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
- What ANCHOR’s expansion into Lowertown means for our communityBy the Lowertown Community Association’s Health & Wellness Committee Lowertown will soon be included in the City of Ottawa’s Alternate…
- Read the latest issue of The Echo! (17-2, May 2026)Download the full PDF version here.
- Gentlemen, stop your engines!By Heather Matthews When we bought our house on King Edward Avenue two years ago, we were well aware of…
In the Latest Issue
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Bingham House – 127 years old – welcomes its third owner.
By Dave Bowen The sale of Bingham House in February of this year marks the end of an era for the venerable two and a half story brick house at 120 Boteler Street. Donna Kearns and Peter Gaby sold the house after having spent years and countless hours restoring one of Lowertown’s architectural jewels to…
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A controversial addition to the Andaz Hotel
By Allen Brown Two years ago, the Lowertown Community Association (LCA) expressed concern that the addition to the Andaz Hotel proposed at that time did not respect the designation of the site as part of the ByWard Market Heritage Conservation District (HCD). In mid-December 2025, the LCA again expressed concerns that a new plan 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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