We are staying at a campground quite a ways outside of Ottawa however, we were able to drive our truck about 12 miles to the local Wal-Mart, park and catch the bus which let us off right across the street from Parliament Hill. Bus cost was $3.00 one way per person. All of the tours are free and we didn’t have any trouble getting tickets for all three of the tours we wanted to take on the morning when we first arrived.
On this hilltop overlooking the Ottawa River, parliamentarians gather to make the laws of the land. The Parliament Buildings – which include the Centre Block, East Block and West Block –
house the Senate and the House of Commons chambers, the Library of Parliament, and offices for parliamentarians and staff.
A little history for background information. Before Ottawa became the beautiful city it is today, it used to be a rough lumber town with roads of mud. In 1857, after years of indecision by “colonial” politicians, Queen Victoria chose this little lumber town as the capital of the Province of Canada (consisting at that time of what is today Quebec and Ontario). She made the choice from looking at a painting and based it the fact that it was in very close proximity to Quebec, and also that it lay a more secure distance from the American border as the U.S. was trying to annex Canadian property at that time. With the emergence of a new nation, the Fathers of Confederation decided that Canada’s head of state would be a monarch. Queen Victoria was adopted as the sovereign of Canada. Canada’s present queen is the sovereign not only of Canada and the United Kingdom, but also of 14 other countries that have similar political structures as that of Canada. When she visits one of these countries, she speaks and acts as queen of that country, and not as queen of the United Kingdom. As a constitutional monarch, the Queen acts solely on the advice of the ministers of the country concerned.
Every day during the summer months at 10:00 a.m., you can view the Changing of the Guards.
The ceremony is a very stirring military drill set to the music of the Canadian Forces band. It takes place on Parliament Hill in front of the Centre Block. The Old Guard is inspected
and then turns the key over to the New Guard.
The ceremony lasts approximately 30 minutes. 
These guards also stand vigil over the Tomb on the Unknown Soldier.
The Centre Block, constructed between 1916 and 1922, is the home of the Senate and the House of Commons. It is here that national issues are investigated and where legislation is introduced, debated and revised and, once passed, becomes the law of the land. The Senate Chamber is located in the east half of the Centre Block.
Its red carpeting and upholstery and a ceiling of gold leaf create an air of regal splendour. The names of former governors general are carved in the ceiling. The Chamber’s upper walls are lined with murals depicting stirring scenes from the First World War. Below them, images of Canada’s flora and fauna are carved in stone and wood. This room is where the Queen of Canada, or the Governor General, her representative, addresses Parliament and gives Royal Assent to bills destined to become law. At the north end of the Chamber is a raised platform with a pair of thrones, the larger of the two for the Queen or the Governor General and the smaller one for the spouse of either the Queen or the Governor General. For regular sitting of the Senate, the Speaker’s chair is placed in front of the thrones, but is removed when the Queen or her representative are present. Senators belonging to the governing political party in the House of Commons sit to the Speaker’s right. To the Speaker’s left sit those senators belonging to all other parties, including those who have chosen to sit as independent senators. Senate proceedings are open to both the public and journalists. When a bill is submitted, the Senate is the group who study it and make any recommendations for change before it becomes law. They also have “strike down” authority, to completely kill a bill that has been recommended. There are currently 105 Senators.
The House of Commons Chamber is located in the west half of the Centre Block.
It is decorated in green carpeting and upholstery, in the tradition of the British House of Commons. The rectangular Chamber is made of white oak and Tyndall limestone from Manitoba. The Speaker is spokesperson and presiding officer of the House of Commons. A Member of Parliament chosen by fellow members through secret ballot, the Speaker ensures that all rules and procedures are followed and oversees the administration of the House. He sits in a throne chair at the head of the room. Stone carvings, stained glass windows and other artistic representations of Canada’s history decorate the Chamber, as a constant reminder of the Canadians that Members of Parliament represent and serve. There are currently 308 Members of Parliament in the House.
The Hall of Honour crosses through the center of the building.
With its graceful arched ceilings and rich sculpture, it links all the elements of the Centre Block together and serves as a fitting setting for national commemorations and ceremonies. In front of the Centre Block stands the Peace Tower, the most striking feature and one of the most recognized symbols on Parliament Hill. The Peace Tower was named in commemoration of Canada’s commitment to peace. On the third floor is the Memorial chamber, a richly carved room of gently light built to honor Canadians who died in the armed conflicts in which Canada has fought since the Confederation. The 302 foot tower also contains an observation area and the Carillon, a series of 53 bells sounded from a keyboard. The largest bell weighs in at 22,400 pounds. The Dominion Carillonneur entertains visitors every day at 2:00 with regular recitals.
The Library of Parliament is at the end of the Hall of Honour.
It is the only place that you are not allowed to take pictures inside and it is astounding. Its floor features a beautiful pattern of cherry, oak and walnut. Hundreds of flowers, masks and mythical creatures are carved in the paneling of white pine. In the center of the circular, domed room stands a white marble statue of the young Queen Victoria. When the fire started on February 3, 1916, a conscientious employee quickly shut the metal doors to the library. While other parts of the building were reduced to a charred shell, the library was spared, saving over half a million books and documents.
Our second tour was to the East Block which is primarily offices, however they have restored four rooms to look just as they did in 1872.
Several people dressed in costumes showed up as we were touring and pretended to be characters of that period. 
Our last tour of the day was the grounds. On both the second tour and this one, we were the only two people, so we had a private tour all to ourselves. Parliament Hill has been home to stray cats for decades.
However, it is only since the 1970’s that volunteers have paid special care and attention to these animals: creating the “cat sanctuary”. All animals have been neutered to ensure the health and stability of the colony and have been inoculated against various diseases. The cats as well as pigeons, sparrows, squirrels, raccoons, chickadees, and even ground hogs,
are fed on a daily basis. It costs $6,000 per year to take care of them. The Federal government does not contribute anything to this cost. It is primarily made up of contributions.
Also on the grounds is the Canadian Police and Peace Officers Memorial Honor Roll which pays
tribute to the sacrifices of these brave men and women who were killed in the performance of their duty.
The Victoria Bell is also on display.
This is the bell which was housed in the Victoria Tower at the time of the fire. Shortly after striking midnight, the Victoria Bell came crashing down into the building. It was later recovered from the ruins and put on display. The bell is mounted at an angle to symbolize the position it was in when it came crashing down at the stroke of midnight.
The Whisper Wall is also a rare oddity. When two people sit at either end of the wall and whisper, it sounds as if the voice is magnified.
Another of those anomalies that can’t be explained.
At the foot of the central walk to the Parliament Buildings is the monument for commemorating Canada’s 100th anniversary of Confederation in 1967.
The Centennial Flame is a permanent reminder of the unbounded optimism of the centennial year. Alberta natural gas feeds the flame that burns through the water which flows over the bronze shields of the provinces and territories that existed in 1967. Each of the twelve segments is also ornamented with the floral symbol and the date that the province or territory joined the Confederation.
A final sculpture is the Women are Persons!
Five women are rejoicing over tea because of their victory in the Persons Case of 1929, a landmark step in Canadian women’s struggle for equality. These five women won a legal challenge to have women considered “persons” under the British North American Act, making them eligible for appointment to the Senate.
Well, as you can tell, it was another full and tiring day. Thankfully, the weather is holding up well and was not too hot. This is a beautiful city, more old and rustic, and Parliament Hill is a “must see”. We thoroughly enjoyed learning some of the history of Canada and hopefully understanding their Parliament a bit better.
During the summer months, they do a nightly sound and light show. The spirit of the nation is revealed through captivating music, shimmering lights and stunning giant projections on the Parliament Buildings. We hope to attend that tomorrow night. It is supposed to be spectacular!!!
We are now half way thru our “city life in Canada” tour and will be heading to Montreal and then over to Quebec to visit the last two cities before heading into the Maritimes. I think we will both be ready for some beautiful landscapes and a much slower pace of life. We hope you are enjoying each of these beautiful spots in Canada as much as we are and will continue to check us out from time to time to see what we’ve gotten into next. Til we can do the next blog, God be with each of you and may you experience life to the fullest!
On this hilltop overlooking the Ottawa River, parliamentarians gather to make the laws of the land. The Parliament Buildings – which include the Centre Block, East Block and West Block –
house the Senate and the House of Commons chambers, the Library of Parliament, and offices for parliamentarians and staff.A little history for background information. Before Ottawa became the beautiful city it is today, it used to be a rough lumber town with roads of mud. In 1857, after years of indecision by “colonial” politicians, Queen Victoria chose this little lumber town as the capital of the Province of Canada (consisting at that time of what is today Quebec and Ontario). She made the choice from looking at a painting and based it the fact that it was in very close proximity to Quebec, and also that it lay a more secure distance from the American border as the U.S. was trying to annex Canadian property at that time. With the emergence of a new nation, the Fathers of Confederation decided that Canada’s head of state would be a monarch. Queen Victoria was adopted as the sovereign of Canada. Canada’s present queen is the sovereign not only of Canada and the United Kingdom, but also of 14 other countries that have similar political structures as that of Canada. When she visits one of these countries, she speaks and acts as queen of that country, and not as queen of the United Kingdom. As a constitutional monarch, the Queen acts solely on the advice of the ministers of the country concerned.
Every day during the summer months at 10:00 a.m., you can view the Changing of the Guards.
The ceremony is a very stirring military drill set to the music of the Canadian Forces band. It takes place on Parliament Hill in front of the Centre Block. The Old Guard is inspected and then turns the key over to the New Guard. The ceremony lasts approximately 30 minutes. These guards also stand vigil over the Tomb on the Unknown Soldier.The Centre Block, constructed between 1916 and 1922, is the home of the Senate and the House of Commons. It is here that national issues are investigated and where legislation is introduced, debated and revised and, once passed, becomes the law of the land. The Senate Chamber is located in the east half of the Centre Block.
Its red carpeting and upholstery and a ceiling of gold leaf create an air of regal splendour. The names of former governors general are carved in the ceiling. The Chamber’s upper walls are lined with murals depicting stirring scenes from the First World War. Below them, images of Canada’s flora and fauna are carved in stone and wood. This room is where the Queen of Canada, or the Governor General, her representative, addresses Parliament and gives Royal Assent to bills destined to become law. At the north end of the Chamber is a raised platform with a pair of thrones, the larger of the two for the Queen or the Governor General and the smaller one for the spouse of either the Queen or the Governor General. For regular sitting of the Senate, the Speaker’s chair is placed in front of the thrones, but is removed when the Queen or her representative are present. Senators belonging to the governing political party in the House of Commons sit to the Speaker’s right. To the Speaker’s left sit those senators belonging to all other parties, including those who have chosen to sit as independent senators. Senate proceedings are open to both the public and journalists. When a bill is submitted, the Senate is the group who study it and make any recommendations for change before it becomes law. They also have “strike down” authority, to completely kill a bill that has been recommended. There are currently 105 Senators.The House of Commons Chamber is located in the west half of the Centre Block.
It is decorated in green carpeting and upholstery, in the tradition of the British House of Commons. The rectangular Chamber is made of white oak and Tyndall limestone from Manitoba. The Speaker is spokesperson and presiding officer of the House of Commons. A Member of Parliament chosen by fellow members through secret ballot, the Speaker ensures that all rules and procedures are followed and oversees the administration of the House. He sits in a throne chair at the head of the room. Stone carvings, stained glass windows and other artistic representations of Canada’s history decorate the Chamber, as a constant reminder of the Canadians that Members of Parliament represent and serve. There are currently 308 Members of Parliament in the House.The Hall of Honour crosses through the center of the building.
With its graceful arched ceilings and rich sculpture, it links all the elements of the Centre Block together and serves as a fitting setting for national commemorations and ceremonies. In front of the Centre Block stands the Peace Tower, the most striking feature and one of the most recognized symbols on Parliament Hill. The Peace Tower was named in commemoration of Canada’s commitment to peace. On the third floor is the Memorial chamber, a richly carved room of gently light built to honor Canadians who died in the armed conflicts in which Canada has fought since the Confederation. The 302 foot tower also contains an observation area and the Carillon, a series of 53 bells sounded from a keyboard. The largest bell weighs in at 22,400 pounds. The Dominion Carillonneur entertains visitors every day at 2:00 with regular recitals.The Library of Parliament is at the end of the Hall of Honour.
It is the only place that you are not allowed to take pictures inside and it is astounding. Its floor features a beautiful pattern of cherry, oak and walnut. Hundreds of flowers, masks and mythical creatures are carved in the paneling of white pine. In the center of the circular, domed room stands a white marble statue of the young Queen Victoria. When the fire started on February 3, 1916, a conscientious employee quickly shut the metal doors to the library. While other parts of the building were reduced to a charred shell, the library was spared, saving over half a million books and documents.Our second tour was to the East Block which is primarily offices, however they have restored four rooms to look just as they did in 1872.
Several people dressed in costumes showed up as we were touring and pretended to be characters of that period. Our last tour of the day was the grounds. On both the second tour and this one, we were the only two people, so we had a private tour all to ourselves. Parliament Hill has been home to stray cats for decades.
However, it is only since the 1970’s that volunteers have paid special care and attention to these animals: creating the “cat sanctuary”. All animals have been neutered to ensure the health and stability of the colony and have been inoculated against various diseases. The cats as well as pigeons, sparrows, squirrels, raccoons, chickadees, and even ground hogs, are fed on a daily basis. It costs $6,000 per year to take care of them. The Federal government does not contribute anything to this cost. It is primarily made up of contributions.Also on the grounds is the Canadian Police and Peace Officers Memorial Honor Roll which pays
tribute to the sacrifices of these brave men and women who were killed in the performance of their duty.The Victoria Bell is also on display.
This is the bell which was housed in the Victoria Tower at the time of the fire. Shortly after striking midnight, the Victoria Bell came crashing down into the building. It was later recovered from the ruins and put on display. The bell is mounted at an angle to symbolize the position it was in when it came crashing down at the stroke of midnight.The Whisper Wall is also a rare oddity. When two people sit at either end of the wall and whisper, it sounds as if the voice is magnified.
Another of those anomalies that can’t be explained.At the foot of the central walk to the Parliament Buildings is the monument for commemorating Canada’s 100th anniversary of Confederation in 1967.
The Centennial Flame is a permanent reminder of the unbounded optimism of the centennial year. Alberta natural gas feeds the flame that burns through the water which flows over the bronze shields of the provinces and territories that existed in 1967. Each of the twelve segments is also ornamented with the floral symbol and the date that the province or territory joined the Confederation.A final sculpture is the Women are Persons!
Five women are rejoicing over tea because of their victory in the Persons Case of 1929, a landmark step in Canadian women’s struggle for equality. These five women won a legal challenge to have women considered “persons” under the British North American Act, making them eligible for appointment to the Senate.Well, as you can tell, it was another full and tiring day. Thankfully, the weather is holding up well and was not too hot. This is a beautiful city, more old and rustic, and Parliament Hill is a “must see”. We thoroughly enjoyed learning some of the history of Canada and hopefully understanding their Parliament a bit better.
During the summer months, they do a nightly sound and light show. The spirit of the nation is revealed through captivating music, shimmering lights and stunning giant projections on the Parliament Buildings. We hope to attend that tomorrow night. It is supposed to be spectacular!!!
We are now half way thru our “city life in Canada” tour and will be heading to Montreal and then over to Quebec to visit the last two cities before heading into the Maritimes. I think we will both be ready for some beautiful landscapes and a much slower pace of life. We hope you are enjoying each of these beautiful spots in Canada as much as we are and will continue to check us out from time to time to see what we’ve gotten into next. Til we can do the next blog, God be with each of you and may you experience life to the fullest!
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