Perspectives

 I start today with a view across the Rideau Canal from the east, looking up at Parliament Hill.

Here where the Canal meets the Ottawa River in what is still called Entrance Bay, the view across the river takes in Gatineau, with the Museum of History on the far shore, and the Alexandra Bridge linking the cities and the provinces.

I decided to head up to Major's Hill Park. Along the way, something new. A swimming area, seemingly bound in the water, has been built here, with a large deck. I would not personally swim in the river- it's deep here, and the currents can be treacherous.

Taken from the park above, with a view of the Bytown Museum below. Re-enactors could be seen with visitors outside.

I paid my respects at the statue of Colonel By himself. Surrounding him are flowers, planted to last into October, when the tulip bulbs will be replanted.

A final shot, taken a short distance away. The Mackenzie King Bridge crosses the Canal south of the Ottawa locks, and with the landmarks around this final stretch of the Canal, it always makes for a splendid view.

Canal Locks

 Regiments formed in Ottawa to become part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War One. 

Women enlisted to do their part.

This display case features artifacts of that war.

This photograph taken on Armistice Day would have been taken from the grounds of Parliament Hill, close to the east corner.

Two more wider angles from within the top floor of the museum. A delightful place to visit, with a few ghosts of its own.

I departed, taking in a view across the Canal. Colonel By's statue is up there in the park on top of the cliff.

Boats were moving through locks.

On the east side of the locks, nestled at the base of the cliff, is a Celtic cross. This commemorates those who died during the building of the Canal. Each Colonel By Day, a memorial service is held here.

Upheavals

 These are items from the Centre Block Fire of February 3rd, 1916, in which the building was destroyed.

The government was determined to rebuild.

There are several displays here on the South African War, which bridged the 19th and 20th centuries. Canadian soldiers went overseas to join British colleagues in fighting the breakaway Boer republics in a guerrilla war often overlooked in history.

A video display features a series of photos of that war.

A few years later, Ottawa citizens would find themselves involved in the Great War.

Assassin

 This is a print of the original, Fathers of Confederation, by Robert Harris, done in 1885. The original is long gone, destroyed during the fire that brought down Centre Block in 1916. 

Hard work made Confederation a reality. The country was established.

For a number of years after the American Civil War, Irish American veterans of the Union engaged in the Fenian Raids. The Fenian Brotherhood had been founded in 1858, and their objective was to hold Canada for ransom to force the British to given Ireland independence. The ceremonial sword in this case was presented to Lt. Col. Brown Chamberlin for his role during the Raids.

Thomas D'Arcy McGee was a politician, journalist, and lawyer who had once been a Fenian in his native Ireland, but whose world view had changed to see the value of Parliamentary democracy, particularly in the context of Canada with British bonds. The Fenians deemed him a traitor. In 1868, coming home to his Ottawa boarding house from Parliament, he was shot in the back of the head by a Fenian assassin.

He had turned out to be the most eloquent of the Fathers of Confederation, and his loss was deeply felt, particularly by Prime Minister John A Macdonald and his wife, who were his close friends. 

This is the original plaque that marked the assassination spot.

At the time, it was common to do a death mask in plaster. This was not possible due to the damage to his head. A cast of his hand was made instead- a fitting tribute to a writer.

I finish today with a Union flag. This one has particular historical significance. It was flown from the  original Centre Block on the night of the terrible fire of 1916 that saw its destruction.