Lowertown hosts its first-ever block party – with spooky flair and community spirit
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Lowertown hosts its first-ever block party – with spooky flair and community spirit

Article and photos by Sarah Bissex Lowertown came alive this October as Saint Brigid’s transformed into a Halloween haven for the neighbourhood’s first-ever Lowertown Block Party, hosted in collaboration with the Lowertown Community Association’s Health and Wellness Committee. The block party featured over 30 local vendors, live music, food and drinks, a costume contest, and…

From defending civil rights to performing on a national stage, Antoine L. Collins is a Lowertown treasure!
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From defending civil rights to performing on a national stage, Antoine L. Collins is a Lowertown treasure!

By the Lowertown Echo team American-born singer, songwriter, entertainer, lawyer, and adjudicator, Antoine L. Collins has never fit neatly into a box. He moves effortlessly from the courtroom to the concert stage with the same passion and purpose. He and his partner, retired Foreign Service officer Allen Brown, have called Ottawa’s Lowertown West home since…

Mapping the market
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Mapping the market

By Warren Waters Last month, I took four journeys through the ByWard Market, thanks to four extraordinary walking tours offered during Architecture Week’s “Mapping the Market.” Presented by the Ottawa Regional Society of Architects (ORSA), this annual festival is an invitation to explore Ottawa’s rich tapestry. The first tour, “Jane Jacobs 101,” delved into Jane…

Community House: a renovated space, a strengthened vision
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Community House: a renovated space, a strengthened vision

By Eddy Niyonkuru (LCRC) Renovations to the Lowertown Community House at 145 Beausoleil Drive are progressing. This place, which is so important to residents, will soon be even more welcoming, accessible, and adapted to their needs. On the ground floor, fresh coats of paint add warmth and conviviality, and new flooring gives the whole space…

Nomination of the ByWard Market as a National Historic Site
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Nomination of the ByWard Market as a National Historic Site

By Kirsty Walker and MacKenzie Kimm, Heritage Planning, City of Ottawa The City of Ottawa’s Heritage Planning Branch will be bringing a report to City Council in the coming months seeking support to nominate the ByWard Market as a National Historic District under Parks Canada’s National Historic Site program.  Staff believe the ByWard Market strongly…

Donner où on vit : devenons K1Nétiques pour la Basse-Ville!
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Donner où on vit : devenons K1Nétiques pour la Basse-Ville!

Par Jean-Paul Gagnon, Président du conseil d’administration du CRCBV, et résident de la Basse-Ville Depuis 55 ans, le Centre de ressources communautaires de la Basse-Ville (CRCBV) fait partie du tissu vivant de notre quartier. Jour après jour, il soutient les familles, les aînés, les jeunes, les nouveaux arrivants et bien d’autres personnes qui font la…

Give where you live: let’s show our K1Ndness for Lowertown!
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Give where you live: let’s show our K1Ndness for Lowertown!

By Jean-Paul Gagnon, Chair of the LCRC Board of Directors, and resident of the Lowertown For 55 years, the Lowertown Community Resource Center (LCRC) has been part of the living fabric of our neighbourhood. Day after day, it supports families, seniors, youth, newcomers, and many others who make up the human richness of Lowertown. Thanks…

Meet your new executive committee! Rencontrons les nouveaux membres du Comité exécutif
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Meet your new executive committee! Rencontrons les nouveaux membres du Comité exécutif

On October 14th, the Lowertown Community Association held its AGM at St. Brigid’s. A new board was elected, and we are excited to introduce them to you! Le 14 octobre, l’Association communautaire de la Basse-Ville a tenu son assemblée générale annuelle (AGA) à St. Brigid’s. Un nouveau conseil d’administration a été élu et nous sommes…

What’s in a name? Wading through the history of Bruyère Street
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What’s in a name? Wading through the history of Bruyère Street

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…