Starting at the prominent Rideau Canal, this tour delves into the intertwined histories of early Canada, Bytown and the canal itself, which played a key part in naming Ottawa as the capital. We then traverse the Rideau River, pausing briefly at the National War Memorial to appreciate Canada’s involvement in World War I. Continuing our journey, we amble through the verdant sidewalk gardens and inviting patios of Sparks Street, witnessing Ottawa’s tumultuous transformation into a capital city. The tour culminates at Parliament Hill where we capture stunning vistas of the Ottawa River and the cityscape, while examining the cautious evolution of Canada’s independence from Britain, the phobia and frosty vibes of the Cold War, and the challenging task of managing a nation with two principal languages, multiple ethnic and religious communities, encompassing a geographical area only surpassed by Russia.