ottawa

Gillian’s Birthday

December 2, 2017 richardt

Rainwater

Susan, Claudia and I headed up to Ottawa to visit Gillian on her birthday. Angela was unable to join us, as she was preparing for exams. We arrived on Friday afternoon, after dropping Chloe off at G-ma and G-pa’s. We stayed at Albert at Bay Suite Hotel.

On Saturday we started with breakfast at Chance’s R and then went to the Canadian Tire Centre for the opening ceremonies of the Roar of the Rings. The 50/50 sign advertising a whopping $10 prize.

This was the Olympic Trials, the top 9 mens and women’s teams were there to compete for the honour of representing Canada in Pyeongchang at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

After the Opening Ceremonies, we stayed for the first draw, both eventual winners, Rachel Homan and Kevin Koe were playing.

We took Gillian to The Grand Pizzeria for her birthday dinner in the ByWard Market. From the hotel we walked along Sparks Street.

We spotted some Santa’s out on a Pub crawl.

The Stanley Cup Monument on Sparks Street.

Chateau Laurier.

The 5.6 million dollar ice rink on Parliament Hill.

On the way back to the hotel we saw the Santa’s at the Bier Market on Sparks Street.

Claudia and Gillian with the snowman, note Claudia stole the one shovel for the photo.

September 1, 2017 richardt

Rainwater

gillian ottawa train

Gillian has started her final co-op work term. She is up in Ottawa working for Spartan Bioscience. Susan and I drove up with Gillian at the end of August to help her move-in. She is renting a room in a house about a 10 minute drive from work.

After we dropped her things off we headed into Ottawa, we were staying for a few days and booked a room at the Novotel Hotel downtown. The first night we headed over to Parliament Hill for the Northern Lights show.

It is a pretty impressive show and the way in which they project it onto the building.

It ends with O Canada.

The Chateau Laurier.

The Ottawa sign was in the Byword Market area.

We made the walk across the river to Gatineau.

We went to the MOSAICANADA 150 in Jacques-Cartier Park.

The theme of the exhibit reflects 150 years of history, values, culture and arts in Canada.

Gillian taking photos of a girl and her maman.

The Rideau Canal Locks 1-8.

Every Wednesday through the summer they have Yoga on the Hill. This was the last one of the year.

Gillian and Susan with the Canada 150 sign.

We walked the length of the Sparks Street Mall.

On the Thursday we headed back to Gatineau to visit the Canadian Museum of History (formerly the Museum of Civilization). There was a Hockey special exhibit. Here is Gillian with Sidney Crosby.

New this year is the Canadian History Hall.

It was a cloudy morning, but by the time we finished at the museum it had cleared up, but it was a lot cooler than earlier in the week.

Outside the National Art Gallery.

The Notre Dame Cathedral.

We had walked down to the Mint to visit the gift store.

Gillian Standing for Canada in Inspiration Village.

In the Byword Market area near the Beaver Tails, it was always busy out front.

Gillian dropped us off at the train station.

We took the VIA Rail train back to Union Station and then the GO Train to Lisgar station. Angela was working so Dylan came to pick us up with Claudia.

One of the service attendants on the train also entertains the riders. Shortly after we got back I got a VIA Rail newsletter e-mail and there was a profile on the Zachary Wells. Here he is doing a card trick with Susan.

uOttawa

October 26, 2012 richardt

Rainwater

gillian ottawa university

Susan and I took Gillian to Ottawa on Friday for the uOttawa Day. It was an opportunity to hear about their Science programs, tour the residences and campus. We drove up Thursday night and came back Saturday morning. We enjoyed an extra day of sun and 22°C that went through Mississauga on Thursday.