We usually drive by "the hill" (as people in Ottawa refer to the Parliament buildings) at some point in December to see the lights all lit up, but we had never actually attended the ceremony before. At the end of the workday we first stopped for some pizza (for the photographer) and pasta (for me) at Johnny Farina, easily our favourite restaurant in down town. Then we made our way up Metcalfe street to the hill, the center block already lit up from it's base in a fuchsia colour, which was changed to yellow and then to blue. A good size crowd had gathered before the steps to center block at about 10 minutes to six. We set up the camera a bit further back on the left lawn, to be able to shoot pictures over people's head while still being able to use the tripod, needed for the long exposures in the dark.
The peace tower's carillon was playing "White Christmas". I'd like to be kind, but we need a better carillon player. I've heard the carillon played before (lunchtime in the summer) and I can only call this person's style plodding and hesitant, and characterised by some kind of fear of using the smaller (higher note) bells. After it finished the person was introduced over the speakers as Dr. so and so, proving once again that a PhD does not quality make.
Purple peace tower with it's prominent gargoyles.
Directly to our left was a wood fire where you could obtain marshmallow and sticks to roast them on. There was a Beaver Tails stand set up on the other lawn, and an energy company provided free coffee. Somewhere the organisers were handing out candles (with collars to keep the flame from going out) but we were afraid to lose the great spot (or each other) so we passed on that.
At six o'clock they opened the ceremony and introduced a children's choir. They were amazing! Well practiced, clear, completely in perfect harmony. As a nice understated touch they were not dressed all the same, but instead had matching hats and scarves. At the same time a group of people emerged from the main doors in center block and waited behind the podium.
The choir in front of the provincial and territorial flags. The big button in the bottom right corner was later used to start the fireworks and light the lights,
As this year is the United Nations International Year of Youth, the organisers had chosen two seventeen year old high school students to be master of ceremony. A girl from the Gatineau side of the National Capital region, and a guy from the Ottawa side. Each of them had a list of accomplishments far more extensive than the average middle aged person.
The dignitaries were introduced and descended the stairs to take their places at the front of the podium. The choir then sang "Oh Canada", during which they projected the maple leaf fluttering on the wind onto each side of center block.
Maple leaf projected on center block.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper then gave a speech about the year that had just passed. He highlighted among other things the Olympics games in Vancouver, hosting the G8 and G20 (well, he is a politician) the damage done by hurricane Igor in Newfoundland, and the earthquake in Haiti, and the effort of the Canadian Armed Forces in response to these events, and in general. He then introduced a series of Christmas message from the provincial and territorial premiers, which were projected onto each side of the center block.
If you look carefully you can make out Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty doing his Jacob Marly impression, just not so gloomy.
Then a countdown, and with fireworks from the front of the lawns they lit up the lights on the hill and along Confederation Boulevard. Once the smoke from the fireworks settled, and people began to leave, we moved further off to one side to take some more pictures of the building. Unfortunately we can't capture the fact that the ice crystals projected on the building are moving.
All the lights lit up. Click on the image to see the larger version.
After that we made our way west along Wellington back to the car. We were pretty frozen by then, so the photographer was not in the mood to set up again to take a picture of the Supreme Court building, and we went back for that the next day. I think he regrets it now, because they managed to haul in construction equipment in the mean time. Oh well. It looks absolutely gorgeous lit up from the inside.
We picked up a hot chocolate at Bridgehead Coffee, Ottawa's home grown answer to Starbucks (in your dreams....) and made our way home. It was definitely worth seeing once, and it's a nice way to kick off the Christmas season. After all if we take our cue from retailers Christmas is the day after Halloween, and that's just a bit too much for me.
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