Yesterday we started our day at the Parliament Buildings for a guided tour. We got the tickets before we left. I took the tour in the late 1980's but it's really changed. The Center Block is being renovated and they've moved the House of Commons to the West Block. The site was originally outside but they converted it to where they are temporarily today.
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| Center Block |
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House of Commons
You can see the outside wall at the back and the new roof they added during renos |
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| Speakers Chair right now used by Anthony Rota |
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| Committe Room |
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R. H. Kim Campbell our first and only Canadian Prime Minister June - Nov 1993
Pictures of all the Prime Ministers scattered throughout the building.
I loved this one as the backdrop is an indigenous flag
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| R. H. Joe Clark, Prime Minister 1979 - 1980 |
I took a picture of Pierre Elliott Trudeau but the windows behind spoiled the picture.After our tour of the Parliament Buildings we walked to Elgin and Sparks Street where we caught the Hop On Hop Off bus. On the way we saw Play On, Canada's largest Ball Hockey Festival! It was in front of the Parliament Buildings from O'Connor Street to Elgin Street! Over 40 exhibitors and 40,000 square feet of everything hockey! Many hockey rinks with teams playing in all of them. There was a Hockey Hall of Fame Exhibit, and old timers NHL stars doing trick shots and signing autographs. So many teams playing hockey. It doesn't get any more Canadian!
We were on the bus for 90 minutes and saw a lot!
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| Prime Minister Official Residence, 24 Sussex Drive, under renovation |
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| Rideau Hall, home of Canada's Governor General and temporary home of our Prime Minister |
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| Sparks Street from a moving bus! |
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| Beautiful Flowers everywhere! |
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| Statue of Terry Fox |
One thing that really surprised me was the police and security. Because of the Truck Convoy and their fear of it happening again, streets are blocked off. We saw RCMP and Ottawa Police very visible everywhere! When Cheryl and I visited Parliament Hill years ago, there was very little security. It's a sign of the times we live in.Last but not least, the National War Memorial. Lots of security and soldiers guarding it in the heat in full regalia. On the hour, the guards are piped in and change. Very moving. Right behind the camera, yet another police car watching the memorial.
What a beautiful city, very clean, very green and courteous people everywhere!
