Hanging Out, With That Old Man Glaring At Us

This sculptural work stands along the Rideau Canal downtown, with the Ottawa Convention Centre behind it. It's been moved here in recent years from across the Canal where it stood alongside the National Arts Centre. The work is called Balancing, by a New Brunswick artist, John Hopper. The five figures are larger than life. It's a wood carved sculpture, and it has a whimsical touch that I like.

The back of the Government Conference Centre can be seen in the background, and here we get a view of the Grumpy Old Man. You can practically hear his harumph.

Madness

The Great Glebe Garage Sale is held in late May each year. Across the entire neighbourhood, people who want to have garage sales come out on the Saturday chosen for the day. Crowds are insanely out in force- it can take twice as long to get through as it normally would. I've always thought of this day as a bit of madness. One of my cousins would be over the moon on a day like this- she loves garage sales. A portion of the proceeds goes to charity each year, ten percent, if I recall. This first photograph is taken out behind St. Matthew's Anglican Church, which I showed you during Doors Open.

And these two shots are a couple of blocks south, at Fourth Avenue Baptist Church.

A reminder to City Daily Photo bloggers: the theme for August 1st is Take Away Store. I'll be taking liberties with my interpretation.

Warriors

The Valiants encircle the staircase leading down from Plaza Bridge. The top of the War Memorial can be glimpsed in the background; the site has been undergoing some work in recent months, but will soon be reopened to the public. Here I wanted a wider shot.

This rather large statue commemorates General  Sir Arthur Currie, who planned the attack on Vimy Ridge and led Canadian forces through much of the First World War.

Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski was an air gunner on a Lancaster bomber during the Second World War. The plane had been hit in action, and was on fire; he was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for his attempts to save a trapped comrade (who survived the crash).

And this last member of The Valiants is Lieutenant Hampton Gray, a pilot who served all over during the Second World War, from Africa and Norway to the Pacific theatre. He won the Victoria Cross posthumously for his successful attack on and sinking of a Japanese destroyer on August 9th, 1945, in Japanese waters. He was thus one of the final Canadian casualties of the war, and has the unique distinction of being the only foreign military serviceman to have a memorial on Japanese soil, near the site of that engagement at Onagawa Bay.

Soldiers

Carrying on with The Valiants today. Georgina Pope is represented here. She was a nurse, awarded the Royal Red Cross for conspicuous service in the field, first matron in the Medical Corps, and served during the First World War.

Captain John Wallace Thomas was a Newfoundlander in the Merchant Navy during both World Wars. He performed with distinction and bravery, something typical of the men of the Merchant Navy.

Corporal Joseph Kaeble was a soldier of the First World War, fighting along the Western Front as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. His final act, which won him the Victoria Cross, was a repulse of fifty attacking Germans against the remainder of his wounded battalion in 1918.

Major Paul Triquet served during the Second World War, earning the Victoria Cross for leading his men in capturing Casa Berardi during the Italian campaign in 1943.

Courage Under Fire

I have more of The Valiants today. Pierre D'Iberville was a French naval commander who served with distinction during the New France era, most notably in 1697 when fighting against three British ships, he sank one, boarded another, and captured their outpost.

Joseph Brant was a renowned Mohawk warrior and chief who fought on the side of the British during the American Revolution.

Major-General Sir Isaac Brock was a leader of the War of 1812, a British officer leading regular troops, Canadian militia, and First Nations warriors against American forces. He was killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights.

Into The Mists Of Time

I last showed you some of the sculptures here in winter. I thought I would go through these statues and busts at Plaza Bridge, called The Valiants, for a few days. They stand between the National War Memorial, the Chateau Laurier, and the Government Conference Centre, and represent figures in Canadian military history.

We start with the Comte de Frontenac, governor of New France, who defended Quebec against an English attack in 1690.

Lt. Colonel John Butler served during the American Revolution, leading a band of Loyalists called Butler's Rangers in engagements against American forces from Kentucky to New York State. The Rangers settled in the Niagara area after the Revolution.

Laura Secord lived in the Niagara region during the War Of 1812. She delivered news of an impending American attack to British officers.

Lt. Colonel Charles de Salaberry was an officer in the British army during the War of 1812, and fended off American attacks in Quebec, particularly at the Battle of Chateauguay.

The Museum Waterworks

The graceful curves of the Museum of History over in Gatineau appeals to me, and these shots date from May. Here we're moving around the curatorial wing towards the main entrance. 

The main entrance seems to be glaring in disapproval.

Between the curatorial wing and the exhibit building, the promenade has this fountain and waterworks. Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River lurk in the background. This location, with the fountain in operation, is one of my favourite vantage points in both cities to take shots of Parliament Hill and the Chateau.

Down the stairs, this gives a view of the terraces as the water flows down to the lower pool.

It spills over the edges and runs down a ramp, easily viewed from inside the Grand Hall.

And getting behind the water here is another favourite view of Parliament Hill, obscured by the waterfall.

Some Geese Are Born Great

I took shots of this Canada Goose near the Rideau Canal, at the pond linked to the Canal by the Bank Street Bridge. As I've done before, I thought I'd caption it with something entirely different, in this case lines by Feste the Fool in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. By the way, check out Sir Ben Kingsley give this speech in this film version of the play if you've never seen it.

"Why, 'some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrown upon them.'

I was one, sir, in this interlude; one Sir Topas.

But that's all one. 'By the Lord, fool, I am not mad.'

But do you remember? 'Madam, why laugh you at such a barren rascal? 

And you smile not, he's gagged.'

And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges." 

Fading Away From Peak Bloom

After the lilacs and cherry trees of spring have bloomed, summer brings these blossoms on trees, for a brief time. I shot these in Centretown; some of the blossoms were already fading from white into tan. I have no idea what the trees are.

The Most Infernal Game Devised

I was out in north Kanata, the westernmost urban area of the city, some weeks ago. This woodland separated me from March Road, which leads north into the country from Kanata.

Just looking at it, you'd expect you were out in the countryside. In fact, there was a deer in here... but too quick for a photograph.

Nearby was this view from a hotel-conference center window of the pool and the grounds beyond.

Unfortunately this includes a course for the proverbial infernal game devised of my title, also known as a good walk wasted, also known as golf. I really don't understand the mindset of a golfer....

Sir John A. And Sir George-Etienne

Regarding the inukshuk from yesterday, the only information I could find was that it was a commissioned work for one of the airlines that operates out of the airport and serves communities in the far northern stretches of the country.

Macdonald-Cartier International sees both domestic and international traffic operating on site. Being out of the urban limits by and large allows for a lot of space.

This was the reason I came down to the airport. Down on the arrivals floor, visitors are greeted by this pair of statues of the two men the airport is named after. Fathers Of Confederation Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Etienne Cartier look quite welcoming to the newcomer, and the sculptor has rendered them both dignified and quite relaxed. You can learn more about each man here and here.

An Odd Place For An Inuit Inukshuk

I went down to Macdonald-Cartier International Airport on the outskirts of the city some weeks ago. The place has been through a lot of renovations in recent years.

This inukshuk stands amid a reflecting pool near the top of the main terminal.

It is typical of the Inuit people of the Arctic, and an unusual but good spot to find one. 

I have more from inside the terminal tomorrow.

Walking In The Footsteps Of History

There is a beautiful summer pavilion here on Parliament Hill, giving grand views of both Ottawa and Gatineau.

This is where I took yesterday's shot of the river from.

This statue is of a Prime Minister, Robert Borden; he steered the country through the First World War. You can find more on him at this link. The statue was moved in recent years here; it previously stood on the west side of the West Block.

Near him stands another Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker,  PM from 1957-1963. There's more information on his life here for those who are curious. For those of you who might have seen the television show Due South, this is the fellow they named the Mountie's wolf after.

And this last statue is one of our Fathers of Confederation, Thomas D'Arcy McGee. He was a friend of Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, a key player in bringing about Confederation, and was assassinated in the prime of his life. There is more about him at this link.

I complete this series with a detail view of the Library of Parliament. I'll be moving onto other things tomorrow, but I always enjoy coming back to the Hill for photo opportunities. The trick is in ignoring the politicians who are still active.