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By Curtis Wolfe The City of Ottawa’s Heritage Award of Merit for Restoration has been awarded to Matthew Villeneuve and Isabelle Leclerc-Morin, co-owners of Pothier House at 207 Cathcart Street, for their work in restoring the building’s two-storey porch. The award recognizes projects that restore a heritage property to its original form and overall character,…
By Nancy Miller Chenier In 1978, the City of Ottawa designated this one and a half stone double building with end chimneys and dormers as one of the few surviving stone cottages reminiscent of Ottawa’s origins with the Rideau Canal. In 2026, it is currently Lowertown’s only residential stone cottage and it does have strong…
By Curtis Wolfe Did you know that properties located within a heritage conservation district, or having an individual heritage designation, usually require a heritage permit before their windows can be replaced?Windows are considered an important part of a building’s heritage character. Their size, shape, materials, and even the way they open, contribute to the overall…
By Allen Brown Changes made by the provincial government’s Bill 23, or the More Homes Built Faster Act of 2022, originally gave Ottawa until the end of 2024 to remove the 4,600 properties on its Heritage Register, or formally designate them as protected structures under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA). In doing…
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…
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…
By Curtis Wolfe Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is planning to begin work shortly to address a number of health, safety, and operational needs at the former La Salle Academy at 373 Sussex Drive. According to PSPC, work will begin on exterior repairs with substantial completion expected by October 2026. The repairs will stabilize…
By Curtis Wolfe Few streets in Lowertown have had as many name changes as has Bruyère Street. Between 1847 and 1855, property lots in this part of Lowertown West were purchased from the Crown by three notable figures: lumber baron, Joseph Aumond, businessman and politician, the Hon. Thomas MacKay, and the Sisters of Charity of…
By Nancy Miller Chenier Water, water – all around us. Well, maybe not all around but with the Rideau River on one side, the Ottawa River on the other, and the Rideau Canal nearby, our bridges have facilitated the movement of workers, shoppers, merchandise, and even royalty. Through time, they connected federal, provincial, and municipal…
By Josiah Frith Ottawa stands on the unceded, surrendered territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation, who continue to live, govern, and care for these lands and waters today. I offer these reflections in the spirit of learning, reconciliation, and shared stewardship. I write as a long-time resident of Lowertown, part of the historic heart of…