Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Memorial

A reminder to members of City Daily Photo that the theme for April 1st is appropriately April Fool. I've taken my shots for the post, but had to really think outside the box on this one.

On a snowy day in the latter part of February I went over to the Ottawa Art Gallery for a visit after it had reopened following the most recent lockdown. Coming back, I came through Confederation Park, which lies between the Mackenzie King Bridge and City Hall to the south. It is home to several military monuments. Two of them, the newest and the oldest, are here. The Canadian Animals In War Memorial is the newest, a concept first proposed by Lloyd Swick, a veteran of the Second World War and Korean War, and designed by artist David Clendining. It includes plaques, the footprints of dogs and horses in the cement, and a statue of a working dog. It stands beside a cenotaph honouring the local dead of the South African War.


Not far away is a plaque that is a legacy of the Second World War. Canadian pilots flew dangerous missions over occupied Poland, particularly during the Warsaw Uprising. Some paid with their lives. This plaque honours them.


The biggest of the monuments is at the west end of the park. The National Aboriginal Veterans Monument stands here. On a large marble base is mounted a set of figures: animals and First Nations peoples with weapons and other items like a peace pipe. An eagle is at the top, with a bear, wolf, bison, and elk at the corners.


During the winter all sides of the monument are kept clear of snow for access. Here at the back, one gets a view towards the fountain, which serves as the last of the park's military monuments. It honours Colonel John By, the British engineer who oversaw the building of the Rideau Canal, which lies at the east end of the park.


One more item of note: a totem pole is here at the north side of the park. It was given to the city in 1971 to mark the centennial of the founding of British Columbia as a province.

38 comments:

  1. Nice shots! Thanks for the reminder about theme day. I need to do some thinking.

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  2. In memory of all those who have fallen ...
    The largest monument is beautiful, and the totempal special!

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  3. The monument is magnificent William, looks stunning in the snow. Looking forward to seeing the shots from your visit to the art gallery ✨

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  4. wow really nice pictures!Like that snowy weather and the statue with the eagle!!amazing!

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  5. Powerful photos William, 5 and 9 especially.

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  6. The National Aboriginal Veterans Monument is the most impressive monument, I think. But perhaps the Canadian Animals in War Memorial is the most special.
    I love to see the snow fall in your photos.

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  7. Beautiful monuments and totems.

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  8. @Linda: you're welcome.

    @Ella: I agree.

    @Grace: starting tomorrow.

    @Anita: I do as well.

    @Gemel: thank you.

    @Iris: definitely.

    @Marie: me too.

    @Jan: I agree.

    @Magiceye: thanks!

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  9. ...Ottawa has a wonderful collection of memorials.

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  10. That winged memorial is quite impressive.

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  11. Lots to find and do on a snowy day in Ottawa.

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  12. That Aboriginal monument is very impressive.

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  13. It would be hard to overstate the important role animals have played in past wars.

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  14. You have a number of poignant memorials in the city. A wonder how many people take a moment to think about the reasons for them being there.

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  15. @RedPat: it is.

    @Tom: definitely.

    @Jeanie: I think so.

    @Red: there is indeed.

    @Sharon: that's true.

    @Revrunner: indeed.

    @fun60: we have many.

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  16. Beautiful shots of the memorials. The eagle really stands out.

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  17. Marvelous memorial. I am glad you walked all around it to show it from different angles.

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  18. I have come across a lot of Polish Airmen's Headstones in the various Commonwealth War grave cemetery's in the UK

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  19. The figures in the First Nations Memorial are stunning.

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  20. @Bill: thank you!

    @DJan: I'm glad that it was shoveled around the whole thing.

    @Bill: it makes sense, given that quite a few Polish servicemen got out and served in Commonwealth forces during the war.

    @Lady Fi: thank you.

    @Marleen: it is indeed.

    @Denise: I think so.

    @Joanne: definitely.

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  21. Such a lovely display and even snow covering about it all still is interesting to see. Thanks for reminding me of the new April theme, I'll have to begin thinking what to post!

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  22. I'm liking the totems, we have similar ones here carved by Maori but they have different symbolism.

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  23. Totem poles are always intriguing ~ Great tributes also ~

    Living moment by moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  24. i enjoy your shots looking up ...with the snow falling. that's so pretty. nice! ( ;

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  25. Such beautiful monuments and totems.

    All the best Jan

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