Dancing Bear Sculpture, Ottawa
Tucked away and partially concealed, Jeanne d'Arc Court in the ByWard Market offers a peaceful urban retreat, perfect for capturing memorable photographs of Ottawa. This hidden gem transforms into a vibrant oasis during the spring, summer, and fall, adorned with lush greenery and blooming flowers.
Beyond its picturesque setting, locals hold a deep affection for the courtyard, primarily due to the presence of the Dancing Bear sculpture at its center. This adorable bronze portrayal of a polar bear, resembling a cartoon character, was installed in 1999. The sculpture was crafted by Pauta Saila, an Inuit artist from Nunavut. Saila, who grew up on Baffin Island and had firsthand experience with bears, sought to capture their essence through his art. Notably, this sculpture marks the first public artwork by a Nunavut-based artist exhibited in the capital.
Saila began carving in the 1950s to supplement his income as a hunter. His sculptures, typically made of soapstone, are large-scale and feature simplified depictions of Arctic wildlife. Among his renowned creations are the powerful and somewhat abstract dancing bears. Saila himself insisted that the bears were not dancing but merely playing, much like when he observed them on the ice fields during his hunting expeditions.
A plaque on the wall of the condominium adjacent to the Paper Papier store reveals that the statue was donated by the family of Charles Jennings, a pioneer in Canadian broadcasting, and his wife Elizabeth.
Beyond its picturesque setting, locals hold a deep affection for the courtyard, primarily due to the presence of the Dancing Bear sculpture at its center. This adorable bronze portrayal of a polar bear, resembling a cartoon character, was installed in 1999. The sculpture was crafted by Pauta Saila, an Inuit artist from Nunavut. Saila, who grew up on Baffin Island and had firsthand experience with bears, sought to capture their essence through his art. Notably, this sculpture marks the first public artwork by a Nunavut-based artist exhibited in the capital.
Saila began carving in the 1950s to supplement his income as a hunter. His sculptures, typically made of soapstone, are large-scale and feature simplified depictions of Arctic wildlife. Among his renowned creations are the powerful and somewhat abstract dancing bears. Saila himself insisted that the bears were not dancing but merely playing, much like when he observed them on the ice fields during his hunting expeditions.
A plaque on the wall of the condominium adjacent to the Paper Papier store reveals that the statue was donated by the family of Charles Jennings, a pioneer in Canadian broadcasting, and his wife Elizabeth.
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Dancing Bear Sculpture on Map
Sight Name: Dancing Bear Sculpture
Sight Location: Ottawa, Canada (See walking tours in Ottawa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Ottawa, Canada (See walking tours in Ottawa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Ottawa, Canada
Create Your Own Walk in Ottawa
Creating your own self-guided walk in Ottawa is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Ottawa Introduction Walking Tour
The name Ottawa comes from the Algonquin word for trade. It is an appropriate name for the Ottawa River, which was once the primary trade route for Eastern Canada. The capital of Canada gets its name from this river due to its location. Resting on the banks of the Ottawa River, Ottawa is a political and cultural city that also offers outdoor activities and beautiful natural sights.
Ottawa was... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Ottawa was... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
The architecture of Ottawa 鈥� formalistic and functional, for the most part 鈥� is marked by the city's role as the national capital of Canada. As such, it represents a mix of styles, varying considerably based on the era of construction of any particular object, and reflects the nation's heritage and political significance.
Centermost among these structures is the Parliament... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Centermost among these structures is the Parliament... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Statues and Sculptures Walk
As a cultural city, Ottawa abounds in monuments and statues of various sorts. In fact, there are so many of them that the locals, accustomed to their presence, jokingly claim they hardly notice them at all. Still, these artistic creations serve as visual storytellers, sharing tales of courage, peacekeeping, and commemoration.
The Maman Statue, a prominent sculpture located outside the National... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
The Maman Statue, a prominent sculpture located outside the National... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Ottawa's Historical Churches Walking Tour
The city of Ottawa has a number of notable religious sites fit to spark interest in both ardent believers and those keen on ecclesiastical architecture. With most of the churches located in the downtown area or nearby, one can visit these locations without trouble.
The Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, a splendid Gothic Revival masterpiece, is a centerpiece of Ottawa's spiritual landscape.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, a splendid Gothic Revival masterpiece, is a centerpiece of Ottawa's spiritual landscape.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles