Along The Ottawa Locks

 One day in the latter half of October, I stopped downtown to visit a few spots for fall photos. I got off a bus at Plaza Bridge, where I photographed the view southward towards the National Arts Centre, at right, with the Rideau Canal down to the left.

My first destination on this day was Major's Hill Park, on the east side of the Ottawa Locks, where the Canal descends to meet the Ottawa River. Parliament Hill is on the west side.

The steep slope of the Hill has a lot of trees, particularly photogenic in the fall.

The Bytown Museum lies down below. Its regular hours resume in the spring, I believe.

Across the wide expanse of the Ottawa River, we have Gatineau in Quebec. The great rise of the Gatineau Hills is in the background.

The Canadian Museum of History is also over there.

The park is close by, on the bluff at right.

The Landmarks

 As I'd said, I knew that I wouldn't be able to see everything at this bicentennial party, but I wanted to make one more stop, seeing as how the establishment was very visibly taking part in the festivities. I crossed the Rideau Canal via the Mackenzie King Bridge, taking two shots looking north towards Plaza Bridge, where this series started. Landmarks include the National Arts Centre and Parliament Hill at left, and the Chateau Laurier and Government Conference Centre at right. It looked like an official party was departing the NAC.

I headed onto the terrace at the NAC, since that was my destination, and took this photo across the Canal of the Ottawa Convention Centre. Its architecture has always appealed to me.

A look to the left gives us the Chateau and the Conference Centre. Both date to 1912, and the latter started its life as a train station linked to the hotel. These days it hosts the Senate while work on Parliament Hill continues.

Another shot, looking at the NAC. Sections of glass-dominated additions were added on and opened up for 2017, creating more space and off-setting the Brutalist architecture.

I photographed a section of art when I entered the building. A Given Number Of Owls is a 1972 work by Jack Shadbolt.

This is a portion of a large door within the NAC. Beyond it is a large room used for multiple purposes. I once donated blood in that room. I've always liked this door. It feels like something out of science fiction, like Blade Runner.

The NAC hosts classical music, pop and jazz concerts, and theatre, and is a national institution. It's also very much part of the city, and was busy being part of the city's bicentennial party.

There was a display on the Canadian singer k.d. lang, who has become very much an icon over the years while remaining distinctly herself.

Several display cases included some of her clothing. This design is the Nudie Suit.

And this is her Honky Tonk Angels' Medley jacket, dating to a 1988 performance.

Music Beneath The Bridge

 September 26th was the date of a big party downtown, marking the bicentennial of Ottawa. What became the city dates back to 1826 and the beginning of the Rideau Canal project. The city put on multiple events in an area ranging from City Hall up through the Byward Market. I was able to get to some of it. My first stop was at Plaza Bridge, which spans the Rideau Canal as it begins its descent down to the Ottawa River. The space beneath the bridge, alongside the Canal, is wide and ideal for acoustics. A company called SoundScape put together music beneath the bridge for the occasion, with blues and purples projected within the space. When I arrived, Indigenous music was being played. When I later left the area, it was definitely East Coast Atlantic music.

The line was long, and I decided to go back up and photograph from above. I paused to take a shot of the nearby War Memorial, dramatic at night.

There is a wide central staircase leading down into the underside of Plaza Bridge. It turned out to be a good way to frame the coloured lighting down below. A careful eye might pick out busts and statues ringing this staircase at street level. They are The Valiants- Canadian military figures from across our history.

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.