Library Annex

 Doors Open is a program held on weekends across the province in cities and towns from April into October each year. In Ottawa, the first weekend of June is set aside for it, with numerous sites across the city limits. I was only able to get to a couple of sites this year, but was glad to at least see some of it. 

Sparks Street was my first stop. The former main branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia is here. For years now it has been an annex branch for the Library of Parliament on Parliament Hill, which is one block north. It is open to Parliamentarians and their staff during the year, but the public can visit on this weekend. With the work going on around Centre Block, it is currently the main branch of the Library.

The beautiful architecture outside is matched by the interior, which has contemporary infrastructure that works well with the older architecture. Shelving contains numerous books- just a fraction of what Parliament's library contains. This is, after all, only one of the annex branches.

The former branch manager's office is worth a stop, with its woodwork doors and fireplace.

The painting on the wall is The Parliamentary Library, Ottawa, by Anthony Batten. Dating to 2020, it features the Library on the Hill, currently inaccessible. A statue of Queen Victoria is lit by daylight sun. The Library saw rehabilitation work done early in the century, so is not really part of the work on Centre Block. However, one has to go through Centre Block to get to it, which is why it's inaccessible during the project. A staff member said that the statue of the Queen is the only item in there at the present. The books and other movable items have all been moved off site.

This is a bust of King Edward VII.

The building architect, John Lyle, did other projects around the country and beyond.

Since the beginning of the century, Parliament has had a tradition of a poet laureate. Some of them are seen, with a hint of their poetry, along the book cases.

Ends And Odds

More odds and ends today. Spring blossoms are a delight to see. These are close to home, taken in late May.

In late May I attended the opening night of an exhibit at the War Museum. The exhibit was about Canada and the American Civil War. It was a busy event, and I've been back since to photograph the exhibit. But on that opening night, this artist was working out in the lobby, on a painting of Mary Ann Shadd. She was a free woman who came to Canada and established an abolitionist newspaper. He told me the painting would end up at Carleton University's school of journalism. A fitting spot.

Close to home again, this kitty is one of a pair in a home down the street from me.

I photographed this ad on a bus shelter for one reason. The placement of the hands on the watch made the watch look mad.

On an afternoon in early June, I went with friends to see Pressure out at a movie theatre in Kanata. This is the film about the meteorologist whose forecast affected the timing of D-Day. En route, we picked up one of the guys, and the route took us through Riverside South, part of the Gloucester area, and across to Barrhaven to the west. This meant crossing the Vimy Memorial Bridge, which spans the Rideau River. This was my first time seeing it.

Returning later on, I took another shot.

Also in early June, the Mexican embassy had an event at the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park. This vivid display- all sand.

The skies were darkening that day. A thunderstorm was en route.

This was a storefront display downtown one day in June that got a laugh out of me.

I finish with this view from the west on a late June walk. The future main branch of the Ottawa Public Library, which will share space with some facilities from Library and Archives Canada, continues to have work done, most of it inside now.

Mixed

I have some odds and ends from the last few weeks today. I start with these shots taken at the end of March. I was proceeding to Major's Hill Park, and photographed down the length of the Ottawa Locks, where the Rideau Canal meets the Ottawa River. 

The ice was breaking on the river. Across the way, the Canadian Museum of History is on the far shore, and the Gatineau Hills loom in the background.

A statue of Colonel John By stands in Major's Hill Park. He is the British military officer who led the building of the Rideau Canal, and is deemed the founder of the city. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the city, and the start of the Canal.

One day I came across this car, which had a formidable fellow decaled into the rear glass.

Another night, I was at Lansdowne Park, and took these shots of the Aberdeen Pavilion.

In the second half of April, coming back from Portage Bridge, I photographed this pair of Canada geese.

Nearby, a view of the work in progress, the future main branch of the Ottawa Public Library, which will share some space with Library and Archives Canada.

I returned to Lansdowne one night. There's work going on at the east end of the stadium to build an event centre before shifting to the second stage- a rebuild of the north stands, which is in need of it. The lawn is closed off, and a crane is visible, lit up at night. 

Back to Major's Hill Park, late in the month. Tulips were starting to push up out of the flowerbeds around and behind Colonel By.

At the end of the month, I stopped by the War Museum and took this shot of the Ottawa River, just upshore from the Chaudiere Falls.

After leaving, I was passing by this pond, where two Canada geese were swimming.

Scilla are the first flowers of the spring, tiny blue flowers that bloom for a few days late in April and into early May. Central Park in the Glebe is a good spot for finding them.

Ends And Odds Around A National Capital

Starting off today, this early February view of the future main branch of the Ottawa Public Library, as seen from the west.

During one of my Winterlude visits to Confederation Park, I photographed the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument. It combines four indigenous warriors with the eagle, the wolf, the bear, the elk, and the bison into a powerful and poignant monument.

Another night, I was passing by the Canadian Museum of Nature. I photographed the statue pair of a mother and baby dinosaur out at the east end of the property, looking oddly fitting in the snow.

I was heading past the front of the Museum. The Queens Lantern is the name of the glass tower. Inside, a model of the Moon hangs.

The purple in some of the lights caught my eye.

They also cast a glow on the main entrance. I'll have another one of these for a theme day later in the year about the colour purple.

I headed beyond, passing the family of mammoths on the west side. We'll be back for a visit to this place in a couple of days.

On yet another night, passing by Ottawa City Hall, I noticed how the Heritage Building was lit up red. 

This is a monument in progress, down along the Ottawa River near Richmond Landing. This is for the LGBT community, and should be ready for dedication sometime this year.

Late one afternoon in the latter part of February, I stopped by Billings Bridge to pick up some groceries. The sun was setting in the west, and I took two shots of the western sky, a few minutes apart, first arriving and then upon departing.

For today I finish off with a night photograph of St. Matthew's Anglican Church in the Glebe, taken on a foggy evening in early March. We'll pick up here tomorrow