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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.

  • June 28 to August 24 (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 beings 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.

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 2012 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.
Lyne Proulx
Lyne Proulxhttps://ottawamommyclub.ca/
Lyne Proulx is a Certified Professional Wedding Consultant and experienced Event Planner with a strong background in community engagement and large-scale event coordination. For eight years, she led the Annual Infant Information Day/Early Years Expo for the City of Ottawa. From 2013 to 2016, she was the driving force behind the BConnected Conference, Canada’s premier digital influencer and social media conference, held in Ottawa and Toronto. Lyne also served as co-chair of the Navan for Kraft Hockeyville committee from 2009 to 2011, organizing five major community events in just six months. Her leadership helped Navan become one of the top 10 finalists in the national competition. In recognition of her exceptional volunteerism and dedication to community building, she was honored with the City of Ottawa Mayor's City Builder Award in April 2011. In 2025, Lyne brought her passion for weddings and event planning to a new level by organizing the inaugural Tucker House Bridal Fair, showcasing local vendors and creating a unique experience for engaged couples.

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