In The Hall Of Honour

Though the Canal has been closed since the March break, winter is still upon us in the Ottawa Valley. Yesterday we had more snow in the morning. At times you couldn't see more than two city blocks. Carrying on with our travels in the halls of Parliament today, I was back up in Centre Block earlier this month for a trip up to the observation deck, and snapped a couple of shots in Confederation Hall.

The detail of the carvings in the hall always impress me.

Back in December, the place still had the Christmas decorations lining various spots, including here at the point where the Hall of Honour begins. This is the passage leading down to the Library of Parliament.

Our guide is on the left.

Before heading into the Library, bas-relief sculptures can be found on the walls here in the Hall.

The Usual Suspects

The portraits of former Prime Ministers continue down the corridor from the Commons towards Confederation Hall. Two portraits are below, depicting John Diefenbaker and Pierre Trudeau.

This one is Kim Campbell, who was PM for what felt like five minutes in the early nineties. The government at the time this was unveiled could have gone with the other portrait of Kim, but that one might have shocked the Sisters Of Little Or No Mercy.

And Brian Mulroney is across the hall from Kim, as always armed with a smug look. The man used it so often that he could have patented the Mulroney Smirk.

Before moving on, I'll just show some shots from around Confederation Hall. These windows are down towards the main entrance into Centre Block.

While these carvings are on pillars at the edge of Confederation Hall.

House Of Commons

This is familiar to many Canadians, since it's seen so often on the news. The main Commons doors are where Members of Parliament step out from the House of Commons to face the press with a look in their eyes that reminds one of deer in the headlights... or run off, hollering that they have nothing to say about that whole brewing controversy in their ministry.

This carving is above one of the side doors into the space between the foyer and the Commons.

On the tour, visitors don't actually step inside the Commons; the doors were closed and things were quiet inside. Public galleries above, however, are open to visitors when Parliament is in session.

I switched settings with the camera for a brighter look. The Speaker presides over things at the far side. At times the job is more that of a referee.

The government seats are on the left side. Darth Harper sits about midway down in the front row (hi, Stevie!)

On the right, it's the opposition's territory. I've been in the public galleries before. The arguing in here can make kindergartens look mature.

Inside The Commons Foyer

The Parliamentary tour begins in the foyer for the House of Commons. When the Centre Block was rebuilt after the 1916 fire, stonemasons worked through the many spaces, carving intricate designs into walls, arches, and columns.

Many of the carvings incorporate elements of history, symbols of the country and provinces, or wildlife and the land.

The ceiling of this area is something to behold.

Throughout this space, a series of portraits of Prime Ministers are placed. The one below is Sir Robert Borden, our Prime Minister from 1911-1920.

This statue is something unusual: George Harold Baker was a serving Member of Parliament who volunteered for service in the First World War and was among the casualties of that war. You can find his story here.

On Parliament Hill After A Snowstorm

A question came up in comments from yesterday. There was a colony of cats on Parliament Hill for years, taken care of by volunteers, housed in some neat shelters on the west side of Centre Block. They had the run of the Hill, and the cats could often be found strolling about. A year or two ago, the decision was made by the volunteers to adopt the remaining cats out to new homes, and the shelter area was removed. I do miss the cats, actually. They were a welcome sight on the Hill, and much more pleasant company than the politicians who infest it most days (except for their very long summer vacations, month and a half long Christmas break, and whatever other time off they take).

Back in December, I posted a number of Christmas pics from inside Centre Block on Parliament Hill. At the time I thought I'd be posting the rest of the tour in January, but things happen, so here we are, better late than never. I'll be taking you inside for a few days now, and it's curious with these first shots about the lighting... I wonder if I'd set the camera to a different setting, giving me a pinkish kind of hue. You might see Christmas decorations inside from time to time. That day I was up on the hill after a snowstorm in the night. The snow was still falling as I came up on the Hill, and the group of visitors I ended up joining were the first visitors into Centre Block that Sunday morning, though the building had been open for an hour or so. 

This building is the Langevin Block, which is on the south side of Wellington, thus being the only Parliament building not actually on the Hill itself. It's been in the background of pics before, behind the sculpture of Terry Fox at that link, and it was in yesterday's post as well. The Prime Minister (aka Darth Harper, Dark Lord of the Sith) has his offices in this block.

The East Block was quiet that day.

So was the Peace Tower.

I snapped a couple of the carvings around the exterior of the main entrance.

Snow dusted the nooks and crannies.

Tomorrow we'll start going inside.

A Queen, A Prime Minister, And A Flag

A few days ago I was on Parliament Hill for some exterior shots. On the east side of Centre Block, among the statues there, is one of two monarchs represented on the Hill. Queen Elizabeth II sits on a horse.

Close by is a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald, our first prime minister and one of the fathers of the country (and occasional partaker of alcoholic spirits- by occasional I mean frequent). You can see the Queen's statue in the background.

A short walk away is this arched entrance, which is the east entrance used by senators. I like arches, so this one I've always liked to use to frame photographs.

One of the flagpoles on the Hill is occasionally used to fly other flags. At the time I took these shots, the Ukrainian flag was flying from this flagpole overlooking the East Block and the front lawn. 

It's a gesture by the federal government given the current situation, a typical gesture by a government that loves symbols and making political hay out of everything.

The Mounties, Horses, And St. Patrick

Cead Mille Failte! That's Irish for a hundred thousand welcomes. Happy St. Patrick's Day! Over at my writer's blog in the morning, I will be posting my annual nod to the day. 

The Ottawa Valley has a strong Irish presence, and so the St. Patrick's parade on Saturday brings in a good number of marchers, floats, and participants. I took in the whole thing; the onlookers were far more present up and down the street from where I happened to be... so there were more people about than appears below. Mounties led the way, but were followed by marching bands, Irish families and associations, a contingent from the Irish embassy, representatives of the fire, police, and paramedic departments, the mayor, and St. Patrick himself. All with snow falling on the city. Yes, it was still snowing on the weekend.

Now Is The Winter Of Our Discontent

This shop on Elgin Street downtown has this display in the front window. For some inexplicable reason, some people don't like winter.

Championship Material

I don't usually post twice in a day, but I'll be starting a series next week, and it seemed best to post this sooner instead of later. Last weekend, the Carleton Ravens won their tenth national basketball championship against the crosstown University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, in a tournament played here. Another team pic will have to be mounted on the wall beside the other nine. The men's team is our showcase team.

There have been other championships this year for the athletics department, and these banners hang near the Raven's Nest.

The CIS trophy belongs again to the Ravens, and for the moment is on display at the reception desk here in the athletics precinct. I'm reflected in the top of the trophy.