Day 33 of a 365-Day Portrait of Canada: Sunday afternoon at the Supreme Court of Canada

Much to my surprise, security at the Supreme Court of Canada on a Sunday afternoon wasn’t even what I’d call light, it was friendly and old-fashioned. An elderly, personable, yet still authoritarian Commissionaire lady in her early 60’s greeted us with a smile just inside the doors of this monolithic building. She took the time to explain a detail or two about the building construction. Then she asked us where we were from and told us that there was a tour in half-an-hour if we’d like to come back.
I’m standing there in front of the Supreme Court of Canada’s chambers doors unattended grabbing a quick snap, thinking this is so Canadian. Zero security, free movement and friendly chat to boot. Meanwhile outside on the neighbor building I counted a total of nine-security cameras pointed at the front steps that I just walked up.
Around back of the building the rear entrance was secured with 12-foot gated chain-link fence with razor wire at the top, but with only three security cameras. I’m no security expert, but what good is twelve security cameras and a bunch of fencing going to do if the front door is wide open with a senior lady smiling on the other side?
In this post 911 world, I was surprised by the fact that I could walk freely into the Supreme Court of Canada and have a look around; this to me stood for what the courts propose, freedom.