Ottawa Walking Tour 2h20 and 25 audio commentary

You are now along the Ottawa River, the main tributary of the St. Lawrence River. It is the longest river in Quebec and the 8th largest in Canada.

Canada is the second largest country in the world, far behind Russia but ahead of the United States. Yet, it is a country with one of the lowest population densities, which is also concentrated in the country’s major cities: Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and of course Ottawa, the capital.

Here is a nice view of the Ottawa River! On the other side, the buildings you see belong to the city of Gatineau, which is part of the province of Quebec.

Behind the Centre Block, you notice the superb library of Parliament. It was created in 1871, bringing together the Works and Collections of the two former Libraries of the Legislative Assemblies of Upper and Lower Canada, which at the time were divided in two.

We arrive here along the Rideau Canal. It connects the Ottawa River on your left to the St. Lawrence River at Kingston, Ontario. It is a total of 202 kilometres long.

Despite its name, this imposing building is not the main seat of the Senate. The Minister normally sits in the Centre Block of Parliament, like the House of Commons.

Here you see a building that houses the Ottawa Convention Centre. It consists of 37 different rooms that can host events of all kinds, such as trade shows, business meetings and weddings.

You are in front of Ottawa City Inn. It consists of two large buildings, including the one in front of you, which corresponds to the new wing. Its entrance is on the other side.

On your left is the beautiful Knox Presbyterian Church. It is named after the famous Scottish minister John Knox, a theologian who was one of the great leaders of the Reformation in the 16th century.

Here you are in front of the Ottawa Courthouse, located on the same space as City Inn. I have the opportunity to tell you a little more about how government is organized in Canada.

Look to your left: the beautiful church you see there, with its light green arrow, belongs to the first Baptist congregation in Ottawa.

Here you are in the heart of Confederation Park, one of the main parks in Canada’s capital. In front of you is a fountain, built of Peterhead granite, which honours the founder of the City of Ottawa, Lieutenant Colonel John By, who came straight from England.

Before you stands a monument that has enough to propel us back a few centuries. This totem was installed here in 1971, and celebrates the centennial of the union between Canada and British Columbia, which took place in 1871.

Here you are, facing one of the greatest jazz pianists and composers of all time! Born in Montreal in 1925, Oscar Peterson has several nicknames: the “Maharaja of the keyboard”, the “Brown bomber of boogie-woogie”, the “Master of swing” or “The Man with four hands”.

We arrive at the famous Confederation Square, one of the main squares of the city. Here, you get a good look at some of Ottawa’s iconic buildings.

Here, it is true that you can quickly be attracted by the huge building in front of you. But before you turn your attention to the castle, look to your right.

Come on, let's talk a little now about the mastodon standing before you. This is Château Laurier, a 4-star Inn that was opened in 1912, after 3 years of construction.

As you will see, the Parliament of Canada consists of several buildings, each of which is more beautiful and imposing than the last. Here you are in front of the East Block, which like the others is classified as a National Historic Site.

The Centennial Flame is a true symbol for Canada: this monument represents the unity of the country, through a flame burning above a fountain.

If there’s one thing you can’t miss in Ottawa, it’s Parliament. Already, because Ottawa is the capital of Canada, it has the highest institutions in the country.

Here you see an elegant statue of Queen Victoria, an inseparable figure in the city of Ottawa. So there is even a dedicated holiday in Canada, Queen’s Day, or Victoria Day, celebrated on the Monday before May 25.

Let us pause for a moment to observe the buildings facing you. On the left, across the road, is the Canadian Bank Museum. It was installed in a state-of-the-art building in 2017, right next to the Bank of Canada.

On your right, in the same style as the other Parliament buildings, stands the Justice Building. It was built between 1935 and 1938 by architect Thomas Fuller.

Here you are, again, in one of the most important buildings in the country: the Supreme Court of Canada. A symbol of Canadian judicial power, it is the ultimate legal recourse for civil, criminal, administrative and constitutional decisions.

Look to your right: the imposing building in front of you contains the Canadian Library and Archives.