The Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights Across Canada is the title of a national program of lights at various sites in the country. That includes lights at a number of spots downtown. Confederation Park is where I start, and in recent years it's been the trend here to go with coloured spotlights illuminating the trees as opposed to hung lights.

Across the street from the park is Ottawa City Hall, and here are two views of Christmas lights on the grounds. The skating rink outside the building has been busy over the holidays.

Here we have a view looking over the Rideau Canal at night towards Parliament Hill, with Christmas lights in the mix.

Proceeding on my way, I stopped to photograph the glass lantern at the National Arts Centre, suitably lit up for the occasion.

Coming around towards the War Memorial, I paused to photograph the NAC again. The statue in silhouette is Andrew Hamilton Gault, the businessman turned military officer who organized the formation of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at the outset of the First World War- a military unit that still exists today.

Here we have views of the War Memorial amid Christmas lights in the trees, first seen from the east with the Peace Tower beyond it.

This perspective includes the Chateau Laurier off to the northeast side.

And this looks back towards the NAC from the approach to the Memorial.

Turning around again gives us a look at the buildings collectively called The Chambers, which overlook the Memorial.

While this view is from the north side of Wellington Street.

I headed up to Parliament Hill, where a winter light show has been playing each evening since early December and will continue into early January. I'll show you that in the next couple of days. In between those shows, the Christmas lights set in the bushes at the north end of the lawn have been lit up, turned off when the show starts up again.