A Centennial Of The NRC

I've shown you the ice sculpture commemorating the centennial of the National Research Council (NRC), which ends this post as well. Nearby stood a series of panels looking at the history of the organization, which was born out of military need, and which has applied itself in a multitude of ways in civilian life in the hundred years since its founding. I wondered, had last fall's election taken a different turn, and the previous federal government had stayed in power, if the anniversary of the NRC would have even been marked, given their loathing of science. Doubtful.

Winter From East To West

Each year before Valentine's Day, it is typical to find a heart ice sculpture carved in Confederation Park.

I stopped by where the Kettle Boys were set up; I wanted a photograph of the fire, and a demonstration was going on.

I liked this art installation, consisting of four different posts with representations of flora and fauna.

Passing The Point Of No Return

I've known this day was coming for a little while, a point of no return, without the deranged opera ghost. This post is my 902nd post in the blog- and in a tie with my writer's blog today, as I'm publishing my 902nd post there today. Since I only post there three times a week, that means the photoblog now takes over the lead in posts between the two. Which is going to stay that way- I'd never keep up trying to post writing blogs every day!

Here are some of the finished works that I showed you in progress yesterday.

Watching The Ice Carvers At Their Work

On the second weekend of Winterlude, some local carvers were trying their hand at ice sculptures around the Colonel By fountain. I'll show you some of the finished work tomorrow.

Fear The Rampage Of The Zombie Ice Hogs

The Ice Hogs are the mascots of Winterlude. While they look like bears, the reference is to groundhogs, which makes sense. Here they're doing photo ops in Confederation Park.

There are also some art installations in the park, such as this one.

Even A Jedi Master May Need Hot Chocolate

"Cookies, the Dark Side has. Broccoli, the Jedi have. A problem this is." ~ Yoda, Star Wars Episode 3.5: The Death Of Jar Jar Binks

Snow sculptures could be found during Winterlude in the Byward Market. This first one stood outside the Ottawa School of Art, done by students from inside. It incorporated floral patterns, a face, and a fairy.

Across the street, Jocelyn Galipeau, whose work I showed a few days back, also carved this rendition of the familiar and diminutive Jedi Master Yoda.

A few days later, and down the street, I was passing through the Market when I noticed a crowd. On Family Day, several Market cafes and shops had a hot chocolate tasting going on here, so you'd go around trying their various drinks and vote on your favourite. My choice was one with a peppermint addition- odd, because peppermint on its own isn't something I usually go for.

City Daily Photo Theme Day- Where I Belong

The first day of each month is always a theme day for members of City Daily Photo. For the first of March, that theme is Where I Belong, or Where Do You Belong. The idea comes from JB, who splits his time between two parts of the world and posts at Mainz Daily Photo and Not The Nelson Daily Photo. You can find other takes on this theme at this link.

I decided to go a bit large scale on this theme. I'm in the midst of a series on Winterlude, our winter festival that takes place in the first half of February in Ottawa and Gatineau. Confederation Park is one of the main sites for the festival, and among the ice sculptures here are other things. I photographed this series of large panels set up by the government in the park. They're a nod to the 150th anniversary of the country's Confederation next year, and consist of photo mosaics from each province and territory across the nation. They seemed perfect for the theme- where else do I belong but Canada, from coast to coast to coast?