Victoria Day Bike Ride

Here is a bike ride with a Victoria Day theme! This route begins at the base of the statue of Queen Victoria on Parliament Hill and heads up to the small Chelsea Pioneers Cemetery where Private Richard Rowland Thompson lies buried. Private Thompson was the sole Canadian recipient of a Queen’s Scarf of Honour, one of eight scarves crocheted by Queen Victoria in her final year of life.  

The statue of Queen Victoria is located just to the west of the Centre Block on Parliament Hill.

Exit Parliament Hill heading west and turn right after passing through the RCMP bollards. Then take Vittoria Street that passes behind the Confederation building and infront of the Supreme Court, before turning left to get to Wellington St .

There’s a bike lane along Wellington that starts infront of the National Archives. Follow this lane across Portage Bridge to the Quebec side of the Ottawa River. Once across the bridge get on the Voyageurs Pathway by circling under the Portage Bridge. Follow Voyageurs Pathway all the way to a fork  just in front of a hydro site. Head right at the fork.

This leads to Rue Belleau, a quiet street with bike lanes leading to the intersection at Boulevard Alexander-Taché. The start of the Gatineau Park Pathway is immediately across this intersection.

Follow the beautiful Gatineau Park Pathway up through the park all the way to Chemin de la Mine.

Access Chemin de la Mine from the pathway and head north along the bike lane on the shoulder of the road. 

Turn right onto Notch Road which also has bike lanes.

Turn right onto Chemin de Kingsmere then right onto the bike lane along Chemin Old Chelsea east heading over the Gatineau Autoroute, all the way to Route 105.

Turn left up the 105 and ride along the abutting bike lane all the way to the small sign indicating the entrance to the Chelsea Pioneer Cemetery .

At the end of this short dirt road you will arrive at the small cemetery and the resting place of Private Richard Rowland Thompson. He was awarded the Queen’s Scarf of Honour for saving the life of a wounded colleague and staying with him throughout the Boer War Battle of Paardeberg. He also attempted to save another as the fighting raged about him.  

The graveyard itself is very simple and serene, a quiet place to rest before heading back to Ottawa.

Exiting the cemetery continue north along the 105 before turning onto Chemin Scott which also has bike lanes heading into Old Chelsea.

Chemin Scott intersects Chemin Old Chelsea which you can hop back onto and retrace your route back to Ottawa. The approximate total distance is 44km.

Et voila!