ottawariver

My maternal grandfather, Wilfred Laurier Lessard (b.1895) is the third head from the left in this photo. He is the soldier immersed in the water up to his lower chest, wearing his signature grin. The distinctive Lessard family brow and upper lip is very apparent in this photo.

Thanks Jackie for identifying your grandfather. Awesome photo!

Large version and geodata here:

The conical portion of the parliament buildings (i.e., the portion furthest to the right) is the parliamentary library. It is the only original portion of the building still standing. The rest of the building was destroyed by fire on February 2, 1916, and was replaced by a newer structure completed in 1928.

In the foreground is the entrance to the Rideau Canal

Really hasn't changed all that much.

Awesome shot!!! Glad I found a FREE version of it for the book I'm working on. Some person on ebay is selling it for upwards to 20$ for a print out version, or 75$ for a digital version claiming they scanned it in themselves. Looks a lot like this one in quality. hmmmmm. And Yes, not much has changed since then. That little building with the red roof was the former "Parliament Pumphouse". Its long gone, but its complete foundation AND mini tunnel remain and its quite cool to look at and take photos of. Just a lost piece of the city that was. When Parliament was rebuilt in 1916, the plans called for the pumphouse to be moved next to where the supreme court stands and to have everything route that way instead. That one is still there now.