Memorial Chamber | Peace Tower in Ottawa, Ontario

Inside Peace Tower in Ottawa, Ontario you'll find the Memorial Chamber on Parliament Hill. On display in the main altar is the First World War Book of Remembrance. When Parliament was rebuilt in the early 1920's following a devastating fire and the end of World War I, the new Peace Tower included this Memorial Chamber in dedication to all the Canadian men and women who had given their lives in service to their country.

Peace Tower at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario

It was purely by coincidence that the timing of my visit to Ottawa, Ontario in December 2018 worked out as well as it did. This view from the top of Peace Tower from Canada's Parliament Building has suddenly become a lot rarer - at least for the next decade that is.

Centre Block closed just last month as Parliament is about to undergo an extensive rehabilitation that is expected to last 10 years. This has meant that the House of Commons and Senate have moved into new (temporary) homes until the work is complete. It also means that visitors won't be able tour the Parliament Building or take in this incredible Peace Tower view for years.

As I mentioned, I wasn't actually aware that Parliament Hill's Centre Block was closing until arriving in Ottawa. However, the news obviously made the exploration of the building more poignant knowing that I was among some of the final groups of people to see (and photograph) Parliament like this one last time. At the very least, this post should make a nice bookend if / when I make it back to Ottawa to see the finished work a decade from now. 

Looking up at the clock from the observation deck.

The view of downtown Ottawa from Peace Tower.

Peace Tower. You can see the windows of the observation deck.

The ceiling inside the observation deck.

A view of the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Library of Parliament.

View of the Chateau Laurier and Rideau Canal.

Security on the roof of the Parliament Building.

National Gallery of Canada.

VIA Rail Adventure: Ottawa to Toronto

As a Western Canadian who really has to go out of his way to find passenger rail service, I find there's still a lot of novelty in traveling by train. Sure, it's slower than flying and more limited than driving, but there's just something relaxing about watching the world roll by and then pulling into a big train station right in the centre of town.

On a recent visit to Ontario, my friend Tyler and I thought it would be fun to catch the train in Ottawa for a quick excursion to Toronto. For efficiency sake this also worked out well because we were staying at the Royal York, one of Canada's grand railway hotels, which is just across the street from Union Station in downtown Toronto. Here are a few visuals from riding the rails. 

Sunset over Lake Ontario seen from the train.

Union Station in Toronto, Ontario.