Blacksmith, community-minded citizen and fire chief instrumental in building the neighbourhood By Dave Allston When Patrick Mears first arrived in Westboro in 1903, the village was barely on the map. The name Westboro was only four years old, the population was under 200, and the village was largely […]
By Dave Allston One of Kitchissippi’s hidden gems is Lions Park, a recreational outdoor park, indoor facility and, most importantly, a community hub for nearly 75 years. The site features a building that holds the distinction of being Ottawa’s first publicly owned indoor rink facility (Elmgrove Arena), which […]
Westboro, Hintonburg businesses thrive as the ‘oil age’ arrives in Ottawa By Dave Allston One hundred years ago, Kitchissippi would have been a thrilling time to be alive. One can only imagine the excitement of living through the era of the arrival of the automobile. In Hintonburg and […]
By Dave Allston – These days, the Wellington-Richmond corridor through Kitchissippi features a bank seemingly every 100 metres – each branch offering a multitude of services. But banking in the ward wasn’t always this convenient. Though banks have a long history in our neighbourhood, their presence, appearance and […]
By Dave Allston – History fever has hit Wellington Village this summer as the neighbourhood celebrates its 100th –but a big chunk of the area’s history has yet to be told. Though today the neighbourhood runs north from the Queensway with streets laid out mostly alphabetically from […]
By Dave Allston – The 1960s yielded many crazes, like go-go boots, Ouija boards, bellbottoms, and sea monkeys. However, one craze that has stood the test of time is pizza! For many it would be hard to imagine a menu plan without this staple. It’s tasty as a […]
By Dave Allston – Wellington Village turns 100 years old this year, and though now part of a seamless series of neighbourhoods that frequently leads to identity confusion (is it part of Hintonburg? Westboro?), it has a very unique history that sets it apart from those slightly older […]
By Dave Allston – There’s a wide variety of schooling available for children living in Kitchissippi in 2019, with options for language, faith, special needs, and more. For the majority of kids, their school is just a short walk or bike ride away. Sometimes we take this kind […]
By Dave Allston – Like most of the original homes that front Wellington Street West, the stately brick home at the corner of Granville Avenue was converted to commercial space many years ago. Now the offices of Toon Dreessen’s well-respected firm, Architects DCA, the building and property holds […]
By Dave Allston – In many ways, Kitchissippi still had a very rural, village-like feel as late as the 1970s. This is perhaps no better exemplified than in a unique event that brought tens of thousands of Ottawans to Kitchissippi every year: a professional dog sled derby! Long-time […]
By Dave Allston – The Wellington Street/Richmond Road streetscape is in a constant state of change. One of Ottawa’s oldest and most historic streets, it was once an old farmer’s road that wound its way through Carleton County and connected the small settlements and villages. Land along its […]
By Dave Allston – The iconic Lululemon building in the heart of Westboro, on the village’s busiest corner, turns 100 years old in 2019. This building has housed important shops, restaurants, medical offices and even homes that have been integral to life in Westboro. There are a century’s worth […]
By Dave Allston – The early growth of Kitchissippi, and indeed Ottawa as a whole, was greatly influenced by a single event: the Great Fire of 1900. The fire nearly wiped out all of Hull, LeBreton Flats, and the neighbourhood between Booth and the O-Train line as far […]
By Dave Allston – In the final quarter of the 19th century, Hintonburg began to take shape as a small village. It owed its existence both to the Richmond Road, which brought farmers and travellers to and from Ottawa, and to the railroad, which created employment and opportunity. […]
By Dave Allston – As McKellar-Bingham House on Richmond Road begins to approach 200 years of age, its colourful history is emblematic of the development of the area. Home to several pioneer west-end families, it has stood the test of time thanks to the initiative of key individuals […]
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