Dave Allston

Dave Allston is the senior asset manager (heritage) at National Defence, where he has worked in various capacities, including almost six years managing small team performing data quality and analysis on the National Defence portfolio, and five years as acting chief, IE Business and Data Support. He is also the returning officer for Ottawa Centre with Elections Ontario. Dave has a strong interest in local history and, since 1998, has been operating Houstalgia Research Company, providing historical research and detailed reports on the history of heritage and non-recognized properties, houses and neighbourhoods, as well as social, legal and architectural studies of properties over a 200-year period. In 2015, he began writing for the Kitchissippi Times community newspaper, and launched his own history blog, the Kitchissippi Museum. Dave has been a guest speaker for many groups and organizations, and contributes regularly to many mainstream media groups (such as the CBC and Ottawa Citizen) when a Kitchissippi-area local history issue arises. He also volunteers at community events, promoting his collection of local historical photos, maps and artifacts, as well as at local seniors’ residences, as well as at local seniors’ residences, conducting genealogical research.

Early Days: How Ottawa celebrated Christmas in 1924

Christmas 1924. A century ago, the citizens of our neighbourhood were filled with hope...

Early Days: Even before light rail Byron Linear Park had a locomotive past 

Byron Linear Park is a green space gem in Kitchissippi, a narrow stretch of...

Early Days: When the threat of dropping bombs created panic in Kitchissippi

It is hard to imagine that there was once a time when the residents...

Early Days: An inventor’s legacy in Hintonburg 

Along Spencer Street in Hintonburg, running east from Hamilton Avenue towards Parkdale is a...

Early Days: When the Great fire of 1903 ravaged through Preston

You likely have heard about the Great Fire of 1900, which decimated the City...

Early Days: Kitchissippi’s scandalous battle with games of pool 

Looking to play pool or snooker? You likely have to go outside of Kitchissippi...
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Early Days: When railways ran through Hintonburg and Mechanicsville

 The Northeast corner of Kitchissippi has always been an industrial center with railways, mills,...

Early Days: When steeplechase races were the rage in Westboro 

By Dave Allston  Westboro is one of Ottawa’s most trendiest neighborhoods, rich with houses, shops...

Early Days: The 100 year history of Nepean High School

By Dave Allston A symbol of the emergence of Westboro into a popular, growing village...

Early Days: A 1940s Christmas at Byron House

By Dave Allston As the Christmas season is upon us, it is timely to look...

Protecting the past: How Kitchissippi’s heritage has changed over 20 years

By Dave Allston Heritage in Ottawa has always been an imperfect system. The first...

Early Days: How garbage helped build the parkway and saved Mechanicsville

By Dave Allston The creation of landfill along the Ottawa River, and the subsequent...
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