Category Archives: Ottawa

True Patriot Love

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Remembrance Day 2009 in the nation’s capital.

This year I spent Remembrance Day at the War Memorial in downtown Ottawa. Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were in attendance, along with the Prime Minister and the Governor General. Prince Charles and Michaelle Jean were both wearing stunning green* military uniforms. I was incredibly excited to see all these important people at the same time, on such an important day, at such a beautiful place, in our nation’s capital.

11/11/09

While Remembrance Day is an extremely emotional day, it is a mixture of sadness and happiness for me. On November 11, I am overwhelmed with patriotism. Half of me feels sad when remembering fallen soldiers, and half of me is happy because today Canadians are united in a great love for our country, all the amazing aspects and beautiful opportunities we have and everything that we can look forward to in the future.

11/11/09

The 21 gun salute, the jets that flew overhead, the veteran’s parade and seeing so many Canadians united together made my little heart feel like it would burst with pride and patriotism. Standing in a crowd of hundreds of shivering, poppy-wearing Canadians singing along together to O Canada was overwhelming. It was a beautiful moment, and I will never forget.

11/11/09

Update 11/13/09:
* Accoriding to this picture, and this picture, the uniforms appear to be black. They looked green from where I was standing.

 

Michael Ignatieff is Inattentive to his Underwear Choices

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Strong brow = Strong leadership.

Aside from having a formidable brow, Ignatieff is a good sport. I realise this is old, but it is worth watching.

From Merriam-Webster.com:

Formidable:
1: Causing fear, dread, or apprehension
2: Having qualities that discourage approach or attack
3: Tending to inspire awe or wonder : impressive

 

Fifteen Miles on the Rideau Canal

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Pretoria is looking low. Everybody down.

 

Atheist Bus Rides the TTC

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Ask and You Shall Receive

Today, Philip Chin from the Canadian Atheist Bus Campaign sent me a link to FLIKR pictures of the Atheist Bus ads on the side of some TTC busses.

“I think the pictures add a degree or normalcy and tangibility to the campaign. Once people see the ads running for a few weeks in Toronto without any problems, hopefully they’ll be more receptive to us in other parts of the country,” said Chin in the email.

Check out the slideshow here.

Read Kicked off the bus, an editorial in the Ottawa Citizen by Justin Trottier, president of the Freethought Association of Canada.

Photo courtesy of Philip Chin from the Canadian Atheist Bus Campaign.

All Aboard the Atheist Bus

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The Little Campaign that Could

Well there seems to be quite an uproar in Ottawa about the Atheist Bus ads.

Early last week, Ottawa was picked to be the next city for the Atheist Bus Campaign.

OC Transpo rejected the ads, and the Freethought Association faces a lot of challenges ahead before the campaign gets approval in Ottawa.

The matter will be further explored before full city council next Wednesday.

The ads were expected to roll out on Toronto buses this week, but I haven’t seen one yet. Here’s hoping.

A Guide to Living with Greenpeace

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I Get a Hemp T-Shirt

On Sunday I was stopped outside of the Rideau Centre by a man working for Greenpeace. Normally I don’t stop for people who are handing out flyers, or strangers who are beaming at you, clipboard in hand. But, I was in such a great mood, my friend and I stopped to see what he was all about.

He was trying to recruit more members. Alright, that sounds ok. We get a newsletter, and The Greenpeace Living Guide which is printed on recycled paper with vegetable ink.

To be legitimate members, I guess we have to contribute some money. The sun was shining for the first time in Ottawa for a while. It was a beautiful day. So I signed up, and agreed to contribute $12 monthly. It won’t break the bank, and I get a Hemp shirt!

Oh Greenpeace, you had me at vegetable ink.

Atheist Bus Campaign Coming to Ottawa

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Don’t Worry, Just Enjoy Life.

The Freethough Association of Canada wants to put Atheist advertisements on the side of OC Transpo busses.

Atheist Bus Ad

My first Centretown News story went live today. Check it out here. 

Photo courtesy of atheistbus.ca

The Bike Cycle

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Safety and the Great Glebe Pastime

I almost had a panic attack while riding my bike to school last week. I was on a busy street without a helmet.

I was trying to be aware of my surroundings, heightening my senses almost to the point that I think I evolved into a higher species.

It’s the stigma of the helmet that just wont go away. I thought they looked lame in elementary school, and I guess not much has changed. And don’t get me started on helmet hair.

But the issue of bicycle safety is literally one of life and death.

I don’t point and laugh when I see somebody riding a bike wearing a helmet. I doubt the general public would point and laugh at me.

Peter Conway of McCrank’s Cycles said, “It’s the people who don’t wear the helmets that you notice.”

But really, what’s the point of wearing a helmet? If you were rammed by a Mack Truck, will a piece of foam help you walk away?

Perhaps full body armour is the next bicycle frontier.

A Penny for Your Thoughts

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When Things are Wrong, We Write

Last Wednesday, I saw a man sitting outside of the Loeb Glebe. It’s a popular spot for people to sit. Sometimes they ask for spare change; often they just have a little sign and don’t say a word.

This man was particularly interesting, because as I passed him on the sidewalk, he opened up his coat and took a swig from a can that looked suspiciously like beer.

Today I saw a younger man sitting in the same spot. He had a sign that said he was trying to get to Halifax. I don’t know if he was heading home, or running away. Either way, I hope he gets where he’s going.

Graffiti in the Glebe

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The Bank Street Blemish

It’s not charming, quaint or cozy. Graffiti just doesn’t fit in the Glebe.

 Ethik tag on a Bank Street alley.

Is graffiti meant to shock you with a message, or is the act of tagging buildings shocking enough in itself?.  

Graffiti above the Body Shop and Magpie Jewellery.

If you manage to spot the graffiti on Bank Street, you will notice they are bold enough to stop you in your tracks. It will make you pause for a second and think. The kind of thinking where you turn your head to the side and say, “Now wait just one minute.”

Small tag at Bank and 5th Avenue.

Somehow, the graffiti artists have managed to make them blend seamlessly into the background of the busy street.

Rainbow tags on a dumpster.

Taking a second look at the graffiti on Bank Street is enough to make you stop and turn your head to the side, thinking “How charming.”