Toronto Photo Walks: Henry's and Downtown IV

Up through the downtown core, past Dundas Square, up University to Queens Park and then a meander through the University of Toronto. I guess you could say it was a longish walk. It was nice outside though.

Toronto Bubble Battle: Part Two

No real comment for today. Same as yesterday, just more of it and more funky shots when I started messing around with lenses and lack of focus. It was such a peaceful day.

Toronto Bubble Battle

Well this past weekend was interesting and fun. Pride weekend was in full force, and then I learned about something called the Bubble Battle from my friends. It's organized, if you can call it that, by the same people that do the pillow fight. I just had to go see it and take pictures. My friends didn't tell me where it was so I looked it up on the net and found the location was at the South African War memorial at Queen and University.

So on Saturday afternoon I headed down to document the fun. Unfortunately they changed locations so I ended up at the wrong spot. Luckily my friends had the right location and told me when I called them. The north end of Queens Park at the 48th Highlander memorial. I started to walk there when I found out and made it just after the battle started. Nothing like a blue sky day and lots of soap bubbles.

Doors Open Toronto: Queen's Park

I had made a list of where to go and what to see for the day. Not on my list was the Provincial Legisalture building. As I was walking by I noticed that they were open for the occasion as well. No skin off my nose, and since it was a hot day out any air conditioning was welcome. So in I went on the self guided tour.

I went through the Speaker of the House office, up through some grand passage ways and made my way to the floor of the legislature.



I took a few pictures from the floor and made my way back out into the grand passages and down out through the Lieutenant Governors chambers.




It was worth the wander through I think. I have never been inside the building as long as I have lived in this province. I may go back again, when I have a larger flash. The place is huge and my on camera flash couldn't do the place proper justice.

Next on the agenda, the Canada Life Assurance Building.

(my feet were starting to twinge at this point)

Paladin Phil

2008: Public Sculpture, People

There's all sorts of public sculptures in the city. One thing you will find a fair bit of is famous people. In Toronto we have a wealth of them from states men, to poets, to even kings and queens. After all Toronto has been around in one shape or another since the late 1700's. Of course way back in the early days it was known as York. I will probably have to do two posts on this since I have captured so many statues in my walks. Especially around Queen's Park Parliamentary buildings. In fact I think I will focus on that area first and deal with the statesmen that are famous in Ontario, along with one king and queen.

The majority of the statues are on the south side of the Parliament buildings. The first one you see is one of the most famous Canadians in our history. Sir John A. MacDonald. A father of Confederation as well as the first Prime Minister of Canada.


I was only able to get the one picture of him since it was a little difficult with my camera and dodging the traffic. Just in front of the main entrance though there were several statues of all sorts of statesmen and politicians.


The first three here are George Brown, Sir Oliver Mowat, and James Whitney. I have linked their bios on Wikipedia for some general information about them. As well I think that I will do some more reading on these people as well. Need to catch up on my Canadian roots I think.

The first statue of a regent in the area is Queen Victoria. The land was leased from the University of Toronto and the parliament buildings built and dedicated in 1860. The area was named for her, and now it is the title used for the area and our seat of provincial government.



Queen Victoria I believe had a wide influence and long one over the British Empire.

Now on the north side of the park is a statue of King Edward VI. The interesting bit about this statue is that it wasn't originally erected in Canada. Believe it or not it was in Delhi India. Don't ask me why, but it was moved here back in 1969. Or at least that's what I gather from the re-dedication plaque.


I also believe it's much lower then the original set up. Just the way the plaques are set up now. and the entire look.




Finally a rather famous Canadian and Trontonian. William Lyon Mackenzie. He was one of the leaders of the Upper Canada Rebellion which started at Montgomery's tavern. The rebellion didn't last long and he was forced to flee for his life at the time. It was due to this rebellion that led to changes in Canada's governance. Some of the plaques I have photographed have part of the story, but there is so much more to it then can be expressed in a few lines of bronze or stone.



Well that's it for today, see you next time. And remember, sometimes when you walk, you walk in history.

Paladin Phil