CANADA: Ottawa, the Nation's Capitol

John and I both grew up in Ottawa.

We might be a little biased, but we both think it is a great city to grow up in.

Having said that, I think we took our own backyard for granted.

I think most of us are always busy doing what we need to do that we don’t stop to smell the roses and notice the treasures right under our nose.

Since we are currently full-time travelers, we figured it was time to stop and walk around the city we grew up in and look at it through a visitor’s eyes.

SPOILER ALERT: A bit of Canadian history follows, which is always useful for Cocktail Party Trivia.

Ottawa was chosen as the capital of Canada in 1857 by Britain’s Queen Victoria. At the time, there was fierce rivalry for the title between cities like Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, and Kingston. Ottawa was a neutral compromise, since it lay on the border between English-speaking Ontario and French-speaking Quebec. It was hoped that it would symbolize cooperation between Canada’s two main cultures.

After the War of 1812 with the United States, an important concern was future potential attacks from the Americans. Ottawa's inland location made it safer than cities located closer to the U.S. border.

Ottawa was also strategically placed where three rivers, the Ottawa, Gatineau, and Rideau, meet. 

Construction of Canada’s Parliament Buildings in Ottawa began in 1859 and was largely completed by 1866, just before our Confederation in 1867. 

The original complex included the Centre Block, East Block and West Block built in the Gothic Revival style to give the new capital a "sense of dignity and history".

A major fire in 1916 destroyed most of the original Centre Block but it was rebuilt with the addition of the Peace Tower.

Not only is it the seat of the federal government, it also serves as a pretty backdrop for morning yoga classes. 

The Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill was lit in 1967 to celebrate Canada’s 100th anniversary of Confederation. The flame is surrounded by a fountain with the coats of arms of all the provinces and territories. 

The Rideau Canal is a historic waterway that was completed in 1832. It has 47 locks and is the oldest continuously operated canal in North America. It was designated as a UNESCO heritage site in 2007 for being the best-preserved example of a 19th-century canal.

It was built for military and trade purposes as a secure route in case of conflict with the United States. It is about 202 kilometers (126 miles) long from Ottawa in the north to Kingston on Lake Ontario in the south, linking the Ottawa River with the St. Lawrence River system.

 In the summer it is now used for boating. In the winter when the water freezes the Rideau Canal Skateway becomes the world’s largest naturally frozen skating rink. I remember skating (badly) on it in the winter. Those with far more skating talent than I have use it to commute to work or school in the winter. 

The Rideau Canal runs between the Parliament buildings on the west and the Château Laurier on the east. 

The Chateau Laurier is a grand hotel that opened in 1912 and was named after Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Canada’s prime minister at the time.

The hotel was commissioned by the Grand Trunk Railway as part of a plan to build luxurious hotels across Canada to promote train travel. The hotels gave tourists a hotel destination as the train united Canada from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. 

The celebrated photographer Yousuf Karsh lived and worked for over 40 years in the Château Laurier. I guaranty you know Karsh's most famous portrait, the black and white of Winston Churchill, taken in 1941 after Karsh surprisingly removed Churchill’s cigar—capturing the defiant expression that became iconic during World War II. A bronze statue of Yousuf Karsh sits outside the Château Laurier. 

(Most) Canadian women gained the right to vote in Federal elections in 1918. The “Famous Five” statue, officially called “Women Are Persons!”, honours five Canadian women—Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, and Henrietta Muir Edwards—who fought for women’s legal recognition as “persons.” Their efforts led to the 1929 Persons Case when the British Privy Council ruled women could be appointed to the Senate.

Behind the Famous Five is the Senate of Canada Building. Opened in 1912, the same time as the Chateau Laurier, it was originally Ottawa’s Union Train Station. The first Canadian soldiers going off to the First World War passed through its doors. 

 The Canadian National War Memorial honors Canadians who served in the two world wars, Korea, and other conflicts. It features a large arch with bronze sculptures of soldiers, representing the sacrifices of the Canadian Forces. The memorial is also the site of the annual Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11, where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies at its base.

Behind the Chateau Laurier is the American Embassy. 

The current embassy building opened in 2005. At the time when it was built the high security with perimeter barriers, reinforced walls, blast-resistant materials and surveillance cameras seemed radical in sleepy little Ottawa. 

Rideau Hall, built in 1838, has been the official residence of the Governor General of Canada since Canada’s confederation in 1867. It serves as both a home and workplace for the Governor General, who represents the British Crown in Canada. 

Rideau Hall is a symbol of Canada’s ties to the British Crown and hosts official ceremonies, state visits, investitures for Canadian honours and other public events. 

The National Gallery of Canada collection was founded in 1880. It houses Canadian, Indigenous, European, and contemporary art, including works by the famous Canadian Group of Seven and an Inuit art collection. The collection moved into its current modern building in 1988. 

In the front is the giant spider sculpture “Maman”.  

Kìwekì Point is a scenic lookout in Ottawa, offering panoramic views of the Ottawa River, Gatineau Hills, and Parliament Hill. 

When I grew up it was called Nepean Point, but was recently renamed to recognize the Algonquin Anishinaabe people, whose traditional territory includes the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

The Alexandra Bridge (Pont Alexandra) spans the Ottawa River, connecting Ottawa, Ontario, with Gatineau, Quebec. It opened in 1901 and was named after Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII. 

Terry Fox (1958–1981) was a Canadian athlete and cancer research activist famous for his “Marathon of Hope.” After losing his right leg to bone cancer he began his run across Canada averaging a marathon (42 km/26.2 miles) a day to raise funds for cancer research. 

His run was cut short after 143 days and 5,373 km when cancer spread to his lungs. He passed away in 1981 at age 22. The annual Terry Fox Run has raised over $850 million worldwide and continues to raise millions for cancer research worldwide.

And to end our tour on a sweet note, Ottawa is the home of Beavertails, made of fried dough stretched into the shape of a beaver’s tail. They’re served warm and topped with sweet toppings like cinnamon sugar, chocolate, maple butter, or fruit.

Or, for those of with a really sweet tooth, there is always maple syrup.