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.

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.