Last weekend was Doors Open Ottawa, a yearly event during which a number of buildings and facilities that are usually closed to the public welcome visitors. I love this event because it’s a chance to take a peek inside interesting places and let’s face it, I’m a pretty curious person.
Last year, I visited the Supreme Court and the Paramedics Headquarters. This year, I opted for a building I always walk by but never truly paid attention to—the Government Conference Centre, which was also Ottawa’s central railway station until the 1960s. It’s located right in front of the Château Laurier, near the Rideau Centre and now serves as the place of many political and cultural discussions and negotiations, including the repatriation of Canada’s Constitution and the G20 Conference in 2001.
The first thing I noticed was the Canadian-themed carpet, with a huge maple leaf greeting the visitors—there were also maple leaves on doors! The main departure hall (now the main conference area) is based on the Great Hall of the Roman Baths of Caracalla, which makes for an interesting and detailed ceiling.
I fell in love with the model railroad tracks a group of enthusiasts had brought in—the details were amazing!
Heh, for some reason, I see a dragon like thingy coming up out of the ground behind the train station 😉
I really tried to see it but I can’t spot it. I have less imagination than you!
Heh 😀
I’d read about Doors Open Ottawa before. I love the concept there are a few places where I live that I would love to check out.
I love your pics of the model railroad setup. Somebody worked very hard on that.
The guys who made the models were here and were true enthusiast!
I think all cities should have an “open doors” day.
Is that Harper waiting for the bus ? 😉
OMG! I knew he reminded me of someone!
No I don’t like the picture as much 😆
I love the use of maple leaves for everything. This seems like such a cool event, I wish we had it in the US too!
I think it exists in Paris… maybe next time you are there? 😉
I have to respond to your commenthere because I don’t seemto have your email address. Replying to your post trys to send it to your profile!
You commented on the ubiquitous US pick-up truck. The only time I ever had a pic-up, or “pick’em-up truck” was when I was looking after several acres of pecan trees, and it was an old junker to haul limbs and trash. But in fairness there are a lot of truck owners who drive them for the macho image. High gas prices are reducing that number. My snarky reply was –
If you are an Okie or a Texan, you got to have a pick’em up truck, that is to say a “Cowboy Cadillac”.
According to the Urban Dictionary a Cowboy Cadillac is: A pickup truck, usually with the truck bed filled with empty beer cans and/or dogs.
I sometimes wish we had a pickup truck to bring furniture back home for instance. I can see they can be useful for those in trades for instance. But let’s face it, half of the pickup I see on the road are empty and driven by macho guys or suburban moms!
Hi Zhu,
I LOVE buildings like this that had one function and were renovated into something totally different, but with the older architecture.
As often with old train stations, you have those magnificent ceilings,windows and columns.
The models are cute :)Were the model trains running?
Yes, the train were running! It was complicated to take pictures actually because I had to make sure the little train wasn’t in the way.
I think “Doors Open” should be a week long thing rather than just 1 weekend- it’s not enough at all!
I know! And a lot of places were closed on Sunday. It really doesn’t allow enough time to visit several places, especially considering they can be far apart.
I like the perspective of the pictures you took of the model trains; it reminds me of the music video for Muse’s Uprising!
Oh, I have to watch it, I don’t know it!
I went there last year for Open Doors. I find it quite interesting/annoying that there used to be a perfectly located and quite stunning train station downtown, and that only because the rich homeowners along Colonel By complained enough about the noisy trains is it now way out in the east end.
I know! The transit system here could be so much better… they had a great location back in the days. Stupid Ottawa…
I love the model of that train. When I was small, I had a beautiful train set. Actually I still have it, but in Mumbai. 🙂
btw Zhu, you should do a feature on flags of all provinces and territories of Canada (third picture). They have interesting characteristics.
Eh, that’s a great idea! Thank you for the suggestion.