Similar Posts
Lowertown fire stations, then and now
By Michel Rossignol In 1864, Ottawa’s municipal government decided to improve the city’s firefighting capabilities by buying two hook and ladder wagons for two fire brigades, one in Lowertown and one in Uppertown. There were no funds to buy horses, so the wagons had to be pulled by twenty volunteer firefighters. There was another problem….
A message from our Member of Parliament, the Honourable Mona Fortier
As summer unfolds, I want to take a moment to share some positive news and highlight a few important programs that are supporting our community here in Ottawa-Vanier-Gloucester. While the House of Commons is on summer recess, the work continues on the ground – to support families, create opportunities for youth, and make our cultural…
The Ottawa Mission art program – making the healing power of art available to all
An interview with Aileen Leo, Director of Communications By Robin Etherington The Ottawa Mission’s art program supports individual artists and community engagement through exhibitions, fundraising, and partnerships with local artists and organizations. It empowers individuals, showcases their work, and raises funds for the Mission’s programs, while fostering a sense of community and belonging. What has…
The McManus family at 168 Murray Street in their 1840s log house
By Nancy Miller Chenier In May 2025, the Heritage Impact Assessment and Conservation Plan for the proposed development at 168-174 Murray Street stated that it would include “the conservation and rehabilitation of both the two-storey brick clad frame building located at 174 Murray and the one and one half-storey log/frame building at 168 Murray.” The…
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…
Books by or about Lowertowners
Gwen Tuinman, Unrest, Random House Canada, 2024. By Nancy Miller-Chenier This historical fiction is focused on the unrest created by the Shiners, gangs of Irish immigrants that terrorized Bytown with extreme acts of violence between 1835 and 1845. Led by Peter Aylen, who later emerged as a successful lumberman, this period, known as the Shiners’…