Hike through a forest to reach the beach for chilling.

Fuck I miss Vancouver Island...

Good choices so far! A few other ideas:

-Museum of Science and Tech is an obvious kid-favourite.

-One I don't see mentioned as often is the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum at the Experimental Farm. Haven't actually been in the museum myself, but they do have live animals as it's a working farm, and I did see kids getting a kick out of that. It's also across the road from the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, which connects to Dow's Lake/The Arboretum if the kids have energy and patience enough for a little hike.

-Unless you really want to do a full river/canal boat tour (which admittedly is a good time), if you want to give the kids an 'on the river' experience you can take a water taxi from the locks to the Museum of History.

-For a less structured day/period, Mooney's Bay has what I believe is the biggest public playground in Canada. You can also toss the kids in the water if it's really hot (depending on water quality and comfort level). Keep an eye out as there may also be festivals going on depending on when you come (all pretty kid friendly as I remember them). Edit: Can also take them to see the Hog's Back falls while you're there, it's close by.

-House of Targ, like 2-3 blocks south of Lansdowne, has all-ages family freeplay on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8:00 PM. Bunch of pinball machines and arcade cabinets. Have seen elementary age kids having a grand time there when I've showed up early for a band/adults only freeplay.

-Depending on scheduling and available time, the Mayfair Theatre has a Saturday Morning Cartoons program, with cereal and people in PJs, once and a while. People and their kids seem to love it. Bookmark their website and watch for advance tickets, it sells out FAST.

-We have a baseball team - the Ottawa Titans [edit: NOT Giants]! They play at the old Lynx stadium on Conventry. If the kids like baseball/sitting in stands drinking soda and cheering on something they don't understand, they may enjoy it. Also have soccer and football at Lansdowne.

-If you want to get the kids into nature, Gatineau Park is a no-brainer.

-Vincent Massey Park is nice as well.

Might add some others as I think of them.

You poor son of a bitch.

(Kidding, I like it here. Let me know if you want any recommendations!)

With respect, fuck this asshole. He is equating Canadian nationalism specifically with our history as a British colony. The 'other' groups he brings up are just as Canadian as someone with British or French ancestry. Hell, my own ancestors came here over 100 years ago, from Norway. Think about all of the Ukranian-Canadians across the prairies? Chinese-Canadians, many of have deep roots in our country? Are they any less Canadian than someone with the surname "Tremblay" or "Martin"?

This "post-national" nationalism is the sense of nationalism I have always had. Broad strokes, if you call this country your home; work to make it a good place to live within your capacities; treat your fellow countrymen (gender-neutral sense) with respect and tolerance regardless of their religion, creed, ancestral origin etc.; and respect the fact that your own beliefs and lifestyles may differ from others, and tolerate that difference; I am proud to have you count yourself as Canadian, and I hope you share in that pride.

We are a nation with many, many skeletons in our closet. Many of us have, very often, not lived up to the stuff I've written here - individuals and institutions alike. But IMO these are the ideals we should be shooting for, and where we fail, it is a call to work harder.

What I feel is that my own sense of nationalism, and what it means to be Canadian, is not "post-national" but instead nationalism premised in what we actually are and can be - not what some guy may have wanted when we were British North America.

That user's name? Jesus Christ.

Honestly, this was the comment that exposed me (regular office rube) to binary search as a concept and it is so. fucking. helpful.

Someone got really drunk and was in the bathroom willing to take all comers at a work function.

It was a shame, I liked working with them.

Then you got neat little fiefdoms too, like Irvingland - whoops, I mean New Brunswick.

You kid, but as an Canadian Anglophone, this is what I do any time I have to send an email to someone with a French name with an accented character.

Yes, I know the special character menu is a thing, but I have shit to do.

"Did you know? This seat is the only one in Ottawa to feature in an Alanis Morissette song.

This plaque is here to remind you."

[God I wish I knew how to Photoshop]

I am reasonably certain I have been to the theatre where she went down on that guy.

This is the most interesting fact about my life.

I don't know what it is, but aside from the side effects of nicotine addiction and access problems in these spaces(which, whatever, I get it), transportation hubs (airports, train stations, ferry terminals, etc.) are my favourite places to be.