Balancing Out

A reminder for members of City Daily Photo- the September 1st Theme Day subject is Travel. 

The Ottawa Busker Festival takes place the first weekend of August here, primarily on Sparks Street downtown. It brings together buskers from around the world to perform over three days. In the last couple of years, a new stage area has been added. The World Exchange Plaza is an office building a block south of Sparks. During Covid and afterwards, the building underwent a face lift inside its retail area, as well as the outer terrace, with a new stage area that works very well for the festival- in fact, this year, this spot hosted the finale show with multiple buskers. Seating in this instance is on a large tiered sitting area on the north side of the space, so the performer only has to play to one side, really, as opposed to being in the round. I stopped by to find Yoshi, an acrobatic act who's been here before.

He had some help balancing on a beam, which in and of itself was balancing on a round steel cylinder on top of a stool.

And then his act turned to juggling knives, tossed from another onlooker.

You try doing this.

Perspectives

 I start today with a view across the Rideau Canal from the east, looking up at Parliament Hill.

Here where the Canal meets the Ottawa River in what is still called Entrance Bay, the view across the river takes in Gatineau, with the Museum of History on the far shore, and the Alexandra Bridge linking the cities and the provinces.

I decided to head up to Major's Hill Park. Along the way, something new. A swimming area, seemingly bound in the water, has been built here, with a large deck. I would not personally swim in the river- it's deep here, and the currents can be treacherous.

Taken from the park above, with a view of the Bytown Museum below. Re-enactors could be seen with visitors outside.

I paid my respects at the statue of Colonel By himself. Surrounding him are flowers, planted to last into October, when the tulip bulbs will be replanted.

A final shot, taken a short distance away. The Mackenzie King Bridge crosses the Canal south of the Ottawa locks, and with the landmarks around this final stretch of the Canal, it always makes for a splendid view.

Canal Locks

 Regiments formed in Ottawa to become part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War One. 

Women enlisted to do their part.

This display case features artifacts of that war.

This photograph taken on Armistice Day would have been taken from the grounds of Parliament Hill, close to the east corner.

Two more wider angles from within the top floor of the museum. A delightful place to visit, with a few ghosts of its own.

I departed, taking in a view across the Canal. Colonel By's statue is up there in the park on top of the cliff.

Boats were moving through locks.

On the east side of the locks, nestled at the base of the cliff, is a Celtic cross. This commemorates those who died during the building of the Canal. Each Colonel By Day, a memorial service is held here.

Upheavals

 These are items from the Centre Block Fire of February 3rd, 1916, in which the building was destroyed.

The government was determined to rebuild.

There are several displays here on the South African War, which bridged the 19th and 20th centuries. Canadian soldiers went overseas to join British colleagues in fighting the breakaway Boer republics in a guerrilla war often overlooked in history.

A video display features a series of photos of that war.

A few years later, Ottawa citizens would find themselves involved in the Great War.