Around Parliament Hill are a scattering of statues, some of them Prime Ministers, others being Fathers of Confederation. Two are monarchs. Over time I'll show them in turn. It seems suitable to start with this one. Wilfred Laurier was Prime Minister from 1896-1911, the first francophone PM, a statesman and one of our best leaders. His statue is the easternmost of the monuments on the Hill, backdropped by the East Block.
It has a view of the Chateau Laurier, named in his honour. The hotel is here in part based on Laurier's policies of building a second transcontinental railroad across the country, policies that had to be sorted out by his successor as PM, Robert Borden.
The positioning of a statue is almost as important as the statue itself, I think.
ReplyDeleteThe name is familiar, I must have "encountered" him in Québec. It's good that he is honoured this way and I like that you have shown both sides of him.
ReplyDeleteThat is indeed a nice view of the Chateau Laurier !
ReplyDeleteThat looks amazing - love the look of Chateau Laurier.
ReplyDeleteHe looks very stately standing there.
ReplyDelete@Hamilton: this one is well placed.
ReplyDelete@Ciel: he has one of the better views of the statues on the hill!
@Stuart: indeed it is!
@Mike: it's one of my favourite buildings here to photograph.
@Sharon: yes he does.
Excellent photography!
ReplyDeleteHe has a good view of his namesake hotel!
ReplyDeleteThere is certainly no shortage of statues of historical figures in Ottawa! Nice shots. :)
ReplyDeleteNice view.
ReplyDeletesupposedly i am related to laurier...a distant cousin...many of my ancestors on my father's side came from quebec :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent finds - I'm learning so much more about Ottawa through your photos! That is one nice-looking hotel:)
ReplyDeleteA majestic statue and a beautiful chateau into two perfect photos!
ReplyDelete@Norma: thank you!
ReplyDelete@RedPat: it must have been deliberate placement when they put it there, though he's quite lonely all by himself.
@Halcyon: we're drowning in them!
@Inna: thank you!
@Tanya: now that's fascinating!
@LondonLulu: towards the end of the month I'll have shots from inside.
@Karl: thank you!
He's surrounded by wonderful architecture!
ReplyDeleteYes, I can never get enough of Parliament Hill and the Chateau.
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