Monday, March 9, 2026

Magic In The Night

 More from where I left off last night in Confederation Park.


Another art installation caught my eye. Aurora (A Long Story XI) by Lauren Pirie uses soft foam arms wrapped around each other. Lit up at night, it looked angelic.


I continued on.


Two more of the park's military monuments. The newest one honours animals in war. Beside it is a cenotaph honouring those who fought and died in the South African War.


A different look at this ice sculpture I've already shown you, backed by the Canadian Museum of Nature, depicting the Arctic eider duck. The museum has a special exhibit going on that I'll have to go see.


I was closer to the main sculptures at this point.

Sunday, March 8, 2026

Geometry In Nature

 Some nights before the visit I showed you yesterday, I came to Confederation Park to photograph. This was one of the entrances, with a three dimensional kind of set up perfect for photo ops.


Spotlights changed colours behind it upon the trees that flanked the path.


This totem pole is a permanent part of the park.


So is this fountain, a memorial to Colonel John By, the British military engineer who led the building of the Rideau Canal. As is typical with Winterlude locations, a Beavertails outlet was here.


Close by, an art installation that intrigued me. These geometric shapes in metal had animals and nature patterns incorporated into them, and lights within.

Saturday, March 7, 2026

In Confederation Park

 After leaving Plaza Bridge, as noted in yesterday's post, I went for another walk on the Canal skateway. Coming back, I returned to Confederation Park. I had previously taken shots of the main sculptures at night and wanted to do so again- until I saw the line ups. Instead I took some shots of ice sculptures out in the open, including this hockey player, getting up off the ice.


This moose stood out. It might have been carved that last weekend.


The big skate still looked good.


As did this bird.


Another ice sculpture- a stylized maple leaf. Very fitting.


The Ice Hogs looked radiant.


As did these


At the west side of the park, on stage were two buskers, performing with fiddle music, and using glow sticks as part of their act. I'll have some more of them for the Entertainment theme day. Tomorrow we'll return to the park on an earlier evening visit.

Friday, March 6, 2026

Ice Sculptures In Colours

 At dusk on the final Saturday of Winterlude, I returned to Plaza Bridge, to photograph this set of sculptures of the Ice Hogs and assorted animals, bathed in coloured lights. It turned out to be an ideal time of day for it. The sculptures would have been set up on the first weekend, and lasted two more weekends in the open, doing rather well, I thought.