Celebrating Canada Day

Canada Day always brings thousands of people from all over Canada to Ottawa, our nation's capital.

We who live here in Ottawa don't go downtown to Parliament Hill every year - even though city buses offer free rides. The crowds are simply too large... I'm happy to give visitors a chance to enjoy the day downtown.

Not that we never go...

I remember losing my youngest son in a crowd one year - and he was only several steps away... Panic!

I remember bringing my mother to Parliament Hill one year... But we forgot to bring folding chairs... (A big mistake if you want to stay a while and watch the show on Parliament Hill - and you don't want to sit on the grass...)

Downtown Ottawa is a large red pedestrian mall for one day. Almost everyone wears red on Canada Day - and those who like to paint their faces often paint a large red maple leaf!

Even our neighborhood gets in the spirit with red and white flags everywhere!

But downtown - packed with visitors - its red and white as far as the eye can see!