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 […]
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 […]
[Need to catch up? Read part one and two.] By Dave Allston – This is the last of my three-part series about the Hintons, one of the founding families of Hintonburg. In my previous column, I described how Joseph Hinton and his son Robert Hinton helped establish Nepean’s […]
By Dave Allston – Kitchissippi has its share of busy intersections, but few are as rich in history as Wellington Street West at Holland Avenue. For the last 130 years and beyond, the neighbourhood has evolved around this junction of two important local roadways, and it is well […]
Q: Hi, I was wondering to whom was the Somerset Square Park dedicated to when it was first built. Our councillor wants to dedicate it to Mr. Little, but if it is already, would that not cause a situation. -Arthur Chartrand A: Great question Arthur! The naming issue has […]
By Dave Allston – For decades during the earliest days of Kitchissippi, there was a small but significant geographic feature that created constant problems for residents. It slowed development, caused major political headaches, ruined new infrastructure, and even led to severe illness and death. Cave Creek was the […]
By Andrea Tomkins – Many Kitchissippi Times’ readers may have already met local history expert Dave Allston at Westfest or Taste of Wellington West. He is often spotted chatting with neighbours about the history of their homes from behind a table loaded with historical photos and documents. Dave […]
By Dave Allston – This year marks the 100th anniversary of prohibition in Ontario, a significant era in the perennial saga of liquor and its control. Prohibition did not happen suddenly; it was the result of a long-running temperance movement culminating with evolving social and economic factors of […]
By Dave Allston – To present-day residents of Kitchissippi, Byron Linear Park is a much-appreciated strip of greenspace approximately three kilometres in length where we walk, run or cycle, shop at a farmer’s market, or play at the “School Bus Park” near Mayfair Avenue. However, for previous generations, […]
Story and photo by Ted Simpson – A large piece of Kitchissippi history is on its way to being granted reprieve from certain doom, in the form of a new Heritage Designation, thanks in part to the efforts of one passionate local man. The landmark that’s come into […]
By Dave Allston – Hampton Park is a popular, well-established and upscale neighbourhood and parkspace in Ottawa’s west end, which is exactly how subdivision founder John Charles Brennan envisioned it over 100 years ago. Brennan, along with business associates Andrew Holland and William Scott, purchased the majority of […]
Story and photos by Ted Simpson – They say that the more things change, the more they stay the same. And if that is true anywhere, it’s surely true in Westboro, where the winds of change blow strong, leaving little behind in their wake. There are few things […]
By Dave Allston – Kitchissippi’s most famous gathering place, the Carleton Tavern, turned 80 this year, and was marked with a week of celebrations this summer. A throwback to the city taverns that once dotted the working class neighbourhoods throughout the city, the Carleton is a piece of […]
By Dave Allston – For the past fifty years, the Queensway has been a normal part of life in Kitchissippi. Also known as Highway 417, this 181.4 km highway has grown over the years to accommodate the growing population to the west and east of Ottawa’s core. Now […]
Editor’s note: We asked local historian Dave Allston to come up with a top ten list of “don’t miss” sites to check out during Doors Open Ottawa on June 6 and 7. Make sure you read to the end to find out which sites he’d like to see […]
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