Sunday, November 22, 2015

A Prime Minister In Fall

A bit of bright colour to start things off; these are the fall colours of a bush in the Glebe.


Here we have some fall colours at the Supreme Court.


A statue sits here on the lawn, that of Louis St. Laurent, a prime minister from 1948-57, and before that Minister of Justice for Prime Minister Mackenzie King. You can find out more about him here.  While the statues of major prime ministers and Fathers of Confederation are over on Parliament Hill, St. Laurent is over here by himself, which might seem odd until you know a bit about him.


He was not a career politician, but a lawyer, a highly respected one, so much so that he had been offered a seat on the Supreme Court before. Mackenzie King named him to his cabinet upon the death of his Minister of Justice in 1941, on the recommendations of his cabinet. St. Laurent's ministry was housed in the Justice building, which his statue now faces across the lawn, and having him sit here before the Court is quite appropriate for such a lawyer who, if politics hadn't drawn him in, would have made an ideal Supreme Court justice.


This view of the War Memorial with fall colours is taken from Parliament Hill.


While I was in the area this particular day, I descended beneath Plaza Bridge and photographed the archway.


I finish with another view of the Canal and Parliament Hill. Compare it to the ones from the other day.

36 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, those first two. I love those.

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  2. We're getting to know Ottawa, thanks to you.

    Tomás.

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  3. From your title, I thought your (current) Prime Minister was in big trouble. That last shot has some spectacular colors.

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  4. Gorgeous fall colours. I love the first two pics and the last one. Have a blessed Sunday!

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  5. What kind of bush is that? It's gorgeous!

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  6. Belíssimas fotografias num click perfeito
    Gosto de conhecer estes lugares que através da sua lente você nos oportuniza William
    Um bom domingo
    Um abraço

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  7. Glorious! I don't think I've seen him!

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  8. M St.Laurent has a nice face William, a kind face. I recognise the flowering bush in your first two pics. Interesting to see a back view of the memorial.

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  9. Those photos are very nice indeed!

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  10. Louis St Laurent would be much different from today's prime ministers. St. Laurent was dignified and highly respected. He's the first prime minister that I actually remember. You have really tapped into some awesome Ottawa scenery.

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  11. The first two photos are eye-catching, but my preferred is the last one.

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  12. @Whisk: thanks!

    @Linda: thank you!

    @Tomas: I like showing the city.

    @Stuart: not this time!

    @Nancy: thank you!

    @Norma: I have no idea... I'd hoped someone else knew!

    @Marleen: it was chance passing it by and noticing it, and I photographed it several times, with and without flash- this was late in the day.

    @Gracita: thank you!

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  13. @Jennifer: it's easy to miss if you pass by in the car- he's positioned over to the left side of the lawn by the trees, but it's actually a good spot.

    @Sharon: if only I knew what it was!

    @Grace: do tell!

    @Blogoratti: thanks!

    @RedPat: thank you!

    @Red: I'm surprised I hadn't photographed his statue before now.

    @Karl: thanks!

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  14. Very interesting info on the prime minister and it is another great statue. Your city is very beautiful and you are a great ambassador for it. Always find your photos very enjoyable :)

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  15. Well, this was a fun and most interesting trek through part of Ottawa. And your photos are excellent...your fall must be pretty decent and somewhat warm. St. Laurent had quite a long run as PM...he must have been good at it.

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  16. The two first images are lovely.
    And a nice and interesting posting.
    I learned something new.
    Looks pretty where you are.

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  17. Beautiful photos and interesting facts on St. Laurant. I like the shot of the canal and Parliament Hill.

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  18. @Denise: thank you!

    @Lowell: I think he was good at the job.

    @Gunn: thank you very much!

    @Pamela: I'm having fun with the fall shots... if I can keep up setting the posts!

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  19. The colours on the bush are extraordinary, I like the shot under the bridge, very cool..

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  20. Looks a lot like a shrub sometimes called a Burning Bush here.

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  21. Gorgeous fall colors William, especially the first two pictures.

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  22. I just came back to tell you that it looks like it is a Burning Bush - Euonymous alatus - but I think RR already told you. They are so beautiful in fall.

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  23. Love the bright colors! The sculpture is nice too.

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  24. love sculptures like that ... they have such details. very very cool. ( :

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  25. St. Laurent makes me wish we had more like him these days.

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  26. Love that Burning Bush in the first two photo, William. That's really interesting information about Louis St. Laurent!

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  27. William. I like the last picture.

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  28. A veritable autumn wonderland and very interesting history lesson! Thank you!

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  29. Nowadays politicians care only for one thing: being reelected which makes me mad. You really have some splendid colours!

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  30. @Geoff: thanks!

    @Revrunner: thanks for the info!

    @Lois: I think so too.

    @Tex: it's a great season.

    @RedPat: it must be.

    @Linda: thanks!

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  31. @Beth: that they do.

    @Kay: he was very good.

    @EG: I should photograph him again.

    @Carolann: thank you.

    @Merisi: you're welcome.

    @Ciel: unfortunately true.

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