For Pedestrians

For Pedestrians, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Montreal is slowly becoming more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. There are now many kilometers of bicycle paths. And our Bixi bikes are well-used. This street, which runs through part of McGill University, used to be filled with cars. Now only service vehicles are allowed up it, and that only during a few hours of the day. Benches, bicycle stands and space for people has now replaced the parked cars.

Now if only we could improve our public transportation so fewer cars would be on the road. Cleaner air - and some nice places to sit and enjoy it!

Day 263: Changing Times

Day 263: Changing Times, originally uploaded by susanvg.

This character has looked down on those coming up the steps of this building on Sherbrooke Street in Montreal. Built in 1899 as Royal Victoria College, it served as a parallel university as part of McGill, but separate - this was where women could live and study. Perhaps the lion was daring the men to enter at their own risk.

Once women were integrated into the mainstream of university classes, they still were considered members of Royal Victoria College. The building continued to serve as a residence and as a centre for women's athletics. To learn more about the residence - click.

In 1971 the Faculty of Music moved in, and though a small part of the building still served as a women's only residence, the main part was transformed into classrooms, practice spaces and a lovely concert hall.

This lion has witnessed this transition. His pained expression seems to say he has seen enough. Too bad he cannot enter the building and witness the wonderful events that have taken place here. I am sure that change will continue to happen. We cannot just close our eyes to it, but learn to adapt and shape our futures and not allow ourselves to turn into stone and be as immobile as this character.