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30 Days of Photos - #5 - Power


Welcome to 30 Days of Photos, where 18 bloggers are participating in posting a photo a day for 30 days. Here are the other 17 you can visit after you've been here:

Ziva, Mike, Nicky & Mike, Mo, Meleah, Bryan, Mariann, Malissa, Nora, Laughing Mom, Tanya, Elizabeth, 00dozo, Cheryl, Kristen Pam and Katherine



In Ottawa, the nation's capital, when you speak of power this is what comes to mind. This is the Centre Block of Parliament Hill. It's where Member's of Parliament, elected from across the country, sit in the House of Commons (the left side of the picture) and where Senators, appointed by the Prime Minister, sit in the Red Chamber or Senate (the right side of the picture). 

The parliament buildings were originally constructed beginning in 1859 but were destroyed by a fire in 1916. However, the Centre Block has looked like this picture since 1927 when it was rebuilt and the Peace Tower was completed.

Ironic that the buildings have a Peace Tower when the debates in the House of Commons are anything but peaceful.


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Comments

Cadeaux said…
Pretty building. Can't the public get closer to it...or was that just taken so you could see the whole thing in one fell swoop?
5 April 2012 at 08:28
nonamedufus said…
There's a whole group of buildings on Parliament Hill, Centre Block, East and West Block, Confederation Building - all of which house MPs and Senators. This is the Centre Block and, yes, parts of it are open to the public, after they pass through security. As well, the public can watch the debates that take place. They have guards that'll wake you should you nod off.
5 April 2012 at 08:45
Kristen said…
Beautiful building. And yes - it screams power. Great photo/story
5 April 2012 at 09:53
Unfinished Person said…
I liked how you included the fence and that it wasn't a close-up shot of the building. I also am enjoying your history lessons with each of your photos.
5 April 2012 at 10:08
Quirky Loon said…
Ah! Yes. The power of politics.

It's the bane of my existence. *sigh*

Great pic Dufus.
5 April 2012 at 10:19
nonamedufus said…
Truth be told I had to park several blocks away. By the time I reached the Hill I was too tired to get any closer. I'm glad you enjoy the history lesson. I like providing some context.
5 April 2012 at 10:20
nonamedufus said…
You got it in one, Quirks. Ottawa is such a "power" centric city due to the politicians and the bureaucracy. The region is so insulated from the rest of the country. Sometimes you wonder if the rest of the country really cares what goes on here.
5 April 2012 at 10:29
Mo "Mad Dog" Stoneskin said…
That's an impressive building, though I'd like to see more politicians debating in cow sheds these days...anyway, did you stay this side of the fence for security reasons?
5 April 2012 at 10:40
nonamedufus said…
The fence runs right around the Parliament Buildings but there are gates that let the public in. The pic I posted was one of 3 that I took. The other 2 had Japanese tourists in them.
5 April 2012 at 11:00
Mo "Mad Dog" Stoneskin said…
I've encountered the Japenese tourist problem myself.
5 April 2012 at 11:07
nonamedufus said…
Not that there's anything wrong about Japanese tourists. I just didn't want a photo of them taking a photo of me!
5 April 2012 at 11:12
Liz A. said…
Brilliant idea. I live in this capitol of this state. You'd think I'd thought of that. We have a most impressive federal courthouse.

So, so pretty. I love how the sun isn't shining. When I was much younger, politics was my back-up in case I didn't get into medical school. Can you imagine?
5 April 2012 at 11:16
Mo "Mad Dog" Stoneskin said…
Well that's exactly it. I've slipped into a few photos of Japenese tourists just for fun once or twice.
5 April 2012 at 11:20
nonamedufus said…
It was a very overcast (and cold) day when I took this and some other pictures that I'll be using on future days. It was the first thing I thought of when I saw the theme "power". But politics these days has such a nasty image. Bickering, name-calling, attack adds, dirty tricks and so on. Good thing you didn't need to go to plan B, Liz.
5 April 2012 at 11:23
nonamedufus said…
And I didn't want them laughing at my iPhone camera.
5 April 2012 at 11:31
Mo "Mad Dog" Stoneskin said…
That's understandable. If I was a Japanese tourist I'd have laughed at it.
5 April 2012 at 11:35
Ziva said…
That's a very impressive building, dufus, it practically radiates power.
5 April 2012 at 12:02
Cheryl said…
Beautiful shot of a gorgeous building. Sadly there seems to be less and less peace in these 'seats of power.'
5 April 2012 at 12:04
Nora Blithe said…
You live near some really beautiful places.
5 April 2012 at 12:46
nonamedufus said…
I worked covering the politicians inside that building as a journalist for 5 years back in the 80s. It's an amazing place - inside and out.
5 April 2012 at 12:53
nonamedufus said…
Politics has become laughable, at least in this country. Sadly in most instances it is the politicians who are responsible for this development. Just my view.
5 April 2012 at 12:54
nonamedufus said…
It really is a gorgeous region. We're quite lucky. And we take so much of this for granted. Someone had a lot of willpower to develop this area into what it is.
5 April 2012 at 12:56
nonamedufus said…
So that was you snickering?
5 April 2012 at 12:58
meleahrebeccah said…
"Ironic that the buildings have a Peace Tower when the debates in the House of Commons are anything but peaceful."

Very ironic.
5 April 2012 at 13:00
nonamedufus said…
You'd think they'd get the hint...but no.
5 April 2012 at 13:04
Linda Medrano said…
Really gorgeous photo of a really amazing place.
5 April 2012 at 13:07
nonamedufus said…
I could have run this under "architecture" earlier this week. Up close, the building is full of ornamental gargoyles... I don't know what the builder's/architect's fascination with them was but they can be found throughout the buildings both inside and out.
5 April 2012 at 13:27
Mo "Mad Dog" Stoneskin said…
Nah, I was the one on the far left, leaning on a Japanese chap's shoulder and winking.
5 April 2012 at 15:35
laughing mom said…
Awesome picture! I'm loving the tour! I got the feeling of power from the distance of the gate to the actual building - talk about ruling!
5 April 2012 at 17:07
frankleemeidere said…
I've watched Question Period. Those discussions are anything but peaceful. Children fighting on playgrounds have more dignity.
5 April 2012 at 17:13
nonamedufus said…
On Canada Day, July 1, that space is full of 100s of thousands of people who watch the entertainment and fireworks. During the summer, there's the re-enactment each morning of the Changing of the Guard. It's been the site if frisbee and soccer games as well as many, many protests.
5 April 2012 at 17:18
nonamedufus said…
Did you have your beaver? We're partial to beavers in Canada.
5 April 2012 at 17:20
nonamedufus said…
I covered those debates in the 80s. They were bad then. But they've really degenerated over the last 30 years. What the heck is it with these guys? Imagine running to be elected so you can haul in a great salary and perks and just call the other guys across the aisle names for a living. Your "children" remark is right on, Frank.
5 April 2012 at 17:32
Jayne said…
Is it me, or is that "Peace" tower just a little phallic? I don't associate phallic symbols with peace. No war was ever started by an excess of estrogen.

I'm over-thinking this, aren't I?
5 April 2012 at 17:47
nonamedufus said…
Yes you are. But if you were from Toronto, site of the CN Tower, you'd be saying yours was bigger than ours.
5 April 2012 at 17:50
Jayne said…
Yes. And not something I can say I'm a proud American about either. Hey, you could have combined this photo with the architecture one and gotten a two-fer. ;)
5 April 2012 at 18:10
nonamedufus said…
I could have, yes indeed. But Ziva has these silly rules that include one picture per day. Otherwise she'll get her whip out. I'm almost afraid to think of what her co-torturer Mike will get out.
5 April 2012 at 18:24
Nicky said…
Nice shot, Dufus. I think it's actually better that you were too pooped to go all the way in. Being on the other side of the fence, and a bit further away, it looks more imposing.
5 April 2012 at 19:46
nonamedufus said…
Imposing is my middle name. Do you want to reconsider rewording that second sentence? Where have I heard that before?
5 April 2012 at 19:53
mikewjattoomanymornings said…
Almost? You seem "almost" curious to me.
5 April 2012 at 20:52
mikewjattoomanymornings said…
With that fence all around it, and it sitting alone on a hill like it does, it looks like an asylum. It probably is, most days.
5 April 2012 at 20:55
nonamedufus said…
For some reason I'm reminded of the line from Blazing Saddles "excuse me while i whip this out". I don't know why.
5 April 2012 at 21:08
nonamedufus said…
Excellent observation, Mike. And most apt. I couldn't agree more.
5 April 2012 at 21:09
Katherine Murray said…
This is why I love this photo challenge. So many different ideas. What a GREAT idea for the word "power!"
5 April 2012 at 21:38
Cheryl said…
It's an absolute joke here too.
6 April 2012 at 07:44
nonamedufus said…
It is fun hopping around seeing how the other photographers, and in some cases, like mine, I use the term loosely - interpret each day's theme.
6 April 2012 at 07:51
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