The Dawn Rises Over The Brand New Year

As I end the year with sunsets, so too has it been my tradition to have my first new post of the year be sunrises. I begin with a shot taken last July at dawn near my place. 

In the middle of July, I was around Lansdowne Park in the pre-dawn, and took this shot from the west side of the stadium.

These two shots were taken in the latter part of August at Lansdowne, a few minutes apart.

Some days later, I was passing through the north end of the Glebe before dawn and took this shot.

At the beginning of September, another similar walk, another lovely dawn.

This was taken on the very last day of summer in September, in the same area.

I captured this shot at the stadium in late October, a testament to the relative shift of where the sun appears to rise through the year, in this case out of sight behind the south stands.

Here we had things in early November, back in the north end of the Glebe.

A few days later, another morning walk in the Glebe.

After a time I ended up at Lansdowne, where I took this shot of the dawning day.

In the latter part of December, before dawn I went out for a walk. The pre-dawn skies were lightening up in the Glebe.

I took this shot at Lansdowne Park, where the Aberdeen Pavilion looked ethereal in the dawn light.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Best Of The Year

 My last of the three today. In October I took a shuttle bus up into Gatineau Park for a fall colours tour. Most of the park lies within the boundaries of Les-Collines-des-l'Outaouais municipality, and it is a federal park administered by the National Capital Commission.

One of my stops was at the Champlain Lookout, with a breathtaking view down to the valley floor. The Ottawa River is over there, and across it are the last stretches of the city of Ottawa, mostly village and countryside at this point.

Another stop was at Pink Lake, an unusual lake that is popular for hiking. It is a meromictic lake, one in which the layers do not mix. 

My visit included a tour of the Mackenzie King Estate. One of our greatest Prime Ministers, William Lyon Mackenzie King, started buying land in the Hills as a young lawyer and politician, building a weekend retreat and ultimately a home in a place that gave him much solace. He was instrumental in the creation of Gatineau Park, and left his estate to the people of Canada in his will. This is the old cottage, Kingswood.

Down slope from the cottage is Kingsmere Lake, particularly beautiful in the fall.

The main house, which he built as he became more and more prominent as a national leader, is Moorside.

He was a character. Mackenzie King had a sentimental streak and a love for nature, as well as an eye for landscape design. He would take pieces of buildings being demolished in Ottawa and bring them to the estate. Some are found on their own. Others are incorporated into a larger creative work called a folly. This is the Window on the Forest.

This is his Arc de Triomphe.

While here we have the Abbey Ruins.

A beautiful day to be at this estate.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Best Of The Year

 Today I kick off my last year's favourites from the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River. I start with this view at the Canadian Museum of History, where this sculpture sits outside in a reflecting pool, frozen when I took this. It is called 'namaxsala (To Travel In A Boat Together), and is by the First Nations artist Mary Anne Barkhouse, based on a story her grandfather told of giving a wolf a ride across treacherous waters.

The large mural Morning Star, by the Dene artist Alex Janvier, dominates the ceiling in the museum, and is my favourite work of art in the national capital area.

Within the permanent galleries, St. Onuphrius, a still-consecrated Ukrainian Catholic church, always draws me in for the visit. It was moved here years ago from the Canadian west.

Winterlude took place here as well in Gatineau. Jacques Cartier Park gets turned into a big snow playground for the event. Snow sculptures are put up.

The Ice Hogs, the mascots of the event, were to be found here.

Flash forward a few months to the Tulip Festival. This bed of tulips is off the Portage Bridge as one comes into Ottawa.

While this one is at the Museum of History, and has an outstanding view across the river to Parliament Hill. Canadians will remember the last paper dollar bill before it was replaced by the loonie coin. The view of the river on that bill was taken from a photograph by Malak Karsh, who is deemed the founder of the Tulip Festival. This bed is dedicated in his memory.

Here we see them in Jacques Cartier Park.

Later on in the year, I returned for another visit to the Museum. The curves are the design of First Nations architect Douglas Cardinal, who lives in the area. This museum is considered his masterpiece.

I had come to attend an exhibit on the development of early royalty in southeastern Europe. This golden wreath was part of that exhibit.

When I was finishing my tour, I was surprised by this- a Lego reconstruction of the public wing of the Museum.

A view down to the Grand Hall. Tomorrow I'll wrap up my favourite shots of the year in the Gatineau Hills.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Best Of The Year

 The first day of the month is a theme day for members of City Daily Photo,  and as always, January is the best of the year. Check out other favourites right here. I am dividing this up into three posts by area.

I start today in Ottawa, and with a picture taken in late 2023 but not posted until January. I attended a screening of the original Star Wars at Lansdowne Park, with the music performed by a live orchestra. Cosplayers were around as well.

Winterlude is the big winter festival here in February, and it includes ice sculptures.

I had a chance during Winterlude to get out on the ice of the Rideau Canal.

Another ice sculpture.

Another big festival here is the Tulip Festival, and these shots were taken in Commissioners Park at Dow's Lake.

This one was in Major's Hill Park.

I paid a visit to the National Gallery of Canada as well. This is The Red Maple, by A.Y. Jackson of the Group of Seven.

Upstairs in the world art section is Dancer, by Antonio Canova, a marble sculpture that's life like and playful. My favourite sculpture in the area.

This kitty is near to home for me, and in warmer weather can occasionally be found outside.

I attended Comiccon in September, and ran into cinema's most foul mouthed character.

In October, alerted by a Facebook post, I headed out to Lansdowne Park to capture the aurora borealis.

On another October day, something very unusual in the skies over Lansdowne- these magnificent clouds, known as asperitas clouds. I'd never seen anything like it.

Today I finish with an autumn view in the city. Tomorrow we cross into Gatineau.