Can you imagine a farm in the middle of a city?

Can you imagine a high ceiling that looks like a dome when you look up at it

but it's really an illusion?

Can you imagine standing behind the face of a humongus clock?

Can you imagine stepping up a flight of stairs that keep getting narrower and narrower?

Well, that's our Mississauga Civic Centre!

Our Missisauga Civic Centre was built on farmland and the buildings were designed to look like a farm. The shorter building that contains the Great Hall represents the barn with a hayloft. The taller office tower is to remind us of a busy farmhouse where farmers might meet. The shape of our council chamber represents the silo. When we look up at the clock tower we are reminded of a windmill of long ago.

A High Ceiling that is an illusion

The Mississauga Council Chamber is for meetings of the mayor and councillors to carry out the city business. It's spectacular 23 meter high ceiling is an unforgettable site. From the inside looking up at the dome, you can see a painting of the legend of the Great Bear and the seven hunters. Four stars of the Big Dipper represent a bear. The three stars of the handle are three birds that are the hunters. This is one of the stories that the Mississauga Indians shared around the campfire with their children and early travellers. As your eyes move from the sides to the centre, the colours change from light to deep blue to give the illusion of a dome.

A Humongous Clock

A Flight of Stairs that Gets Narrower

by Neale W. and Amanda B. (Grade 6)

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