OttawaVeloOutaouais

Ottawa Labour Day Ride: Visiting Sites Dedicated to Workers

Labour Day celebrates workers and the labour union movement across Canada on September 1st of each year. Here is a 5km bike ride that visits four commemorative installations dedicated to workers within the National Capital Region and beyond.

We begin our tour in Chinatown at the corner of Somerset Street and Empress Avenue where you will find the Chinese Canadian Railway Workers Memorial. This memorial pays tribute to the contribution and sacrifice of the 17 000 Chinese Canadian railway workers who helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway from 1880 to 1885.

leaving the Chinese Canadian Railway Workers Memorial, ride north along quiet Empress Avenue, then east on Primrose Avenue, and then north along Cambridge Street North which turns right and becomes Laurier Avenue. Follow the bike line along Laurier Avenue all the way to City Hall. Just beyond City Hall, before you take the bridge over the Rideau Canal, turn right on the short off-ramp, then turn left along the bike path that heads north under the bridge along the Rideau Canal. Just before reaching Sappers Bridge that passes under Wellington Street, you will encounter a short set of stairs. These have metal troughs along which you can push your bike to avoid having to carry it up the stairs. Ride under the bridge, then down the hill. The canal locks wil be to your right and Parliament Hill high up above to your left. Cross over to the other side of the canal across the second-to-last set of locks closest to the Ottawa River.

Once on the opposite side of the canal you will notice the Rideau Canal Memorial Cross dedicated to hundreds of Rideau Canal workers who died building the Rideau Canal betweem 1826-1832. An accompanying interpretive panel helps to explain the context in which these workers found themselves and the hardships they endured.

*Commemorative Cross dedicated to Rideau Canal workers*

Next, head up along the road to the left of the cross. At the top of the hill, turn right into Major’s Hill Park and follow the path indicated on the map to the Canadian Building Trades Monument.

As described in the accompanying stone engraved text, ‘This monument honours and celebrates the tradespeople who build and maintain Canada every day, and commemorates the losses they have endured in the workplace’.

The two principal vertical sculptures depict plumb bobs, tools used in construction since ancient times. The engraving goes on the explain ‘..they symbolize the intersection of earthly gravity and human ingenuity’. A number of other tools are etched into the long horizontal plinths located on either side of the plumb bobs, which double as benches for resting visitors.

Our final stop on this ride is just across the Ottawa River in Gatineau. Take the boardwalk bike lane over the Alexandra bridge, cross the intersection and continue along the Sentier de l’Île pathway that runs along Boulevard des Allumettières. Slightly before reaching Boulevard Maisonneuve you will see an interpretive panel dedicated to Les Allumettières . These were female workers in the local EB Eddy plant who fabricated wooden matches from the 1800’s up until 1928 when the plant closed. The working conditions they endured were extremely dangerous and unhealthy. This interpretive panel goes into more detail on the incredible challenges Les Allumettières encountered.

Have a great Labour Day!

Cannons in the Capital II

With recent threats from our southerly neighbour to absorb us, I thought it timely to re-visit a route that checks out examples of long barrelled artillery on display throughout our National Capital Region.

if you are interested in how we’ve evolved from the original Cannons in the Capital tour check it out here .

Our ride begins at the Canadian War Museum. Head over to the immense glass wall along Booth Street and peer in.

This’ll give you a great view of an assortment of big artillery and then some.

Follow the bike lane north over the Chaudiere Bridge to Gatineau, then turn left along Alexandre-Taché Boulevard. At the corner of Boulevard Alexandre-Taché and Boulevard St Joseph you will find these two tanks on display outside the Salaberry Armoury.

This armoury was named in memory of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles-Michel d’Irumberry de Salaberry. In 1812 Salaberry was put in command of a new corps of volunteers, the Canadian Voltigeurs (light infantry) and in November 1812 they turned away an American attack at La Colle Mill. In October 1813 he and 300 of his troops repulsed several thousand American troops threatening Montreal.

The armoury presently houses the Régiment de Hull.

Continue along the route indicated on the map which crosses back over to Ottawa via the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge bike lane. Weave your way behind the National Research Council building and over the pedestrian bridge just above the Rideau Falls. To the right you will see the National Artillery Monument comprised of a memorial wall and 25-pounder artillery field gun, commemorating the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery and their members who gave their lives in the service of Canada.

Our ride now heads downtown to the National War Memorial. The sculpture depicted in the memorial is titled The Response. It includes a field gun used in World War I, being pulled through a stone arch by Canadian combatants.

The final stretch of our ride goes along the Rideau Canal via the wonderful Rideau Canal Western Pathway, which takes us to these two replica 9-pounder cannons stationed on the edge of Dow’s Lake, right in front of HMCS Carleton naval reserves. They are part of the National Naval Reserve Monument.

Just around the corner on Prince of Wales Drive, plopped on the lawn of the naval reserves sits a few more contemporary sorts of cannons, visible through some barricade fencing.

So there you have it – many depictions of local cannons to discover! Just wish we didn’t ever need them, but here we are.

Happy trails.

Bike Tour of Tulips in the Capital

The tulips are in bloom! This bike tour samples the feast of colour provided by wonderful beds of tulips planted throughout the city.

Our tour begins downtown at the corner of Murray St and Mackenzie Ave on the edge of Majors Hill Park where you will see some beautiful beds of tulips.

Head up and through Majors Hill Park where you will see more great displays of of our featured flower.

Cross Mackenzie Ave at the lights located on the southern end of the park, behind the Chateau Laurier.

Take the bi-directional bike path a short distance north to Wellington St, then turn right on Wellington before navigating over to the War Memorial. Very nice displays can be seen in front of the memorial.

There is a bike path across from the War Memorial that heads down behind the National Arts Centre and along the Rideau Canal before becoming the Rideau Canal Western Pathway. Follow this path along the canal, past more beautiful flora displays, all the way to Princess Patricia Way. Cross Queen Elizabeth Driveway over to the path that continues parallel on the opposite side. The impressive arrangement can be found just south along this path.

Continue on this path, then cross back to the pathway that runs along the canal, just after passing under the Bank St Bridge. Just as you arrive at Dow’s Lake, cross Prince of Wales Drive oce again into Commissioners Park. This is the main site of Ottawa’s seasonal tulip display.

The path weaves its way north west through the park past colourful displays of tulips around Dows lake.

The best time to do this ride is early on a weekday morning before the crowds arrive. The flowers still look great at all times, however you will most likely require walking your bike through the park at other times of the day, especially on weekends when it becomes a bit of a mob scene.

Our ride ends at western end of Commissioners Park, at the corner of Preston St and Prince of Wales Drive. One bed of pink and purple tulips in the park is the Queen Juliana Gift Bed. These tulips are an annual gift of thousands of bulbs from the Dutch Royal Family in memory of the bond between Canada and Holland after Canada’s participation in the liberation of the Netherlands during World War II. As well in 1943, while they were staying in Ottawa after fleeing the war, Dutch Princess Juliana gave birth to her third child, Margriet at the Ottawa Civic Hospital.

Bike Tour Visiting Three Big Waterfalls!

We are lucky to have three nice waterfalls in the city – Hog’s Back Falls along the Rideau River, the Chaudière Falls on the Ottawa River and the Rideau Falls where the Rideau River spills into the Ottawa River. The spring runoff makes them particularly awesome at this time of year, however all of these falls are still worth checking out any time of the year. Here is a 14km bike tour almost entirely along bike paths that visits all three sites.

Hog’s Back Falls was originally a set of rapids known as the Three Rocks Rapids, but the building of the Rideau Canal resulted in the more spectacular version we have now. More on the transformation from rapids to falls is described in these two links:

A Rapid Ride: The Billings shoot Hogs Back “Falls”.

Washed Away The Story of the Building of the Hogs Back Dam.

Next stop – the Chaudière Falls on the Ottawa River, just west of Parliament Hill. When french explorer Samuel de Champlain arrived at the falls he noted how its elongated curved form and volume of water flowing over it ressembled a boiling cauldron, or chaudière. More on the history of the Chaudière Falls can be found here.

The above map shows three great locations from which you can view the falls.

Chaudière Falls in the Spring from close

Last stop – the Rideau Falls! The Rideau River ends by spilling down into the Ottawa River in most spectacular form resembling a huge curtain of water, or in French a ‘rideau’ of water.

Rideau Falls in early Spring (major melt!)

Et voila!

Blooming Magnolia Ride!

Local nature enthusiast James Wilson has written ‘One of the biggest and most floriferous Magnolias in Ottawa is this Merrill Magnolia (Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’) is on the horticulture grounds at Algonquin College. It is 30 feet tall and 30 feet wide. It is in full bloom today.’. Oooh, gotta check that out!

Then I thought of another wonderful bunch of Magnolias in the Arboretum. So, for lovers of these wonderful smelling flowers, here’s a 10km bike route starting from the amazing display in the Arboretum to the Merrill Magnolia at Algonquin College. The ride is almost entirely along multi-use pathways.

The Arboretum magnolias are just off the gravel path at the northern end of the Arboretum near Prince of Wales Drive.

After checking out the beautiful display in the Arboretum, follow the gravel road that heads up the hill alongside Prince of Wales Drive. The gravel along this dirt road is usually packed, but can be a bit unpredictable throughout the year. Alternatively one could cross Prince of Wales at the signalised pedestrian lights and ride along the paved shoulder/unprotected bike lane along Prince of Wales, as noted by the purple line on the map.

Up the hill along the gravel path, or… along Prince of Wales Drive

From the traffic circle at the top of the hill head west along the National Capital Commission (NCC) Scenic Driveway. Unfortunately the Experimental Farm Pathway only starts a few hundred meters along the NCC Scenic Driveway, just in front of the big red barn, and there is no shoulder or bike lane along the section between the traffic circle and the barn. However the sidewalks are paved.

NCC Scenic Driveway between the traffic circle and the start of the Experimental Farm Pathway

After riding a short distance along the pathway beyond the barn turn onto quiet Morningside Lane and then west again along equally pleasant Cow Lane that cuts through fields on either side.

Then it’s back onto the pathway, on the other side of Ash Lane.

One confounding little spot for those travelling along the Experimental Farm Pathway for the first time is the continuation of the pathway across Fisher Avenue. This is because the path on the west side of Fisher is not alligned with the path on the east side. Instead it starts a short distance north, and is very poorly indicated or noticeable from the east side.

Where the cyclist in the circle is turning? That’s where the pathway continues across Fisher

Beyond this little navigational mess the Experimental Farm Pathway continues merrilly through a myriad of wonderful landscapes.

Just before arriving at Woodroffe Avenue you will happen upon the Baseline/Woodroffe Stormwater Management Pond. At this point take a left off the Experimental Pathway to Navaho Drive. Follow Navaho Drive across Baseline and continue straight when it becomes Wabisheshi Private. Continue along Wabisheshi through the Algonquin College campus until it ends at College Ave. Turn right on College Ave and take College Ave to the Algonquin College horticulture grounds. The entrance to the grounds is on the left and the glorious Merrill Magnolia is just on the right as you enter the grounds.

The Merrill Magnolia at Algonquin College Horicultural Grounds

One can also follow this same route throughout the summer to visit the Horticultural grounds which are quite beautiful.

Path through the Algonquin College Horticultural Grounds

Et voila!

Bike Tour of Swap Boxes and Little Free Libraries

Swap Boxes and Little Free Libraries are a great way to share books and other items amongst neighbours and passersby. Here’s how they work: usually streetside, people are enticed to open them up. If something inside strikes their fancy they can take or exchange the item with something else. I started this route back in 2016, updating the map annually with boxes as they come and go or have been modified. Everyone who has one loves the joy and sharing that they contribute to the community!

We were inspired to put up a swap box in front of our place after discovering a number of others around town that had been created by the late street artist Elmaks. There is also an online group you can register your book swap box called Little Free Libraries. Here’s an article in the Kitchissippi Times on some of those local little libraries.

First stop – Cambridge St North Swap box, just north of the Chinatown Arch. This one has separate little art box that is updated regularly.

Our next box is Down Nanny Goat Cliff on Rochester St.

One square block south-west there sits this converted newspaper box at the corner of Preston and Elm.

Head over to the Trillium pathway that runs along the O-Train and follow it south as far as Beech St. Half a block east on Beech you will find this fine box.

Next it’s over to this swap box at 249 Loretta Avenue.

A couple of blocks west at the corner of Beech Street and Bayswater Avenue you can’t miss this colourful Little Free Library/Boîte à livres.

South on Bayswater brings you to this fine box whose design imitates that of the home infront of which it sits.

A few blocks up a hill you will find this very well constructed Little Free Library on Gwynne Ave.

Head over to this clever ‘A-Frame’ box on Melrose.

This beautifully painted box is just a few yards further up Melrose.

Then it’s over to 94 Spadina Ave. where sits this tall red box, another imitation of it’s host house.

Breeze on over to Breezehill Ave where you will find this fine unit with old car licence plate roof shingles.

Then back to Spadina and a bit north there’s this great collage box.

This generous box on Garland sits comfortably on a wall.

Heading west through Hintonburg brings you to this big yellow one at 50 Ladoucer.

A bit further west in Hintonburg you will find a box near the corner of Oxford & Pinehurst. This one has quite a history. In the Fall of 2016 someone complained about it’s original sprawling bungalow styling to city by-law and the owners were told to take it down by September 16th. Fortunately there was a last minute stay of execution and it got a reprieve. It was then replaced it with a more compact design, and has since gradually grown and evolved into the multi-unit that is there now.

Further west you will find this nice big box on Gilchrist Ave.

Across the transitway sits this fine tall box on Northwestern Avenue.

A short distance south on Northwestern you will find this box.

This ‘Bibliothèque’ can be found on W Village Private.

This ‘Children’s books only’ box on Garrison St sits low to the ground making it easier for young’uns to access.

Just south of Wellington on Mayfair there is not one, but TWO boxes safely distanced apart.

A few blocks south brings us to this little library at 436 Mayfair.

Our route goes another couple of blocks east to visit this great Little Library on Kenora St. that has started to lean a bit over time.

A block south on Java St it’s pretty hard to miss this extremely well built monster ‘little’ library.

The next box on Tyndall St. had been taken down for major renovations and it wasn’t clear if it would re-appear, so that summer I sadly had to remove it from the tour. I was so happy to see it back in place in the spring of 2024!

Next it’s under the Queensway over to this colourful box at the edge of St Stephen’s church on Sherwood.

Box outside St. Stephen’s Church on Sherwood

A few blocks south on Hamilton Ave S you will find this fine box.

Right around the corner on Inglewood you will find this friendly offering.

Over to this sharing box on Holland.

Further west on Ruskin there sits this beautiful cedar shingled little library with a cute little swap box addition. This box has a sad story associated with it: in 2017 someone set fire to it’s original incarnation. Undeterred, the builders got to work and like the legendary Phoenix, this wonderul replacement rose from it’s ashes.

Over to Island Park Drive where this super sweet ‘petit bibliotheque’ has mini toad-stools for little ones to rest upon.

This next box on Clarendon was made and installed by Chris of the Ottawa Outdoor Gear Library.

Then there’s this fine box at the corner of Mayfair and Iona.

Two boxes are at the corner of Brennan and Iona, one dedicated to kids.

This next colourful Little Library is on Tweedsmuir Avenue.

Over to this very beautifuly painted box on Evered Ave.

Over to this one at Edison & Kenwood where locals can grab their mail AND a book! There was also a couple of folding chairs and table on my last visit.

This box on Melbourne is a very nice design. A paintedlandcape on the front is intersected by the round window.

A detour north brings us to this little library on Atlantis Ave.

Over to 571 Roosevelt to visit this fine box.

This multi-coloured big box is at 417 Greenwood.

The next one has a corrugated metal roof! Very clever.

A vintage window with mullions serves as the front of this box on Rowanwood Ave making it easier to peruse the selection before without exposing the books to the elements. Very handy during inclement weather!

This box on Knightsbridge Rd was once red and now it’s white.

This big red row boat shaped box can be found on Deschênes St.

Next one is in New Orchard Park.

You can find this book box on Midway Ave near Ancaster. Based on similarites in design with the last box I have a sneaking suspicion they came from the same source.

A slight detour south to the Glabar Park neighbourhood brings you to this double-duty Little Library on Lenester Avenue. The upper box has stained glass windows!

Down Woodland Avenue brings you to this fine box.

The route branches off south-westerly to visit the next three boxes. First stop is at the corner of Ryan and Southwood Drive with a bench to relax and peruse the offerings! This box is dedicated to Rocky, who I think was a favorite neighbourhood dog.

The second is this leaning box at 30 Harrison St that uses the JUTIS frosted cabinet door from Ikea!

The third is at 32 Abingdon Dr with a traditional styled hinged door.

Over on Côte-des-Neiges Rd you will find this elegant box with the 10 Rights of Readers noted on one side.

Next box is on Ainsley Drive with a very clever log base and colourful siding.

This cute little box on Sherman Drive is most likely seasonal and brought in once the snow starts falling.

Heading back east brings usto this swap box at the corner of Sherman and Navaho Drive which has a little path leading up from the intersection.

This red box can be found on Marygrove Circle.

Just around the corner on Terrebonne Drive there is this colourful unit.

Over to Caldwell Ave to visit this generous book exchange.

This playful box is located a bit further north at the corner of McBride and Woodward.

This fine box on Laperriere isn’t going anywhere soon, with it’s solid specially poured concrete base!

This sweet box is a bit further east along Laperriere.

The Alexander Community Centre has this fine big box on a stable wooden base.

This fun box is suspended from a tree infront of 816 Fisher Ave.

A few blocks over on Emperor St you will be able to sit on this nice bench while perusing this box’s offerings.

Next we go over to 1237 Kingston Ave and visit this relatively nondescript yet effective Little Library.

Over to 28 Sutton Place. This box is special as it was built and installed by one of Ottawa’s most passionate cycling advocates, Hans On Bike.

There’s a nice big box outside St Mark’s Anglican church on Fisher.

The next most excellent box is on Bowhill Avenue.

Head on south to Tennyson St to visit this double box. Note how it’s colours match the home.

Next stop is over the river on Uplands Drive where you will find this great box called the Oak Tree Free Library.

Over to Cahill St. The green box to the right is labelled ‘Kids Book Nook’.

You will find this ‘Kids Books Only’ box along Owl Drive, which must get alot of visits as it is right beside Bayhview Public School.

To get to the next box our route unfortunately follows McCarthy Road, which cars like to speed along. What used to be a paved shoulder usable as a bike path at least through the section through the hydro-wires, has now been filled with concrete meridians for what must only be to discourage bikes – completely absurd! So, ride on the sidewalk if you must to be safe. Once across Walkley Road you are good.

At the corner of Colman St & Kincaid Ct sits this elaborate installation. Inside the glass walls one can see a doll house scaled interior. There is a small accessible flap under it giving access to envelopes with an image of a painted flower on the outside. Not sure if one is supposed to take the envelope so I didn’t, but I’ll give it the benefit of doubt and assume so, allowing it to meet the requrements of this post. If anyone knows more about the story of this box please let me know.

Next, over to this great box further down Colman St.

Next is this tall model on Hobson Road.

Next check out this fine unit on Springland Drive.

Over to this wide unit on Upper Otterson Pla. It has two small solar powered units that I’m guessing are lights.

This one on Revelstoke Drive has a lovely stained glass door.

A short distance down Revelstoke you will find this fine Little Free Seed Library.

The next few boxes to discover are in the Glebe. This one’s on Crescent Heights, just west of Bronson.

This box is on Fifth Avenue.

A few blocks north on First Ave the Glorious Glebe-St James United Church hosts find this colourful box.

This next box over on Thornton has great vertical proportions!

Half way down the block on the opposite side of Thornton you will discover this great Book Sharing Zone.

A bit further south on Queen Elizabeth Place you will find this Dr Zeuss inspired little library.

On Findlay you’ll find this fine tall box.

A bit further west there’s this ampersand box.

Over on Muriel St this crimson little box can be found.

Bit of a ride through Ottawa South to get to our next Mondrian inspired box on Belmont Ave.

Next, over to this tree mounted box on Ossignton Avenue.

Two more boxes can be found a block west on Ossington, including this colourful one!

A bit further down Ossington you will find Sylvia’s Little Free Library. This double-decker-dog-friendly unit has a box for kids on the lower half that is easily reachable.

Speaking of dog-friendly boxes, here’s a Ball & Stick Library located along the Rideau River on Warrington Drive!

Next is a short side loop over the Rideau River to visit this robust Little Library on Pleasant Park Road. The most convenenient access to Alta Vista along this route is along the awful narrow Bank Street bridge over the Rideau River. Walking your bike along the sidewalk bridge is usually the safest option.

A block south on Mountbatten Ave sits this very cool & colourful box.

Over on Blossom Drive you will find this very welcoming box.

Our next stop is at this lovely box near the corner of Crocus and Kilborn Avenues.

Over on Featherstone Drive you will find two amazing boxes, like this PYB Memorial Little Library made to resemble a British phone booth.

A bit further south on Featherstone Drive you will see this beautiful box painted by Emilie Darlington.

A bit further north on Delmar there is this fine brown box.

This cute little box is further south on Delmar Drive.

Further east you will find this double-decker unit!

This box on Arch St has a unique stacked brick base and a funky handle.

Our next stop on our Alta Vista loop brings us to this one at 1647 Pullen Ave.

This proud box is on Acton Street.

Continuing on our loop through Alta Vista brings us to this cleverly designed mobile unit on Knox Crescent.

Head back on over to the north shore of the Rideau River and follow the path along to the river to Belmont Drive where you will find this super sweet box.

On Riverdale Ave you will find this delicately painted two level unit.

Walk your bike one block north to our next stop along Riverdale.

A couple of blocks over you will see this great little library at 146 Sunnyside Avenue. Big footprint shaped concrete pavers invite passersby to peruse the shelves.

Just direct your feet to the Sunnyside of the street

This nicely crafted box is located a bit further north on Glencairn Avenue.

Our next great box can be found just around the corner on Riverdale Ave. This one also has a generous concrete bench infront of it.

A bit north east on Belgrave Road lives 2-d00r box.

Our next box on Clegg St imitates the house infront of which it stands. It even has a piece of the stone panelling left over from the contruction of the house incorporated into the base of the box.

Over on Mason Terrace there’s this nice blue box.

Close by on Bower Street we find another fine box.

Nary a block over is this great box on Mutchmor Road.

Box on Mutchmor (can’t ask for Mutchmor than that!)

Close by on Merritt Ave you will find this great little library.

Up on Drummen St you will find this beauty.

Just a few meters down Drummond Street there sits this box.

Just a couple of blocks north you can find this box on Glanora Street.

On Simcoe St sits this wide & generous box.

On Evelyn Ave you will find this glorious tower of a library.

Along Echo Drive in front of The Church of the Ascension you will find this fine box.

Ride north along the Rideau Canal pathway then cut through the Ottawa U campus. Once you cross King Edward, push your bike a short distance along the east sidewalk to this forlorn box, bravely located on one of the craziest streets in the city.

Head back to ther lights and continue east along Somerset E through the Sandy Hill neighbourhood. This lovely pink & white box can be found on Russell Ave.

At the corner of Templeton and Chapel Streets sits this big blistering blue box.

A few houses north on Chapel you will find this box.

Next there’s this box on Marlborough Ave.

Another one on Golbourn.

Another great Sandy Hill box on Osgoode.

You will find this Book Library near the north/east corner of Stewart. It has a stepping stone to allow smaller readers to peruse the titles.

A bit further down Stewart you will find this sticker covered box.

Over to Wurtemburg St to check out this sweet box.

After crossing over the Rideau River this next branch visits three boxes. The first is this box on Mark Ave.

A couple of blocks nouth gets you to one of the same design on Greensway Ave.

Last of the three boxes on this branch is this fine little unit at the corner of Vachon and Dagmar with some paving stones to keep your shoes clean while you peruse.

This big box can be found on Shakespeare St. Unfortunately it is missing a door.

There are two fine boxes back over in Overbrook. Weave your way along a few residential streets to this fine Little Library on Queen Mary Street.

Just across the Vanier Parkway you will find this fine box/bench combo on King George St.

A few blocks north there sits this sweet little library on Ontario Street with a big bench to relax.

Over on the corner of Frontenac & Lacasse you will find this fine box.

Next, over to 770 Claude St

A bit further east you will discover this fantastic box on Roanoke Street!

Next, over to Pauline Charron Place. This one has had a bottom unit added since it first appeared.

Back to the bike path along St Laurent, head north a touch and turn right onto Meadow Park Place where you will discover this fine specimen.

A bit further north you will happen upon this next box on Braemer.

Next, ride towards and along Hemlock Road that’ll get you to this fine little library.

Ride over to New Edinburgh where you will find this big colourful box outside the MacKay United Church.

Cross the river over the St Patrick Street bridge towards this bright red box at the end of Old St Patrick St. in Lowertown.

Over to the corner of Rose and Bruyère to visit this jaunty box. It has had a kids box addition installed as well.

Further along St Andrew, on the opposite side of King Edward Ave, there sits this elegant little box. Note the bike ramp on the porch steps. Bonus points!

Time to retrace our route back to the Rideau Canal and ride south. On Fourth Ave there’s this very clever box with clear acrylic panes on the front and back, allowing the residents on whose property it sits to be able to see if it is full from the comforts of their home.

This sweet little library is located on O’Connor Street near Patterson Creek.

Heading north you will find this Library/bibliothèque at the corner of Strathcona and Metcalfe.

The next two boxes are neighbours on Argyle which is accessible via the bi-directional bike lanes along O’Connor. The first is this brightly painted number.

The second box on Argyle has beautiful landscaping.

Cut through the Museum of Nature parking to visit this box on McLeod.

You can find this box set back on the front steps at 176 Florence St.

This box is just outside the kids playground in Dundonald Park.

Another box on Mcleod can be found near Bronson.

A couple of blocks south on Arlington you will find this fine red box!

This slightly crooked but perfectly functional Little Library can be found on Arlington a few blocks west of Bronson. The mini solar panel powers a light that turns on after dark once you open the door to the box. It was working a few years ago. I will have to go back when it’s dark out to confirm it is still operational.

This loving box can be found on Eccles.

Our final stop is this Mini Library, corner of Cambridge St N and Christie. This one takes taller books too!

Et voila. Happy discoveries. If I’ve missed any boxes please send me a note and I’ll include it on the route.

A final special mention for this super sweet little swap box once located on Cole Avenue. It was one of this author’s favourites, so I leave you, dear reader, with a final image before it disapeeared, in commemoration of all the other wonderful boxes that have come & gone over the years.

Cole swap box.jpg — Cole Avenue Swap Box

Biking to Pointe-Gatineau in the Winter

Pointe-Gatineau is a nice destination any time of the year, particularly the southern tip where the Gatineau and Ottawa rivers meet. The views across both waterways are fantastic.

The ride to Pointe-Gatineau in the summer is very direct and idyllic along the Voyageurs pathway, but this path isn’t cleared in the winter, so I put out a call to r/Gatineau and was rewarded with the following suggested route:

Our adventure begins on the Ottawa side of the Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge.

Once across the river, ride along the De l’Île pathway that starts on the north-east corner of Rue Laurier and Boulevard des Allumettières.

This path meanders through parkland, parallel to Boulevard des Allumettières, before angling diagonally through a residential area. Follow it all the way to Rue Saint-Rédempteur. Turn right onto Saint-Rédempteur and ride along the bike lane. This can be a busy street, and while the bike lanes seem to be cleared, there might be a few snow drifts piling up against the sidewalk. So, you know… there’s the sidewalk if you don’t feel safe.

Saint-Rédempteur turns into Boulevard Montclair. Follow the bike lane all the way to just before reaching the Rapidbus Corridor where you can turn right onto the service road/bike path that runs along the Corridor. The first section from Montclair to the edge of the Casino property is cleared but not salted so my studded tires came in handy.

First section of bike path along the Rapidbus Corridor

Beyond the Casino the path is cleared and salted, all the way to, and over, the Gatineau River.

Cleared & salted sections of the Rapidbus path

The path curls under the Rapidbus Corridor, then up and along the bridge, over the Gatineau River.

You have now officially arrived in Pointe-Gatineau, but I wanted to get down to the point of the Pointe where the two rivers meet. To do so I turned right off the path and rode behind the SmartCentres Gatineau shopping mall to Boulevard de la Gappe.

Turn right onto the bi-directional bike lane that runs along Boulevard de la Gappe, and cross Rue St-Louis to the bike path that runs along the Gatineau River.

Continue along this pathway down river, which will bring you to where the Gatineau River spills into the Ottawa River.

You can continue to bike around the point which the path follows west along the Ottawa River. Lots of interpretive panels on the history of this area can be discovered along this section. More about the history of Pointe-Gatineau can be found here.

Et voila! To get back to Ottawa just retrace your treads.

Happy trails!

Biking to Carleton University

Biking to Carleton University has gotten significantly safer from a number of directions with the recent opening of the pedestrian bridge over the Rideau River on the south side of campus, just beside the O-Train bridge.

The following map is an update to a previous one I posted a number of years ago with approaches to Carleton, taking into consideration the new bridge.

If anyone needs a more specific route to campus please send me a starting cross street and I’ll post it.

From the north (Hintonburg) : purple bike logo

This route is mostly along quiet streets before cutting through the Experimental Farm. One point of note is the intersection of Maple Drive and the National Capital Commission Scenic Driveway, or Driveway. To bike the 200 meters along the Driveway from Maple Drive to Morningside Lane, cross the Driveway to the paved entrance infront of the big red barn. There’s a bi-directional bike lane that starts just beyond the barn that gets you safely to Morningside Lane.

Cross the Driveway at the intersection with Maple Drive to get to the bi-directional path on the opposite side.

From the south (Riverside Park) : blue bike logo

The new bridge at Carleton allows you to ride almost entirely along the Rideau Rideau Eastern Pathway before reaching the bridge. If, however, your destination is closer to the Rideau Canal side of campus, you can ride over the Rideau River at the Hogs Back Falls and ride along the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway, as indicated by the purple line on the map.

From the east (Alta Vista) : green bike logo

This is the route that most benefits from the introduction of the new bridge, allowing cyclist to avoid having crossing the dangerous Bank Street bridge over the Rideau River.

From the west (Bel Air Heights) : yellow bike logo

This route is almost entirely along the Experimental Farm Pathway.

For more details on the history and installation of the new bridge check out this great post by Hans on the Bike.

Happy trails!

Modernist Sculptures From 1960 to 1970

This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the first International Sculpture Symposium in North America that took place in Montreal’s Mount Royal Park. Back in 1964, twelve sculptors from around the world were given two months to create monumental works in stone and metal, eleven of which are still standing. This was a significant event in the introduction of modernist sculpture to Canada. A wonderful NFB film, La forme des choses, documents the on-site progress of the sculptors. In celebration of this event, the following bike tour visits a number of sculptural installations on display in our region that were conceived in the period leading up to and after Montreal’s International Sculpture Symposium, specifically from 1960 t0 1970.

We begin with Samothrace by Quebec artist Armand Vaillancourt. This cast iron sculpture was created in 1966, just two years after Montreal’s International Sculpture Symposium which Valliancourt participated in. Samothrace is installed on Sussex Drive, between the York Steps and the Connaught Building.

Our next stop is along the Rideau Canal where sits Meditation Piece by Elza Mayhew from British Columbia. This bronze sculpture was commissioned in 1966 for the EXPO 67 Sanctuary Building in Montreal. The building was pyramid shaped and this piece was placed in the centre, around which benches were installed for quiet meditation.

Up on the National Arts Centre roof terrace you will find this massive untitled bronze sculpture by Charles Daudelin. He began to conceive this work in 1965 when he was invited to participate in a competition for this site specific design. Because of the imposing mass of the new National Arts Centre building Charles saw the need for a sculpture to be on a horizontal plane to fittingly occupy the space. He chose to place it on stilts to create an impression of lightness. The final work was completed and installed in 1968. To view this amazing work you will need to climb a short flight of stairs (i.e. carry your bike) easily accessed just behind the sculpture of Oscar Peterson on Elgin Street.

A few blocks west on O’Connor Street stands Ancestor I by British sculptor Barbara Hepworth. It is from a series of nine sculptures titled The Family of Man which she sculpted in 1970. Various casts of the works can be found worldwide. It is one of the last major works that Barbara Hepworth made before she passed away in 1975.

Infront of the Bank of Canada building on Wellington you will find Flight by Sorel Etrog. This sculpture was commissioned in 1966 to be displayed in the Canada pavillion at Expo 67.

Next we cross the River and weave our way to a small island situated at the start of the Ruisseau de la brasserie in Gatineau. Near the southern tip of this small island sits Explorateur II by Victor Tolgesey. Constructed in the period leading up to the first lunar landing, this piece made from Corten steel resembles a stranded space explorer resting in this serene setting. Tolgesy was born in Hungary and emigrated to Canada in 1951. From the early 1950’s to 1980 he lived and worked in Ottawa.

Here ends our bike tour of some great modernist public sculptures conceived in between 1960 and 1970. Have a safe ride.

A Tour of InsulBrick Covered Homes Around Ottawa & Gatineau – Updated!

InsulBrick is a tar coated fibreboard siding introduced in the 1930’s that was super popular up to and throughout the 1960’s. It has a slightly embossed stone or brick pattern, enhanced with added granular material on the outer surface. It hasn’t been manufactured since the early 70’s, so what’s out there is the real McCoy. All surviving examples show signs of aging, some gracefully, others, not so much. Regardless, all suggest a rich history of protecting generations of occupants thoughout all the conditions imposed by our wildly diversified climate.

10 years ago I posted a first bike tour of local InsulBrick covered houses. The following route re-visits the surviving examples, along with others that I have since discovered around town. There seems to be no desire by local heritage groups to preserve examples of this vanishing form of mid-century faux-wunder-cladding, so I have included photos of the buildings that have since vanished, identified as white ghost markers on the map. You can see what they looked like by clicking on their respective markers.

InsulBrick has also become a popular generic term to describe the tar impregnated exterior covering first patented in 1932 as Inselbrick and includes Inselstone, Inselwood and a few other imitations.

First stop is this great example at the corner of Armstrong St and Hinchey Avenue in Hintonburg. Many other older houses along Armstrong have recently been torn down and replaced with boxy infills but this house survives! I spoke to the owner, a very friendly french woman, who said they have no plans to replace or cover the insulBrick surfaces. One senses a lot of tender loving care goes into maintaining this home.

Next stop is on Breezehill Ave S. which could very easily be mistaken for a brick house, but it’s InsulBrick! The clearest indication is how the pattern does not reproduce the 2 to 1 overlapping stacked brick pattern on the corner where the walls meet. The clever use of ivy helps too.

There are two more examples in this neighbourhood two blocks over on Champagne Ave S. This first one has a faux cut stone pattern.

A few doors down you will find this more eclectic example.

Our next destination is 642 MacLaren Street, and what a beauty it is! So well preserved, one has to take a really close look to see that it is in fact InsulBrick. As mentioned at the Breezehill stop, corners are where the truth is told. To hide how Insulbrick patterns don’t correspond to real brick at corner junctions, a corner strip is often applied, as was in this case.

A few blocks over on Florence St this house has been holding its own, with the preserved carved porch detailing on the porch set in contrast to the darker InsulBrick.

Over on 446 Lisgar St the InsulBrick was poorly added to the front portion of an already existing building. This example is really showing it’s age, especially in contrast to the original brick still visible on the back portion of the building. Most of the houses visited on this tour were originally clad in Insulbrick, but it wasn’t uncommon for additions to older homes, once additions were added, that Insulbrick be used. For example the 100+ year old house we live in in Centretown, not far from this house on Lisgar, had a first and second floor addition added to the back mid-century that was clad in Insulbrick. It in turn was covered with wood siding. The penetrable nature of Insulbrick allows it to be easier to simply cover it with modern siding versus removing it. I imagine there are a great many houses throughout the city that still retain the original InsulBrick siding that is covered up.

In the Overbrook neighbourhood you will find this example with a combination of stucco and Insulbrick in a manner that avoids showing the telltale corner detailing.

Now we ride over the mighty Ottawa River and check out some InsulBrick clad homes on the Gatineau side. First stop is on the edge of the Gatineau River along Rue Jacques Cartier, a bit north of the Lady Aberdeen Bridge. It appears to be holding its own.

A bit further up-stream you will find another imitation grey-stone example.

Next it’s over to the Wrightville neighbourhood where you will find this multi-tonal brick pattern at the corner of Demontigny & Amherst. These tiles might have been made in different batches that may have matched when installed but have weathered differently over time. Other than that it looks in great shape.

Two doors down is another surviving InsulBrick house.

Further east on Rue Falardeau sits this surviving InsulBrick-er.

Over on Rue Kent sits this poor little house that’s on it’s last legs. I believe it and a number of adjacent houses are intended to be torn down by a developer.

Over on Rue de Notre-Dame-de-l’Ile this house has InsulBrick on the front and adjacent sides. On the side visible in this photo it has been covered with vinyl siding.

Our final stop brings us a block north where you will find this combo InsulBrick pattern with a stone on the first floor and brick on the top floor.

So there you have it – a tour of some of the few remaining InsulBrick covered houses in the region.

Et voila!