The current location is the old Ottawa train station across the street from the Chateau Laurier…read moreuntil the nearly decade long renovations of parliament are complete. Me, my wife, and our friend who was a Canadian government employee living in Ottawa but has yet to tour this temporary location went on the tour and really enjoyed it. They did an amazing job accommodating my disabilities and even provided a wheelchair and opened doors for me as I spent a great deal walking and standing around the art museum earlier in the day.

Because the Canadian Centre Block Parliament is under rehabilitation, the senate was moved not to…read morethe East Block, but to the former Ottawa Union Station on Rideau Street, right on the canal. Whereas the parliament buildings are in the new gothic design, the Senate building is in the Beaux-Arts design I associate more with industrial and commercial buildings built in the 19th to early 20th century. The pillars at the entrance with the narrow windows imbue a fortified sense to the building, with marble floors inside the building. The high ceilings makes for a large open space, with plaster cieling patterns. New renovations within the building have allowed the senate the space needed to work, with the main senate floor, committee rooms, and offices. The main hall of the former terminal has adjacent committee rooms which provide additional 2nd floor space, with plenty of open space to spare. Since the welcome center is on Parliament hill underneath the West Block, you need to go there first for tickets. Tickets are free, but they are to limit and organize tours. The security checkpoint is not a terrible hastle, however you should arrive 15 minutes early. The staff were very knowledgeable and polite, providing a fascinating lesson on the structure on this branch of government in Canada. I was intrigued by the three chairs taking center stage. The first seat is for the speaker of the senate, whereas the two rear seats are thrones (yes thrones) for the Governor General, and for the monarch (at the time of this writing, Queen Elizabeth whom herself hadn't addressed the senate since 1977). There are little things peppered throughout the building to symbolize everything, well, Canadian.

The Oscar Peterson Statue is popular with tourists, who I often see snapping pictures of themselves…read moresitting on the piano bench next to the jazz legend. Oscar Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist. His statue sits by the National Arts Centre at Elgin St and Albert St. It was commissioned by Canadian artist Ruth Abernethy and was unveiled in 2010. The statue is of Oscar Peterson sitting by his piano. It is life-size. There are speakers by the statue that play his music. It's a beautiful work of art that commemorates a most talented musician.

Oscar Peterson was incredibly successful. He was a legendary pianist, recording artist, and…read morecomposer. If you're downtown, around the National Arts Centre, you should definitely stop by his memorial statue and take a look, if you haven't already. Thanks to great fundraising efforts, this bronze statue of the late Canadian jazz icon was created by sculptor Ruth Abernathy and unveiled by the Queen on June 30th as a part of Ottawa's Canada Day celebrations just this year. The sculpture is outside and has a grand piano, which is attached to the NAC building, and a bench with Oscar Peterson sitting on it, turned away from the piano. He has a big smile on his face and looks very jolly. There's even room on the bench to sit beside him and take pictures, which you'll often find people doing.

Sure, I'll give it five stars. So what if Canada's most-important government landmark turns into a…read moreDisneyland spectacle every night?!? Lights, music, and fog machines - oh my!! Anyway, you just walk up to Parliament Hill 15 minutes or so before it starts (start times posted on their webpage), find a good spot to sit on the grass, and wait for the show to start. Bring a picnic blanket or something if you like ... if it's rained recently, the grass might not be too nice. The entire front face of the Parliament Building is the screen for this culture-infused video/light show that is Mosaika. It was somehow politically charged. I'm not too good with symbolism in the arts, but the European hand kept taking stuff from the First Nations hand, and gave very little in return. Plus there was a lot of French-English controversy. and no Asian representation. Spoiler alert: it all ends happily? Somehow all these differences come together through lights and music to form a happy Canada today. Also, there was a turtle involved somehow. I will admit that it got very very very very awkward at the end when people started to stand up and sing "O Canada!" I was just kicked back on the grass chillin, and I didn't know what to do. but hey, all this for a grand total of zero dollars!! It's definitely worth the cost of free, and that's why it gets five stars!

This is a trippy patriotic offering at Parliament Hill from July to September. The 30 minute shows…read moreare free, twice a night and with seating available anywhere on the lawn, including some bleachers. The Sound and Light Show mainly attracts tourists and families, but I often see many different people out at the show. It basically feels like a crazy, amped up Cliff's Notes version of elementary school social studies. You can't help but get drawn into the energy and feel happy you're able to partake in something like this on Parliament Hill's lawn. Obviously, there are parts where you feel like you're partaking in a bit of propaganda, so take the show with a grain of salt. Actually, the last time I went, the show was usurped by a couple of protesters, including one who peed on the building. I guess it offered a balance through extremes? Anyway, I would definitely recommend this free offering to anyone looking to do something a bit stereotypically Ottawa (capital of Canada, not city of Ottawa). It's a good time, energizing and kinda weird/funny.

The Short Version: Sculpture in Chinatown honoring the…read moreChinese workers who helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway between 1880 and 1885. The Long Version: This sculpture was erected in June 2025 and the sculptors are sisters Shi and Yi Chang. The sculpture is beautiful with many intricate details. It is made of bronze and the base is the map of Canada. One figure is a man swinging a sledge hammer with a look of determination on his face. He represents Strength. The other figure is a man squatting looking exhausted. He represents Suffering. Over 17000 Chinese workers helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway and they faced dangerous working conditions and discrimination. They were paid significantly less than other workers and often assigned the most perilous jobs. Many lost their lives. Although their work help build a significant part of Canada's infrastructure, for a long time they were excluded from recognition. This memorial sculpture highlights the contributions these Chinese Railway Workers made to Canada. It's a beautiful and poignant sculpture and an excellent addition to Chinatown. Review #98 (2026)

Saigon Square is a tiny little park at the south west corner of Preston St and Somerset St West, in…read morefront of the Plant Recreation Centre, which is also the western edge of Chinatown. It was named in 2018 "in recognition of the contributions to the City of Ottawa by the Vietnamese refugees who came to Canada in search of freedom." There is a sizeable Vietnamese population in Ottawa, in part due to Project 4000, which was created by then-mayor, Marion Dewar, who in 1979 welcomed 4000 Vietnamese refugees to Ottawa through private sponsorship. There is also a monument in the square that is "in memory of those who have lost their lives in the quest for freedom." The monument was erected in 1995, before the square was named. I sometimes see fresh flowers at the monument and I sometimes see people praying at the monument. Since those who died fleeing persecution were often lost at sea or buried near former displaced persons camps throughout Southeast Asia, visiting their graves may not be possible, so I think this monument serves as a substitute for the family members of these people. I am always in support of things that provide solace and peace to those who need it. I see a lot of meaning and significance in this Square. The monument is a reminder of the innocent victims of war (the statue is of a woman running barefoot while carrying a child). The plaque acknowledges the positive contributions that the refugees have made to the place that received them. The benevolence of those who helped the refugees is implied. And the monument and square symbolize both realism and hope, two things that I think are vital, both in times of war and times of peace.

Saigon Square is located at the west part of Chinatown. To officially have me walk the entire…read morestretch of Chinatown, we walked over here and found this little park. Even though it's a small park, it's significant when you take the time to read everything. First, there is a plaque that recognizes Vietnamese refugees who left their home to come to Canada, and start fresh by finding freedom. The plaque is in English, French, and Vietnamese. It is classy. Second, the statue of a mom, holding her child tightly in her right arm, as she flees, smack in the middle of this park, is powerful. This tribute is meaningful, especially to folks like me who didn't know that there is a huge Vietnamese population until I strolled through Chinatown to notice the positive mark that they have made in Ottawa. This park is pretty and quaint. It was also fitting to see the greenery and growth, which is symbolic on so many levels. Well done! (269)

Beautiful building inside and out. So much history and paintings inside of past prime ministers…read moreand their cabinet members. The Parliament has several artifacts and memorabilia and the fallen soldiers memorials with an eternal flame outside the building. There's also a River cruise beside to go around it.

Parliament Hill in Ottawa is an amazing place full of national history, gorgeous architecture,…read morepleasant walkways, numerous statues and monuments, well-maintained landscaping, and incredible views of the Ottawa River and beyond. I really enjoyed walking around to see this beautiful place in person. I would have stayed longer but it was getting dark. I did not enter any of the buildings and am unsure how many are open to the public. If any are, I would assume there is some kind of security protocol for safety. The Parliament Building itself is currently under renovations, so much of the outside is covered with a temporary facade. Next time, I need to schedule a longer stay to enjoy and appreciate more of what Ottawa has to offer.

This is my usual location for the Ottawa Public Library and have had a great experience here. Love…read morebeing able to put holds on books and have them delivered here for pickup. Relatively small library but with the holds, you can get any book you want. Often wait times can be quite long for books so it can be tough if you want to read something more urgently. High tech checkout self service computers. Staff are super friendly and helpful! So happy to have access to this great place

This is the library I frequent most. True, it's the closest one to me, but it doesn't hurt that it…read morehas a quaint location next to the Rideau Canal with a flower garden along the front. The Sunnyside location is small and I sometimes run into problems with getting available copies of certain books without having to resort to interlibrary loans. However, I've also found some great titles here, including fiction, non-fiction and films. I also enjoy that books can be renewed online if you're having troubles finishing that last book before the deadline. I just have two big beefs with this branch. It seems no one enforces the time limit on the computers. So if you go and all the computers are in use, you may be waiting a long time. I waited until closing one time when my Internet was down at home; needless to say, I didn't get a computer. Second beef: the staff is almost always grumpy. I've gone here many times so I find this track record weird. I've even had some of them pretend they didn't hear me when I was asking for help. Honestly, it's the worst I've ever seen to the point it's funny. But this is still a great spot. Come down and snuggle up with a book in a comfy chair by their big windows that face the canal.

Ottawa's unofficial spot for love padlocks…read more If you're going to add a love lock to the collection, you are supposed to put your names, a date of significance, and throw away the keys. Combination locks DO NOT have keys! Great scenic spot, if you have never been. 22/30 - Yelp Ottawa's 30 Day Challenge!!