Alexis Nihon Plaza in April 2010

 Photographs of Alexis Nihon Plaza, taken in April 2010, downtown Montreal.

Return of the crows

Summery weather has arrived, early this year, it's been +20 - +25 C since last Friday, and I've been outside raking the grass of last winter's debris; litter, dirt, twigs, some fast food wrappings, all of it collected in the snow over the last four or five months of winter. Fresh air, blue sky, birds singing, plants coming up, buds on trees and bushes, and a feeling of renewal, and genuine renewal, and how quickly we forget what we've just been through: a long winter, short days, heating bills. One of the first things I did when this good weather arrived was put water in the bird bath and almost right away there was a crow visiting, usually in the morning. Perhaps this is the time, in the spring, when crows visit the most, not only for a drink of water but to soak their food in water, and after they leave there are peculiar white stringy things they've found in the garbage at a local Chinese restaurant. Later there will be more birds at the bird bath; however, crows are always welcome and are certainly entertaining. 

Photos taken from our dining room window with an IPhone.

Added photos

Historical photos of the Alexis Nihon Plaza

Looking at these old photographs of the Alexis Nihon Plaza I am flooded with memories, all of them happy. The literally hundreds of times I passed through the Plaza, the stores that used to be here that I had forgotten about, the people, and what store replaced a different store in the Plaza. This shopping complex is always immaculate and well maintained. Canadian poet, Louis Dudek, lived on Ingleside Avenue which is within walking distance of the Plaza; he often visited the Plaza and invited many of us to have coffee with him in the food court here. 

1967

Aerial view of the Alexis Nihon Plaza, looking up Atwater Street

This photograph shows the site of the future Alexis Nihon Plaza when it was
a baseball park; you can see the Mother House in the background on the right

Thomas D'Arcy McGee, born on this day in 1825

From the library of Canada's website:

Born in Ireland in 1825, Thomas D’Arcy McGee was a poet, journalist, author, Irish patriot, Canadian politician and Father of Confederation. Forced to flee the country of his birth, he immigrated to the United States in 1848, then settled in Montréal in 1857. He was originally a strong advocate for Irish rebellion against the British, but his stance changed over the years to pushing for peaceful reforms. McGee was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1857, where he became a vocal supporter of Confederation. He was assassinated on April 7, 1868, in Ottawa, and was given Canada’s first state funeral.

One of our greatest Canadians, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, was born on this day, 13 April 1825, in Carlingford, Ireland. 

Photographs of Thomas D'Arcy McGee's mausoleum

When I used to visit Cote des Neiges Cemetery (and adjoining Mount Royal Cemetery), both located in the center of Montreal on Mount Royal, I would visit Thomas D'Arcy McGee's mausoleum. Over the years I visited McGee's final resting place any number of times, it was part of my itinerary when I visited both cemeteries. Here are some photographs of McGee's mausoleum at Cote des Neiges Cemetery; these are photographs I took between 2012 to 2018 and others that interested me. 

Thomas D'Arcy McGee

God bless you, Mr. McGee.

Death of Thomas D'Arcy McGee, 7 April 1868

On this day, 7 April 1868, almost a year after Canadian Confederation, Thomas D'Arcy McGee was assassinated in Ottawa. There was an incredible outpouring of grief, he was well known as a politician working towards Confederation and he was one of Sir John A. Macdonald's closest friends. McGee was assassinated outside of his rooming house, located within walking distance of Parliament in Ottawa; his funeral in Montreal was the largest funeral for a Canadian politician, statesman, and poet.

The funeral cortege in Montreal, 1868

Wanted poster for the assassin of Thomas D'Arcy McGee

The funeral cortege in Montreal, 1868

McGee mausoleum at Cote des Neiges Cemetery, 2015

Notman photograph of McGee's Mausoleum, 1926

McGee's mausoleum, 2015

McGee's mausoleum, November 2015

McGee's mausoleum, November 2015

Stephen Morrissey outside of Thomas D'Arcy McGee's mausoleum, winter 2015

At McGee's Mausoleum, 2012