Ottawa‘s hidden history: from lawless outpost to Canada‘s capital

Ottawa‘s significance extends much further than its Houses of Parliament and famous museums. Before becoming Canada‘s capital, the city was known as Bytown. It was a rough, lawless place in the wilderness. On this walking tour through old Bytown you’ll trace the city’s evolution from a small lumber town to Queen Victoria‘s choice as Canada‘s capital, and discover Ottawa‘s hidden backstory, when brawling lumber crews ran riot. Our tour starts at Major‘s Hill Park, where we‘ll pay tribute to Colonel John By, at his statue, and enjoy a beautiful view of the Ottawa River. You'll stroll down York Street and learn about the early days of the iconic ByWard Market. Ottawa‘s past will come to life in the serene Jeanne d‘Arc Courtyard where you‘ll hear about the divisions, both religious and spatial, that fueled the feuding Bytown residents. On Sussex Drive, you‘ll explore popular sites from new perspectives, and travel back to the days when rogues, rioters, and disease made the streets unsafe. Our journey through Ottawa‘s chaotic history ends with a peaceful view of the Rideau Canal at Plaza Bridge. On this Ottawa walking tour, you‘ll have a chance to: • Relive the turmoil in Bytown with stories of street riots and gang fights • Hear about the deadly typhus epidemic of 1847 caused by Irish immigrants fleeing the Great Irish famine • Uncover the vision behind the Rideau Canal and hear about the people who built it • Learn about Elizabeth Bruyere, the 27-year-old nun who founded Ottawa‘s first hospital • Discover the historical factors behind York Street‘s width • Visit ByWard Market and learn about its changing role in sustaining Ottawa since Bytown days • See Sussex Drive‘s oldest buildings, including the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica and LaSalle Academy By the end of this one-hour walk, you‘ll see Ottawa through different eyes and appreciate the challenges and successes it experienced in its first 30 years.

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