Decorate

I am starting off a Christmas series today, which I find ironic given my present mood. Some of you who are connected with me at Facebook probably saw my post on the weekend about being in a black wall depression at the moment. I am, admittedly, not a fan of Christmas, as it is a difficult time of year for me. But I'll do a series about the holidays in Ottawa regardless, and odds are some fresh shots will show up at the Ottawa Daily Photo Facebook page, along with the archive shots I add to the gallery there.

I am starting in a spot where I've spent the better part of the first half of this month in terms of the blog. Last year I went on a tour of Centre Block on Parliament Hill between Christmas and New Year's on a bitterly cold day. As it was uncertain at the time when the building would be closed down for the restoration work, I thought I would hold back some Christmas pics of the interior for this year. Christmas decorations are found throughout the building. This first tree stands in the large foyer outside the House of Commons.

This one, taken from two different perspectives, stood in the Hall of Honour, which leads to the Library of Parliament.

While this one stood in the Senate foyer.

In the background, a portrait of King George III lurks.

This is Confederation Hall from above, with its central pillar decorated for Christmas, and the arches surrounding it ringed by Christmas lights. On my way out of the building, I took some additional shots from the floor.

In The Senate Chamber

Here we have another view of the stairs leading to the outside, accessible by Parliamentary personnel. The stained glass window you see is a recent one; it features both Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth in its colours. The portrait of King George III appears at left.

The tour went into the Senate. Canadian senators are appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister. Their appointment is by region, and the number of senators is less than a third of  the MPs in the Commons- just over a hundred at present. It is stipulated as a chamber of sober second thought. 

The walls feature large war art paintings, on permanent loan from the Canadian War Museum. As the current Centre Block was built in the wake of the First World War, that conflict resonates through the architectural design of the building, making it more somber than its predecessor. Note the difference, for instance, with the Library of Parliament as I showed it to you. The war art, depicting battle fields and the lives of soldiers, is a reminder of the costs of war.

Speeches from the Throne are done here at the beginning of a new session, with the Governor General handling the entire affair. The MPs come over from the House of Commons to attend; the wall between the Senate and the lobby area can be removed so as to allow for the Commons to come in and bear witness.

Looking up gives us this view of the ceiling.

I looked back up at the balcony and photographed some of the woodwork.

One more look at the Senate Chamber. In January the Senate will be meeting in the Government Conference Centre for the duration of the work on Centre Block. I am hoping at some point to get in. I have been inside it during the Doors Open weekends some years ago, and it is quite an impressive building inside.

Coming back out, I paused in the lobby area between the Senate and the foyer to photograph this bust.

Surrounded By The Royals

The tour leaves the Hall of Honour and heads for the Senate, passing a series of portraits of Speakers of the Senate before coming to this large foyer area. A portrait of King George III can be seen in the background. The guide told us that some of the royal portraits here are paintings of paintings elsewhere, while others are commissioned originals.

A Christmas tree is here in the foyer at the moment.

Looking up, a view of the foyer ceiling catches the eye.

Here we have another portrait, Queen Victoria. 

King Edward VII is nearby.

Followed by King George V.

On the other side of the foyer, portraits of Queen Elizabeth and King George VI have been removed in preparation for the upcoming move over to West Block.

The finer details, like these carvings, caught my eye.

Today I leave off with a close up of the Christmas tree.