Splendor on Parliament Hill

Splendor on Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill is a must see while in Ottawa, and as it happened, we spent a full day there. We started with the changing of the guard ceremony at 10. To get a view that was unobstructed it was, however, necessary to arrive well before the 10 o’clock hour. A short version of the ceremony occurs each hour as the guards protecting the Queen’s representative are changed at Rideau Hall. But, the big show on the green in front of the center block is a daily show including the parade through the streets – all traffic patiently stopped as they pass by. The performers include the ceremonial band – with pipers, the guards coming on duty as well as those retiring and the reviewing officers.  Oh, yes these are all decked out in the English traditional red with tall black beaver hats!

Our next treat was the carillon concert which occurs weekdays from 11 to noon – as we waited for our free tour of the Parliament Center Block building.  The carillon is in the Peace Tower and was added to the complex after WWI. The entrance and security check is at the bottom of the tower so we had front row seats for the concert.

Our guided tour of the main Parliament building included both government chambers and their ante-rooms, a reading room and a peek at the library.  While most of the original main block building was destroyed in a fire in 1916, the library was saved by a quick thinking librarian who closed the steel doors. Although the reconstructed and expanded Parliament building is a showplace of high gothic style, the library soars far beyond as a temple to knowledge and Victorian art. – Sadly we were not allowed to photograph this space, but encourage everyone to visit Ottawa and see it for themselves.

At the end of our tour we climbed and rose by elevator to the top of the Peace Tower for a bird’s eye view of the town and across the river to Quebec.

In the afternoon we had a private tour of the grounds with Taylor – who educated us on the ups and downs as well as the reasons for Canadian Confederation.  He quizzed us on the provincial and territorial flags – we sadly only knew a few of them – and he revealed the mystery of the whispering wall.  The grounds of Parliament Hill are dotted with monuments honoring key players in Canada’s history. We learned many of their stories on this tour – again a freebie provided by the Canadian government.

In the evening we returned to be entertained by “Fortisimo” a band and marching display that is performed each summer for three nights.  We had seen a sample of the rehearsal the night before and were looking forward to the show.  The full ceremonial band as well as the pipers marched on and off the parade ground – as well as a cadet band. Then they all joined forces for a version of the 1812 Overture complete with four howitzers (that fire repeatedly) and a period rifle brigade not to mention the carillon.  The Irish sword dance was almost an afterthought. Again, this display was entirely free to the public who arrived in throngs.

After dark the daily light show – MosAika again drew crowds to the lawn in front of the Peace Tower and Center Block.  The story of Canadian History is told in sound and light projected on the building with magical special effects.  We share just a few photos to give a small taste of this 30+ minute show.  – Oh yes, all of these events on Parliament Hill are just a short walk from our boat docked on the Rideau Canal – Parks Canada wall!