Fog Along The Rideau Canal

I'm having a wee bit of a rant over at my writing blog today, set to go live at the same time this one goes. There's a bit of bad language involved, but it's understandable given the circumstances.

One morning I woke up to early fog, and passed over the Rideau Canal where it widens into Dow's Lake, before heading up into the Glebe. Foggy days like this really are photogenic in a completely different way.

Model Trains For The Collector

Fifth Avenue Court is in the Glebe. It consists of two floors of restaurants and offices surrounding an enclosed courtyard. On one Saturday in late June, the space was taken up by a model train village, with the trains moving in a large circular path. It made for a very different photo subject. One of my cousins is married to a fellow who's into this sort of thing. He's rather quiet, but when he starts talking about this, he really gets enthusiastic about the subject.

The Cannons Have Fallen Silent

The last of the panels in place around the War Memorial deal with more recent additions, such as the installation of the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier (a Canadian soldier who fell at the battle of Vimy Ridge), the additional dates marking other conflicts, the laying of wreaths by dignitaries (including Will and Kate on their visit after their wedding) and one concept that I found particularly poignant. Several years ago two men, one of whom is a Canadian actor and the other a lighting designer, devised an idea to project the names of all Canadian dead of the First World War onto the Memorial in the evenings leading up to Remembrance Day- over 68 000 of them. At some point during those evenings, the name of the Unknown Soldier himself turned up on the surface of the Memorial. It's an ideal and simple tribute- and I think it should be done again.

Remembering The Fallen Of War

The War Memorial was officially dedicated in 1939, mere months before the outbreak of World War Two. These panels include the dedication, attended by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. This marked the first royal walkabout that has become a tradition ever since- the king and queen were scheduled to leave after the ceremony, and instead spent time speaking with veterans. 

The Building Of The War Memorial

While work proceeds on the War Memorial, on two portions of the surrounding temporary wall, a series of panels are in place about the history of the Memorial itself. These panels were on display nearby on Plaza Bridge a year or two ago, so it was a surprise to see them. The Memorial, also called The Response, was designed and overseen by sculptor Vernon March, and his siblings picked up his work after his death in 1930. While it was built to honour the dead of the First World War, it has since done the same for those of the Second World War, the Korean War, and other conflicts. I have more from here to come.

Within The Great Hall And The Morning Star

Here are some more views from the Great Hall in the Museum of History. This space, filled with totem poles and First Nations decorations, as well as exhibit space behind the wall, is often used for official state occasions and performances. It was a busy place on Canada Day.

At the south end of the Hall, one can look up- seven stories up, actually- to the dome, where this striking abstract mural has been painted. Morning Star is a work by the Dene artist Alex Janvier, and it is breathtaking to take in. It was done in 1993, covers an area of 418 square metres, and is brilliantly colourful.

Looking In And Out At The Museum Of History

Apologies for the late post today- this is what I get for not doublechecking when posts are scheduled.

I came to the Museum of History over on the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River on Canada Day for awhile. The permanent exhibit area, Canada Hall, is currently undergoing a complete overhaul but will be finished for next year. The lines for the temporary exhibits were a bit too much for me, so I spent some time among the First Nations exhibits and the Great Hall. This is Spirit Of Haida Gwaii, by the artist Bill Reid, who counted the Haida among his family ties. This is one of three copies, and it's a plaster form. There are two bronze versions of the same size, at the airport in Vancouver and at the Canadian embassy in Washington.

I took this photo through the windows of the Great Hall at the Museum of History. It looks out towards the Ottawa River and the Alexandra Bridge. The wolf in the boat placed in the pool outside is also a work of art, as are the white sculptures beyond.

Nearby, this takes in the view towards Parliament Hill and the Chateau Laurier across the river.

A panel close to the Great Hall reproduces this painting by a British military engineer, Henry Pooley, who painted Entrance Of The Rideau Canal in 1833. The setting, with a First Nations encampment, is generally where the Museum stands today. The heights of what is today Nepean Point, Major's Hill, and Parliament Hill are recognizable, even if the city has changed.

Close by on the panel is a blending of Pooley's painting in the foreground and the current Ottawa skyline in the background.

This mural is by Norval Morrisseau, painted between 1979-84. I showed you another of his works in my National Gallery series, while this one is placed among the First Nations exhibits of the Museum of History. 

This exterior view looks back at the Museum's exhibition wing, while the final shot looks out from an upper window onto the spot where I took the exterior photo.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: My City's Skyline

The first day of the month is a theme day for members of City Daily Photo, and for August, the theme is My City's Skyline, as chosen by Tamera of Colorado Springs Daily Photo. You can see how others are taking on this theme here.

I have several selections. This first one was taken from Nepean Point on one of those brooding days back in May, taking in the view to Parliament Hill looming over the Ottawa River.

This shot is also from May, but taken on a different day. The sculpture of an Anishinaabe scout is placed here at the north end of Major's Hill Park, one of a number of shots I took. I showed other takes on it in my post from yesterday.

This is a view I haven't shown before, looking towards the downtown core from the south. I came up to the Billings Bridge transit station one day back in June and photographed the view. The complex in the foreground is the Billings Bridge mall.

On the first weekend of June, we had Doors Open here in Ottawa, a tour of many buildings being opened to the public. One of my stops was on the Ottawa River, at the Ottawa Rowing Club. Taking leave of the place, I photographed this view of the river, with the skyline of Gatineau, Quebec on the other side.

This view is close to the Bayview transit station, looking east towards the downtown core one morning last month. Looking at the left side of the jumble of buildings, you might make out the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill.

And I finish with these shots from Canada Day, when I stopped in at the Museum of Nature. The glass tower at its center is called the Queens' Lantern, and gives a good view north up Metcalfe Street. The second view looks west towards the Landscapes of Canada Gardens, which I featured a few days ago.