TODAY IS QUEEN VICTORIA'S BIRTHDAY

The bronze statue above was sculpted be Louis-Philippe Herbert to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria's Reign and was placed on the Hill in 1900. The young Queen below is a statue in the Library of Parliament that was sculped by Marshall Wood in 1871.

This almost six tonne statue sits in the centre of the Library below the beautiful dome.

Queen Victoria has a Grand view of the Peace tower and looking out at the rest of the city that she helped create by choosing it in 1857 as the Capital of Canada.
The Mounties tulip.

Today Ottawa and Ottawan's have many things to be thankful for and to remember Queen Victoria. 150 years ago, the Queen chose Ottawa as the Capital of Canada. Back then a rough and tumble lumber town of about 10,000 people is now close to 1,000,000 in the region and was recently voted one of the best places to live in Canada. As part of the tribute and celebrations, 1,857 "The Mounties" Tulips were planted below the Statue of Queen Victoria that sits between the Centre Block and the West Block on Parliament Hill. For more information on this year long celebration go to: http://www.1857.gc.ca

OTTAWA'S LOOKING FOR STANLEY

It all started in Ottawa on March 18, 1892 at a dinner of the Ottawa Amateur Athletic Association. Lord Stanley, the Earl of Preston and the Governor General of Canada was going to donate a cup to be held year to year by the winning team.

WE WIN !!!!!!! WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP FINALS

SENS RED ZONE TO WATCH GAME DAY 5 AT BUFFALO

Sens Red Zone is Fun Zone on a perfect sunny day to watch hockey outdoors in front of Scotiabank Place.

Super Fan getting the game face colours on to cheer on The Senators.

Spartacat handing out autographs to little fans and big fans alike.
Little Stanley, Big Stanley. Ottawa's looking for the Real Stanley to come back home after 80 years of being away.

Super Sens fan Bill Stanyar centre with daughter Robin(black cap) enjoying the fun in the sun.
Super Sens fan Mike Maiorino in "Cup Ready" fashion gear with sister Lea get that most desired photo-op with Spartacat.

Super Sens fan Red Wellington is hanging out by "Big Stanley". Red seems to be everywhere when things are happening with the Senators these days.
Best hat should go to super fan Don Estabrook who came with his daughter Isabel in black and her friend Teresa Hudson in red sporting their own special hats and did the photo-op with Spartacat below.

All the fans stand for the National Anthems. It seems like a few thousand have come to watch the game on the new 9 ft. X 12 ft. screen.

Super Sens fan says it all about how she feels about Buffalo.

THE TRILLIUM - ONTARIO'S OFFICIAL FLOWER

BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA

David Kong, President of the Ottawa-Gatineau Chapter of FFB and Dr. Bruce Jackson, Head of the Ottawa Eye Institute.
Mike Giunta, Louise Carota and Lawrence Greenspon enjoying the VIP pre-concert reception.
The Blind Boys of Alabama entering a pre-concert reception. From L to R are Ricky McKinnie, Bishop Billy Bowers, Pam Miles of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation, Jackie Davies and Frances Walshe of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Former Ottawa Mayor Jaqueline Holzman with Ricky McKinnie from the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Sharon Colle, National Executive Director of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Patrick Faloon and Alex Zanella enjoying the pre-concert VIP party.

David Kong and Dr. Bruce Jackson present the cheque for $40,000 which the concert raised for the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Kay and Joe Foster standing in the back with the Blind Boys and their assistant.
Blind Boy Ricky McKinnie with Ruth Foster, Associate Director of Community Investment with Bell Canada.

CBC's Adrian Harewood of All In A Day is the Master of Ceremonies.



On April 12, The Blind Boys Of Alabama played a fundraising concert at the Dominion-Chalmers Church for The Foundation for Fighting Blindness. Almost 1100 people packed the church and raised $40,000. http://www.ffb.ca, http://www.eyeinstitute.net, http://www.blindboys.com