Hockey League debut with Ottawa on January 17, 1903, by scoring two goals in a 7-1 victory over the famous Montreal Amateur Athletic Association. This proved to be a prelude to an even greater achievement as he netted five goals against the Montreal Victorias three weeks later. A month after this, Ottawa captured the Stanley Cup at the expense of the Victorias and successfully defended a challenge from Rat Portage (later Kenora , Ontario ). During the four games against these two clubs, McGee scored seven times and established a reputation for being at his best in Stanley Cup matches. A short time later, the Ottawa club became known as the "Silver Seven." The name was a tribute to the success attained by an outstanding unit of seven players that often changed - except for Frank McGee.

The 1904 and 1905 seasons witnessed an even greater period of success for McGee. On February 25, 1904, he scored a then record five goals in the second game of Ottawa 's successful Stanley Cup defense against the Toronto Marlboros. He duplicated this achievement a month later while helping to defeat the Stanley Cup aspirations of Brandon, Manitoba .

The Silver Seven won the championship of the Federal Amateur Hockey League in 1905 with Frank McGee leading the way with 17 goals in only six games. In January, Ottawa successfully beat back the challenge of Dawson City . It was in this series that McGee put forth his, most legendary performance by scoring a Stanley Cup record of 14 goals in the second match. During the 23-2 rout, the Ottawa star at one point recorded eight consecutive goals in less than nine minutes. A month later, he scored the winning goal in the third and deciding game versus the challengers from Rat Portage - while playing with a broken wrist.

The following year, McGee enjoyed a strong regular season with 28 goals in seven games. His last memorable showing in Stanley Cup competition took place in February and March 1906 when he scored six goals in a two-game sweep of Queen's University and then recorded nine goals during a two-game annihilation of Smiths Falls . At the end of March, the Silver Seven's three-year stranglehold on the Stanley Cup came to an end following a two-game series against the Montreal Wanderers. Ottawa fell short by a 12-10 aggregate score, but McGee played particularly well in the second match.

McGee retired prior to the commencement of the 1907 season. He was the focal point of one of hockey's early dynasties and his superior abilities enabled him to form potent forward combinations with the likes of Billy Gilmour, Hamby Shore and Alf, Tommy and Harry Smith. Frank Patrick said: "He was even better than they say he was. He had everything - speed, stickhandling, scoring ability and was a punishing checker. He was strongly built but beautifully proportioned and he had an almost animal rhythm."

Frank McGee died September 16, 1916 serving his country at Courcelette, France, during World War I. This sad news was delivered to his parents, still residing at 185 Daly Ave.

It is beleived that John McGee and his family left this home sometime after WWI. The inside was modified later to accommodate 4 large and stately apartments, one per floor. It remained this way for much of the 1900's, until the building sadly became nothing more than a rundown boarding house by the early 1980's. After many months of renovations, McGee's Inn opened its doors for its first guests in 1984. Now run by the Armstrong family, McGee's Inn is still graciously welcoming guests from all over the world.