ns found in a youngCanada showed a very diverse country. Early Canada lacked the resources or thetradesmen to produce materials for everyday use, such as furniture, preciousmetals, cutlery, dolls, and other personal items. That is why many of the itemsfound in Canada are of European origin. It wasn't until years later that manytrades were developed to self-sustain early settlers. For example, early glassobjects were crude in form and function. With advances in technology, cameclearer glass objects that could be mass-produced. Significant advancements intechnology can be noted in most all other materials also.One could also see development and history though architecture. Although wewalk down the streets of Ottawa going about daily business, most of us areusually unaware of our historical surroundings. The older unassuming buildingson Sparks Street reveal intricate carvings in stone. Where did these carvingscome from? Numerous architectural wonders in the city of Ottawa attest to thehardships and fortitude of the early nation builders. These are, however, notmere architectural achievements. These buildings tell a story about the people,sickness, employment and economics of the time. In fact, the Royal Canadian Mintwas a cholera quarantine hospital for those wishing to journey further2up or down the Ottawa river before it became the place where currency isproduced. The Rideau Canal, with its series of locks, was not constructed toallow passage of jet skis and pleasure craft. It was built between 1826 and1832 to transport thousands of soldiers and war supplies, for the then-thoughtinvasion of the United States. This massive feat of construction cost anexorbitant amount of money and required thousands of skilled men to finish it. After the construction of the Rideau Canal project, these same men foundthemselves building many of the stone buildings on Sparks Street and elsewhere. Their talents can be seen leering down from th...
