Happy, snowy Thursday morning! Ottawa today is in lock-down mode, especially around the area of the Parliament buildings where we live. All of us I'm sure are looking forward to this meeting of our two leaders, and the first vsit to another head of state since becoming president. Sour grapes to the Mexican officials who said President Calderon actually had lunch with him just before Obama's inauguration so it doesn't count! No doubt the talk will be on the economy, climate change, energy and the war in Afghanistan. I hope Obama will respect our decision to withdraw from this unwinnable war in 2011... I did manage to get out last night and take some photos while it was still quiet. The CBC trucks were setting up and the Main Block was lit up. It looks colder than it was, although the wind was a bit nippy and it was snowing. I walked around the War Memorial - you can see the Chateau Laurier in the background. A bit of history about this grand old lady of hotels - it was commissioned by Grand Trunk Railway chairman Charles Hays and was constructed between 1909 and 1912. You guessed it - the hotel was eventually named in honour of Wilfrid Laurier, then the Prime Minister of Canada. The hotel was to be opened on April 26, 1912, but Hays, who was returning to Canada for the hotel opening, perished aboard the Titanic when it sank on April 15! They finally had the opening ceremony on June 12, 1912, with Sir Wilfrid Laurier in attendance... I also took some pictures of some of the ice sculptures in Major's Hill Park done for Winterlude that didn't melt during last weeks rain. That is Marie playing navy officer in front of the NATO piece! Major's Hill Park is a great venue for events - Winterlude, Canada Day celebrations, etc because it is so close to Parliament Hill and the canal. Marie walks through here every day back and forth to work...Anyway it's a great day to be in the Nation's capital and let's hope President Obama's visit is safe and productive - and he is welcomed by every Canadian. gws
