Canadian Parliament Photo Sampler

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Michel Loiselle

Update – March 2018

Looking for political or parliamentary photographs? Consider the Canadian Parliament photo collection. It includes 200+ images of our institution in scenarios such as Canada Day, Inside, Silhouettes, Christmas, Evenings, Seasons and Night shots.

View the Canadian Parliament photo sampler for inspiration! Images start at $12 and are available for immediate download.

Thank you for visiting and have an excellent evening,

Michel – Website

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OTHER POSTS BY MICHEL LOISELLE

Knowing our Parliamentary Precinct — Tulips on Parliament Hill – The West Block of Canada – 7 Year Parliament Project – Politically Speaking – Canada in One Photo – Design and Imaging — Haunted Castle — Night Shots — Hey That’s My Image — My Canadian Pride Is Showing — Canada Day on Parliament Hill — Images in Color and in Stereo – 5 Reasons to Use Photos — Gargoyles on Parliament Hill – Christmas on Parliament Hill — Live Music is Always Best — The Confederation Building — The Supreme Court of Canada

Knowing our Parliamentary Precinct

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Michel Loiselle

Update: March 2017

Parliament Hill

Today, I’m taking you on a visit of the main buildings that make up the Canadian Parliamentary Precinct. They’re based on gothic architecture and have so much to offer and interesting information to read along the way. We’ll see the Library of Parliament, the Confederation building, the East Block, the West Block, the Centre Block and Langevin Block.

The Confederation Building

Canadian Parliament photos by Michel Loiselle
The Confederation building corner of Wellington and Bank streets. Its interior was renovated in the 1970s to mark a shift from accommodating departmental staff to housing a number of government Ministers and Members of Parliament with their staff. Read the Confederation Building article to know more.

The East Block

Angry East Block
The East block, sits on the East side of the Centre Block and mainly houses Parliamentarians and Senators. Find out about this very interesting building in downtown Ottawa just above the Rideau Canal.

The interesting part of this structure is that it looks different from the front and the back.

The Library of Parliament

The Library of Parliament, also part of the Parliament Precinct, houses all the important documents needed for MPs to do their jobs. It is wonderful with originality and pride. It’s an amazing building set in the High Victorian Gothic Revival style by Thomas Fuller and Chilion Jones. It opened in 1876. Directing a staff of 300, Sonia L’Heureux was appointed Parliamentary Librarian on June 22, 2012. Read the photo essay on this incredible structure. The Library of Parliament was the only building left standing after the fire of 1916 destroyed most of the Centre Block, because an employee remembered to close the iron doors of the Library before leaving on February 3.

The West Block

The West Block of Canada. Sitting just West of Centre block. It houses Ministers, Members of Parliament, their staff, committee rooms, and an important ceremonial space. It is presently being renovated. In 2019, it will be the temporary space for the House of Commons Chamber when the Centre Block closes for renovations.

The Langevin Block

Langevin Closeup
The Langevin Block, corner of Elgin and Wellington streets spanning to Metcalfe street, and takes a whole block in front of Parliament Hill. This building is mainly used for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) business. It was the first federal government building to go up after Centre, East and West blocks on Wellington Street.

The Centre Block

9 PM Politics

The Centre Block, what most people relate to when thinking of the Canadian Parliament with its 4-sided clock is recognized worldwide and is the number one tourist attraction in Ottawa year-round. It stands proud every day with its gargoyles at the entrance representing England and Scotland. There are tours specifically for schools to help our children better understand the architecture and legislative side of this incredible architectural wonder. Let’s not forget the history that goes behind the Parliament Centre block with all its Prime Ministers, Ministers, Members of Parliament and of course the Pages working to help Members accomplish their daily tasks. Here, we’ll take you on a seasonal tour of the Canadian Parliament Centre Block. Enjoy!

I hope you’ve enjoyed visiting the Parliamentary precinct and all its buildings. The images from these blog articles are from the Canadian Parliament photo collection. A 200+ collection of our Parliament buildings in scenarios such as Canada Day, inside, evenings, silhouettes, gargoyles, night, seasons, Christmas and much more. Have a look at the collection and I’m sure you’ll find something for your next project. Images start at $5 and are available for immediate download.

Thank you for visiting and have an excellent day!

Michel – Website

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OTHER POSTS BY MICHEL LOISELLE

Confederation Building – Parliament Hill

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Michel Loiselle

Update – March 2017

Ottawa, Bank and Wellington Streets

Canadian Parliament photos by Michel Loiselle

Today, I’d like to take you on Parliament Hill. More precisely, the Confederation building. As you can see, it’s an interesting structure with neat towers and beautiful turrets. It was completed in 1932 as the first major component of a new federal government precinct in the area west of Parliament Hill. It was designed by the Chief Architect’s Branch of the Department of Public Works, with official attribution to R.C. Wright, David Ewart and Thomas Adams.

Canadian Parliament photos by Michel Loiselle The exterior is virtually unchanged; It was originally constructed to house employees of federal departments, namely the Department of Agriculture.

Canadian Parliament photos by Michel Loiselle

The interior was renovated in the 1970s to mark a shift from accommodating departmental staff to housing a number of government Ministers and Members of Parliament with their staff. It now plays a central role in Parliament.

Canadian Parliament photos by Michel Loiselle

Approximate Size: 9,122.6 m²Current Occupant: House of Commons

Canadian Parliament photos by Michel Loiselle I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about this interesting building. The pictures are from the Canadian Parliament photo collection. A 200+ image catalog showing Parliament architecture doing what it does best. Images start at $12 (web size) and are available for immediate download. You can also have a look at the various categories I offered, from People, Christmas, Mammals etc. See the galleries here:

Canadian Parliament photos by Michel Loiselle Sources: PWGSC Services, Wikipedia
Images: Michel Loiselle

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OTHER POSTS BY MICHEL LOISELLE

Knowing our Parliamentary Precinct — Tulips on Parliament Hill – The West Block of Canada – 7 Year Parliament Project – Politically Speaking – Canada in One Photo – Design and Imaging — Haunted Castle — Night Shots — Hey That’s My Image — My Canadian Pride Is Showing — Canada Day on Parliament Hill — Images in Color and in Stereo – 5 Reasons to Use Photos — Gargoyles on Parliament Hill – Christmas on Parliament Hill – Live Music is Always Best – The Confederation Building – The Supreme Court of Canada

Colourful Outlook

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Michel Loiselle

The Excitement of Colour

Update – March 2017

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Color images by Michel Loiselle

Using color images in your documents can be a lot of fun. Color photos can change your mood and make you want to see more of the article or post. Something as simple as balloons can bring back all kinds of feelings and good childhood memories. It’s a fact, photos will get you more views and colourful images get noticed even more. Every time!

These feel-good pictures can be purchased from the Colors Collection on Mostphotos.com for as little as $12 and are available for immediate download. Hope you’ve enjoyed your visit. Read the blog and see how this image-maker does it. Thank you and have an excellent evening.

Michel – Website

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OTHER POSTS BY MICHEL LOISELLE

Knowing our Parliamentary Precinct — Tulips on Parliament Hill – The West Block of Canada – 7 Year Parliament Project – Politically Speaking – Canada in One Photo – Design and Imaging — Haunted Castle — Night Shots — Hey That’s My Image — My Canadian Pride Is Showing — Canada Day on Parliament Hill — Images in Color and in Stereo – 5 Reasons to Use Photos — Gargoyles on Parliament Hill – Christmas on Parliament Hill – Live Music is Always Best – The Confederation Building – The Supreme Court of Canada

The Library of Parliament

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Michel Loiselle

Update – January 2018

Today, I’m taking you on a tour of the Library of Parliament. It’s an amazing building set in the High Victorian Gothic Revival style by Thomas Fuller and Chilion Jones. It opened in 1876. Directing a staff of 300, Sonia L’Heureux was appointed Parliamentary Librarian on June 22, 2012.

Canadian Parliament photos by Michel Loiselle

Library Business

Parliament photos by Michel Loiselle The Library of Parliament offers information, reference and research services to parliamentarians and their staff, parliamentary committees, associations and delegations, and senior Senate and House of Commons officials.

Current issue reviews, backgrounders, compilations, legislative summaries, reading lists and finding aids are just some of the Library’s information tools.

The Library has more than 17 linear kilometres of materials (600,000 items) in its collection, including books, periodicals, government documents, CD-ROMs and videos. Parliamentary clients can also tap into services such as on-line databases, an electronic news filtering system and an on-line catalogue of information right from their desktops.

Canadian Parliament photos by Michel Loiselle

Inside

Parl-x-mas-2007-13

The main reading room rises to a vaulted ceiling and the walls and stacks are lined with white pine panelling carved into a variety of textures, flowers, masks, and mythical creatures. In the galleries are displayed the coats of arms of the seven provinces that existed in 1876, as well as that of the Dominion of Canada, and standing directly in the centre of the room is a white marble statue of Queen Victoria, sculpted by Marchall Wood.

The Library

Interesting Facts

Banknote

Not many people are aware that the building is featured on the Canadian ten dollar banknote. The front features a portrait of Canada’s first Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, and a metallic image of the Library of Parliament.

Recycling

Building A significant portion of the old copper roofing from the Library of Parliament renovation, was reused by the Canadian War Museum at various locations throughout the museum’s interior spaces.

Fire of 1916

The 1916 fire that destroyed the majority of the Centre Block; the building was only connected to the main complex by a single corridor and the library clerk at the time, Michael MacCormac, secured the library’s iron doors before the fire could spread into that area.

Evening Library There is so much more to know and learn about the Library of Parliament. Visit the Library site for an interesting fact sheet and more.

The images in this essay are part of the Canadian Parliament photo collection of more than 200 pictures. Images start at $5 and are available for immediate download.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour. Have an excellent evening.

Michel – http://loiselleblog.com

Sources: Wikipedia, Library of Parliament, Royal Canadian Mint.

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OTHER POSTS BY MICHEL LOISELLE

Tulips on Parliament Hill – The West Block of Canada – 7 Year Parliament Project – Politically Speaking – Canada in One Photo – Design and Imaging — Haunted Castle — Night Shots — Hey That’s My Image — My Canadian Pride Is Showing — Canada Day on Parliament Hill — Images in Color and in Stereo – 5 Reasons to Use Photos — Gargoyles on Parliament Hill – Christmas on Parliament Hill – Live Music is Always Best – The Confederation Building

Christmas on Parliament Hill

Posted on November 30, 2013 by Michel Loiselle

Festive Parliament

Update: March 2018

Each December, Capital cities across Canada are brought together by the annual celebration called Christmas Lights Across Canada.

There are giant snowflakes superimposed on the Parliament Centre Block and more than 150,000 lights on the Hill. Here, the trailing lights were a bonus as a bus drove by creating this great effect during a long exposure.

Moving inside, we are greeted with a pair of very big Christmas trees in the Rotunda and many more down the hallways. It’s a beautiful showcase that complements the gothic architecture and worth a visit when you’re visiting Ottawa in December.

I received this beautiful hand painted ornament of the Centre Block in a gift basket and now it’s part of the Christmas and Parliament photo collections.

A view from the Rotunda looking down the Hall of Honour to the Library of Parliament entrance with Christmas trees decorated with red bows.

The Canadian Parliament Centre Block in all its decorated glory during the Christmas Lights Across Canada festivities. The Canadian Parliament with giant snowflakes and Christmas trees on the Parliament Hill lawn.

Canadian Parliament Centre Block bathed in a red sky, with blue lights as a beautiful addition during the festive season. This photo was taken from the Rideau Canal; the longest skating rink in Canada.

Canadian Parliament photos by Michel Loiselle

The pictures here are part of the 200+ Canadian Parliament photo collection. Ideal for creative and business professionals, images start at $12 and are available for immediate download. Have a look. You never know!

P.S. See the Christmas photo collection and the Christmas Interlude Slideshow for e-Card ideas. Thank you for visiting and have a great evening.

Michel

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OTHER POSTS BY MICHEL LOISELLE

Knowing our Parliamentary Precinct — Tulips on Parliament Hill – The West Block of Canada – 7 Year Parliament Project – Politically Speaking – Canada in One Photo – Design and Imaging — Haunted Castle — Night Shots — Hey That’s My Image — My Canadian Pride Is Showing — Canada Day on Parliament Hill — Images in Color and in Stereo – 5 Reasons to Use Photos — Gargoyles on Parliament Hill – Christmas on Parliament Hill — The Confederation Building — The Supreme Court of Canada

Parliament’s Many Faces

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Michel Loiselle

Update – March 2017

The Canadian Parliament buildings are an incredible gothic historic wonder that I’ve been photographing since 2006. The collection is now ready for show and you won’t believe the many angles and perspectives that these buildings offer!
See the many faces of Parliament Hill by reading the “Canadian Pride” pictorial from my blog. You could find the perfect image for your document or report. You never know!

Thank you for visiting and have a great evening.

Michel

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OTHER POSTS BY MICHEL LOISELLE

Knowing our Parliamentary Precinct — Tulips on Parliament Hill – The West Block of Canada – 7 Year Parliament Project – Politically Speaking – Canada in One Photo – Design and Imaging — Haunted Castle — Night Shots — Hey That’s My Image — My Canadian Pride Is Showing — Canada Day on Parliament Hill — Images in Color and in Stereo – 5 Reasons to Use Photos — Gargoyles on Parliament Hill – Christmas on Parliament Hill – Live Music is Always Best – The Confederation Building – The Supreme Court of Canada

Political Pictorial

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Michel Loiselle

Parliament From All Angles

Update – January 2018

Lunch at the Canadian Museum of History

Visiting Ottawa soon? I invite you to discover some inspirational photography of the Canadian Parliament.

Creating and showcasing images of our gothic heritage buildings is what this post is about. Read how shooting the Hill year-round, day or night for 7 years can grow a photo collection. See the different perspectives, angles and compositions this institution is capable of displaying. Read my post 7 Year Parliament Project to find out more.

Michel – Website

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OTHER POSTS BY MICHEL LOISELLE

US Embassy in Ottawa

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Michel Loiselle

UPDATE: March 2018

The United States has had an official diplomatic presence in Canada since 1827. The building consolidates more than 10 Embassy-related offices and houses more than 200 people. Stock photography by Michel Loiselle Reflecting the close relationship of friendly neighbors, the United States Embassy was completed in 1999, to harmonize with Ottawa’s urban design contexts on the embassy’s four sides: the Byward Market to the East; the Peacekeeping Monument and National Gallery to the North; the Federal district and Major’s Hill Park to the west; and the York Steps to the south. The embassy’s interior, showcasing the art of 59 artists from the United States, is organized as two bars of office space, joined by an atrium in the center.

Architect – David Childs

David Childs (born 1941 Princeton, New Jersey) is a consulting design partner with the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. He is best known for his controversial redesign of the new One World Trade Center in New York. Childs graduated from Yale University in 1963 and earned a master’s degree from the Yale School of Art and Architecture in 1967.

About David Childs’ Embassy in Canada:

Size: 13,7983 square feet (12,819 square meters)
Design: A “plinth” stone base provides continuity and unity to the uneven terrain of the site; a center tower provides light and circulation to the interior
Example of Appropriate Architecture: Designed for this setting to suitably function as an embassy
Architectural Firm: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

Controversy

Local architects and citizens complained that the structure overshadowed the historic market and suggested that it looked like a battleship, or worried about the danger posed to local businesses by potential terrorist attacks against the embassy. These complaints were aggravated after the September 11 attacks, when a number of roads around the embassy were blocked, affecting traffic and hurting businesses. To this day traffic flow on Sussex Drive has been hampered by the closing of one of the lanes in order to place extra barriers.

US Embassy to Canada. Photo, Michel Loiselle

Office

Kelly Night Craft

On October 23, 2017, Kelly Night Craft was appointed US Ambassador to Canada. She is the first woman to assume this office. To find out more, visit Wikipedia below:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Knight_Craft#/search

Photography

The pictures in this article can be obtained by visiting the Portfolio on mostphotos.com. I invite you to also see the Canadian Parliament photo collection. Images start at $12 and are available for immediate download. Files are professionally produced and ready for publishing online or in print. I hope you’ve enjoyed touring the US Embassy, thank you and have a great evening!

Source: Doors Open, Wikipedia

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OTHER POSTS BY MICHEL LOISELLE

Knowing our Parliamentary Precinct — Tulips on Parliament Hill – The West Block of Canada – 7 Year Parliament Project – Politically Speaking – Canada in One Photo – Design and Imaging — Haunted Castle — Night Shots — Hey That’s My Image — My Canadian Pride Is Showing — Canada Day on Parliament Hill — Images in Color and in Stereo – 5 Reasons to Use Photos — Gargoyles on Parliament Hill – Christmas on Parliament Hill – Live Music is Always Best – The Confederation Building

Haunted Castle

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Michel Loiselle

Update: March 2018

The Château Laurier Hotel – A Photo Essay

The Château Laurier is a grand hotel with 429 guest rooms in downtown Ottawa, Canada, located near the intersection of Rideau Street and Sussex Drive and designed in the French Gothic Châteauesque style to complement the adjacent Parliament buildings.

The Château Laurier Hotel was commissioned by Grand Trunk Railway president Charles Melville Hays, and it opened in 1912. Featuring original Tiffany stained glass windows and hand-moulded plaster decorations, Château Laurier Hotel was named after Sir Wilfrid Laurier, then Prime Minister of Canada.

This historic landmark plays host to royalty, heads of state, political figures, celebrities and members of Canada’s elite. R.B. Bennett lived in a suite during his term as Canadian prime minister, from 1930 to 1935.

Changing Hands

The hotel was operated by Canadian National Hotels until the chain was purchased by Canadian Pacific Hotels in 1988. In 1999, it was renamed the Fairmont Château Laurier after they bought the Fairmont hotel chain.

In addition to guests, the Château Laurier served as the home of two important Ottawa institutions. From 1924 to 2004, the seventh and eight floors were dedicated to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s local radio stations. Yousuf Karsh, one of the world’s most renowned portrait photographers, maintained his studio and residence at the Château Laurier for many years.

Perfect Location

The hotel is just metres away from some of the capital’s most important landmarks including Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, the National Gallery of Canada, the Byward Market, the National War Memorial, the U.S. Embassy, and the Rideau Centre. Given its proximity to these buildings and the fact that it has served as a home and meeting place for many notable political figures over the years, the hotel has often been referred to as “the third chamber of Parliament”.

It was the inspiration for the “Hotel du Canada” at the Canada (Epcot) pavilion in Orlando, Florida. In 2000, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada chose the building as one of the top 500 buildings produced in Canada during the last millennium.

Haunted Castle

The Château Laurier Hotel is said to be haunted, with numerous guests reporting
to have seen the ghost of Charles Melville Hays and experiencing paranormal
activities. Stories of the haunting began when Charles Melville Hays died on his
return voyage on the RMS Titanic from Europe 12 days before the hotel’s opening. Stories suggest that Hays’ ghost rests within the hotel due to its significant importance to his life, and the fact that he never witnessed the grand opening.

Guests have also reported seeing the ghost of a small child, and have experienced the
feeling of “being watched” the moment they enter the hotel. Other guests have reported eerie sounds and unexplained shaking. In 1978, my wife and I stayed in the Château Laurier Hotel on our wedding night and it was incredible. I must admit that we didn’t feel a ghost presence at all; and we’re still together today.

Essay Images

The visuals in this essay are from my collections represented here by mostphotos.com. Images start at $12 and are available for immediate download. Extended and multi-user licensing are an option. I invite you to see the photo blog and get to know the image styles.