Massive building which held a British secret

1155, rue Metcalfe

A Massive Building with a British Secret

Facing Dorchester Square with its grand stone façade and imposing columns, the Sun Life Building is hard to miss. Its exterior is undeniably impressive, though the interior—open to the public—is comparatively modest. Still, what truly sets this building apart is the remarkable secret it once held.

During the 1940s, amid the turmoil of World War II, the British government—under the direction of Sir Winston Churchill—used the building’s third basement as a hidden vault. As part of a covert operation codenamed Fish, the British secretly stored vital assets here, including gold. The mission was executed flawlessly, with no losses and complete secrecy.

Unless they someday offer a vault tour (fingers crossed!), the inside may not be a must-see—but the building’s wartime history certainly makes it worth a stop.

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