Monday, May 20, 2019

Victoria

Today I take a break from the Tulip Festival series for an official occasion, Victoria Day.

These shots were taken in 2018, last Victoria Day. It is a tradition on Parliament Hill to do a 21 gun salute in honour of Queen Victoria at high noon. Three cannons were brought in by the military, each to fire off seven rounds when the clock tower struck twelve, set up between Centre Block and East Block. Onlookers were kept at a distance. I chose to observe from the east side. Note the Union Jack flying from the east flagpole in the foreground- another Victoria Day tradition.


The tower bells started to ring as the clock struck twelve, and the salute commenced with the firing of the cannons.


Also taken on that date, I passed by the two large flagpoles out in front of the National Gallery of Canada. Usually two Canadian flags fly here, but on Victoria Day, the Maple Leaf flies alongside the Union Jack.


Back in late November, I took a tour inside Centre Block. A statue of Queen Victoria stands inside the Library of Parliament. I took a number of shots and decided to hold back a spare for today.

40 comments:

  1. Great celebration with firing of cannons. Happy new week!

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  2. Wow. Nothing you could see here... Great you have that!

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  3. You captured the cannon fire really well in these photos William.

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  4. It's good to have nice tradition ...
    Very nice photos!

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  5. ...William, I hope that you will have a wonderful Victoria Day!

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  6. Victoria day, that's a strange one so many years after she has gone. Love your cannon shots.

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  7. Great cannon shots (nice pun there!) only I dare say with your finger on shutter, you had the full brunt of the booms on your ears! Thanks for suffering for art!

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  8. @Nancy: thank you.

    @Iris: it is quite a ceremony.

    @Rosemary: thank you.

    @Ella: it is.

    @Francisco: thanks.

    @Tom: I'll be busy.

    @Joan: thank you.

    @Barbara: you're welcome.

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  9. that's neat. enjoy the smokey shots ( ;

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  10. One more reason to have a day off!
    Great shots.

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  11. Happy Victoria Day William, love the shots of the firing of the cannons from last year. Enjoy the holiday ✨

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  12. Great photos for today, William.

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  13. A fine tradition. Thanks for sharing it with your southern neighbors, like me. :-)

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  14. @Beth: so did I.

    @Anvilcloud: indeed.

    @Laurie: definitely.

    @Catarina: thank you.

    @Grace: thanks!

    @Marie: I thought so.

    @DJan: you're welcome.

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  15. You got some great shots on what looks like a gorgeous day!

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  16. To me the 21 gun salutes are impressive.

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  17. Wonderful photos of this nice tradition.

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  18. Those canons make a lot of smoke. I wonder if you could smell the gunpowder in the air. That is quite a celebration.

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  19. Beautiful photos with the firing of cannons.
    Happy Victoria Day, William !

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  20. What a tradition, great photos!

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  21. You really caught the action, only the sound is missing!

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  22. That would be exciting to attend.

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  23. Now I've got a tune running through my head. "Vickie Regina", sung to the lilting melody of "Lady Madonna"!

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  24. I can almost here those cannons firing. Sure was a lot of smoke!

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  25. Those cannon firings must have been heard for miles. A special year for 'Victoria' events this year too:)

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  26. @RedPat: last year that day was clear and bright.

    @Red: I always find them to be so.

    @Jan: it is, yes.

    @Sharon: you can.

    @Karl: thank you!

    @Bill: thanks!

    @Marleen: for me I'd rather photograph it than video it.

    @Janey: it was.

    @Jennifer: indeed.

    @Catalyst: that I'd have to hear.

    @Happyone: a whole lot of it, yes.

    @Aritha: thank you.

    @Joanne: it does.

    @Rosie: they do resonate a long way off.

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  27. Awesome canon shot photos in tribute to Queen Victoria ~ what influence she had and still has ~

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  28. An impressive celebration, William!

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  29. What a wonderful post.
    Your photographs of the salute with the firing cannons are brilliant :)

    All the best Jan

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