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A controversial addition to the Andaz Hotel
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…
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Beyond the plaque: Ottawa’s First Children’s Hospital at 197 Wurtemburg Street
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…
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Repairs planned for La Salle Academy
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…
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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…
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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…
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Bytown: built by water
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…
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