The Cold War

A reminder to members of City Daily Photo- the theme for the first of October is Glass. 

The Cold War broke out following the Second World War, and one of its causes was right here in Ottawa. Igor Gouzenko was a Soviet clerk at the embassy, who found evidence that the Soviets were spying on their western allies. He took that evidence to the Canadian government, and history was changed forever.

Gouzenko and his family had lived in this unassuming apartment block in the city core. It's still there- I used to live up the street from the place. The Gouzenkos were put in protective custody, and he took to writing. Whenever he appeared in public, he wore a mask. Today, in a park across the street from where the family once lived, historical plaques tell the story of the Gouzenko Affair.

Bomb shelters were part of the culture of the Cold War.

The exhibit features one you can walk into.

One of the fighter planes of the early Cold War- the De Havilland Vampire, a mainstay of the Canadian and British air forces.

Nearby, a training fighter jet of the early Cold War- the Canadair T-33 Silver Star.

The Cold War meant military commitments in Europe, where Canadians were stationed in each branch of the service. Airmen would bring their families for extended stays in foreign lands.