Lights Around The Landmarks

 On December 7th, Christmas lights are turned on around numerous landmarks in the city. I start with this shot, taken across from the National Peacekeeping Monument, near the National Gallery, taken a few nights afterwards.

My path led me back to Ottawa City Hall, where the grounds were decorated. An outdoor skating rink is also found here.

City Hall has a provincial courthouse as a neighbour, and that provides the backdrop for these lights. I spent a few days here this year testifying for the Crown in a criminal trial. Hopefully never again.

A big wreath hangs over the main city building.

Across the street is Confederation Park, where instead of traditional lights, spheres of lights hang in trees, and the trunks are illuminated by spotlights of coloured lights. It's different, but I like it.

The park is home to several military monuments, including this one, the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument.

I headed up the street. Between Confederation Park and the National Arts Center, more Christmas lights.

Up at the NAC is this statue. This is the centennial year of the birth of Oscar Peterson, the great jazz pianist and composer, one of the best jazz has ever seen, and in my opinion the greatest musician Canada has ever given the world. A statue of him sits here, with his music playing from an overhead speaker. He looks like he's taking in the applause from his audience. There were Christmas touches in the nearby flowerbeds.

Passing by the NAC, around to the north end, more Christmas lights. The statue seen here is Andrew Hamilton Gault, the politician and military officer who organized the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at the outset of World War One. The regiment has a proud history, and is still active today. We'll cross the street from here tomorrow to close out the Christmas series.

Landmarks And Monuments

 More from Confederation Park downtown today. Along with spotlights on the ground highlighting the trees, some Christmas decoration here includes large lit balls hanging in the trees.

We caught a glimpse of it yesterday, now a better view of it today. The Lord Elgin Hotel is across from the park on the west side. Facing it is one of the park's monuments- the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument.

To the north, the National Arts Centre is seen through the trees.

The Aboriginal Veterans Monument features four warriors and five animals, done in a very impressive way. An eagle is at top, while the warriors are behind the animals that face each corner- the bear, wolf, elk, and bison.

I proceeded on. A statue of the great Canadian jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson stands outside the National Arts Centre, which was my ultimate destination for the evening. This is the work of Ruth Abernethy, who specializes in larger than life but approachable statues that really have a life of their own.

Onward and upward. Lights on top of the NAC drew my eye.

I was heading for the National War Memorial, which lies at the heart of Confederation Square, directly opposite the NAC.

Looking back at the NAC with its more recent glass enclosure addition, I paused to photograph the red lights, with the statue in silhouette. This is Andrew Hamilton Gault, the man who organized the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry regiment in World War One. The regiment still exists today.

Across the street, the War Memorial.

And looking in another direction, the Government Conference Centre.

I headed for the Memorial. We'll pick up here tomorrow.

The Capital In Christmas Lights

 I went out one evening, before a significant snowfall, to photograph Christmas lights. I start with the grounds at Ottawa City Hall, where trees had lights strung up and a large wreath was hung near the main entrance. The skating rink at left was in use.

Across the street lies Confederation Park. The lighting here is different, with coloured lights projected onto the trunks of the trees, and snowglobes hanging from some of them.

Just up the street at the National Arts Centre, I took these two shots, with the government conference centre in the background of the first. The statue is Alexander Hamilton Gault, a businessman, politician, and traveller who organized and led the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Regiment in the First World War.

And across the street is the National War Memorial, surrounded this time of year with Christmas lights.

I headed to Parliament Hill for something I'll be showing you over the next couple of posts. For today, I leave off with this view across the street at the only Parliamentary block not officially on the Hill, since the Parliamentary district is deemed to be on the north side of Wellington Street. This houses the offices of the prime minister and his staff.

The Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights Across Canada is the title of a national program of lights at various sites in the country. That includes lights at a number of spots downtown. Confederation Park is where I start, and in recent years it's been the trend here to go with coloured spotlights illuminating the trees as opposed to hung lights.

Across the street from the park is Ottawa City Hall, and here are two views of Christmas lights on the grounds. The skating rink outside the building has been busy over the holidays.

Here we have a view looking over the Rideau Canal at night towards Parliament Hill, with Christmas lights in the mix.

Proceeding on my way, I stopped to photograph the glass lantern at the National Arts Centre, suitably lit up for the occasion.

Coming around towards the War Memorial, I paused to photograph the NAC again. The statue in silhouette is Andrew Hamilton Gault, the businessman turned military officer who organized the formation of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at the outset of the First World War- a military unit that still exists today.

Here we have views of the War Memorial amid Christmas lights in the trees, first seen from the east with the Peace Tower beyond it.

This perspective includes the Chateau Laurier off to the northeast side.

And this looks back towards the NAC from the approach to the Memorial.

Turning around again gives us a look at the buildings collectively called The Chambers, which overlook the Memorial.

While this view is from the north side of Wellington Street.

I headed up to Parliament Hill, where a winter light show has been playing each evening since early December and will continue into early January. I'll show you that in the next couple of days. In between those shows, the Christmas lights set in the bushes at the north end of the lawn have been lit up, turned off when the show starts up again.