Under the shadow of Ottawa’s Chinatown gates, the Somerset and Cambridge Street Seats location was filled on July 8 with music lovers, community members and civic leaders in anticipation of the unveiling of the official anthem for Ottawa’s Bicentennial year.
Sung in four languages – English, French, Anishinaabemowin and Inuktitut – Heart of This Place (Adàwe c’est ma ville) reflects the many voices, cultures and stories that have shaped Ottawa since before 1826.
The idea of creating a song for the 200th anniversary of Ottawa originated with the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) as a way to celebrate the milestone while reflecting the city’s diversity. OMIC reached out to the artists in Feb. 2026.
“We brought together artists from different backgrounds, lived experiences and musical traditions, and they created a song that reflects the diversity, resilience and creativity of our city,” OMIC executive director Mélanie Brulée said in a press release.
Jessica Pearson, an Ottawa singer-songwriter and leader of the folk-Americana trio Jessica Pearson and the East Wind, told Kitchissippi Times that her experience working with the group and its production team was nothing short of magic.
“Putting us all together, you never know who you’re going to get. And it was honestly like flow and magic,” said Pearson. “When we were going in to write the song, our whole goal was to make it a song that every single person from Ottawa or anyone who’s moved to Ottawa feels like it’s their song.”
In a panel conversation before the first live performance of Heart of This Place (Adàwe c’est ma ville), Pearson, along with Inuk throat singer Qattuu, francophone rapper and slam poet Yao and producer and owner of Studio Oblique Philippe Charbonneau – all artists based in the capital region – discussed the creative process behind the project.
Also involved with the project but absent from the panel were Ottawa songwriter Amanda Rheaume and producer Olivier Fairfield.
Yao said the group quickly got into the flow of the project despite having never worked together before.
“It happened really fast – we got the call and within the span of two weeks, we were in the studio. And then you get there, and we have 48 hours, and you’re going to be with artists that you’ve never met or worked with before,” he said.
“Now it was like, you have four different musical genres, four different horizons, four different personalities,” he continued. “But we came up with the chorus in the second half of the first day, and we all looked at each other and were like ‘Yeah, this is it – this is the people of Ottawa.’”
Opened by a territorial blessing by Algonquin Elder Annie St. George – who also led the artistic collaborators in a grounding ceremony before the recording sessions – the song focuses on honouring the land, the waterways and the many cultures that shape Ottawa.
Qattuu said St. George’s presence brought the group together and created a comforting environment.
“I was very happy to see that there was an elder opening, because elders give such a presence and a welcoming hug…to let you know that this space is for you, and this is where we’ve come from,” said Qattuu.
First known as Bytown – named after Lt.-Col. John By, who oversaw construction of the Rideau Canal on Algonquin territory beginning in 1826 – the settlement was later renamed Ottawa in 1855 and became Canada’s capital two years later.
The City of Ottawa is hosting several events throughout the summer and into the fall to celebrate the 200 year anniversary, with the official release of Heart of This Place (Adàwe c’est ma ville) to take place on Sept. 26 with a free live performance at Marion Dewar Plaza.
The song will also be performed live at the Capital Music Awards which will take place on Oct. 9 at the NAC.
The music video for Heart of This Place (Adàwe c’est ma ville) is currently available on YouTube.