Nothing says Ottawa more than taking a meeting on Parliament Hill.
I’ve explored what I consider to be the “new” Ottawa, a burgeoning food scene and fun communities with distinct flavour and personality. I think now though I should explore the Ottawa I expected to see, the political side. I know I know, I usually don’t wade into too many political debates but I do believe that being a citizen of Canada means you need to pay attention to what’s happening around you and when you visit Ottawa you must visit Parliament Hill and see where the decisions that affect us and our loved ones are made. So this Mr. Smith Is going to Ottawa (not Washington)!
First up is coffee with my MP Dr Hedy Fry. Do you know who your MP is? Even if you voted for someone else I feel strongly that once elected your MP is there to work for you and represent you, so if you don’t know who your MP is I really think you should. I think one of the best ways to get to know someone is over coffee. When I found out I was coming to Ottawa one of the first emails I sent out was to Dr. Hedy Fry’s office asking for a coffee date. Guess what? They said yes.
I’ve certainly seen Dr. Fry around my neighbourhood for years but I don’t really know her. Dr. Fry was elected 20 years ago and has championed Women’s Rights as well as HIV legislation and Same Sex equality just to name a few issues. As an immigrant to Canada Dr. Fry knows the importance of fighting for the underdog and she uses her voice and access whenever possible.
Ok enough of the boring political bio. On to my personal impressions. I found Dr. Fry to be full of energy, passion and ready to run for a 8th term in office. During our time together i realized the public Dr. Fry I’ve seen at Pride Parades, Charity Events, and other public functions is the same person I’m having coffee with. She’s curious about what you are doing, charismatic and a bit loud. Some people equate being loud as a negative where as I think being loud means you are passionate about your beliefs and that’s the definition I’m using to describe Dr. Fry.
If I was surprised by one thing during our coffee it was that the office was very blah. I guess since these offices are never permanently the members it’s hard to justify the $ to decorate them and quite possibly taxpayers would erupt in anger over government waste. The personal touches Dr. Fry has made in regards to artwork and memorial plaques speak volumes though. I’m sorry to report that the lighting wasn’t very good in the office and so most of my photos didn’t turn out very well. I hope this give you a flavour of her taste though.
Well my coffee is complete. I’ve met with my MP and now it’s off to a tour of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. You can actually get a tour of the entire buildings public spaces for free. Tours take place daily and you can also be a guest in the galleries during question period. Unfortunately because you can’t take in an recording devices I opted for the Peace Tower tour, the highest spot in Ottawa until the early 1970’s.
A lovely security screening and a walk up two flights of stairs and we are at the elevator that will take us to the Peace Tower pinnacle. While we wait in line if you look over the railing you can get a great view down into the rotunda of the building. An impressive place to enter, when you walked through it in the early days I’m sure the design was to make you feel that you were at a place and time that mattered. Be on your best behaviour and make your points well.
Our turn is up. The entrance to the Peace Tower is very gothic, I feel transported back to an earlier day.
Up we go! As you can see in the photo below it’s quite the journey. We started at the Memorial Chamber and rise all the way up to the Observation Deck.
Here is the view from the top. Words are not needed at this point.
Did you see Hull Quebec? Recognize where Yoga took place just a couple of days before? It’s all in front of your eyes from here.
When we head back down we get the honour to walk through the Memorial Chamber, a dedication to those who have died in military service to Canada. Thank you for your service.
Throughout the chamber are books from all the wars and conflicts Canada has participated in. In each book is the name of a soldier that died in service. Each day the page is turned and this way every year they are honoured.
I am not a fan of war but you can’t help but feel in awe of the sacrifice these men and women have made so that I/We can enjoy all the freedoms we have today. THANK YOU.
This is just a piece of what you can experience at Parliament Hill. I can’t recommend enough that you should experience it for yourself. If you have children, TAKE THEM. We live in a country that is beautiful, free and the envy of many other peoples from around the world. We need to appreciate what we have more and that begins with the seat of our power Parliament.
Thanks to Dr. Hedy Fry for making time for me and I hope other MP’s would do the same for you if you were to ever visit Ottawa.
I’ve almost reached the 1/2 way mark of my 30 Days In Ottawa and there is still so much to do and see. I wonder what’s in store for tomorrow 