SASKATOON, Sask. — Saskatoon philanthropists Heather Ryan and L. David Dubé are helping rally support for a national campaign to restore the prime minister's long-vacant official residence, bringing a Saskatchewan connection to the $50-million fundraising effort for 24 Sussex Drive.
The Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) is leading the non-partisan campaign to help fund the rehabilitation of the prime minister's official residence, a building that has sat vacant for more than a decade due to extensive deterioration.
Ryan and Dubé, who support philanthropic projects through their family foundation, serve on the Council for 24 Sussex, a volunteer group helping promote the campaign nationally.
Dubé, president and chief executive officer of Concorde Group Corp., said his connection to the Rideau Hall Foundation began after he was named a member of the Order of Canada.
"I have a great affinity for Rideau Hall and tremendous respect for the foundation," he said. "I was thrilled when I found out they were taking on this project."
While he and Ryan traditionally focus their philanthropy on other causes, Dubé said the significance of the project convinced them to get involved.
"We're not normally brick-and-mortar people," he said. "We don't usually support capital campaigns that build buildings. This was an exception because it's an institution that I felt honoured to support."
Dubé believes the restoration effort has the potential to unite Canadians.
"It's been politicized for so long, and the truth is it's not a political issue, it's a Canadian issue," he said. "This is an institution that Canadians should be proud of. Let's take it out of the political sphere and turn it into a philanthropic thing."
He compared 24 Sussex Drive to official residences in other countries.
"Canada should be showing ourselves for what we are, which is the best of the best," he said. "Independent of what political stripe they are, our leaders should have a great place to entertain foreign leaders."
Dubé said Canadians should view the residence as belonging to the country rather than to any one political leader.
"As much as I respect those in public service, they're all temporary. We're permanent. We are Canada," he said. "When people give from $5 to $5 million, it's a meaningful thing for those who believe in the institution."
Dubé also hopes more Saskatchewan residents will participate in the campaign.
"Saskatchewan punches way above its weight in so many areas," he said. "I'm sure supporting this would be one of them as well. We're used to being a bit of an underdog that overperforms."
He expects support to continue growing across the country.
"I have zero doubt we will move from thousands of donors to tens of thousands of donors because it's one of the institutions of our country," Dubé said.
He described the restoration campaign as a rare positive story.
"It's a good news story," Dubé said. "We don't have to debate it. It's happening and Canadians are making it happen. We are a can-do people. Sometimes we forget that, and this is a real source of pride."
As of Nov. 3, the campaign had raised more than $7 million from 4,660 contributors across all 13 provinces and territories. The foundation said the total represents about 14 per cent of its $50-million fundraising goal.
In an interview, Teresa Marques, president and chief executive officer of the Rideau Hall Foundation, said the organization was asked by Prime Minister Mark Carney to take on the fundraising component of the project.
"One of our signature projects, the Prime Minister at the end of June 2026 asked if we could take on the fundraising role to rehabilitate and restore this institution as a national landmark," Marques said.
She said the foundation has been encouraged by the public response.
"For a long time it has been this political hot potato, but nobody has been able to come to a final decision on it," she said. "It feels like now Canadians are coming forward saying this is something that matters. It's not just about one house or one address in Ottawa. It's really a symbol of something bigger."
Marques said many contributors have told the organization they view the project as a symbol of Canada's identity and sovereignty.
"More than 4,500 people have already given," she said. "What they're telling us is that this is a symbol of our sovereignty and our identity as a country. It seems to be striking a nerve with people in a way that we didn't anticipate."
The fundraising effort follows the federal government's announcement in June that it would launch an independent national design-build competition to rehabilitate and modernize the historic property.
The project will see Canadian architectural and construction firms compete to restore the residence while maintaining its heritage character and improving its accessibility, security and sustainability. The winning design is expected to be announced by Canada Day 2027.
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is supporting the design-build competition and convening an independent jury chaired by renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The jury will review submissions and recommend a winning proposal to cabinet.
Marques said the residence has been vacant since former prime minister Stephen Harper left office.
"The first prime minister to live in the house was Louis St. Laurent in the early 1950s," she said. "But it has been vacant for more than 10 years. Prime Minister Harper was the last one to live there."
She noted that former prime minister Justin Trudeau deemed the residence uninhabitable.
"This is much more than a paint job," Marques said. "Major work needs to be done. The Prime Minister is opening the door to a modernized, purpose-built home for the Prime Minister of Canada that respects the importance of the site."
Marques said the scope of redevelopment has not yet been finalized, and the project's total cost remains to be determined.
"We've been asked to raise $50 million," Marques said. "If it turns out it costs more than that, that's going to be on the back of Canada to support. We should have a better sense by Canada Day next year of what that's going to look like."
She added that the project includes safeguards intended to prevent the residence from falling into disrepair again.
"There's ongoing work to make sure this kind of situation doesn't happen again," Marques said. "I'm very confident everyone is invested in making sure we never let this happen again to a site that is this important."
According to the Rideau Hall Foundation, eligible donations receive charitable tax receipts. Contributions are limited to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and eligible charitable organizations, including Canadian charitable foundations. Corporate donations are not permitted.
Information about the campaign, donation opportunities and the donor wall can be found through the Rideau Hall Foundation's Realize 24 Sussex initiative.
