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Changing of the Guard. Photo by Glen Gower The Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill. Photo by Glen Gower.

Ottawa's Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill

Every summer morning at 10:00am, the Changing of the Guard takes place on Parliament Hill. It's a pageantry of marching music and military drills performed by the Ceremonial Guard.

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More about the ceremony

June 28 to August 27 (daily) – 10 am to 10:30 am, weather permitting
Preceded by a brief introduction at 9:45 am
Arrive early for the best spot on the grass of Parliament Hill. Admission is free.
The ceremony is performed by the Ceremonial Guard. Every guardsman, musician and member of the support staff is a trained soldier of the Canadian Forces on regular or reserve service.
The event actually begins off the hill, with a parade from the Cartier Square Drill Hall (Laurier Avenue near the Rideau Canal), down Laurier and Elgin Street past the War Memorial, and then up on Wellington Street to Parliament Hill.
A similar ceremony caled the "Relief of the Sentires as Guards" takes place daily at Rideau Hall, the residence of the Governer General. Every hour, guards march to their posts in front of the residence, accompanied by a bagpiper.
For more info, visit the official Ceremonial Guard info site, or the Ceremonial Guard page on Wikipedia.

Fortissimo

Fortissimo is an annual military and musical spectacular created for the lawns of Parliament Hill featuring massed military bands, pipes and drums, guest performers and the soldiers of the Ceremonial Guard.
Dates for 2010 are August 12, 13, 14th at 7:30 p.m. and August 15th at 2:30 p.m. on Parliament Hill.
For more info, visit the official Fortissimo site.