Lowertown’s Community Newspaper / Journal communautaire de la Basse-Ville
A non-profit newspaper sharing news and highlighting the voices of Ottawa’s Lowertown & Byward Market communities.
Un journal à but non lucratif qui partage des nouvelles et met en valeur les voix des communautés de la Basse-Ville et du marché By d’Ottawa.
Feature Stories
- Read the latest issue of The Echo! (16-1, Winter 2025)
Download the full PDF version here. - New consequences for demolition by neglect
By Allen Brown Representatives from the Lowertown Community Association (LCA) and Heritage Ottawa (HO) expressed their concerns about the proposed…
In the Latest Issue
Just Voices: Ottawa’s social justice choir
By Nadia Stuewer and Ann Waters The familiar strains of Meghan Trainor’s “All About that Bass” fill the room as the basses start singing doom-do-doom. But suddenly the choir is singing, “all about… the bus? Yes, welcome to Just Voices, Ottawa’s activist choir whose songs promotes peace, social justice, and environmental responsibility. “All About the…
Residents of Lowertown can soon opt for reusable containers for takeaway meals
By Circular Innovation Council The Circular Innovation Council, a national environmental not-for-profit organization, is excited to announce the launch of Reuse Ottawa. It’s an innovative opportunity for Ottawans to help reduce single-use plastic waste by choosing reusable containers for their takeaway food at participating grocery stores and restaurants. Participating in Reuse is easy! Reuse Ottawa’s…
St. Patrick Street Irish: The Whelans at 332
By Nancy Miller Chenier A magnificent, repurposed church, St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts, home of the National Irish Canadian Cultural Centre, and the ruins of Our Lady’s, a former Roman Catholic school, now serve as monuments to the Irish Catholic settlers of Lowertown. Along the south side of St. Patrick Street between Cumberland and…
Arts + culture corner
Cultural happenings for you to enjoy / Des événements culturels pour votre plaisir By Robin Etherington GALLERIES – GALERIES City Hall Art Gallery Galerie Jean-Claude Bergeron Galerie St-Laurent + Hill Let’s skate and glide through our winter cultural activities into spring! Karsh-Masson Gallery L.A. Pai Gallery National Gallery of Canada Ottawa Art Gallery MUSEUMS –…
What’s in a name? Uncovering the namesake of Tormey Street
By Curtis Wolfe Tormey Street, bordering Macdonald Gardens Park in Lowertown East, commemorates William Tormey, a blacksmith and civic leader whose work during the Rideau Canal’s construction, and contributions to the development of early Bytown, had a long-lasting impact on the city. Born in 1795 in County Tyrone in what is now Northern Ireland, William…
A message from our Member of Parliament, the Honourable Mona Fortier / Un message de notre députée, l’honorable Mona Fortier
As we celebrate Black History Month this February, we recognize the invaluable contributions of Black and Afro-descendant communities in Lowertown and across the National Capital Region. Their cultural richness, dedication, and resilience are integral to our shared history and collective future. Together, we continue to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in our community, and I…
Why grandfathering matters in Ottawa’s school rezoning debate
By Josiah Frith The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is proposing significant changes to school boundaries, including expanding French immersion programs to all schools. On the surface, this appears to be a positive step toward educational accessibility. However, the decision to implement these changes without a grandfathering period – forcing some students to switch schools…
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