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…

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…

Bridges over “untroubled” scenic waters
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Bridges over “untroubled” scenic waters

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…

Beyond the Plaque: 9 Bruyère Street, Mother House of the Sisters of Charity 
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Beyond the Plaque: 9 Bruyère Street, Mother House of the Sisters of Charity 

By Nancy Miller Chenier In 1980, the City of Ottawa gave heritage designation to the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity at the corner of Sussex Drive and Bruyère Street (previously Bolton and then Water Street). A plaque with the following inscription tells a small part of the story of this historic building, one…