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 In front of the Centre
Block and Peace Tower by Bwana_Brown,
3 more photos
Because reconstruction was started in the middle of the First World War, the Peace Tower was named to honour the thousands of Canadian men and women who sacrificed their lives for Canada during that war. The 92-m (300-ft) tower is constructed of sandstone from a nearby quarry and it houses both a clock and a carillon for chiming out tunes on its various bells. I was impressed by the four gargoyles jutting out from high above, with these 2.5-m (8-ft) rainspouts being carved from Quebec granite (3rd pic).
As we continued our walk to the left, around to the Ottawa River side of the building, we came upon one of the few relics of the first Parliament building, a large bell (4th pic) that had originally been installed in the Victoria Tower in 1877. It shows a few dents and scars from its ordeal, but has been lovingly restored to a new place of rest, sitting at an angle just the way it was found after the fire of 1916.
Security at the Parliament Buildings was unobtrusive, no concrete barriers, fences, soldiers or para-military guards barred the public from wandering in off the streets. All there was were a couple of Mounties sitting in their cars in the expansive area in front of the Centre Block. We walked up and opened one of the huge doors for a look inside, but there was a security guard inside and a sign pointed to a different Visitor's Entrance off to one side. However, we had child-minding duties coming up shortly, so gave it a miss. Leave a Comment
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Just as we had finally almost completed our circle and were back to the East Block building, we came across two statues that piqued our interest on this beautiful 16 C (60 F) day. The first was a recent (1992) statue dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of Canada's 125th birthday. The work, led by Canadian artist Jack Harman, took two years to complete and shows Her Majesty mounted on her horse Centennial. This horse had been presented to Queen Elizabeth by the Mounties in 1977 in celebration of the 25th year of her rule. Centennial was also ridden by President Ronald Regan during a 1982 visit with the Monarch at Windsor Castle.
We had only walked a bit further before we came across a group of statues depicting women in early 1900s garb. From the Parliament Hill web site: "Inaugurated on October 18, 2000, this monument entitled 'Women are Persons!' is a tribute to Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Emily Murphy, Louise McKinney and Henrietta Muir Edwards. Known as the Famous Five, these women won the 'Persons' Case, a 1929 court ruling which legally declared women as persons under the British North America Act and made them eligible for appointment to the Canadian Senate." The five separate sculptures were created by another Canadian artist, Barbara Paterson and were donated to the Canadian government. Irene Parlby, the last of the five immortalized women, died in 1965 aged 97. Several tourists from India were taking photos of themselves there, so I offered to take a group photo for them. They reciprocated for Sue and I, but I am not sure which one of the ladies we chose to pose with! Leave a Comment
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 Parliament
Buildings,Ottawa,Ontario,Canada. by Greggor58, 4 more photos
Because tour times, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice,there are no specific tour departure times and visitors must line up and agree to a security scanning...Tours of the Centre Block begin in the Visitor Welcome Centre located on the ground floor under the Peace Tower.
The Center Block is where the House of Commons sits as well as the Senate of Canada..in addition to the Center Block....there is a West Block as well as an East Block...all separate structures.There is also another structure...attached to the Center Block....the Library of the Parliament of Canada.There is also another structure...the Peace Tower that is attached to the Center Block but in fact is a separatate structure.
The Peace Tower is in fact a free standing bell tower that stands in front of the Center Block and is named "The Peace Tower" in honour of the men and women that sacrificed they're lives in the First World War.At the top of the Tower there is an observation deck,a carillon and a Memorial Chamber that houses Books of Remembrance of Canada's War dead.
There are Books of Remembrance on display here from each of Canada's armed conflicts...The First World War,The Second World War,the Korena Conflict and I believe the War with the Boers in South Africa.As well there are Books of Remembrance listing those who died while serving in the Merchant Navy and "In the Service of Canada".
Each day a page is turned in each of the books....and it is possible to find out quite easily what day exactly any particular name will be able to be viewed in either of these Books.All you need to do is contact the Veterans Affairs of Canada.....www.vac-acc.gc.ca.<br />
The Parliament Buildings as they are seen today are not the original structures except for the Library Building.There was a fire that wiped out the Center Block in 1916 so what you are seeing today is in fact not the original building but a structure that was completed in 1922.
The West and East Blocks were completed in the mid 1860's and are incredible buildings.
Presently the West Block is under a major renovation requiring work that will take a number of years to complete.
Until the renovation started it was occupied by Ministers, Members of Parliament and their staff.
The East Block contains many senators' offices, as well as some rooms re-created in the style of the early years of Confederation.
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With its strong stone exterior and picturesque setting on the cliffs overlooking the Ottawa River, the Parliament buildings are often described as one of the most beautiful government centres in the world. The buildings are home to the House of Commons, the Library of Parliament, the Hall of Honour, the Senate, and the impressive Peace Tower. Summer on the hill features the Changing of the Guard Ceremony.
During my visit they were also have a highly light show at now cost, it was beautiful there in the warm summer nights enjoying the light and symphony show.
If you are in the national capital of Canada it goes without saying you will see these buildings but take the time to explore them.
I also took in a session of parliament, it was at a time when the Minister of Human Resourcs and Development Canada was taking a beating for a national boon-doggle. It was very heated and an eye opener for sure to see how the parliament works. I enjoy politics in general anyway and you should too!!! :-)
The web site below gives you a virtual tour and explains what each specific building contains. Leave a Comment
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 Library of Parliament
from Ottawa River side by Bwana_Brown,
2 more photos
The circular design of this Gothic-style building is modelled on the Reading Room of the British Museum (built in 1857) and features a ring of sixteen flying buttresses, pinnacles, decorative windows and beautiful ornamental ironwork. The Library building is crowned by a circular lantern. Apparantly the ornate wooden interior is quite spectacular as well, but we did not have time for a full tour. Most of these details are from "www.parliamenthill.gc.ca". Leave a Comment
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 Centennial Flame by Wolverine_13
The Senate is a hybrid of the British House of Lords and the American Senate, but is more like the former. Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister and stay until age 75, regardless of which party is in government. Many Canadians, especially in the West, would like to see the Senate democratically elected. Leave a Comment
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 Parliament Buildiings in
Ottawa by richiecdiscLeave a Comment Phone: 1-800-0CanadaDirections: Impossible to miss.
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 Central Block, Parliament
Buildings by mim95
The changing of the guard takes place daily at 10am in the summer. Leave a Comment
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 A stray cat at the cat shack
on Parliament Hill by Carmanah
There is an old man who feeds and looks after these cats. He has named them all. I was there when he was feeding "Blanchette" and her kitten "Bébé". Sometimes he'd play games with the cats... throwing a shelled peanut onto the ground, where the cat would sneak up and attack it. Then a squirrel would come along, steal the peanut, carry it away, and eat it. And sometimes he would take a bag of dried catnip and sprinkle it over the grass, where the cats would rush over and roll around in ecstasy. It's a good thing that man cares for the cats.
You'll know you're at the cat house because there will be cat-sized wooden sheds, many dishes full of cat food, and of course, the cats! But what I found notable about the cat shack was its location on Parliament Hill, literally a stone's throw away from the Parliament building. If this was any other country, do you think they would allow such a thing to exist on the national capital's property? A homemade cat shelter on the federal property's garden? I highly doubt it.
Yet another reason why Canada's not so bad. ;) Leave a Comment Directions: Behind the west wing of the Parliament Building, on Parliament hill
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 Parliament Building and
the Eternal Flame by Carmanah,
4 more photos
The Parliament Building offers a free tour which is a must see activitiy if you want to understand how politics work in Canada. The tour could explain it better than I could! Taking a tour is also a great way to appreciate the gothic architecture of the building. If you're a fan of stone masonry and gargoyles, you'll love this place!
Sit in during a debate during the question period, or take the elevator up to the top of the Peace Tower. Identify the provinces and territories that surround the Eternal Flame, or watch the old man feed the stray cats behind the west wing of the building.
The Parliament Building sits up top Parliament Hill - a giant public lawn with statues of famous Canadian icons and politicians (ie: Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Victoria, Sir Wilfred Laurier, Sir John A Macdonald, William Lyon Mackenzie King, etc).
While the tourists tend to do the tour of the building, the locals will bring their blankets, frisbees, dogs, and picnic lunches, and just sit out on the front lawn, basking in the sunshine.
The Parliament Building is the focal point, architecturally, of Ottawa, but it's certainly not all there is to the city. A visit to Parliament Hill is ideal in the morning as it's a close walk away to many more local attractions, whether it be Byward Market, the National Gallery, the War Museum, Chateau Laurier, Rideau Canal, or the river walk. Either way, Parliament Hill is an ideal place to start. Leave a Comment
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