If Ye Break Faith

 "At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them." ~ Laurence Binyon

The National War Memorial occupies the heart of Confederation Square, and today will host the national services marking the ending of the First World War, and commemorating those who fought and died in military service. The Memorial was a response to the Great War, dedicated months before the Second World War, and since rededicated to all who have died in military service for the country. It is a beautiful, haunting monument, and particularly striking on a clear fall day.

I went around the perimeter, featuring fall colours with glimpses of the Memorial as I went.

There are military sentries from April into November. Members of each branch of service will be here, rotating for a few days, with a couple of hour long shifts a day before the next pair come up to relieve them.

At the base of the Memorial is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It contains the final remains of a Canadian soldier who died at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in World War One. This memorial is sacred ground.

Autumn Splendour

 My path on this day took me back to the area around Confederation Square, the very heart of the city. Trees were in fall colour mode on the grounds of the National Arts Centre, while Canada geese had lunch in the grass.

I continued on my way. At one side of the NAC, below a wall with changing leaf colours, is a larger than life statue of the great Canadian jazz composer and pianist, Oscar Peterson. His music plays from speakers up on the wall.

I headed down to Confederation Park, where this fountain was on.

The park has a number of monuments, and the oldest and newest stand together.

The newest is for animals in war, characterized by a life sized German shepherd, with three accompanying plaques. Beside it is the oldest- a cenotaph commemorating local veterans of the South African War.

It was a nice day to be out and about.

The largest monument here is at the west end, facing the Lord Elgin Hotel across the street. The National Aboriginal Veterans Monument is dedicated to indigenous warriors from across the country's history. On top of a large stone are four warriors, with a wolf, elk, bison, and bear around them, and an eagle at the top.

Tomorrow we'll wrap up the fall series, going back up the street to the heart of Confederation Square- the National War Memorial, just in time for Remembrance Day.

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.

Biodiversity

 Staircases lead from one level of the NAC to the next, and in the core of these staircases hang these chandelier installations which are quite eye catching.

A wooden tree was placed in a lobby area nearby, by a local artist. The Ottawa 200 Biodiversity Tree features two hundred species, past and present, in the Ottawa Valley. Ben LaChapelle is the artist. I found it fascinating.

It was time to go. It had been a long day, and I was not up to doing the dusk to dawn circuit of Nuit Blanche. I departed the NAC. This is part of the 2017 additions, a glass tower that includes circuitry to project images on the glass.

I crossed the street, taking another look back. It had been quite a day.