The Guns Of War Are Silent

 Army Run weekend takes place in Ottawa in September. It consists of a 5K, 10K, and half-marathon through the streets of Ottawa and Gatineau, organized by the military, with fundraising going to organizations that work with soldiers and their families, particularly after military service. Thousands take part in the runs, and it's the second largest such event in the capital after the May Ottawa Race Weekend. At City Hall, it is tradition for military equipment to be on display for the weekend. Here at one entrance is a formidable weapon, the M777 Howitzer, pointed across the street towards Confederation Park. All of this equipment would likely have come down for the weekend from CFB Petawawa, which is a couple of hours drive up the valley from the city.

This is the vehicle that tows that Howitzer.

I noticed this trailer. It was adorned with the faces of deceased Canadian servicemen and women, most of them young, and from the dates, most of them from the Afghan War.

Across from it, this medical truck. St. John Ambulance is an international first aid/ medical organization that among other things offers first aid training. My last course on emergency first aid was from a really good instructor with them, and it's time to get that renewed. You never know when you might need it.

At one of the tents, this display from the Canadian Forces. This is a UAV.

Big trucks were parked in the shade of City Hall.

One of them, as it turns out, was a mobile workshop. The tools and work tables were left at home, a soldier told me, but these are meant for repairs that are part of military operations in the field.

Another big truck along the way.

And armoured transport.

This is another armoured transport, in front of Cartier Square Drill Hall, a legacy of the days of Canadian cities building armories at the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th century. It is a neighbour to City Hall. This LAV was open at the back, and I took a look inside. No bit of space is wasted in one of these.

The Spiders At City Hall

 I proceeded onward, with Ottawa City Hall being another destination for Doors Open. Approaching the main north entrance, I took this shot, which includes the Cartier Square Drill Hall off to the left.

City Hall consists of this modern wing and an older wing, the Heritage Building. It also shares the property with a provincial courthouse, which I spent some time in during early June. I was testifying for the Crown in a criminal trial, in late April and resuming over a couple of days in early June. I'd prefer to never do so again.

I went inside. The contemporary style of this wing is a striking design.

These two cosplayers were inside for an event. Spider-Man is obvious even to non-comics readers. The other one is Ghost Spider, an alternate reality version of Gwen Stacy, who hops between dimensions on a regular basis.

This pair of flags in a display case marks the 150 years of the Governor General's Foot Guards, a military unit well known here.

The Heritage Building is the other wing of City Hall. It dates to 1875 when it was opened as a school. Today it houses municipal offices and conference rooms, including the mayor's offices. In previous years, it has been part of Doors Open, but for whatever reason, not this year. I passed by the building, which is vastly different from the contemporary wing.

Here is the west entrance, with the city flag at left.

A grove of trees on the south side of the property was planted in honour of veterans, and have grown well ever since.

One last shot from here.

Lighting Up The Capital

 Downtown gets decorated for Christmas as well around the landmarks. I went out to photograph them. These two are at City Hall.

Across the street is Confederation Park, where the trick is lighting the trunks and branches of trees as opposed to stringing lights. I like it this way.
 

A totem pole is found here.

At the west end of the park is the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument. It includes four warriors and five animals- the eagle, bear, bison, elk, and wolf, filled with symbols for indigenous peoples.

I continued along, heading past the National Arts Centre.

Lights In The City

 A few nights before Christmas, I got out to take in some of the lights in the downtown core. I stopped by an office building across from City Hall and took these two shots.

City Hall has two distinctively different architectural sections. This is the Heritage Building, a 19th century school turned into city offices, and a wreath was seen in the upper floor.

Beyond, I headed towards an outdoor skate rink outside the more contemporary section of City Hall. Lights were shining in the trees.

A large wreath is suspended outside the building.

I caught a glimpse of a Christmas tree inside, and the upper catwalks, all trimmed with Christmas decorations.

The skate rink was busy. Cartier Square, a drill hall that neighbours the building and also dates to the 19th century, is a ghost in the background of these shots.

I crossed Laurier Avenue on the north side and went into Confederation Park. The lighting here is not strings of lights, but coloured spotlights on the trees themselves. The effect is a good one.