by Susan Ellis of Key Life Journeys

May is the time that the tulip festival draws thousands to Ottawa, Canada's capital city. The city sits on the Ottawa River which separates Ontario to the west from Quebec to the east. Into the Ottawa River flow mighty rivers from the Ontario side. The Ottawa Valley as it is called is filled with lakes, trees, farms and rock. Small towns bearing evidence of their history of logging, mills, the textile industry, cheese making etc. An area settled by pioneers who cleared the land and survived or died: Evidence of the people from the First Nations who preceded them.

I've just spent a week there, walking, canoeing, driving and feeling. There is something so fulfilling about witnessing new growth, spring flowers, full rivers and young animals. This sense of abundance which fills some with gratitude and which others take for granted.  In how many countries can one have the luxury of washing one's car with drinking water? In how many countries are large parcels of land set aside to be preserved in their natural form for the enjoyment of future generations. But the reality is not all good. The selfish industrial world invaded this pristine habitat. Smog produced by air pollution along the Canada US border drifted north 300kms to haze over the clear blue skies I had witnessed and made its presence felt. I share some photos I took during that week that contributed to my feelings of joy, in the hope that they will motivate us all to assume responsibility for preserving what we still have.
 
 .The Madawaska River near Calabogie
 
 The Petawawa River

The bridge over the Mississippi River at Pakenham
 
Upper Mazinaw Lake at Bon Echo Provincial Park where Native pictographs are painted on the rocks.
This is one of 329 Ontario Provincial Parks.
 
 


Those that grow wild