The Project

The work around the National War Memorial is due to wrap up in early November. I noticed one day that the scaffolding that had been set up around the monument itself had been removed. That had been in place to allow workers access to everything for a full cleaning. Early this month, I photographed it first from the east and then the west sides; the busts and statues you see in the first shot are some of The Valiants, military figures from Canadian history that I've featured before. From the west side, the Chateau Laurier can be glimpsed in the background. 

I was also in this area to take in some of the ongoing work around the National Arts Centre, where the addition of a glass enclosure will be finished in time for Canada Day next year. This is part of the ongoing series I've been occasionally documenting on the project, and you can find the previous post here.  I came out from below Plaza Bridge, and got a look at the frame being erected on the east side of the building. Walking further along, I photographed the site as you see it if you're walking along the Canal.

I then took a staircase up onto a terrace at the NAC and followed the path to where it ended- a fence line, beyond which you can see the work site on the west side fairly up close, with the frame and the removal of some of the facade material. You can also glimpse Parliament Hill and the War Memorial through the frame. 

Crossing back through the terrace gave me a view of work on the east side, with Parliament in the background.

Courtyards

I love the mix of architecture among these courtyards in the Byward Market. Much of it consists of older stone buildings, with newer structures here and there. In the first shot, the Connaught Building features in the background.

This patio space belongs to the cafe behind the bright red door and window- the Moscow Tea Room.

Turning, the path takes us through this arch to the most southerly courtyard in the network. There are several restaurants to be found here, and with buildings as old as these, a few ghost stories as well. The Courtyard Restaurant, for instance, is said to be haunted.

Courtyards

There are a series of courtyards in the Byward Market, each surrounded by a mix of architecture, with cobblestones and patio paving featuring prominently. Many restaurants surround these spaces. On the north side it starts with a view of Notre Dame.

Coming into another courtyard we find a dancing bear. 

There's also a new art installation placed in this courtyard.

Moving further south takes us here. I have more from these courtyards tomorrow.

The Garden

I took a walk not too long ago through the Landscapes Of Canada Garden at the Museum of Nature, having had decided to photograph it from time to time. Click here for the last occasion. The Garden shows plants and topography from various parts of Canada, including mammoth steppe, tundra, prairies, and boreal forest.

Out Of Time

Apologies for the late post today- this is what I get for not double checking scheduled posts the day before.  A reminder to members of City Daily Photo: the theme day for October is Abandoned. And since I started this blog on the 19th of September back in 2013, today marks the end of three years of this photoblog, and the beginning of Year Four.

A number of you follow Linda's blog. She sent a period photograph to me a good while back, and this is it. This is Rideau Street in what appears to be the 1950s, at the intersection of  Mosgrove Street. That puzzled me at first- I've never heard of a Mosgrove Street. The Ogilvy's in the pic gave the location away. It was down the street, east from where this shot was taken, and things look quite different now. Mosgrove Street, as it turns out, was a short street that no longer exists, long since swallowed up by the Rideau Centre and the Bay. You can see past and present versions of the view north onto Mosgrove at that link.

This is the view east today, above where the intersection once stood, on the pedestrian bridge linking the Hudson's Bay store on the left to the Rideau Centre on the right. The Rideau Centre has had a large expansion recently opened, hence the very modern glass wall now standing where there was a parking lot. The old Ogilvy's building's facade has been incorporated into it.

Here's the view from the street.

Mosgrove Street would have ended where this glass wall is now- the Bay enveloped the street itself. The heart you see on the sidewalk was painted there around Canada Day.

Call To Duty

The march out from the Memorial after the service included the flag bearers.

I took some shots afterwards, including this closeup of the Memorial's statue, informally called the Big Guy.

I happened to also get a shot of Ralph Goodale, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, speaking with a number of reporters. He's always struck me as a calm and steady voice. I think that comes across here.

A number of firefighters were lining up for photos. I decided to take some shots.

And so I took leave, with the two fire trucks on the scene lowering their ladders.

Brotherhood

Firefighters came from across Canada for the service, as well as from the United States, as there was an American flag among them. Pipes and drums led the way, joining the brass band that was already in place, followed by the march in of a multitude of firefighters in uniform, from various branches of services.

The ceremony included remarks by several speakers- firefighters with the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Ontario Fire Marshal, the federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and fire department chaplains. It also included the national anthem, the last post, laments, and the ringing of the fire bell as a last call to fallen firefighters. The names of the twelve fire fighters who have been added to the wall were called out, and their families honoured. I recorded Amazing Grace as played by pipes and drums during the service- the melody always moves me.

With the service over, the march past began. Those fire fighters who made up the pipes and drums and standard bearers, who had been to my left through the service, marched out to join their colleagues who'd marched in behind them at the start. The whole body of them moved out from the Memorial together, passing by the families of those new names on the wall.