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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 Dave Bowen It may seem like a given, one of those things that’s always been around, but there remains an ongoing debate about the origins of Taco Tuesdays. Luckily for us, we needn’t worry about the history and can just take advantage of the offerings at El Taco De Oro, our local taqueria. According…
By Bernie Forestell, Senior Manager Communications, Shepherds of Good Hope In late 2024, Shepherds of Good Hope (SGH) partnered with the Alliance to End Homeless Ottawa and the City of Ottawa on the Diversion Pilot Project, a groundbreaking initiative toward transforming Ottawa’s shelter system to better meet the needs of the community. During the pilot…
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…
Your Lowertown Community Association’s (LCA) diligent volunteers continue to focus on safety, compassion, and livability. We work with residents, city staff, and partners to ensure Lowertown remains a welcoming, connected, and resilient community. Here is a snapshot of what we’re working on this quarter. Community safety and well-being Meaningful community consultation Heritage Equity across…
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 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…
By Nada Ziane, for the Lowertown Community Resource Centre The Lowertown Community Resource Centre (LCRC) is pleased to announce the relaunch of a volleyball program starting in February for children aged 9 to 15. This program aims to provide young people with an opportunity to discover and play volleyball in a safe, inclusive, and fun…
By Melissa Gruber A handful of neighbours in the ByWard Market are organizing another community yard sale on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Everyone in Lowertown is invited to set up in front of their homes in the morning. Afterwards, we’ll meet for a community picnic at Bingham Park. Last year, the sale was small but…
Janet Uren, The Villagers: History of the People and Life in New Edinburgh, 2025 By Nancy Miller-Chenier A history of New Edinburgh is understandably focused on what we might consider the “wrong side of the river,” but this book references multiple connections between Lowertown and New Edinburgh, the most obvious being the bridges that carried…