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Parliament – Parlement

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Free History Citizenship / Democracy NFB + Library of Parliament

Parliament
– Parlement

An immersive journey into Canada's Centre Block — now closed for renovation — where an iconic building surges to life with magic realism. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada and the Library of Parliament.

Co-producers: National Film Board of Canada • Library of Parliament
Price: Free
Duration: ~15 minutes
Languages: English • French
6.5
/10
XR School Score
Cautiously Recommended
A beautifully crafted NFB production of Canada's Parliament — limited UK curriculum relevance but strong citizenship and architectural value
🇨🇦 NFB + Library Free • 15 min • EN + FR
Steam • Web • Classroom version
Overview

Parliament – Parlement is a free 15-minute VR experience co-produced by the National Film Board of Canada and the Library of Parliament, released in May 2020 as a pandemic-era response to the closure of Centre Block — Canada's iconic parliamentary building — for long-term renovation. With physical tours suspended indefinitely, the NFB and Library of Parliament created this immersive virtual visit as a way for Canadians (and the world) to experience a building that had been the seat of federal democracy for over 100 years.

The experience blends photorealism with magic realism: as you move through the Senate, House of Commons, Library of Parliament, and Peace Tower, the spaces come to life in unexpected ways. Animals spring from carved stone. Historical figures who shaped Canada return to their seats in the halls of democracy. Empty rooms echo with voices from the past. The approach is atmospheric and lyrical rather than didactic.

What Centre Block Is Centre Block is the main building of Canada's Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. It houses the Senate Chamber, the House of Commons, and the Library of Parliament, and is dominated by the 92-metre Peace Tower. The building was first completed in 1927 (replacing a previous structure destroyed by fire in 1916) and served as the seat of Canadian federal government until its closure for rehabilitation in 2019. It is not expected to reopen until the mid-2030s. This VR experience is, for the foreseeable future, the only way to walk through the furnished interior as it appeared when in use.

The experience is available in VR on SteamVR, as a web experience (no headset required), and in a dedicated classroom format. The bilingual English/French presentation reflects the institutional nature of its producers. It was produced by Hugues Sweeney, Louis-Richard Tremblay, and Marie-Pier Gauthier for the NFB's Interactive Studio.

The Four Key Spaces
👑
Senate Chamber
The red-upholstered upper chamber of Canada's bicameral Parliament, where Senators debate and review legislation. Notably opulent in design.
🏭
House of Commons
The elected lower chamber where Members of Parliament debate, question, and vote. Green-upholstered benches face each other across the aisle.
📚
Library of Parliament
The circular Gothic Revival reading room that survived the 1916 fire, often described as one of the most beautiful rooms in Canada. Research library for MPs and senators.
🗺
Peace Tower
The 92-metre clock tower at the centre of the Parliament Hill facade, featuring a carillon of 53 bells, a memorial chamber, and an observation deck.
UK Curriculum Context Parliament – Parlement is specifically about Canadian federal democracy and is most directly relevant for Canadian students. For UK teachers, it still has value in comparative politics and citizenship lessons: contrasting Canada's bicameral system (elected Commons + appointed Senate) with the UK Parliament, or exploring Gothic Revival parliamentary architecture. The magic realist approach to bringing historical figures back to the chamber has genuine storytelling value for any citizenship or democracy lesson.
Curriculum Fit
Citizenship / Democracy
7.2
History (Canada / Commonwealth)
6.2
Art History (Gothic Revival)
6.5
PSHE / Political Literacy
6.8
UK Curriculum Fit
4.5
Production Quality
8.8
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
  • Free on Steam and as a web experience (no headset required)
  • NFB and Library of Parliament co-production: exceptional institutional credibility
  • Bilingual English and French
  • Classroom version available alongside VR and web
  • 15-minute duration fits a single lesson activity
  • Only way to see Centre Block interior until mid-2030s renovation completes
  • Magic realist approach is genuinely atmospheric and memorable
Considerations
  • Specifically about Canadian federal democracy; limited UK curriculum fit
  • PC VR headset or web browser for full access; limited interactivity in VR
  • No locomotion in VR — fixed viewpoint journey
  • Content is primarily atmospheric rather than informational
FREE
SteamVR • Web • Classroom version
Get on Steam →
Quick Facts
Co-producers
National Film Board of Canada • Library of Parliament
Price
Free
Platforms
SteamVR • Web (no headset) • Classroom version
Released
May 2020
Duration
~15 minutes
Languages
English, French
Context
Centre Block closed for renovation until ~2030s
Verdict
A beautifully made, free NFB production with a genuinely unusual subject: the interior of Canada's closed Parliament building brought to life with magic realism. For Canadian classrooms this is essential; for UK schools the curriculum fit is limited but not absent — comparative democracy, Gothic Revival architecture, and Commonwealth political institutions are all teachable here. Also available as a web experience requiring no headset, which significantly reduces the barrier to use. Worth knowing about for Citizenship and History teachers with a comparative or global perspective.
Platform: SteamVR • Web (no headset) • Classroom version
Subject: Citizenship, History, Democracy
Key Stage: KS3 – KS5
Price: Free
Review: The XR School — 2026