Tuesday 21 October 2008

Reruns

I knew this day would arrive but I sort of thought I'd make it to 100 posts before it did. I've run out of ideas and I'm now recycling them.

Not really. I featured this building a while ago and went on about how, even though it was an RCMP building, taking pictures was no problem. Some people, me for instance, just don't know enough to quit when they're ahead.

On a recent Sunday I was walking by and decided to take some more pictures. While I was merrily looking for clever angles a Commissionaire (security) drove up. We had a chat and he told me 'they' were more sensitive now about photos. I won't go into one of my rants on how stupid I think this is. 

We chatted about the building and it transpired that this chap had worked in the building for four years. He had the cards and keys to get in and took me inside. I was shown a plaque which gave the history of the building. Neat, eh?

Built in 1912 as Langara School, the government bought the building in 1918 to serve as a military hospital. In 1920 the building became the RCMP Fairmount Barracks. When the Mounties became the provincial police force the building became Fairmount Academy for the training of new recruits. The property also had stables for the horses until 1937. These days the building houses offices for some departments of the force. 

The RCMP Academy for all of Canada is located in Regina, Saskatchewan. 


12 comments :

Unknown said...

You've just met the right guy to make your post even more interesting! :-) Beautiful building!

USelaine said...

Congratulations! You're an old pro at this blogging now.

Virginia said...

So what do you think the rest of us are all doing? Do you think my coffers are full to the brim with hot, new stuff? I have slipped more than a few photography class assignments from last winter! over on ya'll!! I lay awake wondering when I am going to run slap out of fresh meat to feed this monster. Maybe you and I could swap some and nobody would catch on!

And learning to sweet talk yourself into places you shouldn't be is the most fun I have. ( Obviously I have no life,)

Wayne said...

Let the record show that I was never able to sweet talk my way into or out of anything.

V. We may end up swapping photos. I often feel like I'm going to run out of ideas even though that isn't really possible.

If you run out of ideas temporarily I have one word for you, tractors. You can never go wrong with tractors.

Oh, and cleavage. You can't go wrong with cleavage either.

Christina S said...

Looking at this photo, I was playing my usual daydream game of imagining "If this was my house ..." and I could just see myself sitting in that bay window with a cup of coffee, looking down into a busy street. Then I followed the link to your previous post with the whole building in. Eeek! Fantasy over. Not only is there no busy street in the vicinity, that would be way too much housework :-)

I like the idea of Prison Daily Photo, by the way. Not worth going to jail to do though, be careful ;-)

Ken Mac said...

and I'd feel better if you ranted about not being able to shoot photos of the interior of this beautiful building Wayne! :)Thanks for visiting, your comment made me laugh. Though I think I hit Eliane's sore spot, she's an architect so rebuilding NY is fun for her...

PJ said...

You're talking about a subject near and dear to my heart. I've been shastised more than once for photographing "senstive" buildings. What cracks me up is you ren't supposed to photograph it but you got inside for a tour. I think i'll try it! there's no telling what I'll see. What a great story.

Laurie Allee said...

Wayne, we've got to stop mindreading. I posted a Tudor building, too!

(Cue Twilight Zone music...)

Virginia said...

Now that's an idea. I don't even have to leave home to shoot cleavage! Sadly these days it has moved to a new location. And don't ask!

Ken Mac said...

love this building! High Colonics? I laughed til I keeled over.

Jane Hards Photography said...

First thing that struck me was how Bristish surbia it looked. As for taking things at different angling carry on.Big congratulations. I think it honestly gets easier once you've nailed the big 100.

Copenhagen said...

This beautiful house is too nice for RCMP. The architecture sort of reminds me of Germany.