Today is the Remembrance Day in Canada

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Canada observes the Remembrance Day every year on November 11. On this day, the Canadians commemorate the valiant sacrifices made by Canadian armed forces and civilians during times of war -- the First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945), Korean War (1950-1953) and, lately, Afghanistan War.

It is observed on November 11, in memory of the signing of the Armistice (truce) between the Allies of the First World War and Germany at Rethondes, France, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. This armistice brought about the end of hostility on the Western Front.

In the week leading to the Remembrance Day, people wear poppy flower on their lapels. This flower symbolizes the sacrifices made by soldiers, especially on the Western Front, where this flower grew aplenty.

The Governor General and the Federal Government ministers participate in an impressive ceremony at the National War Memorial in the Confederation Square of downtown Ottawa to observe the Remembrance Day. Originally designed to honour 60,000 Canadians who died in the First World War, the National War Memorial now honours all of Canada's war dead.

Designed by Vernon March of England, the Memorial has a 21-metre high arch (with winged figures symbolizing Peace and Liberty) and 23 bronze figures (representing people who fought the First World War). These figures are moving from war to peace. The designer chose "The Great Response of Canada" as the theme of this National War Memorial.

The National War Memorial also houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was originally sited at the Canadian Memorial on Vimy Ridge, France. On May 25, 2000, the remains of this unknown Canadian soldier was brought to Canada and, after display of due respect in the Parliament Building, were laid to rest in the specially constructed tomb at the National War Memorial on May 28.

The following "Ode of Remembrance" is recited at the memorial services held on the Day of Remembrance. Laurence Binyon was the writer of the Ode of Remembrance, a poem published in the Times of London in September, 1914:

The Ode of Remembrance

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

On my visit to Ottawa on July 27, 2009, I had taken some photos of the National War Memorial. You may view these photos below:

The National War Memorial, Ottawa (July 27, 2009)
Photos © Jerome D'Costa

The Parliament of Canada at a Glance

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The Parliament of Canada is in Ottawa, the capital city with a population of a little less than a million. The Parliament consists of three buildings or blocks -- the East Block, the Middle or Centre Block, and the West Block. These blocks were built between 1859 and 1866.

For our purpose, we will deal with the Middle or Centre Block here. It is located on the Parliament Hill on the southern bank of the Ottawa River. This building, excepting the section having the library, was heavily damaged by fire on February 3, 1916. The present impressive building was constructed in its place.

The Middle Block contains the Senate (Upper House) and Commons (Lower House) chambers with an impressive Peace Tower reaching, the height of 92.2 metres (302 ft. 6 inches). The Peace Tower, having bells and clock, represents Canada's commitment to peace. Offices of Federal Ministers and Senators as well as meeting and adminstrative rooms are housed in the East and West Blocks.

On my visit to Ottawa on July 27, 2009, I took photos of the Parliament buildings. I present below some photos of the Middle Block.

The Middle Block of the Parliament of Canada as seen from the street level

The entire Middle Block as seen from the north side

The Middle Block from another angle

The Middle Block with the library as viewed from the Ottawa River

Another view of the Middle Block

Visitors are near the Eternal Flame. The Middle Block on the background.

The Middle Block as seen through the closed gate

A stone-carved mythological figure used as a decorative piece
in the Middle Block

Another carved figure
Photos (Ottawa: July 27, 2009) © Jerome D'Costa

A Photo Essay on My Trip to Ottawa, Canada

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This was my third trip to Ottawa, the capital of Canada. In this one-day trip on July 27, 2009, I had the opportunity to go around a bit. In this short time, I tried to capture the spirit of Ottawa in my photographs. Please let me know, through your comments, how you like them.

The business district of Ottawa

The Centre Block of the Parliament of Canada
as seen from a street level

The bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth II on a horse

The bronze statue of William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874-1950)
-- the 10th Prime Minister of Canada -- was the longest serving
(almost 22 years) Prime Minister in the British
Commonwealth history

The Canadian flag near the Parliament Hill

Visitors at the monument to "Women Are Persons!" It celebrates
joint efforts of five women who won a legal challenge in 1929 to
have women considered "persons" under the British North
America Act. This case was a landmark step in Canadian
women's struggle for equality.

A bronze statue announcing "Women Are Persons!"

The East Block of the Parliament Hill in Ottawa

Wellington Street scene near the Parliament Hill

The statue of Terry Fox (1958-1981), the Canadian hero,
who had initiated his 'Marathon of Hope' run across Canada
to raise funds for cancer research. The annual "Terry Fox Run"
held worldwide is named after him.

The "Flight", sculpted in bronze by Sorel Etrog in 1966

A decorated window of a church in Ottawa

A wall decoration of two polar bears in action

A totem pole in front of an aboriginal handicrafts
and artifacts shop in the Sparks Street Mall

A bronze statue of a Canadian black bear
in action in the Sparks Street Mall

Two women with their children
taking an afternoon stroll in the Sparks Street Mall

The "Joy", sculpted in bronze by Bruce Garner in 1970

Some teens expressing their affinity with
the sculpture "Joy" in the Sparks Street Mall

(L-R) Jessica and Renee -- two students -- sell bus tickets in
the city tour and river cruise booth as part of their summer job

Tourists and visitors are waiting for their bus tour

City tour buses are lining up for loading tourists and visitors. The
amphibian red bus (in the middle) is called 'The Lady Dive' --
which runs on the streets of Ottawa and nearbouring Gatineau
city as well as ply on the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River

The tour bus guide (in red T-shirt) in the Lady Dive is describing
the important sightseeing places to the tourists and visitors

A view of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier -- a victim
of the First World War (1914-1918) -- in the Confederation
Square as seen from inside the 'Lady Dive' bus

A view from inside the 'Lady Dive' as it is plying in the water

A view of the Rideau Canal with a number of tourist boats

Another view of the Rideau Canal. In winter, when the water
of this canal freezes completely, people skate on its solid ice!

Beautiful summer flowers in Ottawa
Photos (Ottawa: July 27, 2009) © Jerome D'Costa

A series of my photographs on the Parliament Buildings on the Parliament Hill and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Confederation Square in Ottawa will be posted later in my blog.