Category Archives: Ottawa, Canada’s Capital

Remembrance Day 2012

Remembrance Day is officially observed at 1100 hours on the on the 11th day of the 11th month marking the the Armistice that became effective at the end of World War I. This commemorates those Canadians who lost their lives in Wars and other Military and Peace Keeping operations and actions in which Canadians have participated over the years.

Remembrance Day is today in Canada and many countries around the globe. The official national ceremonies in Canada will take place at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, our National Capital,  as well as at other War Memorials or Cenotaphs in villages, towns and cities across the nation, starting at 1100 hours on November 11, 2012.

On this important day, here is a brief visit to the National War Memorial in Ottawa.

Honour Guard at the National War Memorial, Ottawa, 1100 hours on November 11, 2012

The National War Memorial of Canada Ottawa (The Nation’s Capital)

The Cenotaph was originally built to commemorate those lost in World War I.
( it now commemorates All Canadians lost in all of Canada’s Wars and other Military and Peace Keeping Operations around the World).

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial, Ottawa ( Canada’s National Capital).

 As the ceremonies take place in Ottawa, we here in Iloilo, Philippines will fly the Canadian Flag at half mast and maintain 2 minutes of silence and contemplation at 1201 hours on Monday, November 12, 2012 which will be 1100 hours on Sunday, November 11, 2012 in Ottawa.

We ask all our friends around the world to say a prayer for all those around the world who serve in the armed forces of their respective countries and especially for my son Fergus (pictured above) and his colleagues who are currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces stationed across Canada and around the world, who work so hard and risk their lives to alleviate hardship and conflict wherever they may be.

Our Canadian vacation continues: The Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

HP Heritage Rating:   for more information press here

The Rideau Canal terminus at the Bytown Locks on the Ottawa River

The Rideau Canal was built by Lt. Colonel John By of the British Engineers between 1826 and 1832

Lt Colonel John By, the builder of the Rideau Canal with “She Who Must be Obeyed”

The Canal was built by the British Army as a means of getting materials in complete safety from Montreal to Kingston while the British and the Americans constantly skirmished  along the St Lawrence River, the border between New York State and what was then parts of both Lower and Upper Canada (between Montreal and Kingston) and at the mouth of the Great Lakes (Lake Ontario) closest to Kingston.

Special thanks to Ken Watson of  www.rideau-info.com for allowing us to use his materials for our report and also for permission to establish a direct link to his site.

For the Rest of the Story about the Rideau Canal, press here

Our Ottawa Historical Extravaganza Continues

HP Historical Rating:   for more information click here

 

We visited Parliament Hill yesterday morning and after walking down the Famous Sparks Street Mall in Downtown Ottawa we arrived at the National War Memorial at the corner of Elgin and Wellington Streets.

The National War Memorial & The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Continue reading

A Vacation in Ottawa, Canada’s Historic Capital and our hometown

A family vacation at home in the historic national capital of Canada, the beautiful, picturesque and historic city of Ottawa…

HP Heritage Rating:   for more information click here

We just returned from a vacation at home in Canada. It was a wonderful trip taken up with visiting with our family, a family wedding, a bit of sightseeing and complete relaxation at the family cottage.

Total relaxation and members of the family await…

We arrived in Toronto after 29 hours in transit via: Manila, Incheon with Philippines Airlines and Korean Air. After a few days of rest in Toronto, we headed to Brockville and Ottawa by Via Rail, an experience in relaxing travel – it was great! Continue reading