Books by or about Lowertowners
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Books by or about Lowertowners

By Nancy Miller Chenier Joan Finnegan, Giants of Canada’s Ottawa Valley, General Store Publishing House, 1981.  Joseph Montferrand, also known as Joe Mufferaw and Jo Mofero, generated many local legends and some are lodged in Lowertown lore. He was famous for throwing Irish Shiners off bridges and for kicking tavern ceilings but this legend about…

SAW – engaging with social and political issues through creative expression
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SAW – engaging with social and political issues through creative expression

Interview with Jason St-Laurent, artist and curator at SAW By Robin Etherington SAW focuses on building collaborative initiatives across Ottawa-Gatineau’s arts ecosystem, with its magnetic spirit of cooperation among local artists and organizations, shaping a more dynamic and inclusive cultural landscape for Ottawa.  Jason St-Laurent, curator at SAW since 2012, studied fine arts at the…

Cultural happenings for you to enjoy 
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Cultural happenings for you to enjoy 

Entries and photos by Robin Etherington Bundle up and let’s go to museums, galleries, concerts, and the theatre GALLERIES – GALERIES Barbara Ann Scott Gallery City Hall Art Gallery Galerie Jean-Claude Bergeron Galerie St. Laurent + Hill Karsh-Masson Gallery L.A. Pai Gallery National Gallery of Canada Ottawa Art Gallery SAW MUSEUMS – MUSÉES Canadian War…

Nuit Blanche returns to Ottawa in 2026 – a new spark for the city’s arts scene
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Nuit Blanche returns to Ottawa in 2026 – a new spark for the city’s arts scene

By Maria Gomez-Umaña Something exciting is brewing for Ottawa’s arts and culture lovers: Nuit Blanche, the all-night arts festival, is officially making a comeback in the fall of 2026, and organizers are hoping it’s the start of something big. I remember driving from Kanata to Lowertown to attend the free festival, which ran in Ottawa…

A new artist studio opens in Lowertown
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A new artist studio opens in Lowertown

By Daniel Marlow Hulya Guler Art Studio is now open at 206 Saint Patrick Street. The studio and gallery sit inside a charming heritage building, just steps from the National Gallery of Canada and the ByWard Market. Hulya’s path to becoming a professional artist has been far from conventional. Born in Turkey, she immigrated to…

The Ottawa Mission art program – making the healing power of art available to all
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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…

Books by or about Lowertowners   
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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’…

Books by or about Lowertowners: A review of 1 Sussex Drive by Gabrielle D’Emilio-Lappa, Friesen Press, 2021
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Books by or about Lowertowners: A review of 1 Sussex Drive by Gabrielle D’Emilio-Lappa, Friesen Press, 2021

By Nancy Miller-Chenier Lowertowners know that our community already has a link with Rideau Hall through Adrienne Clarkson (née Poy), the 26th Governor General, who started her life in Canada at 277 Sussex Drive and decades later moved to 1 Sussex.  This book shares the memories of Richard Legrand, amongst others, who moved from Rideau…

Arts + culture corner: Cultural happenings for you to enjoy / Des événements culturels pour votre plaisir
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Arts + culture corner: Cultural happenings for you to enjoy / Des événements culturels pour votre plaisir

By Robin Etherington GALLERIES – GALERIES Barbara Ann Scott Gallery                                                                                          …