Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Canada

 Continuing where I left off yesterday, here we see the Caribou Monument in Bowring Park, memorializing the war dead of Newfoundland and Labrador.


This is the Ukrainian Labour Temple in Manitoba.


The British Columbia provincial Parliament Buildings are found in Victoria, B.C. 


This is the Old Arts Building in New Brunswick.


Grain elevators are a common sight in Saskatchewan.


Pier 21 is home to the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Nova Scotia- one of two national museums outside the national capital area.


This is the CCGS Amundsen, a Coast Guard icebreaker.


Dawson City is found in the Yukon Territory.


This scene is Pangnirtung in Nunavut.


And this is Point Prim Lighthouse on Prince Edward Island.


Inside the main hub of the Canadian History Hall is a viewscreen of various moments in our history. William Lyon Mackenzie King can be seen at top right, for instance, while at lower left is the dark chapter of the October Crisis.


The view screen changes, and so at lower left is a picture of Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Nelson Mandela, who was made an honorary citizen of the country right here at the museum.

Monday, September 16, 2024

Scenes

 More looks today at Morning Star.


Looking back down at the staircase where I was at gives us a view outside.


Inscribed on a column nearby in three languages are the words of William Commanda, a highly respected chief, which are wisely said.


A look down from here really brings home the size of the Grand Hall.


The path to the Canadian History Hall is lined with images of places and activities across Canada. These are done with reflective glass with a light overlay. We start with Inuit drum dancers.


The Calgary Stampede in Alberta is a big part of that province's culture.


This is Our Lady of Victory Church in the Northwest Territories.


Maple syrup tapping is a long tradition in eastern Canada.


This is the First World War Memorial in Saskatchewan.


The Stratford Festival Theatre can be found in the town of Stratford in southern Ontario, where each summer a festival of plays by Shakespeare and others is put on, a long standing tradition.

Sunday, September 15, 2024

The Star

 More looks to start things off today of The Spirit Of Haida Gwaii.


A short way beyond, and a look up. Morning Star is a huge mural by the Dene artist Alex Janvier, who died recently. The artist painted this on a dome high overhead in 1993, in his abstract style heavily influenced by his indigenous roots. It is bold, colourful, dynamic, and my favourite work of art in the national capital area; despite my general disregard for the abstract movement, Janvier is the exception. I love his work.


One can even use the escalators and staircases to frame the painting in a different way.


At the top level, up close and personal with the painting.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Haida Gwaii

 More today inside the Grand Hall in the Canadian Museum of History.


Outside is a sculpture, and at this time of year, the pool around it is filled with water, reflecting the river in the background. This is 'namaxsala (To Travel In A Boat Together), a 2013 sculpture by Mary Lynn Barkhouse, based on a story by her grandfather of his giving a wolf a ride across treacherous waters.


This panel explains the significance of totem poles.


More of a look around.


This huge canoe is nearby.


Here we have one of three versions of the same sculpture. The Spirit of Haida Gwaii is by the Haida artist Bill Reid. This is the plaster cast of the sculpture- bronze versions can be found at the Canadian embassy in Washington and at the airport in Vancouver.

Friday, September 13, 2024

A Grand Hall

The Grand Hall is a majestic space within the Canadian Museum of History. Totem poles are found here, and the facades of Pacific Coast tribal homes have been erected in this place. Behind the facades is exhibit space. 


I stepped inside.


The windows offer views out to the river and the Ottawa shoreline beyond.