An Autumn Day In A Park

 I took another shot towards Gatineau, with the Museum of History on the far shore.

Then I decided on a panoramic photo from this spot.

It was an ideal day to come for fall colours.

I paused to look to the path over the Pidaban Bridge, which links the park to Kiweki Point.

I continued on.

The southeast corner of the park includes a look at the Connaught Building across the street.

And I conclude with Twist 1.5, a sculpture by Alex Wyse and Ken Guild. Tomorrow we'll wrap up this autumn series at the War Memorial.

Outlook

 I ascended to the platform itself to take in the views. I plan to return in the fall for some sunset views.

Here we have the other of the statues that stood here at Kiweki Point when it was Nepean Point. Samuel de Champlain was the French explorer who first came up the river in 1613. A statue was raised in his honour and placed high on a plinth at the top of the hill. The plinth is gone, but the statue is back near its original location, and standing alone, with the scout that once stood at its base now off on its own. Champlain still looks to the west.

Another sculpture belonging to the National Gallery. This is, I believe, the first time I've photographed it in its own right.

A final view, and a pleasure to have come here.

The Path

I was quite pleased with the way Kiweki Point has turned out. It was a process of several years in the redesign, which included the removal of amphitheater seating and the reconfiguring of the top of the point, but it was worth it.

The next subject is the walleye, a resident of the Ottawa River.

The river otter is known to these waters and the area at large, and an integral part of indigenous culture.

I photographed the view of where I'd come from.

And then ahead again.

The object down in the river is a barge, placed there temporarily at the time. From late July into the first half of August on two nights of the week, fireworks are set off from there in an international competition.

Next we have the gray jay, the wisakedjak in Algonquin, also called the whiskey jack, a bird that has a reputation as a trickster.

The Thunder Bird is a spiritual being in Algonquin cultures.

A look from here into Gatineau, over the Alexandra Bridge below.

Kiweki Point

A note to members of City Daily Photo- the theme for September 1st is Vanishing Point. 

After leaving the Supreme Court, I made my way in the direction of Major's Hill Park to take shots for a post that appears in January. While here, I decided to head across to Kiweki Point, since it was so close by. It meant crossing the Pidaban Bridge, which links Major's Hill to the parkland behind the National Gallery of Canada.

This is a footbridge, crossing the roadway below and providing splendid views as it curves towards Kiweki Point. Pidaban means dawn in Algonquin, while Kiweki means returning to one's homeland. The Point, previously named Nepean Point, is a high overlook of the Ottawa River, and the parkland has been redone in the last few years and opened up again earlier this year, with the bridge as an addition. This was the first time I was here since before the project was undertaken.

Views include both sides of the Ottawa River, and landmarks like Parliament Hill, the Supreme Court, and the Museum of History.

Glimpsed below and above, the walls and columns include indigenous art.

This sculpture is a mainstay of the National Gallery.

The path beckoned on, a gentle slope. The landscaping is very well done, a mix of trees, grasses, flowers, and places to sit and take in the views. All in all, the redesign was a success.

Signage is along the path, in English, French, and Anishinaabe. The narration takes the voice of the Ottawa River itself, and its connections to the land.

The first of the displays is about the beaver and its ties to the indigenous peoples. These are accompanied by a small sculpture or two.

We'll pick up here tomorrow.