MosaïCanada 150/Gatineau 2017

 

My family took a recent road trip to explore the Outaouais Region of Quebec located in the southwestern corner of Quebec – just a short hop from Ottawa.

If you are looking for a fun destination for families within Canada, the Outaouais region is ideal. From National Museums, waterparks, local events and festivals, to visiting wild animals in their natural habitat, there are diverse options that are sure to make for an exciting vacation experience.

During our family adventure we checked out just a small sampling of the activities that the Outaouais Region of Quebec has to offer including the MosaïCanada 150 event in Gatineau.

 

 

The MosaïCanada 150 exhibition in Gatineau’s Jacques-Cartier Park is a stunning horticultural event featuring sculptures created with living plants. There are over 40 different arrangements at the exhibit, with the artwork reflecting on the last 150 years of history and culture in Canada including that of the First Nations people.

Upon entering the exhibit you find yourself on a railway station complete with a steam locomotive and a massive Anne of Green Gables sculpture.

 

 

The artwork is incredibly meticulous and so much thought and work obviously went into each piece. We were all blown away by the designs and it was obvious from other visitors reactions that it was a shared reaction.

 

 

Each Province and Territory is represented with their own piece of art. Nova Scotia is represented with a Lobster Fisherman, and the artwork is breathtakingly beautiful.

 

The Northwest Territories are represented with the Muskoxen, and these scultures seem to have a life of their own. The medium of the plants just give the artwork a unique feel that really sparks the imagination.

 

 

 

 

So many of the pieces seem to have that feeling of life and movement and none more so than when you reach the section featuring a Journey into the Imagination of the First Nations. Here Mother Earth and the Legend of Aataentsic comes alive for visitors .

This portion of the exhibit takes visitors through the creation of the world, and on the trail with the Algonquin people (who are indigenous to the Outaouais region.) It is a beautiful homage to the legends of the First Nations.

 

 

Overall we really enjoyed our visit and would love to visit MosaïCanada 150 again. It is a definite must see if you are able to visit before the exhibit closes mid-October. Plan to stay about an hour and a half as the route extends nearly one kilometre with about 40 different arrangements to view.

 

 

MosaïCanada 150/Gatineau 2017

Where: Jacques-Cartier Park, Laurier Street, Gatineau

When: Daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Oct. 15

Cost: Free admission, Guided tours are available at a cost of $10 per person (and free for ages 13 and under).

More information: mosaicanada.ca