Northern Lights

It was a history lesson, with splashy colors and lights that dazzled and distracted me too easily for me to pay too much attention to the talk sometimes. Certainly a lovely way to spend an evening and not spend a dime, the show represented for me a clever use of the gorgeous façade of the Parliament building and to talk about Canada at the same time without being jingoistic. I know some Unilocalers expressed slight dismay that Northern Lights is patriotic in theme. Of course and why not! Did you expect a different episode of Hannibal TV series each night (though I wouldn’t mind!)? You are in the capital of Canada and the lights are projected onto Parliament so it’s natural that the show is going to be talk up Canada. I can say I was entertained but honestly don’t remember much of the history because I was so enthralled with the images and how they were perfectly projected onto the building. At the end, I heard and saw many people clapping and I am sure they were Canadians, proud of their country. The show draws crowds but since the outer grounds of Parliament are so vast, you will surely find a spot whether you come with a crowd or alone. The show for the most part starts on time, and the grounds are comfortable to sit on, though you might want to bring a paper or a blanket. Some people came with chairs. The area is well patrolled by police but the crowd is mellow, so it’s more likely their presence is due to the tragic October 2014 incident.

Absolute must. The park is gorgeous at night– slight breeze, the show was great. Everyone can enjoy in some capacity.

I loved how the Russian boyfriend put it: «it’s a great ad for your country, honey».
And if you’re Canadian, it’s a great reminder of why it’s amazing to be a citizen of this nation. The show is very sentimental and there were a number of moments where I felt overcome with happy tears. Obviously, they left out a number of unpleasant historical facts e.g. our treatments of the natives. But I suppose this wasn’t exactly the time to be discussing unsavoury details. The music and lights are nice. I also liked the bilingual component of the show — what’s said in each language is similar but not the same so it doesn’t become boring for French and English speakers. There aren’t any fireworks but the show is lovely regardless. They have some rope fencing set-​up on the lawn but everyone was completely ignoring it so not entirely sure why it’s there.
If I was showing someone around Ottawa, I would definitely take them to see Northern Lights.

Wow this show was breath taking. It was the most advanced light show I’ve ever seen. The story transitioned very smoothly. They also used extremely advanced projectors to project the images onto the parliament building. It reminded me of some of the history classes in high school. I can say that I am a proud Canadian!

Moment phare de l’été, le spectacle son et lumière est un événement à né pas rater. Grande spécialité des canadiens, ce type de spectacle trouvent place dans beaucoup de grandes villes du pays.
A Ottawa, il a lieu sur les façades du parlement — bâtiment central — et raconte l’histoire du pays. Le spectacle dure au moins 30 à 40 minutes. On en prend plein les yeux. C’est un véritable enchantement.
Cela dure de juin à septembre. Vérifier les horaires car cela diffère d’un mois à l’autre, car le spectacle à lieu à la tombée de la nuit.
Cette année en 2015, le spectacle va changer de formule. A de voir ce qui sera proposé après Mosaika.

I shed a tear the first time I saw this show and then proceeded to watch it 4 or 5 more times that year.
100% worth getting their early, bringing a blanket and hanging out before the show.
Go and enjoy it because who knows how long they will fund these awesome projects.

The other reviewers are right about the coolness (and freeness, and every-​nightness) of the show. The technology is indeed really, really cool. Lots of great moments. I especially like the projections that mirror (and then distort) the architecture of the building so that It looks like the windows are popping up or as though Parliament Hill has been re-​vamped by the Ikea Children’s Furniture designer.
Downside. The script is boring. Like it was written by mid-​level droogs at the Department of Canadian Heritage. «The National Conversation.» Really? That’s what grabs an audience? All we needed was a monologue by 25-​foot CBC editorialist (think Rex Murphy, not the cooler Rick Mercer) to really make us think of Grade 5 social studies class. But with lasers.
Bring the family that’s visiting from Thunder Bay. Try for the free street parking on Albert or Slater. The World Exchange, free on the weekend, seems like a good idea, until you are waiting for the parking garage elevator with 500 other people.
Check the website as start times vary.

Sure, I’ll give it five stars. So what if Canada’s most-​important government landmark turns into a Disneyland spectacle every night?!? Lights, music, and fog machines — oh my!
Anyway, you just walk up to Parliament Hill 15 minutes or so before it starts (start times posted on their webpage), find a good spot to sit on the grass, and wait for the show to start. Bring a picnic blanket or something if you like … if it’s rained recently, the grass might not be too nice. The entire front face of the Parliament Building is the screen for this culture-​infused video/​light show that is Mosaika.
It was somehow politically charged. I’m not too good with symbolism in the arts, but the European hand kept taking stuff from the First Nations hand, and gave very little in return. Plus there was a lot of French-​English controversy. and no Asian representation. Spoiler alert: it all ends happily? Somehow all these differences come together through lights and music to form a happy Canada today. Also, there was a turtle involved somehow.
I will admit that it got very very very very awkward at the end when people started to stand up and sing «O Canada!» I was just kicked back on the grass chillin, and I didn’t know what to do.
but hey, all this for a grand total of zero dollars! It’s definitely worth the cost of free, and that’s why it gets five stars!

This light show was spectacular. It was like a mushroom trip, with all the lights and narration driving us through the history of Canada. The graphics were extremely well done, the pace was great, and we were kept interested for the entire 30 minutes. I never wanted it to stop.
It’s cool that this would be broadcast ON the Parliament, every night of the summer. It was a great introduction to Canada for me, this was the first night my first night in the country.

This is THE best free show for either a summer date or just a relaxing evening outside in Ottawa.
If you went to the previous Sound and Light show presented on Parliament Hill you may question my review but not until you’ve seen the revamped one they released earlier in the summer of 2010.
Check out the website to see how they use the technology but if you’re anywhere near Ottawa please check out the actual show. The NCC projects amazing quality lights and tells the story of our country using the centre block of Parliament as the screen. There’s updated surround sound and the east and west blocks are now involved in the show.
At one point, probably the coolest part of the show, they make Parliament look 3D which is a ridiculous thing to say because the building IS 3D but they use vibrating and fluttering lights and effects to make the building look like it’s moving.
This is an absolute must for tourists and also for locals! The lawn of Parliament gets pretty packed and you don’t need to find a seat (providing the ground isn’t wet) you can just plop down on the grass. The event is free and very accessible and is presented as a bilingual show.

This is a trippy patriotic offering at Parliament Hill from July to September. The 30 minute shows are free, twice a night and with seating available anywhere on the lawn, including some bleachers. The Sound and Light Show mainly attracts tourists and families, but I often see many different people out at the show. It basically feels like a crazy, amped up Cliff’s Notes version of elementary school social studies. You can’t help but get drawn into the energy and feel happy you’re able to partake in something like this on Parliament Hill’s lawn. Obviously, there are parts where you feel like you’re partaking in a bit of propaganda, so take the show with a grain of salt. Actually, the last time I went, the show was usurped by a couple of protesters, including one who peed on the building. I guess it offered a balance through extremes?
Anyway, I would definitely recommend this free offering to anyone looking to do something a bit stereotypically Ottawa (capital of Canada, not city of Ottawa). It’s a good time, energizing and kinda weird/​funny.