The Darkest Chapter In History

 The National Holocaust Monument is at Lebreton Flats, across from the War Museum. Dedicated in 2017, it pays tribute to the victims of the Holocaust during the Second World War.

It is a collaborative project. Daniel Libeskind designed it, with landscape architecture by Claude Cormier's firm. Doris Bergen provided the direction of a Holocaust historian, and the Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky contributed with dramatic works inside. The harsh angles are completely appropriate to the subject, I think.

Panels within tell the dark story of the Holocaust.

A look around the space. More from here tomorrow.

The Legacies Of The Korean War

 I stopped in at the Canadian War Museum briefly in the latter part of April. We see the building here from the grounds of the National Holocaust Monument across the street.

A hint of things to come- tulips in a planter outside the Museum. These are a legacy of the Second World War.

At present in the foyer, there is a series of panels on the Korean War.

One of the great strengths of the Museum is how it highlights individuals, such as the case with these, looking at soldiers and civilians from that war, telling their stories.

A wide view of the foyer of the Museum.

I paid my respects inside the Memorial Chamber, where one artifact is displayed. It is the original gravestone of an unknown Canadian soldier who fell at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. His remains now rest at the most sacred place in the country- the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Cyclists

The first day of each month is a theme day for members of City Daily Photo. For May, that theme is Cyclists. Check out how others are interpreting the theme right here. 

I start with this holdover from Winterlude, an ice sculpture outside a shop on Sparks Street.

Here's the shop, taken a few nights later.

Here we have Fosters, a former bike shop in Centretown that at the time of this photo was in the process of moving a short distance away under a new name. The new location is down below. Its replacement? An art supply shop moving in from a couple of blocks to the north.

I was heading to the Portage Bridge for my twice a month series looking downstream from there. This cyclist biking the other way was suitable for the theme. In the background is Christ Church Cathedral and the Garden of the Provinces and Territories.

After taking my shots on the bridge, I saw this cyclist heading to the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River, which can be glimpsed through the railing at left. Victoria Island is up ahead, with the ruins of the old carbine mill at left, while the rising spike of the War Museum is off at right. 

I kept walking, en route to other photo opportunities, and saw this bike.

At the intersection of an office building a couple of blocks away, bikes were locked up around both corners of the building.

And here's the former Fosters, now moved into its new location as Quickcranks. It looked like the shop staff inside were mostly done for reopening. 

Change From The Winter Into Spring

It's been my habit to take photographs at a given location each winter to show the transition into spring over several months. That spot is Central Park in the Glebe, a park in the north end of the neighbourhood where Bank Street crosses through. Each time I take a shot looking east, and looking west.

 

These first shots are from mid-December, taken shortly before dawn.

I took these in January.

One evening in late February I passed by again.

Around sunrise in early March, I passed by again.

I came by again early one morning in the first days of April.

What a difference a couple of weeks can make. These were taken in mid-April. The grass was getting green when I passed by late in the day.

Visiting The National War Memorial

Apologies for the late post- I usually doublecheck my posts in advance, and hadn't actually put this one together.

I paid a visit in recent days to the National War Memorial, which occupies the heart of Confederation Square, and is surrounded by landmarks like Parliament Hill, the Chateau Laurier, the National Arts Centre, and The Chambers. I started taking shots along the east side. The plaque in the foreground pays tribute to Nathan Cirillo, the soldier standing at post before the Memorial who was shot and killed by a madman in 2014. 

The Memorial commemorates the Canadian dead of wars and military service. Originally built and dedicated to remember the dead of the First World War, it has since been rededicated to add those of the Second World War, Korea, the Afghan War, and the South African War, along with military service in general. It is sacred ground, which emphasizes mourning, with soldiers passing through an arch, while allegorical figures are perched overhead.

At its base is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a Canadian soldier who fell at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.