In January of 1928, two young reporters, Francis Rowse of The Ottawa Journal and Guy Rhoades of The Ottawa Citizen, were drinking coffee in a Sparks Street lunchroom. They mused over the lack of any place in town to meet after work, a place for fellow journalists to rendezvous and talk shop. What Ottawa needed, they felt, was a club for newspapermen.

Rowse prepared a notice that was posted at the Journal, the Citizen, Le Droit and the Canadian Press inviting newspapermen to a meeting to discuss formation of a press club. More than a score of local editors and reporters gathered after work one afternoon at the city police courtroom. Rowse took the chair and another Journal staff member was persuaded to act as secretary pro tem. Some of the journalists took seats at the barrister's table and some sat in the prisoner's dock. The meeting endorsed the proposal to launch a club and a small committee was formed. The Ottawa Press Club was born.

For many years, the OPC had no official home. Meetings took place at the Ottawa House Hotel in Hull, and the annual Press Club dance, one of the social events of the year in Ottawa, was held at the Chateau Laurier. In 1953, through the generosity of Jack Snow, the Ottawa Press Club was provided with rent-free quarters above Snow's Sparks Street jewelry store. In a ceremony attended by federal, provincial and civic officials and other dignitaries, His Excellency the Rt. Hon. Vincent Massey officially opened the new quarters.

Before settling into its present location, the Club underwent one more change of location -- the Connaught Restaurant on Elgin Street, where Major Mickey Spooner was manager of the Club. In addition to a change in location, the Club was granted a charter by the Province of Ontario under its new name, the National Press Club Canada, on September 11, 1961. In January of 1962, His Excellency the Rt. Hon. Georges P. Vanier presided over the opening ceremonies of the Elgin Street club. Finally, in 1967, the NPC moved into its present location at 150 Wellington Street in the Press Building opposite Parliament Hill.

However, as was the case with many press clubs at the time, women were restricted from becoming members. A vote by NPC members in May of 1970 changed this outdated policy, and in 1974, Betty Sarsfield became the first woman president of the National Press Club Canada.

Over the years, the NPC has been the social home for many distinguished journalists, from Norman Depoe (left) and Charles Lynch to Ben Dworkin and Donald Newman. It has also been the location of many historical events, such as the announcement by then Liberal MP Pierre Trudeau to run for leader of the Liberal Party. And former Prime Minister Kim Campbell was interviewed in the McClung Library. Just as Canada has changed and evolved, so has the Club. In 1990, after several months of renovations, His Excellency the Rt. Hon. Ramon Hnatyshyn reopened the Club. Since then membership has broadened to better reflect the media and communications industry. Our professional events bring in experts and newsmakers, providing our members with a unique forum for growth and discussion, and our excellent catering facilities are now available to the public for private functions.

In 1998 the National Press Club Canada celebrated its 70th anniversary, looking back on its rich history, while keeping a firm eye on the future.