Returning To The Waterfall

It's been a long while since I last featured Hog's Back Falls on the blog. Here at Mooney's Bay, the Rideau River and Rideau Canal separate for the last time as the two waterways head through the city on their way to the Ottawa River. This is the Hog's Back Locks on the Canal.

Beyond is the river it comes from- the Rideau River widens here into Mooney's Bay, and its course continues over to the left.

Lots of ducks and geese were lingering here late on the day I took these shots, a late September afternoon. In one case, a duck was dashing across the path and keeping an eye on me.

The river spills out over what's usually called Hog's Back Falls, and occasionally Prince of Wales Falls. It's a tumble of rapids and waterfalls spilling through a small canyon, with part of the water held in check by hydro works. I have more from here over the next two days.

Working On Parliament Hill

I wanted to show you some of the work being done around the grounds on Parliament Hill. During much of September, the area behind Centre Block was sealed off to the public as work was being done along the wall at the top of the bluff. Access was allowed during the police memorial day. These two statues are George-Etienne Cartier and Alexander Mackenzie, and they were at the time fenced off.

Leaving the Hill, we have a view of the Centennial Flame.

This look at the main gate also includes the former American embassy across the street. I'll be featuring the current embassy in the not so distant future.

And I close this post with a view of Centre Block through the gates.

Commemorating The Fallen

The last Sunday in September had a service on Parliament Hill. It is an annual tradition commemorating fallen police and peace officers, and members of forces from across the country and even American officers converge here on the Hill for the service each year, which includes a march past of officers.

Behind Centre Block, this is the national police memorial wall, a series of inscribed panels with the names of police and peace officers who have fallen in the line of duty. Wreaths, candles, and small mementos were placed here that day. Views of both sides of the Ottawa River are plentiful at this spot.

The Base Of The Peace Tower

These shots from the late summer are from around Centre Block's Peace Tower. I considered using this large arched space for the Shelter theme at the beginning of October. I have more from Parliament Hill in the next two days.

The Architecture Of Diplomacy

I have three different embassies for today, photographed in late summer. The Embassy of China is in Lowertown.

It is housed in what was once a convent that had belonged to the Sisters Of The Good Shepherd. From the looks of the place, that might well have dated back to the 19th century. The Chinese mission has been here since 1972.

This building, close to Sussex Drive in Lowertown, is home to the United Arab Emirates embassy, with a strong Middle Eastern influence in its architecture.

And this last one is on Sussex Drive, the embassy for Kuwait, also bearing Middle Eastern influences in its design.

Angel Square And Anglesea Square

I was up in Lowertown in late August, looking for a specific area. The neighbourhood has a lot of history, dating back before Confederation, and much of that history has been that of a working class area. A stop at St. Clement Parish and a word with one of the parish members directed me to where I wanted to be, an area behind the church. This community centre was there.

The nearby park is Jules Morin Park, though back in the day this area was called Anglesea Square. Children's author Brian Doyle, who grew up in this area and attended York Street Public School, has often incorporated the Ottawa Valley into his books. This area in particular he gave the nickname Angel Square for a book of that name, set in the period of the 1940s, involving a schoolboy coming to grips with prejudice and injustice. The neighbourhood has changed since that era- the apartment blocks are more recent, and this playground and park occupy the square, looking quite new. York Street School is still there- Doyle weaved it into his books- though the neighbouring Ste. Anne Catholic School looks more modern than the 1940s era of Angel Square. 

Does A Tank Run In The Half Marathon?

In late September, on the same weekend we had Nuit Blanche, there was another event going on in the city, the Army Run, which featured distance running to benefit two military causes: Soldier On and the Military Families Fund. I took photos on both Saturday and Sunday. On the lawn in front of City Hall and the Cartier Square Drill Hall, a number of military vehicles were parked, with soldiers on hand to answer questions. This is the Husky, a mine detector with x-ray and metal detectors. Large as it is, the soldier explained its tire inflation can be lowered to reduce ground pressure, allowing the vehicle to pass over many anti-vehicle mines without setting them off. The entire thing is designed and armoured in a way to protect the driver.

Husky drivers work in tandem with the operators of this vehicle, the Buffalo, which is the vehicle used to investigate anything the Husky turns up as suspicious. It includes an extendable arm to expose whatever potential threat might be lurking beneath the soil. The two vehicles work with a third, the Cougar, which is used to remove mines and IEDs. These vehicles would have been used frequently in Afghanistan.

This is the LAV 6.0 (Light Armoured Vehicle), a personnel carrier capable of speeds of 100 kilometres an hour over roads. It has a crew of three and can carry seven passengers.

This view from Sunday is of Cartier Square. The armoury stands out beautifully on a clear day.

This Leopard tank was in front. It's used by several NATO countries, and takes a crew of four. Members of the public were allowed on top of it, as well as inside the four crew locations. I can say, having had sat at each station, that it is very cramped quarters. At full combat weight, this thing is over 57000 kilograms.

A group of bagpipers were playing in front of City Hall on Sunday.

Finishing off, these two views are taken both south and north on the Laurier Avenue Bridge over the Rideau Canal, taking in views of the runners, from each branch of the military, some having had come in quite a long way for the weekend. There were 5K and half marathon races being held.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Ephemeral

The first day of each month is always a theme day for members of City Daily Photo. For November, the theme is Ephemeral, or short lived, a theme that was chosen by Kay at Sequim Daily Photo. For other interpretations of the theme, click here.

I had several photos taken over the last few months that qualified for this, and so were left aside. This ice sculpture is from Winterlude, our festival in February. The sculptures are erected and left in place until the end of the festival, hence a rather short (if beautiful) life.

This view of Central Park in the Glebe includes the tiny blue flowers that are the first to bloom, and only then for a few days.

Also from spring, this spot is near the Rideau Canal and near my home. The trees were just starting to leaf out, and the grass had dandelions all over, something that is also quite brief here.

This is from early fall in the Glebe. These berries ripen, but short work is made of them- squirrels and birds have a field day feasting on them.

Last month I had a series on Nuit Blanche, the one night arts festival here in the city. This large hydraulic and light display was one of the installations, and I held back a second shot of it from when I posted about it.

And we finish off with fall colours, which last only a brief time before they're all on the ground. I have a good many fall shots that I'll be showing later in the month.