Doors Open Ottawa!
June 5th and 6th marked the annual Doors Open Ottawa weekend. This means that a lot of the government buildings, museums, embassies, and other historic sites around the city are open to the public for FREE! My girlfriends here and I went to visit a few of the spots each of the days and I've recounted some interesting little facts about each - I won't bore you with historical details, you can all Google if you're more interested but some of these places are very cool.
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is a general court of appeal that hears about 80 court cases each year. The cases come from provincial and territorial courts as well as from the Federal Court of Appeal and they include civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative law matters. Appeals are usually only heard at the Supremem Court if permission to appeal is granted and this happens when the matter is a question of public importance or an important issue of law.
Quick Facts:
- Nine judges sit on the panel when all are present
- Minimum number of judges to hear a case is 5, maximum 9, otherwise, 7 - always an odd number of judges so the decision can be made by majority
- Judges are appointed by the Governor in Council and can remain in position until they are 75
- The judges wear red robes trimmed with white Canadian mink for special occasions (they look a lot like Santa suits to me)
Quick Facts:
- Nine judges sit on the panel when all are present
- Minimum number of judges to hear a case is 5, maximum 9, otherwise, 7 - always an odd number of judges so the decision can be made by majority
- Judges are appointed by the Governor in Council and can remain in position until they are 75
- The judges wear red robes trimmed with white Canadian mink for special occasions (they look a lot like Santa suits to me)
The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat
The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat was established by His Highness the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. The building was designed by world-renowned architect Fumihiko Maki and opened in December 2008. The building was designed from the Aga Khan's belief that atchitecture is about the quality of life and those who live in the built environment. As a result, Maki designed the building to reflect the natural luminosity and multi-faceted shape of rock crystal. The Atrium of the building has an amazing glass dome roof and features a jali screen that seems to float.
Interesting Facts:
- All of the wood in the main spaces of the building is Canadian Maple
- The bronze sculpture in the photo above is called the Bear Mother Sculpture and was designed by a Canadian artist named Bill Reid, and given as a gift to His Highness the Aga Khan on the Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary as Imam)
- The exterior courtyard was designed in the style of a traditional char bagh or faour-part garden to represent Canada's four seasons
Interesting Facts:
- All of the wood in the main spaces of the building is Canadian Maple
- The bronze sculpture in the photo above is called the Bear Mother Sculpture and was designed by a Canadian artist named Bill Reid, and given as a gift to His Highness the Aga Khan on the Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary as Imam)
- The exterior courtyard was designed in the style of a traditional char bagh or faour-part garden to represent Canada's four seasons
Laurier House
Laurier House was home to two of Canada's most prominent Prime Ministers - Sir Wilfrid Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King. Both lead Canada for many years from this house on Laurier Avenue in Ottawa.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Facts:
- Served as Prime Minister for 15 years; in office 1896 - 1911
- First francophone PM and worked to balance the French and English interests
- Married to Lady Zoe Laurier who loved to entertain guests and throw dinner parties in the house
- Upon Lady Laurier's death in 1921, the house was given to King along with many of the possessions that Laurier had been given during his term as PM
- Many other original furnishings and household items have been donated back to the house from members of the Laurier family
William Lyon Mackenzie King Facts:
- Longest serving PM in history with 22 years in office between 1921 and 1948
- Never married and did not enjoy entertaining or being social
- Favorite room in the house was the library (which was such a cozy, warm room with neat furniture and a great fireplace - we would never get Cheryl out of there if it was in our house)
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Facts:
- Served as Prime Minister for 15 years; in office 1896 - 1911
- First francophone PM and worked to balance the French and English interests
- Married to Lady Zoe Laurier who loved to entertain guests and throw dinner parties in the house
- Upon Lady Laurier's death in 1921, the house was given to King along with many of the possessions that Laurier had been given during his term as PM
- Many other original furnishings and household items have been donated back to the house from members of the Laurier family
William Lyon Mackenzie King Facts:
- Longest serving PM in history with 22 years in office between 1921 and 1948
- Never married and did not enjoy entertaining or being social
- Favorite room in the house was the library (which was such a cozy, warm room with neat furniture and a great fireplace - we would never get Cheryl out of there if it was in our house)
National Gallery of Canada
Sunday afternoon was spent at the National Gallery of Canada. We arrived on time to catch the guided tour which was an hour long and took us through many of the main galleries with stops at various pieces of notable artwork. I enjoyed the tour because I don't know a lot about art, particularly the new age type art that doesn't really look like art at all. For example, a picture with a red strip and a blue strip... I feel as though I could do that and it would never be hung in the National Gallery so what makes this person's so much better? The guide explained some reasons and while I still don't know if I would call it Art, I understood better.
Quick Facts:
- The Gallery opened in 1988 and includes the Colonnade, an incline that joins the Main Entrance to the Great Hall, the Great Hall, the Gallery's main ceremonial space designed as a tribute to the Parliamentary Library, the Garden Court and Water Court, two courtyards located in the middle of the gallery as a place for pause and reflection, and the Rideau Street Chapel, a chapel inside the gallery where people can worship and also where spiritual ceremonies and concerts are put on
- You are not allowed to touch the works of art, or photograph them
- The giant spider sculpture sits outside the main entrance to the Gallery - good photo spot for many tourists (and residents)
- This summer's exhibition is called Pop Life - Art in a Material World
- The Gallery holds classes and programs for both adults and children to better understand and experience art such as painting classes or a class on stimulating the senses which involves seeing art through all 5 senses, very cool
Quick Facts:
- The Gallery opened in 1988 and includes the Colonnade, an incline that joins the Main Entrance to the Great Hall, the Great Hall, the Gallery's main ceremonial space designed as a tribute to the Parliamentary Library, the Garden Court and Water Court, two courtyards located in the middle of the gallery as a place for pause and reflection, and the Rideau Street Chapel, a chapel inside the gallery where people can worship and also where spiritual ceremonies and concerts are put on
- You are not allowed to touch the works of art, or photograph them
- The giant spider sculpture sits outside the main entrance to the Gallery - good photo spot for many tourists (and residents)
- This summer's exhibition is called Pop Life - Art in a Material World
- The Gallery holds classes and programs for both adults and children to better understand and experience art such as painting classes or a class on stimulating the senses which involves seeing art through all 5 senses, very cool