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
- Gentlemen, stop your engines!
By Heather Matthews When we bought our house on King Edward Avenue two years ago, we were well aware of… - King Edward Avenue and the speed camera: what it revealed and what we’ve taken away
By Josiah Frith As I write this, a few blocks from King Edward Avenue, the sound of a truck engine… - Read the latest issue of The Echo! (17-1, February 2026)
Download the full PDF version here.
In the Latest Issue
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El Taco De Oro and La Latina – authentic Mexican fare right here in Lowertown
By Dave Bowen It may seem like a given, one of those things that’s always been around, but there remains an ongoing debate about the origins of Taco Tuesdays. Luckily for us, we needn’t worry about the history and can just take advantage of the offerings at El Taco De Oro, our local taqueria. According…
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Beyond the plaque: Ottawa’s First Children’s Hospital at 197 Wurtemburg Street
By Nancy Miller Chenier The plaque on this building, now the Turkish Embassy, features the Children’s Hospital, one of the significant early occupants. In June 1889, local reporters heralded the opening of the Children’s Hospital with headlines like “For the Little Ones” and “A Pretty Little Nest.” Early descriptions indicated a ground floor apartment for…
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Interview with Pierre Antoine Lafon Simard, Artistic Director, La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins
By Robin Etherington Pierre Antoine Lafon Simard is an artistic and general director, and digital artist, who has had works presented nationally and internationally. He directs Théâtre du Trillium, weaving together contemporary theatre and digital arts, with a focus on emerging francophone artists and hybrid live performance. He collaborates with partners in Ottawa’s arts ecosystem…
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Tech tips – news and updates
By Malcolm and John Harding of Compu-Home PRICES of tech equipment are likely to rise noticeably fairly soon. Frankly, we have been a bit surprised that prices have been quite stable for the past year in the face of unusually high demand, but good things seldom last forever. As devices become more sophisticated, their components…
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Beyond the plaque: Champagne Bath
By Nancy Miller Chenier In 1987, the Champagne Bath at 321 King Edward Avenue was designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. The heritage plaque on this building heralds the fact that the Champagne Bath is “a serious work of architecture, a significant social document, and a distinctive element in the King Edward…
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A simple and urgent call to action – restore the speed camera on King Edward
By Stéphanie Plante, Councillor for Ward 12 (Rideau-Vanier) On January 13, more than 100 people packed into the Sandy Hill Community Centre to talk about the future of neighbourhood policing in Ottawa for the Community Safety and Well-Being consultations. The meetings, held with the Ottawa Police Service and community partners, focused on upstream prevention, risk…
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Testing our Lowertown waters
By Mark Gerlich and Sandra Milton When you dip your toes into the water at Bordeleau Park or at the Ottawa Rowing Club, do you wonder about the water quality? We were among the volunteers collecting water samples for the Ottawa Riverkeepers who work to protect, promote, and improve the ecological health of our rivers….
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Sandwich boards vex me
By Valerie Proctor If your sandwich board or A-frame sign is sticking out on the sidewalk, I am the person who pushes it in close to your establishment! I even called the city about one big, heavy board the owner regularly leaves in the middle of the sidewalk! There are many obstacles on our sidewalks…
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