In downtown Ottawa, at the corner of Sparks and Elgin Streets, sits D’Arcy McGee’s, an Irish pub known for comfort food, pub fare and live music. It’s frequented by locals and political staffers and is a familiar landmark, just around the corner from The National War Memorial, Parliament Hill, and the Rideau Canal.

But what many of its patrons may not know is that it marks the spot where, just a few steps away, its namesake, an Irish politician and father of Confederation, was assassinated in 1868.

A born nationalist

Thomas D’Arcy McGee was born an Irish Catholic in County Louth, Ireland, in 1825. Little is known about his background, but it is believed that he learned about Irish history from his mother, who was the daughter of a Dublin bookseller. 

He quickly became known as an Irish nationalist who opposed British rule in Ireland, and at age 17, he left Ireland for the United States.

There, he worked as a journalist and editor, writing about the growing movement for Irish self-determination. At the time, he advocated that Canada should join the United States.

In 1845, he returned to Ireland, where he argued for Irish freedom and continued his political journalism. He was also a key figure in the 1848 Young Irelander Rebellion, an armed uprising against British Rule.

Following the failed revolt, a warrant was issued for his arrest by the British government, and he escaped Ireland disguised as a priest, returning to the United States. His fellow leaders were tried for treason and exiled to penal colonies.

Thomas D’Arcy McGee, 1825-1868. Image from the Canadian Encyclopedia.

James Powell, communications officer and writer at the Historical Society of Ottawa, said he was a controversial and political figure while in Ireland, and again in the United States.

“After the rising of 1848, he had to get out of dodge,” Powell told the Lookout. “That year, there were revolutions right across Europe, and he hoped in Ireland, but it fizzled.”

Changing his tune

Upon returning to the United States, Powell’s controversial opinions and advocacy continued. He continued working as a journalist and wrote a number of history books, and defended the continuation of slavery in the United States, attacking supporters of abolition.

Then, at some point in his brief time in America, he became disillusioned with the United States, many of his nationalist views, and much of what he had stood for as a young man.

“He completely changed his mind in a lot of ways,” said Powell. “He initially supported the United States taking over Canada, and was against British rule entirely in Canada, but he found that the Irish were being treated better in Canada than in the United States.”

He saw “active intolerance” for Irish immigrants in the United States and discovered many of the Irish who were coming to Canada were “treated better”, had religious rights, and were able to own land and make a living.

“In many ways, they had more rights than actually in Ireland, so it was quite an eye opener that in Canada, Roman Catholics and Irish, in particular, were being treated better than in the so-called Republic of the United States,” explained Powell. “So, he was invited up to Canada and won a seat in the general election in 1857.”

By 1862, McGee became a cabinet minister in the reform government of John Sandfield Macdonald, who served as the first Premier of Ontario. The following year, he crossed the floor and became the minister of agriculture and immigration under Sir John A. Macdonald’s Conservative government in 1864.

“And so there, just like that, you have a convert from an anti-British Irish nationalist to a minister of the Crown,” said Powell. “It's quite a 180-degree swing.”

There is little evidence to explain what caused McGee to switch up his views so dramatically, but he maintained his passion for what he believed was right and his desire to enact change.

“We don't know much more than this disillusionment with what was going on in the United States, and his belief that perhaps the political system in Canada under the Crown was better than it was in the so-called Republican system in the United States,” said Powell. “He started looking more closely at what was going on, and on his arrival in Canada became an ardent defender and proponent of Confederation.”

At this point, he also disavowed his Irish nationalist views, arguing that he had been foolish and naive in his youth. This, in turn, placed him under scrutiny among the Fenian Brotherhood, both back in Ireland and within North America.

A traitor to the Fenians

The Fenian Brotherhood was an Irish republican organization founded in the United States by Irish immigrants that was dedicated to an independent Ireland, serving as the American counterpart to the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland. 

The movement gained traction and power after the American Civil War, when thousands of Irish-American veterans joined the cause. 

The Fenians were responsible for a series of raids into Canadian territory with the goal of using Canada as a bargaining chip to pressure the British Empire. 

Often confused with the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the Fenian movement was its own distinct organization, primarily active in the 1800s and fractured after failed raids on Canada.

Despite his previous views, McGee changed his tune, branding himself a traitor to the Irish nationalist cause.

“He thought they were irreligious and foolish, and that he himself had been foolish as a youth, and he had grown up and gotten wiser and saw a future in a United Canada, United Britain, and North America,” explained Powell.

An influential political career

His nationalist days behind him, McGee became a famed orator and key player in the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences that led to Canadian Confederation in 1865. 

McGee argued that by uniting Canada’s provinces and colonies, the territory would be able to better resist and defend against the United States. At the Quebec conference, he presented the motion to protect minority educational rights for Catholics and Protestants under the new “Canada”.

“He is not only a big proponent of Confederation, but a spokesman for Canadian Confederation.”

McGee was also one of the first leaders to encourage a non-hyphenated Canadian identity — rather than identifying as French-Canadian, Irish-Canadian, Scottish-Canadian, etc., he argued that “we were all Canadians”, Powell said, marking a big step in Canadian unity and identity.

There is also evidence that McGee helped draft the British North America Act, which became part of the Canadian Constitution in 1982.

April 7, 1868

At 42 years of age, McGee was considering getting out of politics and taking a step back from the radical political advocacy he had sustained throughout his life, said Powell. 

In the early hours of April 7, 1868, he delivered a speech in the House of Commons in favour of Confederation. His speech was meant to address regions that were getting “cold feet”, said Powell, and encourage a sense of unity among all Canadians. 

“I, Sir, who have been, and who am still, its [Confederation’s] warm and earnest advocate, speak here not as the representative of any race, or of any Province, but as thoroughly and emphatically a Canadian, ready and bound to recognize the claims, if any, of my Canadian fellow subjects, from the farthest east to the farthest west, equally as those of my nearest neighbour, or of the friend who proposed me on the hustings,” stated McGee. 

They were among the last public words he would ever speak.

After the House adjourned around 2:05 a.m., McGee reportedly bought three cigars, stopped to chat with Prime Minister Macdonald, then retrieved his overcoat, gloves, new white top hat, and silver knobbed bamboo walking stick, said Powell.

He left Parliament’s Centre Block — then brand-new — and began to walk home with Robert McFarlane, another member of Parliament. The two politicians strode down Metcalfe Street to Sparks Street, where they separated; McFarlane headed towards Sappers’ Bridge and Lowertown, and McGee began walking to his boarding house at 71 Sparks St.

As the story goes, McGee made it to the door of Mrs. Trotter’s boarding house and bent down to insert his key into the front door lock when he was shot at point-blank range.

“Mrs. Trotter was awake at the time, waiting up for her son, who was a page in the House of Commons, and so she heard the shot,” said Powell. “Then she opened the door, and there was McGee on the wooden sidewalk with blood pouring out of him.”

A newspaper clipping from the Ottawa Daily Citizen on April 10, 1958.

A doctor was quickly called to the scene and declared McGee dead. The gunshot had gone through the right side of his neck, with enough impact to knock out his fake teeth, and the slug had embedded in the front door. 

There was a post-mortem in the newspaper that revealed a variety of details that were commonly publicized at the time, said Powell.

Later that day in the House of Commons, Macdonald addressed his government:

“He who only that morning had charmed them with the eloquence, elevated them by his statesmanship, and instructed them by his wisdom, the echo of whose voice was yet ringing in their ears, has passed from among them, foully murdered. If ever a soldier who had fallen on the field of battle in the front rank of the fray had deserved well of his country, Thomas D’Arcy McGee had deserved well of Canada and her people.”

Hunting an assassin

The mayor quickly announced a $2,000 reward for anyone who could bring in the murderer, and police initially arrested anybody who had been heard threatening or speaking ill of McGee.

A proclamation from Henry J. Friel, the Mayor of Ottawa, announcing a reward for help in arresting the assassin. Image provided by the Historical Society of Ottawa.

According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, within 24 hours of the deadly gunshot, police were sure they had their man. They acted on a tip and arrested Patrick James Whelan in his hotel room on Clarence Street, where they reportedly found copies of a revolutionary Irish American newspaper and membership cards of Irish Canadian organizations that included many Fenians. They also found a Smith & Wesson revolver that had apparently been fired the previous day.

Witnesses testified that they had overheard Whelan threatening to assassinate McGee and that the Fenian had been stalking McGee in the days before the assassination. 

Patrick Whelan, 1840-1869.

To this day, skeptics argue over whether they were true testimonies or were connected to the $2,000 reward. 

A memorable trial

In an unexpected twist, the chief prosecutor for the case was James O’Reilly, an Irish Catholic who excluded fellow Catholics from the jury, arguing that they would hold bias against McGee.

The defense attorney was John Hillyard Cameron, and he quickly poked holes in the previously airtight case.

“While Whelan’s revolver had been recently fired, the defense showed that it had been accidentally fired by a hotel maid a week before McGee's murder,” said Powell. “She had shot herself in the arm. Where this guy left his gun, I don't know.”

The trial was marred by political interference, allegations of bribing witnesses, and legal procedures that do not stand the test of time, but on September 15, 1868, Whelan was found guilty and sentenced to death. 

On Feb. 11, 1869, Whelan was executed at the Carlton County Jail on Nicholas Street in a public hanging in front of more than 8,000 people. 

According to historical records, his final words were “God save Ireland, and God save my soul.” To the day of his death, he insisted that he was innocent.

“Whalen never admitted guilt. The night before his execution, Waylon told his wife that it was better to hang than be an informer,” said Powell. “He said he knew who shot McGee, because he had been there, but that it wasn’t him.”

In the centuries since, many have continued to question Whelan’s guilt and the fairness of his trial, arguing that the evidence was circumstantial. Anti-Fenian sentiments were also popular in Canada at the time, and McGee had been supported as a politician.

Macdonald reportedly sat beside the judge, overseeing the trial. Modern-day ballistic tests that were conducted in 1973 on Whelan’s revolver were inconclusive. And when the verdict was appealed — twice — the presiding judge sat on the hearing and was the deciding vote.

Whelan’s was the last public hanging in Canada, and was attended by men, women and children who cheered at the gallows. He is reportedly buried in an unmarked, undisclosed grave in the jail's courtyard. Local historians and paranormal enthusiasts say his ghost is one of many to haunt the building and grounds, proclaiming to this day that he was innocent.

In 2002, a memorial ceremony was held, and a box of earth from the grounds was taken by Whelan’s descendants to Montreal, where it was buried next to Whelan’s wife’s body.

Mourning a father of Confederation

McGee’s funeral was held on Easter Monday, April 13th, 1868, in Montreal, where he lived when the House was not in session. The day of the funeral was declared a day of public mourning, and at least 15,000 people were reported to have joined the procession to St. Patrick’s Church. An estimated 80,000 people turned out to the streets to pay their respects.

He was buried in Montreal’s Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery — the same cemetery where Whelan’s family buried earth from their ancestor’s grave, more than 130 years later.

A photograph of the funeral procession and attendance at the funeral of Thomas D’Arcy McGee. Image provided by the Historical Society of Ottawa.

The funeral took place on what would have been McGee’s 43rd birthday, and the events were “sensational”, featuring an exposed coffin, an extensive procession and a gun salute. 

A lasting legacy

While the trial verdict and Whelan’s guilt remain a topic of debate, McGee’s impact on Canada is more certain, whether known or forgotten.

“Unfortunately, I think most Canadians have long forgotten him,” said Powell. “But his legacy really comes through the enduring nature of our Confederation and the Constitution.”

At Carlington Heritage Centre, in the coastal village where he was born, McGee is remembered as a former Irish freedom fighter who died a Canadian parliamentarian. His disdain for the Irish nationalist movement damaged his popularity among the very people he once defended, and he was eventually seen as a traitor in many ways. 

At the Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin, Ireland, McGee has been dubbed “the Irishman more famous in Canada than in Ireland.” Museum records tell the “tale of two countries” and explore the monuments to McGee in Ireland, including a bust in Carlingford alongside a plaque presented by former Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. 

Here, McGee is remembered in the Bytown Museum, which displays a plaster cast of McGee’s hand that was made shortly after his death. He is also memorialized in the Canadian Museum of History and in the many buildings, parks, electoral districts, schools and landmarks across the country that bear his name. 

At the Museum of History, he is remembered through a portrait, commissioned by his friends as a gift for his 43rd birthday, though he never lived to see it unveiled. There, he is described perhaps most fittingly as an “unlikely” father of Confederation, leaving behind radical efforts for Irish independence in favour of loyalty to Canada and British rule.

Traitor? Patriot? However, he may be remembered, McGee’s death remains the first political assassination in Canada, and one of Ottawa’s oldest, most fascinating ghost stories.

Every year, it’s estimated that more than 500 Ottawa residents have been evicted from their homes in bad faith, told by landlords that their homes required repairs or renovations, and were barred from returning. This process, also known as “renovictions”, involves “bad faith” evictions by landlords or, in some cases, the unlawful removal of tenants without even issuing an eviction notice. 

In many cases, landlords evict residents in hopes of replacing them with new tenants who would pay a higher rent. The process displaces residents who have often been paying less-than-market value for their rental homes and decreases the city’s overall supply or affordable housing.

Now, city council is debating whether to enact a new bylaw to deter these evictions and ensure tenants are granted provincial protections, which include the right to return to their homes after repairs and renovictions are completed.

Good morning! 

There was a time when I knew Ottawa’s bus network like the back of my hand. 

Growing up, I regularly relied on routes like the 86, 111 and 95 to get almost anywhere in the city. They weren’t perfect, but they were direct, dependable and made Ottawa feel accessible even given its large geographic size. 

Today, many of those same trips look very different. Journeys that once required a single bus now often mean two or three transfers between buses and trains, adding significant time and uncertainty to what used to be a straightforward commute.

When OC Transpo unveiled New Ways to Bus in April 2025, the initiative aimed to make the system easier to use and more reliable. What many transit riders would tell you, though, is that the opposite happened. 

Now, a scathing auditor general’s report suggests those frustrations weren’t simply growing pains. It found the overhaul was driven largely by budget cuts and outdated planning, raising new questions about whether improving the rider experience was ever the system’s top priority. Amanda McLeod dug into the weeds of it all and spoke with both transit riders and experts. 

Let’s get into it.

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor

Have a story idea or editorial questions? Contact our team at editorial@ottawalookout.com

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WEATHER

Wednesday: 19 🌡️ 31 | 🌤️

Thursday: 20 🌡️ 25 | 🌧️

Friday: 26 🌡️ 18 | 🌧️

TRANSIT

Audit paints troubling picture of OC Transpo’s planning failures

By Amanda McLeod. Read the story online here.

For Samantha Gosselin, starting a new job marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. It also means returning to OC Transpo after rarely relying on public transit over the past five years — a decision she hopes won’t come at the expense of her time or patience.

Thankfully, she says, her commute is a single route rather than a series of transfers.

“The fares are a little high, but at least I have one straight shot. My kids, who go to high school, have to rely on the city bus, and it was almost impossible for them. [Buses] would miss or be late, so I had to drive them half the time,” she told the Lookout. “Missing connections is a very big issue.”

Waiting for her bus at Tunney’s Pasture, Gosselin said she’s willing to give transit another chance, but is already weighing whether it’s worth the financial and time investment.

Samantha Gosselin relies on OC Transpo for her daily commute to and from work. Photo by Amanda McLeod.

“Driving is ridiculous in this city, and parking is ridiculous in this city,” she said. “I’d love to use transit more, but I’m sitting here going, ‘is it worth it to take public transit or do I just drive my own car, and park and pay because the time and the bus pass costs the same?’”

It’s a question many Ottawa residents have been asking in recent years.

Once regarded as one of North America’s premier transit systems, OC Transpo has become an example of how quickly public confidence can erode. Ongoing O-Train safety issues, construction delays and a bus network plagued by missed trips, unreliable schedules and infrequent service have driven many riders to seek other ways of getting around while demanding answers from city hall.

THE OTTAWA NUMBER

87

That’s how many registered nursing positions are being cut from the Queensway-Carleton Hospital as part of a plan to trim one per cent of its workforce. [CTV]

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THE AGENDA

🗑️ If you have extra garbage related to the Canada Day storms, you have some options for disposal as additional collection crews head to affected areas. Read more. [CTV]

💰 A federal public service union has delivered a $40 billion invoice to the Prime Minister’s Office for what it calls the cost of cancelled savings due to return-to-office mandates. This week, public servants were sent back to the office four days a week. Read more ($) [Ottawa Citizen]

🚏 OC Transpo is investigating a glitch that is resulting in “$0.00” fares being charged to Presto card users. The charges are being recorded as fare payments for users, but no money is being taken out of their accounts. Read more. [CTV]

💧 Ottawa residents are continuing cleanup after last week’s storms, with more than 4,500 households reporting basement flooding following the 118-millimetre rain storm on Canada Day. More than 36,000 residents lost power. Read more. [Ottawa Citizen]

🏠 Home sales in Ottawa were down nearly 5 per cent in June. According to the Ottawa Real Estate Board, 1,518 homes were sold in Ottawa in June, down 4.9 per cent from the same month in 2025. Read more. [CTV]

🎟️ Gatineau police are warning of a scam involving counterfeit parking tickets and issuing reminders on how to identify a fake ticket. Read more. [CBC]

🔥 The province of Quebec is extending its open fire ban to much of the province, including most of the territory north of the St. Lawrence River. There are currently about 200 wildfires in Quebec. Read more. [CBC]

🚨 Ottawa police are seeking witnesses and information concerning an alleged hostage taking in Kanata on Thursday. Read more. [CTV]

💸 The group of entrepreneurs that is bidding to purchase the Fairmont Château Montebello plans to invest more than $100 million into upgrading the hotel, one of the partners says, including adding 125 new hotel suites and other amenities. Read more ($) [Ottawa Business Journal]

🏳️‍🌈 A trustee for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is criticizing the school board’s decision not to participate in Capital Pride events in August. Read more. [CBC]

🚔 An Ottawa driver has been charged with impaired driving and stunt driving after driving 112 km/hr in a 60 km/h zone. The driver was found to have readings of 340 and 320 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, which is about four times the legal limit. Read more [CTV]

HOME OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY ENGEL & VÖLKERS OTTAWA

551 Hillcrest was built around a single radical idea: your home should slow you down, not speed you up. This is a custom modern farmhouse, curated by a very special designer's eye and finished with the finest fixtures sourced from close to home and around the world. Locally sourced Antique wood beam ceilings. A European-made fireplace. Brass, porcelain, stone, brick and wood, hand-selected and layered with intention.

Everything invites you to stay a while. Hillcrest is fabled. One of McKellar Park's most cherished streets, it sits beneath a mature canopy while connecting you to the vibrancy of Westboro.

Today's Home of the Week, powered by Engel & Völkers Ottawa. Follow Your Dream, Home. Discover more at ottawa.evrealestate.com

COMMUNITY

How Barrhaven is preparing for the future after reaching a population of 110,000

Barrhaven has seen rapid growth in recent years and is now close to having a population of 110,000 people. Photo by Charlie Senack.

By Charlie Senack. First published June 25, 2026.

There’s a feeling of leaving the big city as you drive into Barrhaven. You pass farms lining the Greenbelt, where rows of corn stretch toward the horizon and horses graze in nearby fields. The air feels a little cleaner. The temperature seems to drop slightly. The sky suddenly feels bigger.

Despite those reminders of rural Ottawa, Barrhaven has become anything but the country.

The suburb grew from a population of about 13,000 in 1981 to roughly 40,000 a decade later and more than 72,000 by 2011. Today, estimates put its population at around 110,000 — and it’s still growing rapidly.

Over the past few decades, the community has changed dramatically. Former longtime councillor Jan Harder often joked there was a time when you couldn’t even buy a pair of socks in Barrhaven. Today, residents have dozens of places to shop.

Read the story.

SPONSORED BY FAIRGROUNDS

Fairgrounds Bells Corners opens this Friday

Fairgrounds, Ottawa's new home for pickleball, opens Friday, July 10th in Bells Corners. Top-quality courts, all-level programming, and a welcoming community for all to enjoy. Sign up here and follow on @visitfairgrounds to stay in the loop!

OTTAWA ARTS GUIDE

Performance

The National Arts Centre welcomes OK Naledi on July 11, bringing the high-energy, Afro-Fusion music group to a new audience.

Catch YueSpiration: 10 Years in the Making at the Bronson Centre on July 11 to experience Yue Opera from China.

On July 14, Benin International Musical (BIM) brings together five musician-vocalists to share stories of the African continent, rooted in Beninese culture and the voodoo tradition. On stage at the National Arts Centre.

Also on July 14, progressive rock group Coheed and Cambria take the stage at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

Art

Starting July 9, catch works by Peter Kohut and Genevieve Mercier on show at the Galerie St. Laurent+Hill.

Stop by The Niche Ottawa Gallery in the east end and enjoy Abundance. Renewal. Overflowing., a multi-medium collection of new and returning artists.

Wall Space Gallery on Bank Street welcomes a new exhibition starting July 9: A Life in Colour by the late Ottawa artist Sharon Kelly, featuring artists Heidi Conrod, Christopher Griffin and Vickie Marsango.

Movies

This week at the Mayfair, watch The Sheep Detectives, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Amores Perros (Spanish, 2000), Unidentified (Arabic), Stop! That! Train!, Maddie’s Secret, I Love Boosters, The Furious, Pinocchio (1940), and Mildred Pierce (1945).

Meanwhile, the Bytowne Cinema is screening Couture, The Burning (1981), Romeria, The Big Lebowski (1998), In the Mouth of Madness (1995), The Invite, Vivalda Et Moi (Italian), Cube (1998), The Train to Nowhere, a 20th anniversary screening of Marie Antoinette (2006), and Steal This Story, Please!.

Music

Northcote plays 27 Club on 8 July. Victoria's Matt Goud channels his post-hardcore roots into powerhouse folk-rock with Toronto pop artist Thea May in support.Tickets $25.

knitting return to Ottawa at Fono on 10 July. The Montreal grunge-and-slacker rock quartet celebrate their Pitchfork- and Stereogum-approved debut Some Kind of Heaven. Tickets $10.

Lindy Vopnfjörd comes to Red Bird on 11 July. Born into Manitoba's Icelandic community and raised on traditional songs and touring with his musician parents, the folk artist brings seven albums' worth of honest, mesmerizing songwriting. Tickets $25.

Passenger Princess lead Punk Night at Rainbow Bistro on 11 July. One of Ottawa's favourite punk bands headlines alongside Sugar Bomb and Lazy Bratz, who celebrate the release of their debut EP. Tickets $12.

Jeremy Fisher plays the Cameron on 12 July. The four-time JUNO-nominated folk-pop singer-songwriter brings his singable melodies and heartfelt stories. Tickets $35.

Listings for music shows are provided by Ottawa Gigs, the best place to discover live music in Ottawa. Check out Ottawagigs.ca for full listings across the city. 

Want to see your event here? Submit them to our event calendar.

OTTAWA GUESSER

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover Indigenous culture through hands-on workshops, Ojibwe Spirit Horse encounters, farm fun, and the Indigenous Marketplace at Mādahòkì Farm, Thursday-Sunday all summer with Visitor Experiences. [Sponsored]

• This restaurant brings Palestinian flavours to Ottawa. [Capital Eats]

• Check out this review of a local Shakespeare production. [Apt613]

• This world-renowned cellist will perform in Ottawa next year. [CTV]

• Experience this year’s Jazzfest through photos. [Apt613]

• This weather is perfect for local berry farmers. [CTV]

• In search of a versatile but smooth brandy? Look no further. [Capital Eats]

• This Ottawa artist was immortalized through his paintings of early Bytown. [Centretown Buzz]

• The familiar Yangtze restaurant is reopening under new ownership. [CTV]

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Photo by Gilbert Scott Haldane/Ottawa Photography Network

Athletes compete in the Quebec Triathlon Championships at Lac leamy on July 4, 2026.

For Samantha Gosselin, starting a new job marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. It also means returning to OC Transpo after rarely relying on public transit over the past five years — a decision she hopes won’t come at the expense of her time or patience.

Thankfully, she says, her commute is a single route rather than a series of transfers.

“The fares are a little high, but at least I have one straight shot. My kids, who go to high school, have to rely on the city bus, and it was almost impossible for them. [Buses] would miss or be late, so I had to drive them half the time,” she told the Lookout. “Missing connections is a very big issue.”

Waiting for her bus at Tunney’s Pasture, Gosselin said she’s willing to give transit another chance, but is already weighing whether it’s worth the financial and time investment.

Samantha Gosselin relies on OC Transpo for her daily commute to and from work. Photo by Amanda McLeod.

“Driving is ridiculous in this city, and parking is ridiculous in this city,” she said. “I’d love to use transit more, but I’m sitting here going, ‘is it worth it to take public transit or do I just drive my own car, and park and pay because the time and the bus pass costs the same?’”

It’s a question many Ottawa residents have been asking in recent years.

Once regarded as one of North America’s premier transit systems, OC Transpo has become an example of how quickly public confidence can erode. Ongoing O-Train safety issues, construction delays and a bus network plagued by missed trips, unreliable schedules and infrequent service have driven many riders to seek other ways of getting around while demanding answers from city hall.

Sponsored by

Good morning! 

When I started my career as a community journalist in Barrhaven nearly a decade ago, one of the first people I met was Darrell Bartraw. It didn’t take long to realize he was everywhere — political events, summer barbecues, corn roasts, Christmas pancake breakfasts and the Santa Claus Parade. If something was happening in Barrhaven, chances are Darrell had a hand in it.

But Canada Day was always his pride and joy.

That kind of community work often happens quietly. When the 2018 tornadoes left residents without power, Darrell spent days at Larkin Park helping feed families. Every Canada Day, he sleeps in a trailer on the festival grounds to keep an eye on things overnight. Even a few weeks ago, he was the one catering mine and Jack’s wedding dinner at the Barrhaven Legion.

Now, after 16 years, Darrell and the rest of the Canada Day executive team are stepping aside. Unless a new group comes forward, one of Barrhaven’s longest-running traditions could come to an end after more than four decades.

Let’s get to it!

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor

Have a story idea or editorial questions? Contact our team at editorial@ottawalookout.com

If you find this newsletter valuable, forward it using your referral link here. For every new subscriber, we'll donate $1 to a local Ottawa charity. New to the Lookout? Sign up for free.

WEATHER

Monday: 27 🌡️ 16 | ☁️

Tuesday: 28 🌡️ 17 | ☀️

Wednesday: 29 🌡️ 18 | 🌤️

COMMUNITY

Canada Day in Barrhaven could come to an end after four decades

Canada Day Barrhaven Inc. announced in a statement last week it will not organize a celebration in 2027. Photo from 2026 taken by Charlie Senack.

By Charlie Senack. Read the story online here.

There’s always been a feeling of community at Canada Day in Barrhaven.

Neighbours scoot their lawn chairs next to each other in front of the main stage, catching up between performances and waving to familiar faces they haven’t seen in months. From the midway come the screams of excitement as rides twist and turn overhead. The smell of hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy and food from around the world hangs in the summer air.

Then, as night falls over Clarke Fields, thousands of people look toward the sky and wait for the fireworks.

It’s a tradition that’s been ongoing in the suburb on the southern side of Ottawa for 44 years. But this year — unknowingly to most — it might have happened for the final time. 

Canada Day Barrhaven Inc. announced in a statement last week it will not organize a celebration in 2027, and none of its current executive directors or committee members will return to lead the event.

Darrell Bartraw, president of Canada Day Barrhaven Inc, was still emotional when he met with the Lookout at Clarke Fields on Saturday. Around him, volunteers were dismantling what remained of the festival. Fencing came down. Porta-potties were loaded onto trailers.

Darrell Bartraw, president of Canada Day Barrhaven Inc, will not be returning as an organizer next year. Photo taken July 2026 by Charlie Senack.

“It’s a terrible loss for the community if the event doesn’t come back next year,” said Bartraw. “This is a huge event. It’s the biggest event that we have in the community. Over the years, there have been over 30,000 people that attend our event.”

Growing a suburban festival 

Canada Day celebrations in Barrhaven began with modest fireworks displays near the Walter Baker Centre, Greenbank and Jockvale roads, before later moving to Foxfield Park. In 1980, the Barrhaven Lions Club took over the festivities, hosting a community celebration in the Barrhaven Mall parking lot, complete with a flag parade, the national anthem, and a birthday cake.

Under former councillor Jan Harder, the festival expanded and eventually moved to Clarke Fields. New attractions were added over the years, including a multi-day midway, multicultural performances, a seniors breakfast, children’s programming, food vendors and an evening concert capped off by fireworks.

But expanding meant more time and work. And after a few security incidents at previous events, new fencing, security screening and bag checks became part of the event following incidents in 2019. That brought a further logistical hurdle and more costs. 

Bartraw, who has led the festival for the past 16 years, said the event is now largely carried by a core team of just six volunteers, many of whom are seniors. 

“I took this event over 16 years ago, and John Schman, our vice-president, has been with me pretty much all those years,” Bartraw said. “Since then, we’ve had our main crew grow to about six people only, and a lot of them are in their 70s, and our bones are starting to hurt. Everything’s hard.”

Canada Day Barrhaven Inc. announced in a statement last week it will not organize a celebration in 2027. Photo from 2026 taken by Charlie Senack.

It’s not as easy as fencing going up, he said. Each detail has to be carefully planned out months in advance. 

“You’ve got to decide where the entrances are going to be, where the emergency exits are going to be. You have to take into account fire routes, paramedics and first aid. It just goes on and on,” he said. 

With hundreds of vendors, performers, contractors, emergency services, sponsors and volunteers to coordinate, Bartraw estimates it now costs more than $150,000 to stage the celebration each year.

A difficult final chapter

Even before Canada Day arrived, organizers knew this year would bring its challenges. 

Two and a half months before the country’s birthday bash, the midway provider unexpectedly pulled out, leaving organizers with $18,000. They blamed uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs and fuel costs, which made their trip to Ottawa from western Ontario unviable. 

Bartraw said he considered cancelling this year’s event before Bingoland South offered fundraising shifts to help recover the lost revenue.

On Wednesday, Canada Day began much the same as any year. The gates opened in the morning, and seniors gathered under scorching heat for an annual free breakfast.  Even Nepean MP Mark Carney — who also happens to be Canada’s Prime Minister — stopped by to flip pancakes and meet with families.

Hours later, the skies opened. Roughly 118 millimetres of rain fell over Barrhaven in just four hours, washing out much of the afternoon and evening festivities. The main stage performances were cut short and, for the first time in the event’s history, the fireworks never lit up the sky.

Kanata’s Canada Day fireworks also fell victim to the weather, postponed several times before finally being set off on Saturday. Barrhaven had hoped to do the same but ultimately cancelled the display in order to recover part of its investment.

“The rain certainly didn’t help us,” Bartraw said. “Some of the things that we do on Canada Day itself are sell 50/50 tickets. Last year, our prize was just over $6,000. This year, it’s going to be just over $2,000.”

The group also lost revenue from attractions, including the mechanical bull and rodeo slide.

“We’re going to meet our numbers this year, but we’ve had to rely on not putting off our fireworks and getting back a percentage of the money of the $15,000 that we paid for the fireworks,” Bartraw said. “You don’t get it all back because they were here, they set up, and there are restocking fees and everything. So we need that money in order to cover the costs, and we’re just barely making it with those numbers.”

Passing the torch 

Looking back, Bartraw said he’ll remember the people more than the challenges.

“The biggest highlight of the event every year is when we do our main stage act at nighttime, and you see people of all ages… enjoying the celebration of our country, Canada,” he said. “We just love to see stuff like that. And that is our highlight.”

Canada Day Barrhaven Inc. is encouraging anyone interested in reviving the celebration to begin organizing as soon as possible. A new non-profit would need to be established before September in order to apply for Canadian Heritage funding when applications open this fall.

Canada Day Barrhaven Inc. announced in a statement last week that it will not organize a celebration in 2027. Photo from 2026 taken by Charlie Senack.

The current organization plans to remain active in the community and says it is willing to share everything it has learned over the past four decades.

Although Bartraw is stepping away from Canada Day, he isn’t stepping away from helping his community.

For several years, he has had a vision for a youth drop-in centre in the community. Through programming based out of the Charlie Conacher Building, he has already organized youth basketball in the summer, skating at the outdoor rink in the winter, and other activities aimed at giving young people a safe place to gather.

 “Life goes on,” Bartraw said. “There are lots of other things to do in this great community. Our next project, without letting the cat out of the bag, we’re going to be working on a youth drop-in centre. That’s where I’m going to be putting my time now.”

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SPONSORED BY ENVIROCENTRE

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THE OTTAWA NUMBER

3,200

That’s how many basements were flooded across Ottawa following Wednesday’s storm, the City of Ottawa says. Now, city councillors and area MPPs are calling on the province for help after the Canada Day rainfall. [CBC]

COMMENT OF THE DAY

"…Very serious accessibility problems, but wouldn't it have made more sense to build new facilities in a location that was actually easy to get to? Drop-offs/Para Transpo passengers still will not have an easy time getting to the new entrances, nor will anybody else.”

— reader John Dance on our story about accessibility in Ottawa.

THE AGENDA

🌧️ Cleanup continues across the city in neighbourhoods that were hard-hit by the Canada Day rainstorm, and residents and homeowners are facing the aftermath. Read more. [CTV]

🚔 A woman has been rescued after she was held at knifepoint inside a Kanata home on Thursday, ending a 14-hour standoff. The alleged hostage-taker suffered a gunshot wound. Read more. [CBC]

🚧 The Rideau-Sussex underpass needs some upgrades, and advocates are arguing that a major reconfiguration is overdue to address safety and access concerns. Read more. [Ottawa Citizen]

💧 Residents of an apartment building on McEwan Avenue are facing displacement following Wednesday’s storm, which flooded the building’s lobby and basement and cut off the power supply. Read more. [CBC]

🚓 The father suspected in the double-murder suicide last week was on probation for threatening his ex-wife, court documents have revealed. Read more. [CTV]

🚨 Police have issued a new sketch of the suspect wanted in a sex assault at Heritage Dog Park in Orléans on June 21, and officers are asking anyone with information to contact the police. Read more. [Ottawa Citizen]

💼 A federal union is promising it will continue to challenge the federal government’s return-to-office (RTO) mandate as many public servants prepare to return to the office for at least four days a week. Read more. [CTV]

🗑️ The city is waiving the garbage limit for Bay, College and Knoxdale-Merivale wards starting Monday to help residents dispose of storm debris. Read more ($) [Ottawa Citizen]

👥 Visits to the ByWard Market increased by 16 per cent in 2025, exceeding pre-pandemic benchmarks in seven of 12 months, new data shows. Read more ($) [OBJ]

🚑 A young girl has been taken to the hospital in critical condition after falling from the 11th-floor balcony of a building on Alta Vista Drive. The 11-year-old girl is in stable condition. Read more. [Ottawa Citizen]

SPONSORED BY MĀDAHÒKÌ FARM

Explore Indigenous traditions through hands-on farm experiences this summer

Reconnect with nature through a one-of-a-kind Mishtadim (Horse) Equine Assisted Learning experience at Mādahòkì Farm. Guided by the rare and sacred Ojibwe Spirit Horses, Canada's only Indigenous horse breed, these private sessions invite individuals, families, and small groups to slow down, reflect, and build meaningful connections with the land, the horses, and themselves.

Rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing, each experience encourages mindfulness, confidence, communication, and personal growth in a peaceful farm setting. Complete your visit by exploring the Legacy Trail, meeting the farm animals, and browsing the Mādahòkì Marketplace featuring handcrafted goods, Indigenous-inspired food, and beverages.

EVENTS

Learn to dance: Cuban Salsa | 260 Dalhousie St. | July 7 at 6:30 p.m. | Join the launch of the new 5-week beginners’ program to learn Cuban salsa, no partner or experience required | Tickets $75

Trivia Night | Moose McGuire’s, 3320 McCarthy Rd. | July 7, 7–9 p.m. | Come out for half-price appetizers, happy hour and pub trivia | Free entry

5525 Music Series | 5525 Dickinson St., Manotick | July 7, 7:30 – 10 p.m. | Enjoy world-class music in the heart of Manotick, this week featuring Youngtree and Carole Bee | Tickets $50

Time Travellers | Billings Estate National Historic Site | July 8, 10:20 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Bring your children ages 5 to 7 and step back in time, with a botany-themed outing and opportunity for activities and exploration | Tickets $10

Taco Crawl | Various restaurants | July 8, 5–9 p.m. | Explore a variety of taco shops and visit new spots along the way | Tickets $70

Music in the Park | Head Street Square, Gatineau | July 8 at 7 p.m. | Enjoy this summer concert series hosted by the Ottawa Jazz Festival and Dream Community Foundation | Free

Lansdowne Movie Nights | Lansdowne Park, Bank Street | July 9 at 9 p.m. | Bring your friends and family and enjoy a free movie night at sunset, this week screening Spies in Disguise | Free

Bluesfest | LeBreton Flats | July 9-19 | Come out to one of the biggest music events of the year to see your favourite artists live, including headliners like Cody Johnson, Hardy, The Lumineers, Conan Gray, Lord Huron, and Ella Langley | Admission prices vary

Annual Golf Tournament | Hylands Golf Course, Gloucester | July 10 at 12 p.m. | A community golf tournament featuring a BBQ, roast beef buffet dinner and prizes | Prices vary

Evening Champagne & Sunset Cruise | 1 Elgin St. | July 10 at 8 p.m. | Enjoy an evening of golden hour, bubbly and live jazz during a cruise along the Rideau Canal | Tickets $60+

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Inside Ottawa’s record-breaking Canada Day storm

Holly Acres near Bayshore flooded. Provided photo.

By Charlie Senack. Originally published July 3, 2026.

Across Ottawa, Canada Day celebrations were being shut down quickly. Afternoon concerts were cancelled, fireworks were called off, and thousands of residents abandoned holiday plans to battle rising water inside their homes.

In less than two hours, Environment Canada recorded 118 millimetres of rain — making it one of the city’s most significant rainstorms on record. By Thursday afternoon, the City of Ottawa said more than 1,900 residents had reported flooded basements, calling it the worst rainfall event to hit the capital in more than 25 years.

For Catherine Clermont, the water swallowed boxes of family keepsakes she had carefully stored over the years — items that could never be replaced. By Thursday morning, she was up bright and early, photographing everything for insurance before hauling ruined possessions to the curb.

Read the story.

NEW JOBS

Discover your new dream job in Ottawa:

• Communications and volunteer coordinator at the Kanata Food Cupboard. 

• Retail manager at Dymon Storage (various store locations).

• Department leader at Princess Auto.

• Part-time front desk agent at Cartier Place Suite Hotel.

• Director of community wellbeing at the Métis Nation of Ontario.

• Casual part-time server at Cogir Senior Living (Orleans).

OTTAWA QUIZ

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• July 9–11, 2026 • Watch Pirates of the Caribbean with live orchestra and choir performing the film’s iconic score in real time: https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/38422?promo=1817 [Sponsored]

• Our food and drink writer says this Little Italy spot is building a name for itself, and pours a stiff margarita. [Capital Eats]

• Almonte Celtfest celebrated 30 years over the weekend. [Apt613]

• Here’s a guide to Ottawa’s summer festival season. [Kitchissippi Times]

• A nearby land trust has acquired the Clyde Lake Nature Reserve. [Stittsville Central]

• Check out these five French bistros. [Capital Eats]

• Thousands flocked to LeBreton Flats for a World Cup watch party. [Ottawa Citizen]

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Photo by Ronnie Campbell/Ottawa Photography Network.

From highway and basement flooding to hail, rainbows and storm clouds, this Canada Day in Ottawa was a memorable one.

There’s always been a feeling of community at Canada Day in Barrhaven.

Neighbours scoot their lawn chairs next to each other in front of the main stage, catching up between performances and waving to familiar faces they haven’t seen in months. From the midway come the screams of excitement as rides twist and turn overhead. The smell of hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy and food from around the world hangs in the summer air.

Then, as night falls over Clarke Fields, thousands of people look toward the sky and wait for the fireworks.

It’s a tradition that’s been ongoing in the suburb on the southern side of Ottawa for 44 years. But this year — unknowingly to most — it might have happened for the final time. 

Canada Day Barrhaven Inc. announced in a statement last week it will not organize a celebration in 2027, and none of its current executive directors or committee members will return to lead the event.

Darrell Bartraw, president of Canada Day Barrhaven Inc, was still emotional when he met with the Lookout at Clarke Fields on Saturday. Around him, volunteers were dismantling what remained of the festival. Fencing came down. Porta-potties were loaded onto trailers.

Darrell Bartraw, president of Canada Day Barrhaven Inc, will not be returning as an organizer next year. Photo taken July 2026 by Charlie Senack.

“It’s a terrible loss for the community if the event doesn’t come back next year,” said Bartraw. “This is a huge event. It’s the biggest event that we have in the community. Over the years, there have been over 30,000 people that attend our event.”

Growing a suburban festival 

Canada Day celebrations in Barrhaven began with modest fireworks displays near the Walter Baker Centre, Greenbank and Jockvale roads, before later moving to Foxfield Park. In 1980, the Barrhaven Lions Club took over the festivities, hosting a community celebration in the Barrhaven Mall parking lot, complete with a flag parade, the national anthem, and a birthday cake.

Under former councillor Jan Harder, the festival expanded and eventually moved to Clarke Fields. New attractions were added over the years, including a multi-day midway, multicultural performances, a seniors breakfast, children’s programming, food vendors and an evening concert capped off by fireworks.

But expanding meant more time and work. And after a few security incidents at previous events, new fencing, security screening and bag checks became part of the event following incidents in 2019. That brought a further logistical hurdle and more costs. 

Bartraw, who has led the festival for the past 16 years, said the event is now largely carried by a core team of just six volunteers, many of whom are seniors. 

“I took this event over 16 years ago, and John Schman, our vice-president, has been with me pretty much all those years,” Bartraw said. “Since then, we’ve had our main crew grow to about six people only, and a lot of them are in their 70s, and our bones are starting to hurt. Everything’s hard.”

Canada Day Barrhaven Inc. announced in a statement last week that it will not organize a celebration in 2027. Photo from 2026 taken by Charlie Senack.

It’s not as easy as fencing going up, he said. Each detail has to be carefully planned out months in advance. 

“You’ve got to decide where the entrances are going to be, where the emergency exits are going to be. You have to take into account fire routes, paramedics and first aid. It just goes on and on,” he said. 

With hundreds of vendors, performers, contractors, emergency services, sponsors and volunteers to coordinate, Bartraw estimates it now costs more than $150,000 to stage the celebration each year.

A difficult final chapter

Even before Canada Day arrived, organizers knew this year would bring its challenges. 

Two and a half months before the country’s birthday bash, the midway provider unexpectedly pulled out, leaving organizers with $18,000. They blamed uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs and fuel costs, which made their trip to Ottawa from western Ontario unviable. 

Bartraw said he considered cancelling this year’s event before Bingoland South offered fundraising shifts to help recover the lost revenue.

On Wednesday, Canada Day began much the same as any year. The gates opened in the morning, and seniors gathered under scorching heat for an annual free breakfast.  Even Nepean MP Mark Carney — who also happens to be Canada’s Prime Minister — stopped by to flip pancakes and meet with families.

Hours later, the skies opened. Roughly 118 millimetres of rain fell over Barrhaven in just four hours, washing out much of the afternoon and evening festivities. The main stage performances were cut short and, for the first time in the event’s history, the fireworks never lit up the sky.

Kanata’s Canada Day fireworks also fell victim to the weather, postponed several times before finally being set off on Saturday. Barrhaven had hoped to do the same but ultimately cancelled the display in order to recover part of its investment.

“The rain certainly didn’t help us,” Bartraw said. “Some of the things that we do on Canada Day itself is sell 50/50 tickets. Last year, our prize was just over $6,000. This year, it’s going to be just over $2,000.”

The group also lost revenue from attractions, including the mechanical bull and rodeo slide.

“We’re going to meet our numbers this year, but we’ve had to rely on not putting off our fireworks and getting back a percentage of the money of the $15,000 that we paid for the fireworks,” Bartraw said. “You don’t get it all back because they were here, they set up, and there are restocking fees and everything. So we need that money in order to cover the costs, and we’re just barely making it with those numbers.”

Passing the torch 

Looking back, Bartraw said he’ll remember the people more than the challenges.

“The biggest highlight of the event every year is when we do our main stage act at nighttime, and you see people of all ages… enjoying the celebration of our country, Canada,” he said. “We just love to see stuff like that. And that is our highlight.”

Canada Day Barrhaven Inc. is encouraging anyone interested in reviving the celebration to begin organizing as soon as possible. A new non-profit would need to be established before September in order to apply for Canadian Heritage funding when applications open this fall.

Canada Day Barrhaven Inc. announced in a statement last week that it will not organize a celebration in 2027. Photo from 2026 taken by Charlie Senack.

The current organization plans to remain active in the community and says it is willing to share everything it has learned over the past four decades.

Although Bartraw is stepping away from Canada Day, he isn’t stepping away from helping his community.

For several years, he has had a vision for a youth drop-in centre in the community. Through programming based out of the Charlie Conacher Building, he has already organized youth basketball in the summer, skating at the outdoor rink in the winter, and other activities aimed at giving young people a safe place to gather.

 “Life goes on,” Bartraw said. “There are lots of other things to do in this great community. Our next project, without letting the cat out of the bag, we’re going to be working on a youth drop-in centre. That’s where I’m going to be putting my time now.”

Good morning!

We weren’t planning to be in your inbox today. Like many of you, we were taking a few extra days to enjoy the Canada Day week. But some stories are simply too important to wait, and there is plenty of news you need to know now, not days from now, like some traditional mainstream media outlets. 

I spent much of yesterday touring across Ottawa, visiting some of the neighbourhoods hit hardest by Wednesday's storm. It was one of those days when every street seemed to tell a different story. You could hear the constant hum of generators long before you saw the homes they were powering. The smell of muddy, sewage-soaked basements lingered in the air. In the distance, chainsaws echoed as crews and homeowners worked to clear fallen trees that had crushed garages, blocked driveways and pulled down hydro lines.

What stood out most, though, wasn’t the damage. It was the neighbours.

Every person I spoke with talked about someone who showed up. A stranger lending a sump pump. Friends hauling ruined keepsakes to the curb. Families checking on seniors. People are opening their homes to those who suddenly couldn’t stay in theirs. The storm may have knocked out power across much of the city, but it certainly didn’t knock out Ottawa’s sense of community.

In times like this, we remember just how important community is. 

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor

Have a story idea or editorial questions? Contact our team at charlie.senack@ottawalookout.com

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WEATHER

Inside Ottawa’s record-breaking Canada Day storm

Holly Acres near Bayshore flooded. Provided photo.

By Charlie Senack 

The first sign that something was wrong came from the basement.

When Catherine Clermont checked downstairs on Wednesday afternoon, everything looked normal and dry. Outside, though, something had changed. The Canada Day skies over Ottawa had turned from bright blue to an ominous grey, and rain was falling harder by the minute.

Standing outside her Ancaster Avenue home near Byron Avenue, Clermont watched storm drains struggle to keep up as water pooled across the street.

“It was so unexpected,” she told the Ottawa Lookout Thursday afternoon. “I checked the basement, and it was fine. But I saw the drains weren’t draining, and water was accumulating. The streets were like lakes.”

Clermont lingered outside, chatting with a neighbour as the water continued to rise. When she went back a short time later, the basement was already flooding.

“When I went downstairs, it was ankle deep, and then by the evening, it was knee deep,” said Clermont.

Across Ottawa, Canada Day celebrations were being shut down quickly. Afternoon concerts were cancelled, fireworks were called off, and thousands of residents abandoned holiday plans to battle rising water inside their homes.

In less than two hours, Environment Canada recorded 118 millimetres of rain — making it one of the city’s most significant rainstorms on record. By Thursday afternoon, the City of Ottawa said more than 1,900 residents had reported flooded basements, calling it the worst rainfall event to hit the capital in more than 25 years.

For Clermont, the water swallowed boxes of family keepsakes she had carefully stored over the years — items that could never be replaced. By Thursday morning, she was up bright and early, photographing everything for insurance before hauling ruined possessions to the curb.

“So many of my keepsakes — my daughter’s things from when she was little, books and everything that was stored in boxes were all wet,” she said. “Even in tubs, they floated, and then they tipped over. Everything from about the knee level seems to be destroyed.”

Only a few blocks away in Woodpark, Andira Awada was doing laundry when she noticed water spreading across the floor of her basement. She immediately realized this wasn’t a minor leak. Within hours, roughly 10 inches of water had flooded the lower level of her home, forcing her to close the home daycare she operates while she and her family scrambled to save what they could.

Neighbours came together to help. Awada went to the Bells Corners Canadian Tire, which opened despite it being a holiday, to purchase a standard pump. She was lucky to find one, but it was the wrong size. While searching for a more permanent solution, the Carlingwood-area resident borrowed a smaller one from a neighbour.

“I already went this morning to get another one of those small pumps and hoses to put in the back room, the laundry room, and one in the living room. I’m trying to get the water out as fast as possible, but it’s not really moving at all,” Awada told the Lookout Thursday. “When I hooked it up in the morning, and I put it into the laneway, my grass was flooded. It was way too much water, too much humidity for the ground to absorb it.”

Awada expects the basement’s flooring, walls, furnace, washer, dryer and much of the daycare equipment will have to be replaced. It’s the second time in a decade she has had to tear apart her basement because of flooding.

“About 10 years ago, we had flooding from a heavy rainstorm. And when we did basement renovations, we found signs of water damage from before I bought the house,” said Awada.

Awada was waiting for someone from her insurance company to assess the damage, but when she called, she was told more than 100 others had already made claims.

Some streets in Arlington Woods remained flooded Thursday as water was drained from the creek. Photo by Charlie Senack.

Near Britannia Beach, Bay Ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh was enjoying a day off and wrapping up Canada Day festivities with her husband and two sons when they decided to step outside to watch the storm roll in. After a few moments, they heard a ding from the basement. It was an alarm notifying them that sewage was seeping through the drains.

“The whole world just went upside down,” said Kavanagh, who completed a basement renovation just weeks ago.

While trying to deal with her own home, Kavanagh was also fielding calls from residents facing the same crisis.

The flooding was particularly severe throughout Woodpark and surrounding west-end neighbourhoods, where social media quickly filled with images of submerged basements, overflowing catch basins and streets that had become rivers. Some residents expressed concern that flooding could have been made worse by nearby light rail construction and sewer work in the area.

Kavanagh said the storm overwhelmed drainage systems throughout older neighbourhoods, such as Woodpark, where some streets still rely on roadside ditches rather than storm sewers.

“It keeps coming back to the sheer volume of what happened yesterday,” she said. “The water had nowhere to go.”

But Kavanagh also noted that the city could do more to prepare for future climate-related severe weather events. Despite being in the middle of the city, communities such as Woodpark remain on ditch systems. Over the years, some have begun to fail.

In some neighbourhoods, such as City View, which also experienced flooding, a multi-year ditch-rehabilitation project is underway. Residents campaigned to have storm sewers installed instead, but the price tag was too costly and would have needed to be paid by homeowners.

In Bay Ward, Kavanagh said improvements to ditches are already underway. She’d like to see that work fast-tracked across the rest of her ward.

“Ditches can be very functional, but they have to be looked after,” she said. “But I don’t think you can prevent something like this that comes so quickly in such a short period of time.”

Flooding outside of Victoria McCoy's window in Arlington Woods. Provided photo.

Across the west end in Arlington Woods, Victoria McKoy first watched the storm from her balcony, enjoying the flashes of lightning and rolling thunder before realizing something was wrong. The street outside had stopped draining. Water climbed over the curbs as neighbours waded through knee-deep flooding, while repeated trips to the basement showed everything remained dry — until suddenly it wasn’t.

By about 7 p.m., water was seeping through the foundation from every direction. When the power failed, McKoy, her husband and their three children spent the evening bailing water by hand, managing to keep flooding to about 12 centimetres. It was enough to heavily damage the family’s finished basement, including an in-law suite, kitchen and laundry room.

“Even my three kids joined in to try to keep the water under control,” she said. “The person who was in the in-law suite here is now living in our living room,” she added. “So it’s going to be a rough week or two before we figure out what we’re going to do.”

McKoy is lucky to have flood insurance, but said in the meantime, the people living in her in-law suite will be bunking in her living room.

In a social media post, Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Sean Devine said much of the flooding in Arlington Woods was caused by Graham Creek overflowing. A map posted online showed three pinch points where culverts, grates and inlets overflowed.

By Thursday morning, a truck was en route to the lowest point to start pumping water. Devine said it would cause water levels along the entire creek to start receding.

Fallen trees leave scars across Ottawa

The morning after the storm, signs of the wind’s intensity were noticeable. On one street, a tree rested against the side of a house. On another, branches sagged across hydro wires. In backyards across the city, gardens were flattened, garages crushed, and decades-old trees were torn from the ground by roots that had held firm through countless winters.

In the Glebe, Georgina, who asked that her last name not be published, was sitting in her living room during a lull in the storm when she heard what she described as “a tremendous splash and bang.”

The power went out instantly. Then her neighbour called and told her to look outside.

“I went and looked out my back window and a huge, huge tree next to the garage… had toppled,” she said. “I don’t know whether lightning struck it or whether it was the weight of the water on the leaves.”

The tree badly damaged her garage, pulled down hydro wires onto the patio, and flattened much of the backyard garden she had spent years building.

“I take great pride in my garden. I love gardening,” Georgina said. “I had a whole backyard full of ferns, perennials, bird baths — the whole setup — and it’s gone.”

By Thursday afternoon, Georgina was still without power, one of four small outage pockets in the Glebe affecting fewer than 60 customers. With wires still down in the backyard, she was reluctant to go outside and assess the full extent of the damage herself.

She had also started the insurance process, but said it was already unclear what would be covered, including whether the removal of the massive tree would be included because of the damage to the garage.

Across the city in Gloucester, Bryan Rawlings first noticed the sound.

“It got excessively noisy,” he said. “Thunder, I’m used to. Lightning, I’m used to.”

Then came “an awful thump.”

A large tree on top of Bryan Rawlings's Gloucester home. Provided photo.

When Rawlings looked out a second-floor window, he saw branches pressed against the side of his house. A roughly 35-foot blue spruce had been ripped out of the ground, roots and all, before falling onto his home.

“It had just been ripped right out,” he said. “The roots had been ripped right out of the ground.”

The tree damaged the porch roof, eavestrough, shingles, and possibly some roof sheathing. But Rawlings said he knows it could have been far worse.

“I consider myself lucky,” he said.

Flooding forces evacuations at McEwen Avenue high-rise

By the time fire crews arrived at McEwen Avenue, the storm had already turned the road into a river.

Water had rushed into two high-rise buildings across from each other, filling elevator shafts, flooding electrical equipment and forcing residents to make quick decisions in the dark. Outside, emergency crews moved through standing water. Inside, residents listened to alarms, watched elevators shut down and tried to understand whether they could safely remain in their homes.

At 30 McEwen Ave., Alicia Magliocco did not immediately realize how serious the flooding had become. She ordered food with a neighbour and was puzzled when the delivery driver said he couldn’t enter the building. He then sent a photo showing upwards of three feet of water pouring into the building.

“I realized after that it was actually the elevator shafts,” Magliocco said. “There was water pouring down the elevator shafts and the garbage chute. I’m right across from the garbage chute room, and I just didn’t expect it to be this bad.”

Around 9:15 p.m., after Magliocco had put her daughter to bed, the fire alarm began to sound. She tried to gather what she could, but as someone with a spinal cord injury who uses a wheelchair, evacuating was not simple.

A woman posted this photo to Facebook of her mom's flooded living room at 31 McEwan Ave. Photo by Kimmy S-v.

Her mother, who lives in the same building, was able to get Magliocco’s daughter out through a rear exit where Magliocco said there was roughly three-and-a-half feet of water mixed with garbage and sewage. But Magliocco remained upstairs while residents were initially told to return to their apartments.

That changed after the building’s electrical systems failed.

“There was actually a fire that was in the electrical panel of the basement because it flooded,” Magliocco said. “And then the generator also blew, which was surprising because our generator actually was lifted five feet off the ground a few years ago to avoid this issue. And clearly it wasn’t enough because of all the water that we got.”

Magliocco said her mother called 911, and firefighters later came to help her leave the building, carrying her down nine flights of stairs while someone else brought out her wheelchair.

“Some people didn’t want to leave the building because they knew that the power might be back on by tomorrow,” Magliocco said. “But then there was a follow-up email and fire services said that it wasn’t really safe to be in our building, and then they were doing an evacuation, and they’re hoping to get everything done in two weeks.”

For Magliocco, the experience underscored how quickly a weather emergency can become more complicated for people with disabilities, seniors and single parents.

She said she was grateful firefighters got her out safely and that she has family in Ottawa. Still, she worried about residents who may not have somewhere else to go or the means to pay for a hotel while waiting to be reimbursed by insurance.

“As a single parent, it’s hard to kind of think about something traumatic like this happening,” she said. “I never had to think about being ready for something like this. So I definitely know, for the future, to be a bit more prepared, because I definitely wasn’t. It was a learning moment.”

First responders remained stationed on McEwan Ave Thursday evening. Photo by Charlie Senack

Across the street at 31 McEwen Ave., an Ottawa Community Housing seniors’ building, the damage was less severe but still frightening for residents and their families.

Lily Baranova’s 92-year-old grandmother lives on the 10th floor and has mobility issues, making it difficult for her to leave without elevator service. By Thursday, the lobby was muddy but passable after crews removed much of the water, but power and elevators remained a concern.

“She’s worried that it’s getting hotter,” Baranova said. “It’s getting quite hot and stuffy in her apartment, and she doesn’t tolerate that very well. She has a heart condition, so it is dangerous for her.”

Baranova brought battery-operated fans, ice packs and cold water to help her grandmother cool down, but said there was little else the family could do while waiting for the building systems to be restored.

She said crews were on site removing water from the elevator shafts and trying to dry equipment before safely turning power back on, but no clear timeline had been provided.

“I wish there were more proactive communication from Ottawa Community Housing or the city about what’s going on and what the plan is and what to do in case somebody really does need to get out, or how to help the people that can’t get out,” Baranova said. “I think there are a lot of people in there that are sitting in that building panicking right now.”

Kavanagh said the two McEwen buildings were among the most serious situations she saw after the storm. At 30 McEwen, she said the building’s electrical vault was flooded and badly damaged, creating a long-term repair problem that would prevent residents from returning quickly.

“Their vault pretty well exploded, and it was a big bang,” Kavanagh said. “That was the electricity being underwater and being exposed. It just went kaboom.”

Kavanagh said she spoke with Hydro Ottawa and understood that major electrical components would need to be replaced before the building could safely reopen.

“Not just the functions for the generator can’t be fixed, they have to be replaced,” she said. “They can’t even hook up the electrical connections to the building, except for a very, very short time; they’ll be able to do it to get them out of there.”

Water being drained from 30 McEwan Ave on Thursday evening. Photo by Charlie Senack.

At 31 McEwen, Kavanagh said the situation was more stable because the generator was above ground and functioning. She said residents were being given meals and that the building was better equipped to manage the outage.

Firefighters remained on the scene Thursday evening, supporting residents and assisting with evacuations. A bus was on site where people could cool down, along with an emergency truck filled with bottled water.

It’s not the first time flooding has occurred at 30 McEwen. Back in 1992, a backed-up storm sewer resulted in basement flooding and power outages. Residents were forced to evacuate their homes for several days.

City shifts from storm response to cleanup

By Thursday afternoon, crews were clearing roads, checking flooded buildings, responding to downed trees and trying to help residents dispose of waterlogged belongings pulled from basements across the city.

At a press conference held at city hall, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe encouraged people to contact 3-1-1 if their basements flooded. Still, he noted it could take time to respond because of the overwhelming number of service requests being filed.

The city is also considering adding extra garbage collection days, temporarily lifting collection limits for flood-damaged material, and waiving building permit fees for residents who need to repair damaged basements.

“We’re looking at extra garbage collection days for people who are getting rid of material that’s been damaged by flooded basements. We’re looking at lifting the limits on garbage collection over the next week for the same reason,” Sutcliffe said. “For people who are later going to need to renovate and repair their basements, we’re going to look at waiving the building permit fees associated with that, so we’ll do everything we can to support people who are affected by this.”

Public works general manager Alain Gonthier said residents directly affected by basement flooding will not need yellow bags for additional flood-related waste. Construction debris will not be collected at the curb. Still, Trail Road Landfill will accept residential construction debris and electronic waste and will be open for the next three Saturdays to help residents affected by the storm.

“What we ask is that basically, if you have additional waste that’s flood-related, we will be scheduling additional pickups, so no yellow bags for those that are impacted directly by the basement flooding are required,” Gonthier said. “Construction debris will not be collected. What we’re trying to focus on is basically debris in basements that the flood has impacted.”

Residents in Qualicum put out garbage Thursday, but is unclear when and what will be picked up. Photo by Charlie Senack.

But that message came a little late for some College Ward residents, who were hopeful their soiled items could be picked up sooner rather than later.

In an evening social media update, area Coun. Laine Johnson said it would take time for the city to dispatch the level of service needed.

“The reason why we can’t increase the limit immediately within 12 hours like this is that there are operational conversations about whether you extend someone’s shift so that they pick up as much as they can, or whether you send additional trucks,” said Johnson. “There aren’t additional trucks in the capacity that we need.”

Johnson noted that additional garbage capacity would be available in College Ward and other areas within the next two weeks. Still, no details on how it would be rolled out or who would benefit were immediately released.

The remaining impact

The storm also damaged public buildings and community spaces.

Ottawa Public Library said the Carlingwood and Nepean Centrepointe branches were closed until further notice because of weather-related damage. In contrast, Ben Franklin Place and the Nepean Centrepointe branch were listed as closed due to flooding. Holds and due dates are being extended, and residents are being asked not to return library items to the two affected branches while they remain closed.

At Cornerstone Housing for Women, flooding affected the shelter’s main entrance, kitchen area, basement and outdoor garden. The organization said personal protective equipment, donations, mattresses, paperwork, and some residents’ personal belongings were damaged, with losses already totalling several thousand dollars.

Residents were asked to remain in their units. At the same time, staff dealt with the flooding, and temporary beds were set up on the main floor for women with mobility challenges after the elevator was temporarily shut down.

Hydro Ottawa was also continuing restoration work after the storm knocked out power to more than 36,000 customers at its peak. By Thursday evening, around 3,000 customers remained without power.

Bruce Conrad, the president and CEO of Hydro Ottawa, said in a statement that some of the hardest-hit areas were still difficult to access due to flooding and submerged hydro stations in Nepean, Bells Corners and Crystal Beach.

As a result, it could be days before power is fully restored, he said.

“Please understand that water and electricity are a volatile combination, and for the safety of both the public and our crews, we must wait for conditions to improve before entering these zones,” wrote Conrad. “Because these areas are currently inaccessible, we are unable to provide a full assessment of the infrastructure damage.”

For those without power or air conditioning, several respite centres have opened across the city. Most recreation centres — including the Pinecrest Recreation Centre in College Ward — will be open throughout the day.

Unitarian House at 30 Cleary Ave. has also opened its space from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. and will have Wi-Fi, snacks, and children’s toys available. While reservations are not required, a heads-up is recommended for planning purposes.

The Qualicum-Graham Park community building at 48 Nanaimo Dr. will also be open from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. Community members are urged to attend to rest, cool off and charge their devices. Pets are allowed as long as they are on leashes.

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PUBLISHED YESTERDAY

Canada Day storm knocks out power to thousands and causes widespread flooding. Here’s what you need to know

Flooding along Highway 417 at Holly Acres. Photo by OPP.

Basements and roadways across the city are flooded after over 110 mm of rain fell over the Capital on Canada Day.

The first sign that something was wrong came from the basement.

When Catherine Clermont checked downstairs on Wednesday afternoon, everything looked normal and dry. Outside, though, something had changed. The Canada Day skies over Ottawa had turned from bright blue to an ominous grey, and rain was falling harder by the minute.

Standing outside her Ancaster Avenue home near Byron Avenue, Clermont watched storm drains struggle to keep up as water pooled across the street.

“It was so unexpected,” she told the Ottawa Lookout Thursday afternoon. “I checked the basement, and it was fine. But I saw the drains weren’t draining, and water was accumulating. The streets were like lakes.”

Clermont lingered outside, chatting with a neighbour as the water continued to rise. When she went back a short time later, the basement was already flooding.

“When I went downstairs, it was ankle deep, and then by the evening, it was knee deep,” said Clermont.

Across Ottawa, Canada Day celebrations were being shut down quickly. Afternoon concerts were cancelled, fireworks were called off, and thousands of residents abandoned holiday plans to battle rising water inside their homes.

In less than two hours, Environment Canada recorded 118 millimetres of rain — making it one of the city’s most significant rainstorms on record. By Thursday afternoon, the City of Ottawa said more than 1,900 residents had reported flooded basements, calling it the worst rainfall event to hit the capital in more than 25 years.

For Clermont, the water swallowed boxes of family keepsakes she had carefully stored over the years — items that could never be replaced. By Thursday morning, she was up bright and early, photographing everything for insurance before hauling ruined possessions to the curb.

“So many of my keepsakes — my daughter’s things from when she was little, books and everything that was stored in boxes were all wet,” she said. “Even in tubs, they floated, and then they tipped over. Everything from about the knee level seems to be destroyed.”

Only a few blocks away in Woodpark, Andira Awada was doing laundry when she noticed water spreading across the floor of her basement. She immediately realized this wasn’t a minor leak. Within hours, roughly 10 inches of water had flooded the lower level of her home, forcing her to close the home daycare she operates while she and her family scrambled to save what they could.

Neighbours came together to help. Awada went to the Bells Corners Canadian Tire, which opened despite it being a holiday, to purchase a standard pump. She was lucky to find one, but it was the wrong size. While searching for a more permanent solution, the Carlingwood-area resident borrowed a smaller one from a neighbour.

“I already went this morning to get another one of those small pumps and hoses to put in the back room, the laundry room, and one in the living room. I’m trying to get the water out as fast as possible, but it’s not really moving at all,” Awada told the Lookout Thursday. “When I hooked it up in the morning, and I put it into the laneway, my grass was flooded. It was way too much water, too much humidity for the ground to absorb it.”

Awada expects the basement’s flooring, walls, furnace, washer, dryer and much of the daycare equipment will have to be replaced. It’s the second time in a decade she has had to tear apart her basement because of flooding.

“About 10 years ago, we had flooding from a heavy rainstorm. And when we did basement renovations, we found signs of water damage from before I bought the house,” said Awada.

Awada was waiting for someone from her insurance company to assess the damage, but when she called, she was told more than 100 others had already made claims.

Some streets in Arlington Woods remained flooded Thursday as water was drained from the creek. Photo by Charlie Senack.

Near Britannia Beach, Bay Ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh was enjoying a day off and wrapping up Canada Day festivities with her husband and two sons when they decided to step outside to watch the storm roll in. After a few moments, they heard a ding from the basement. It was an alarm notifying them that sewage was seeping through the drains.

“The whole world just went upside down,” said Kavanagh, who completed a basement renovation just weeks ago.

While trying to deal with her own home, Kavanagh was also fielding calls from residents facing the same crisis.

The flooding was particularly severe throughout Woodpark and surrounding west-end neighbourhoods, where social media quickly filled with images of submerged basements, overflowing catch basins and streets that had become rivers. Some residents expressed concern that flooding could have been made worse by nearby light rail construction and sewer work in the area.

Kavanagh said the storm overwhelmed drainage systems throughout older neighbourhoods, such as Woodpark, where some streets still rely on roadside ditches rather than storm sewers.

“It keeps coming back to the sheer volume of what happened yesterday,” she said. “The water had nowhere to go.”

But Kavanagh also noted that the city could do more to prepare for future climate-related severe weather events. Despite being in the middle of the city, communities such as Woodpark remain on ditch systems. Over the years, some have begun to fail.

In some neighbourhoods, such as City View, which also experienced flooding, a multi-year ditch-rehabilitation project is underway. Residents campaigned to have storm sewers installed instead, but the price tag was too costly and would have needed to be paid by homeowners.

In Bay Ward, Kavanagh said improvements to ditches are already underway. She’d like to see that work fast-tracked across the rest of her ward.

“Ditches can be very functional, but they have to be looked after,” she said. “But I don’t think you can prevent something like this that comes so quickly in such a short period of time.”

Flooding outside of Victoria McCoy's window in Arlington Woods. Provided photo.

Across the west end in Arlington Woods, Victoria McKoy first watched the storm from her balcony, enjoying the flashes of lightning and rolling thunder before realizing something was wrong. The street outside had stopped draining. Water climbed over the curbs as neighbours waded through knee-deep flooding, while repeated trips to the basement showed everything remained dry — until suddenly it wasn’t.

By about 7 p.m., water was seeping through the foundation from every direction. When the power failed, McKoy, her husband and their three children spent the evening bailing water by hand, managing to keep flooding to about 12 centimetres. It was enough to heavily damage the family’s finished basement, including an in-law suite, kitchen and laundry room.

“Even my three kids joined in to try to keep the water under control,” she said. “The person who was in the in-law suite here is now living in our living room,” she added. “So it’s going to be a rough week or two before we figure out what we’re going to do.”

McKoy is lucky to have flood insurance, but said in the meantime, the people living in her in-law suite will be bunking in her living room.

In a social media post, Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Sean Devine said much of the flooding in Arlington Woods was caused by Graham Creek overflowing. A map posted online showed three pinch points where culverts, grates and inlets overflowed.

By Thursday morning, a truck was en route to the lowest point to start pumping water. Devine said it would cause water levels along the entire creek to start receding.

Fallen trees leave scars across Ottawa

The morning after the storm, signs of the wind’s intensity were noticeable. On one street, a tree rested against the side of a house. On another, branches sagged across hydro wires. In backyards across the city, gardens were flattened, garages crushed, and decades-old trees were torn from the ground by roots that had held firm through countless winters.

In the Glebe, Georgina, who asked that her last name not be published, was sitting in her living room during a lull in the storm when she heard what she described as “a tremendous splash and bang.”

The power went out instantly. Then her neighbour called and told her to look outside.

“I went and looked out my back window and a huge, huge tree next to the garage… had toppled,” she said. “I don’t know whether lightning struck it or whether it was the weight of the water on the leaves.”

The tree badly damaged her garage, pulled down hydro wires onto the patio, and flattened much of the backyard garden she had spent years building.

“I take great pride in my garden. I love gardening,” Georgina said. “I had a whole backyard full of ferns, perennials, bird baths — the whole setup — and it’s gone.”

By Thursday afternoon, Georgina was still without power, one of four small outage pockets in the Glebe affecting fewer than 60 customers. With wires still down in the backyard, she was reluctant to go outside and assess the full extent of the damage herself.

She had also started the insurance process, but said it was already unclear what would be covered, including whether the removal of the massive tree would be included because of the damage to the garage.

Across the city in Gloucester, Bryan Rawlings first noticed the sound.

“It got excessively noisy,” he said. “Thunder, I’m used to. Lightning, I’m used to.”

Then came “an awful thump.”

A large tree on top of Bryan Rawlings's Gloucester home. Provided photo.

When Rawlings looked out a second-floor window, he saw branches pressed against the side of his house. A roughly 35-foot blue spruce had been ripped out of the ground, roots and all, before falling onto his home.

“It had just been ripped right out,” he said. “The roots had been ripped right out of the ground.”

The tree damaged the porch roof, eavestrough, shingles, and possibly some roof sheathing. But Rawlings said he knows it could have been far worse.

“I consider myself lucky,” he said.

Flooding forces evacuations at McEwen Avenue high-rise

By the time fire crews arrived at McEwen Avenue, the storm had already turned the road into a river.

Water had rushed into two high-rise buildings across from each other, filling elevator shafts, flooding electrical equipment and forcing residents to make quick decisions in the dark. Outside, emergency crews moved through standing water. Inside, residents listened to alarms, watched elevators shut down and tried to understand whether they could safely remain in their homes.

At 30 McEwen Ave., Alicia Magliocco did not immediately realize how serious the flooding had become. She ordered food with a neighbour and was puzzled when the delivery driver said he couldn’t enter the building. He then sent a photo showing upwards of three feet of water pouring into the building.

“I realized after that it was actually the elevator shafts,” Magliocco said. “There was water pouring down the elevator shafts and the garbage chute. I’m right across from the garbage chute room, and I just didn’t expect it to be this bad.”

Around 9:15 p.m., after Magliocco had put her daughter to bed, the fire alarm began to sound. She tried to gather what she could, but as someone with a spinal cord injury who uses a wheelchair, evacuating was not simple.

A woman posted this photo to Facebook of her mom's flooded living room at 31 McEwan Ave. Photo by Kimmy S-v.

Her mother, who lives in the same building, was able to get Magliocco’s daughter out through a rear exit where Magliocco said there was roughly three-and-a-half feet of water mixed with garbage and sewage. But Magliocco remained upstairs while residents were initially told to return to their apartments.

That changed after the building’s electrical systems failed.

“There was actually a fire that was in the electrical panel of the basement because it flooded,” Magliocco said. “And then the generator also blew, which was surprising because our generator actually was lifted five feet off the ground a few years ago to avoid this issue. And clearly it wasn’t enough because of all the water that we got.”

Magliocco said her mother called 911, and firefighters later came to help her leave the building, carrying her down nine flights of stairs while someone else brought out her wheelchair.

“Some people didn’t want to leave the building because they knew that the power might be back on by tomorrow,” Magliocco said. “But then there was a follow-up email and fire services said that it wasn’t really safe to be in our building, and then they were doing an evacuation, and they’re hoping to get everything done in two weeks.”

For Magliocco, the experience underscored how quickly a weather emergency can become more complicated for people with disabilities, seniors and single parents.

She said she was grateful firefighters got her out safely and that she has family in Ottawa. Still, she worried about residents who may not have somewhere else to go or the means to pay for a hotel while waiting to be reimbursed by insurance.

“As a single parent, it’s hard to kind of think about something traumatic like this happening,” she said. “I never had to think about being ready for something like this. So I definitely know, for the future, to be a bit more prepared, because I definitely wasn’t. It was a learning moment.”

First responders remained stationed on McEwan Ave Thursday evening. Photo by Charlie Senack

Across the street at 31 McEwen Ave., an Ottawa Community Housing seniors’ building, the damage was less severe but still frightening for residents and their families.

Lily Baranova’s 92-year-old grandmother lives on the 10th floor and has mobility issues, making it difficult for her to leave without elevator service. By Thursday, the lobby was muddy but passable after crews removed much of the water, but power and elevators remained a concern.

“She’s worried that it’s getting hotter,” Baranova said. “It’s getting quite hot and stuffy in her apartment, and she doesn’t tolerate that very well. She has a heart condition, so it is dangerous for her.”

Baranova brought battery-operated fans, ice packs and cold water to help her grandmother cool down, but said there was little else the family could do while waiting for the building systems to be restored.

She said crews were on site removing water from the elevator shafts and trying to dry equipment before safely turning power back on, but no clear timeline had been provided.

“I wish there were more proactive communication from Ottawa Community Housing or the city about what’s going on and what the plan is and what to do in case somebody really does need to get out, or how to help the people that can’t get out,” Baranova said. “I think there are a lot of people in there that are sitting in that building panicking right now.”

Kavanagh said the two McEwen buildings were among the most serious situations she saw after the storm. At 30 McEwen, she said the building’s electrical vault was flooded and badly damaged, creating a long-term repair problem that would prevent residents from returning quickly.

“Their vault pretty well exploded, and it was a big bang,” Kavanagh said. “That was the electricity being underwater and being exposed. It just went kaboom.”

Kavanagh said she spoke with Hydro Ottawa and understood that major electrical components would need to be replaced before the building could safely reopen.

“Not just the functions for the generator can’t be fixed, they have to be replaced,” she said. “They can’t even hook up the electrical connections to the building, except for a very, very short time; they’ll be able to do it to get them out of there.”

Water being drained from 30 McEwan Ave on Thursday evening. Photo by Charlie Senack.

At 31 McEwen, Kavanagh said the situation was more stable because the generator was above ground and functioning. She said residents were being given meals and that the building was better equipped to manage the outage.

Firefighters remained on the scene Thursday evening, supporting residents and assisting with evacuations. A bus was on site where people could cool down, along with an emergency truck filled with bottled water.

It’s not the first time flooding has occurred at 30 McEwen. Back in 1992, a backed-up storm sewer resulted in basement flooding and power outages. Residents were forced to evacuate their homes for several days.

City shifts from storm response to cleanup

By Thursday afternoon, crews were clearing roads, checking flooded buildings, responding to downed trees and trying to help residents dispose of waterlogged belongings pulled from basements across the city.

At a press conference held at city hall, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe encouraged people to contact 3-1-1 if their basements flooded. Still, he noted it could take time to respond because of the overwhelming number of service requests being filed.

The city is also considering adding extra garbage collection days, temporarily lifting collection limits for flood-damaged material, and waiving building permit fees for residents who need to repair damaged basements.

“We’re looking at extra garbage collection days for people who are getting rid of material that’s been damaged by flooded basements. We’re looking at lifting the limits on garbage collection over the next week for the same reason,” Sutcliffe said. “For people who are later going to need to renovate and repair their basements, we’re going to look at waiving the building permit fees associated with that, so we’ll do everything we can to support people who are affected by this.”

Public works general manager Alain Gonthier said residents directly affected by basement flooding will not need yellow bags for additional flood-related waste. Construction debris will not be collected at the curb. Still, Trail Road Landfill will accept residential construction debris and electronic waste and will be open for the next three Saturdays to help residents affected by the storm.

“What we ask is that basically, if you have additional waste that’s flood-related, we will be scheduling additional pickups, so no yellow bags for those that are impacted directly by the basement flooding are required,” Gonthier said. “Construction debris will not be collected. What we’re trying to focus on is basically debris in basements that the flood has impacted.”

Residents in Qualicum put out garbage Thursday, but is unclear when and what will be picked up. Photo by Charlie Senack.

But that message came a little late for some College Ward residents, who were hopeful their soiled items could be picked up sooner rather than later.

In an evening social media update, area Coun. Laine Johnson said it would take time for the city to dispatch the level of service needed.

“The reason why we can’t increase the limit immediately within 12 hours like this is that there are operational conversations about whether you extend someone’s shift so that they pick up as much as they can, or whether you send additional trucks,” said Johnson. “There aren’t additional trucks in the capacity that we need.”

Johnson noted that additional garbage capacity would be available in College Ward and other areas within the next two weeks. Still, no details on how it would be rolled out or who would benefit were immediately released.

The remaining impact

The storm also damaged public buildings and community spaces.

Ottawa Public Library said the Carlingwood and Nepean Centrepointe branches were closed until further notice because of weather-related damage. In contrast, Ben Franklin Place and the Nepean Centrepointe branch were listed as closed due to flooding. Holds and due dates are being extended, and residents are being asked not to return library items to the two affected branches while they remain closed.

At Cornerstone Housing for Women, flooding affected the shelter’s main entrance, kitchen area, basement and outdoor garden. The organization said personal protective equipment, donations, mattresses, paperwork, and some residents’ personal belongings were damaged, with losses already totalling several thousand dollars.

Residents were asked to remain in their units. At the same time, staff dealt with the flooding, and temporary beds were set up on the main floor for women with mobility challenges after the elevator was temporarily shut down.

Hydro Ottawa was also continuing restoration work after the storm knocked out power to more than 36,000 customers at its peak. By Thursday evening, around 3,000 customers remained without power.

Bruce Conrad, the president and CEO of Hydro Ottawa, said in a statement that some of the hardest-hit areas were still difficult to access due to flooding and submerged hydro stations in Nepean, Bells Corners and Crystal Beach.

As a result, it could be days before power is fully restored, he said.

“Please understand that water and electricity are a volatile combination, and for the safety of both the public and our crews, we must wait for conditions to improve before entering these zones,” wrote Conrad. “Because these areas are currently inaccessible, we are unable to provide a full assessment of the infrastructure damage.”

For those without power or air conditioning, several respite centres have opened across the city. Most recreation centres — including the Pinecrest Recreation Centre in College Ward — will be open throughout the day.

Unitarian House at 30 Cleary Ave. has also opened its space from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. and will have Wi-Fi, snacks, and children’s toys available. While reservations are not required, a heads-up is recommended for planning purposes.

The Qualicum-Graham Park community building at 48 Nanaimo Dr. will also be open from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. Community members are urged to attend to rest, cool off and charge their devices. Pets are allowed as long as they are on leashes.

There are power outages, road closures and residents trying to pump water from flooded basements after more than 110 millimetres of rain fell over Ottawa on Canada Day — and forecasters warned the storm wasn’t finished yet. 

Environment Canada had earlier placed the capital under both a heat warning and a severe thunderstorm warning, with torrential rain, damaging wind gusts and frequent lightning sweeping across the city.  

The heavy downpour flooded the Woodroffe Avenue underpass at Knoxdale Road and sections of Highway 417 near Pinecrest Road, creating hazardous driving conditions. Ottawa police also announced road closures at Corkstown Road and Creekwood Crescent, as well as Richmond Road and Holly Acres Road.

“A 20 minute drive to Westboro took one hour,” reported Mike McMullin. “Lots of lights are out and floods on Greenbank, Woodroffe, Merivale, Tanglewood and Meadowlands had us detouring out of our way down Hunt Club and using Fisher to get to Carling.”

Flooding on the highway near Bayshore. Photo by OPP.

By 8:00 p.m., Hydro Ottawa reported roughly 21,600 customers remained without power in Kanata, Stittsville, parts of Nepean, Barrhaven and Orléans. The utility said that, if conditions allowed crews to work safely, most outages were expected to be restored overnight.  

In Nepean, many homeowners were dealing with flooded basements, while some apartment buildings also reported water entering lower levels. 

The Canadian Tire in Bells Corners opened Wednesday evening for anyone needing emergency supplies. A staff member said the store intended to remain open for as long as inventory lasted, but noted they were out of subpumps. 

On Facebook, residents shared reports of flooding in Parkwood Hills, Crestview, Meadowlands, Craig Henry and other west-end neighbourhoods.

Jody Ash, who lives on Seymour Avenue, said more than two feet of water filled her basement. It marks the third time her home has flooded, with the previous incident occurring in August 2023.

“(It’s) complete devastation. We might need to evacuate,” she said.

Jody Ash's flooded basement in Parkwood Hills. Provided photo.

Ash told the Lookout the neighbourhood has experienced repeated flooding over the years, adding that some insurance companies are now refusing to provide coverage.

“The infrastructure hasn’t been upgraded in decades. It simply cannot keep up anymore,” she said.

Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Sean Devine said one of his friends in Arlington Woods had water nearly reaching the ceiling of their basement. He has asked anyone in the area experiencing flooding to email him at knoxdalemerivale@ottawa.ca

In a video posted to Facebook, College Ward Coun. Laine Johnson said her ward had also been “pretty badly hit” and urged residents to be patient as emergency crews responded to calls across the city.

“311 is totally overwhelmed right now so please be patient but do contact them if you’re experiencing flooding on the roadway or in the creek like on Qualicum or in your basement,” she said. “It’s not that nothing is happening. It’s just that everything is happening all at once.”

In a social media post, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said garbage limits will be suspended in several wards next week so residents whose basements flooded can discard soiled items. More details will be announced soon.

Sutcliffe also said “I will bring a motion to the next council meeting to waive building permit fees for all residents who need to rebuild their basements because of these storms,” he said.

Flooding in the seniors lobby on McEwan Avenue. Photo by Peter Dunnigan.

Environment Canada downgraded the severe thunderstorm watch to a warning around 8:30 p.m., with forecasters warning that additional thunderstorms could continue overnight.

Earlier in the afternoon, weather spotters reported a large rotating wall cloud forming over Barrhaven, though there were no confirmed tornadoes.  

The storm even broke records. The previous record rainfall for Canada Day in Ottawa was 58.9 mm set back in 1959.

Impact on Canada Day

The dangerous weather forced the cancellation of most Canada Day celebrations across Ottawa, including the evening festivities at LeBreton Flats.

“In the interest of public safety and due to extreme weather and the condition of the site, we unfortunately have made the difficult decision to cancel the National Canada Day Evening Show. The fireworks display has also been cancelled,” organizers said in a statement.  

The Snowbirds which were due to flyover Parliament Hill for their last time also had to cancel plans, but you will have a final chance to see them in September at the Ottawa-Gatineau Aero show.  

Part of a tree down at a park in Nepean. Photo by Charlie Senack.

Organizers of Canada Day celebrations in both Kanata and Barrhaven also announced their fireworks displays would be postponed to a later date.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, however, announced its planned 10 p.m. fireworks display would proceed as scheduled despite the weather.

Good evening!

It’s not often you hear from us after hours—especially on a holiday—but today’s storm was anything but ordinary.

As thousands of people made Canada Day plans, a powerful system swept across Ottawa, flooding roads and basements, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes, and forcing the cancellation of celebrations across the city. Here’s what you need to know tonight.

And if you’ve been impacted by the storm, send me an email and share your experience. 

Let’s get to it!

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor

Have a story idea or editorial questions? Contact our team at charlie.senack@ottawalookout.com

If you find this newsletter valuable, forward it using your referral link here. For every new subscriber, we'll donate $1 to a local Ottawa charity. New to the Lookout? Sign up for free.

WEATHER

Canada Day storm knocks out power to thousands and causes widespread flooding. Here’s what you need to know

Flooding along Highway 417 at Holly Acres. Photo by OPP.

By Charlie Senack 

There are power outages, road closures and residents trying to pump water from flooded basements after more than 110 millimetres of rain fell over Ottawa on Canada Day — and forecasters warned the storm wasn’t finished yet. 

Environment Canada had earlier placed the capital under both a heat warning and a severe thunderstorm warning, with torrential rain, damaging wind gusts and frequent lightning sweeping across the city.  

The heavy downpour flooded the Woodroffe Avenue underpass at Knoxdale Road and sections of Highway 417 near Pinecrest Road, creating hazardous driving conditions. Ottawa police also announced road closures at Corkstown Road and Creekwood Crescent, as well as Richmond Road and Holly Acres Road.

“A 20 minute drive to Westboro took one hour,” reported Mike McMullin. “Lots of lights are out and floods on Greenbank, Woodroffe, Merivale, Tanglewood and Meadowlands had us detouring out of our way down Hunt Club and using Fisher to get to Carling.”

Flooding on the highway near Bayshore. Photo by OPP.

By 8:00 p.m., Hydro Ottawa reported roughly 21,600 customers remained without power in Kanata, Stittsville, parts of Nepean, Barrhaven and Orléans. The utility said that, if conditions allowed crews to work safely, most outages were expected to be restored overnight.  

In Nepean, many homeowners were dealing with flooded basements, while some apartment buildings also reported water entering lower levels. 

The Canadian Tire in Bells Corners opened Wednesday evening for anyone needing emergency supplies. A staff member said the store intended to remain open for as long as inventory lasted, but noted they were out of subpumps. 

On Facebook, residents shared reports of flooding in Parkwood Hills, Crestview, Meadowlands, Craig Henry and other west-end neighbourhoods.

Jody Ash, who lives on Seymour Avenue, said more than two feet of water filled her basement. It marks the third time her home has flooded, with the previous incident occurring in August 2023.

“(It’s) complete devastation. We might need to evacuate,” she said.

Jody Ash's flooded basement in Parkwood Hills. Provided photo.

Ash told the Lookout the neighbourhood has experienced repeated flooding over the years, adding that some insurance companies are now refusing to provide coverage.

“The infrastructure hasn’t been upgraded in decades. It simply cannot keep up anymore,” she said.

Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Sean Devine said one of his friends in Arlington Woods had water nearly reaching the ceiling of their basement. He has asked anyone in the area experiencing flooding to email him at knoxdalemerivale@ottawa.ca

In a video posted to Facebook, College Ward Coun. Laine Johnson said her ward had also been “pretty badly hit” and urged residents to be patient as emergency crews responded to calls across the city.

“311 is totally overwhelmed right now so please be patient but do contact them if you’re experiencing flooding on the roadway or in the creek like on Qualicum or in your basement,” she said. “It’s not that nothing is happening. It’s just that everything is happening all at once.”

In a social media post, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said garbage limits will be suspended in several wards next week so residents whose basements flooded can discard soiled items. More details will be announced soon.

Sutcliffe also said “I will bring a motion to the next council meeting to waive building permit fees for all residents who need to rebuild their basements because of these storms,” he said.

Flooding in the seniors lobby on McEwan Avenue. Photo by Peter Dunnigan.

Environment Canada downgraded the severe thunderstorm watch to a warning around 8:30 p.m., with forecasters warning that additional thunderstorms could continue overnight.

Earlier in the afternoon, weather spotters reported a large rotating wall cloud forming over Barrhaven, though there were no confirmed tornadoes.  

The storm even broke records. The previous record rainfall for Canada Day in Ottawa was 58.9 mm set back in 1959.

Impact on Canada Day

The dangerous weather forced the cancellation of most Canada Day celebrations across Ottawa, including the evening festivities at LeBreton Flats.

“In the interest of public safety and due to extreme weather and the condition of the site, we unfortunately have made the difficult decision to cancel the National Canada Day Evening Show. The fireworks display has also been cancelled,” organizers said in a statement.  

The Snowbirds which were due to flyover Parliament Hill for their last time also had to cancel plans, but you will have a final chance to see them in September at the Ottawa-Gatineau Aero show.  

Part of a tree down at a park in Nepean. Photo by Charlie Senack.

Organizers of Canada Day celebrations in both Kanata and Barrhaven also announced their fireworks displays would be postponed to a later date.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, however, announced its planned 10 p.m. fireworks display would proceed as scheduled despite the weather.

Pam Fitch didn’t expect to become an accessibility advocate. But after she and her husband attended a Volleyball Nations League match at TD Place earlier this month, she is sounding alarms about what she says is an embarrassing lack of access for anyone with limited mobility. 

Fitch is a registered massage therapist and former instructor at Algonquin College. As an educator, Fitch taught about legal accessibility requirements, usually from a therapeutic perspective — if they were to open a massage clinic, what would be required for accessibility?

She and her husband have attended other sports and entertainment events at Lansdowne Park in the park, but Fitch said her husband has only recently begun experiencing mobility issues, leading him to depend on a cane. 

“It just put everything in stark perspective for us.”

The event began with a struggle to find parking that was close enough for the couple to avoid walking a long distance to the stadium. Once they arrived, they found stairs at the entrance without reliable handrails.

“We don't necessarily identify as people needing accessible accommodation when we go to events, or we didn’t used to,” explained Fitch. “I didn't know that TD Place’s policy is basically that it's an old facility, so therefore if you need an accessible entrance, you should essentially figure out how you can get into the place on your own.”

The couple slowly navigated the flights of stairs up into the facility, then down to their seats, where they were meeting a family member. Fitch’s husband doesn’t require a wheelchair-adapted seat, but reaching their assigned seating was challenging.

When Fitch’s husband needed to use the restroom during the match, they were directed to an usher a few rows away. Once they reached him, the usher pointed them towards a security guard. There were no accessible restrooms on their level, so the security guard escorted them to the closest ones.

One of the entrances to TD Place from Exhibition Way. Photo by Sarah MacFarlane-Youngdale/Ottawa Lookout.

 Fitch said two security guards needed to walk with the couple to the elevator and guide them to the restroom, then wait with them before bringing them back to their seats.

“By the time we were finished in the bathroom, the second set had started, and we couldn't cross the court, so we had to sit at the bleachers on the opposite end from where we were sitting,” explained Fitch. “Our family members are wondering where we are and if we're okay, and there's a 15-minute break between the matches, so it took us more than 15 minutes to find the usher, go upstairs, use the washroom, and come back down.

“And then when they wanted us to sit to wait, the bleachers were really full, so now they’ve told my husband with a mobility issue, ‘you can sit up there, sir – across three benches and up towards an empty seat.” 

They eventually were reunited with their family, but at the end of the match, Fitch said her husband was frustrated and “didn’t want to bother” the usher, so he fought his way up and down the steps again.

“By the end of it, I turned around, and he's crawling up the steps, holding on to the back of each of these chairs to get himself to the top because he's having trouble navigating the stairs without handrails,” said Fitch. “How is it that we don't have handrails to get ourselves up these stairs? Don't tell me it's an old facility. Every facility has handrails.”

An outdated design

TD Place’s online accessibility information includes maps of specialized accessible seating and details on first-come, first-served accessible parking spots. Because Fitch’s husband has only recently been facing mobility challenges, he has not previously been eligible for disabled parking spaces or permits. 

Some of the stadium’s entry gates have accessibility teams on standby or provide ramp access, but locations can vary by event and may be far from seating. There is also only one elevator serving the north-side stands, and it is shared by staff, food services, and customers.

At Algonquin, Fitch often taught about universal design, the practice of designing spaces that are accessible to and usable by people of all ages and abilities, eliminating the need for specialized adaptations. The policy emphasizes the need to make inclusivity and accessibility standard features from the beginning rather than adding adjustments later. 

“It's not just about people who have lifelong disabilities. It looks like what they've done is created an accessibility policy for the people who are not able-bodied,” said Fitch about TD Place. “In other words, they have othered a whole segment of the population.

“That other population is not consistently people with lifelong disabilities, it's pregnant people, it's people who have just had eye surgery, or suddenly they can't hear because there's an injury, or they can't walk because they've broken their leg.”

The City of Ottawa has developed its own Accessibility Design Standards, which apply to both new construction and rehabilitation projects and align with the Ontario Building Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) accessibility requirements. 

The physical stadium and arena are owned by the City of Ottawa and operated through a public-private partnership with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG).

But OSEG has also been advocating for change. In October, while plans for Lansdowne 2.0 were still under debate at city council, OSEG held a guided tour led by accessibility advocates to highlight the challenges at the current facility. 

A map illustrating some of the current accessibility elements at TD Place.

The field was first cleared for sporting events in the 1870s, but the facility, in its current form, was built in the 1960s and 70s, then renovated in time for the first Ottawa Redblacks home game in 2014. 

Since then, city councillors and advocates have shared concerns that the current facilities are outdated, particularly around accessibility. 

John Redins, a local disability advocate and employee of TD Place, said the different sides and areas of the stadium are “night and day” depending on when they were built or last updated.

Because of the facility's layout, both employees and event attendees often have to take long routes to reach elevators or washrooms, as Fitch and her husband experienced.

Redins said accessing the facility from outside is also difficult because some of the Para Transpo-designated spots are occupied by rideshare and Uber or Lyft drivers. Whether he’s at the stadium for work or to attend an event, he said it makes it even more difficult to access the facility.

“It's very hard to control because there are so many cars coming in and out at events,” he explained.

Beyond the practical challenges, Redins said there are social and personal impacts of inaccessible design.

“We're supposed to be a team that works together,” he said. “But at times, I feel sad because I can’t get that social impact working with fellow employees, because I can't go into the [staff] room just before we go out and socialize and get to know people.”

For people like Fitch and her husband, who have not always relied on accessible standards, there can be a feeling of indignity or isolation when the city is “no longer meant for you.”

“It’s easier not to go out, it's easier not to support festivals,” she said. “If I want to go to the jazz festival, my first question is, Where do I park, because how far do I have to walk with a chair on my shoulder? And we just can’t do that anymore.

“We used to. What about people who’ve never had that ability?”

Sponsored by

Good morning!

This Pride Month feels a little different for me.

You may have noticed I was away on vacation last week. That’s because, on June 13, I married my husband, Jack.

It was one of the happiest days of my life. Our journey to the altar wasn’t always easy. We’ve endured situations that would have broken apart many couples. That made standing before our chosen family and friends all the more meaningful.

My parents walked us both down the aisle. Three of my former teachers were there, alongside friends, family and colleagues from nearly every chapter of my life. Looking around the room, we were reminded that family is about more than biology. It’s also the people who help you get to moments like this.

As we celebrated, I couldn’t help but think about those who made that moment possible. When we were born, same-sex marriage wasn’t a legal right in Canada. That didn’t come until 2005. The rights we enjoy today exist because countless LGBTQ+ Canadians fought for them, often at tremendous personal cost.

Charlie and Jack Senack. Credit: Fern & Ivory Photography.

One of my closest friends, Hannah, captured that history beautifully in a reading during our ceremony. I’ve uploaded it to YouTube, and I’d love to share that moment with the Lookout community. If you have a few minutes, I hope you’ll give it a watch. Note the sound is often better if played through speakers and not headphones.

A few years ago, while researching another story, I came across the name Warren Zufelt. Growing up in Chesterton Towers, I’d heard whispers that someone had once jumped from the roof, but I never knew whether the story was true. Learning that he took his own life in 1975 after being publicly outed is something I’ve never forgotten.

This week, we’re beginning a special two-part series looking back at the people who built Ottawa’s LGBTQ+ community and the history that led us to today. 

Let’s get to it!

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor

Have a story idea or editorial questions? Contact me: charlie.senack@ottawalookout.com

If you find this newsletter valuable, forward it using your referral link here. For every new subscriber, we'll donate $1 to a local Ottawa charity. New to the Lookout? Sign up for free.

WEATHER

Friday: 23 🌡️ 14 | 🌧️

Saturday: 26 🌡️ 14 | ☀️ 

Sunday: 28 🌡️ 15 | ☀️

Monday: 30 🌡️ 17 | ☀️

HISTORY

Remembering the people who built Ottawa’s LGBTQ+ community

Charlie Hill, who became one of the most prominent Canadian gay activists, reads a list of demands on the steps of Parliament Hill. Credit: Ottawa Journal/City of Ottawa archives.

By Charlie Senack  Read the story online.

Glenn Crawford spends much of his time looking into the past.

Over the past decade, the researcher and writer behind the Village Legacy Project has interviewed community elders, dug through newspaper archives and collected thousands of photographs documenting Ottawa’s LGBTQ+ history. 

The project began after the Bank Street BIA sought ways to recognize Ottawa’s Village's history better. Crawford proposed something more ambitious than a plaque or public artwork — a digital archive and walking tour that could preserve the stories of the people, organizations and businesses that shaped the city’s Queer community. 

But the work for Crawford was also deeply personal. 

Growing up in Kanata during the 1970s and ’80s, he knew he was different long before he had the words to explain why. He was bullied and often felt isolated, unaware that just a few kilometres away, an LGBTQ+ community already existed. 

“I was this sort of outcast young queer, not understanding who I was,” Crawford told the Lookout. “I didn’t recognize or understand what community was actually out there that could have supported me.”

Crawford came out at 28. Looking back, he believes years of bullying and the death of his mother when he was 20 delayed that journey.

Years later, he began wondering how much of Ottawa’s LGBTQ+ history had already been lost.

“The elders of our community were advancing in years,” he said. “Some people we had already lost, either due to age or the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It was really a critical time to speak to some of these early leaders to get their stories.”

Many of the people Crawford interviewed never expected to become part of history. They answered late-night hotline calls from strangers struggling with their sexuality, organized dances and sports leagues, cared for friends during the AIDS epidemic and, eventually, helped transform a modest community picnic into Ottawa’s first Pride celebration.

Today, Pride draws hundreds of thousands of people into Ottawa’s streets each summer. Some come for the celebration or free candy, others to feel accepted and know they are not alone. Rainbow flags hang from storefronts and flagpoles across the city — symbols of how far society has come.

But you only need to look a few decades back to find a very different world.

A movement begins

By the late 1960s, Canada’s LGBTQ+ rights movement was beginning to stir. Parliament partially decriminalized homosexuality in 1969, but for most gay and lesbian Canadians, daily life changed very little.

In Ottawa — a city where the federal government dominated the workforce — many public servants continued to hide their sexuality, fearing they could lose careers built over decades. During the Cold War, thousands were investigated through the federal government’s now-infamous “Fruit Machine” campaign, which sought to identify LGBTQ+ employees considered vulnerable to blackmail because of their sexuality.

Discrimination reached well beyond government offices. Gay bars operated discreetly. Landlords could refuse tenants. Parents risked losing custody of their children. Simply being known as gay could carry consequences in nearly every aspect of life.

Against that backdrop, roughly 100 people gathered on Parliament Hill on Aug. 28, 1971, for what became known as the We Demand demonstration — Canada’s first national public protest for gay rights. They arrived carrying handmade signs and a list of demands calling for equal treatment under the law, including protections against discrimination and reforms to Canada’s immigration and criminal laws.

The weather refused to cooperate. Rain began falling shortly after the demonstration started, soaking protesters and turning many of their cardboard signs into pulp. But they marched on anyway.

Inspired by the demonstration, local activists soon formed Gays of Ottawa, the city’s first gay rights organization. It served as an advocate, social network, and lifeline, operating a telephone hotline, publishing newsletters, and creating opportunities for people — many of whom had spent years believing they were alone — to find one another finally.

Other organizations also emerged to meet different needs. Lambda brought together gay professionals for monthly dinners and guest speakers, while Club Moustache united athletes through bowling, volleyball and other recreational sports. 

When being outed turned deadly

In March 1975, news headlines began reporting on the Vice Ring investigation. Police alleged a local modelling agency was operating as a front for male prostitution and began charging dozens of men with offences including gross indecency.

Before many of those cases ever reached the courts, newspapers published the names, ages, occupations and home addresses of those accused, effectively outing them at a time when being identified as gay could destroy a person’s life.

Among them was 34-year-old Warren Zufelt.

20 Chesterton Dr, where Warren Zufelt jumped to his death. Photo by Charlie Senack.

The public servant was settling into his Chesterton Drive apartment for the night when he called the Gays of Ottawa hotline, saying that if his name made newspaper headlines the next morning, he would take his own life.

The next day, his fears became reality.

Zufelt, a Sudbury native, was among four men listed in the Ottawa Citizen on March 17, 1975, charged with gross indecency. His full address, including apartment number 1201, was published.

Zufelt left a note, took the elevator one floor to the roof, lit a cigarette, and jumped. He was later pronounced dead in the hospital.

Speaking with the Ottawa Journal, Zufelt’s lawyer Leonard Shore said he had spoken with him the previous day. “He was very upset and nervous and didn’t know what to do,” he said. 

What followed were protests outside police headquarters and newspaper offices. In a press release, organizers condemned what they called a “homosexual witch hunt.”

Today, very few traces of Zufelt remain. No publicly available photographs of him are known to exist, and little has been documented about the life he led before being outed. His story now lives on through a memorial bench on Bank Street.

A bench on Bank Street that pays tribute to Warren Zufelt. Photo by Charlie Senack.

When a community became family

When George Hartsgrove arrived in Ottawa, he found more than a city. He found a community.

Raised in Deep River, a town of about 4,000 people, Hartsgrove spent years trying to fit into the life he believed he was supposed to live. He dated a woman and nearly got married before moving to the capital for work. It wasn’t until another gay man — someone he knew through his sister’s wedding party — visited him that he finally recognized something he had spent years trying to ignore.

He soon discovered Ottawa’s small network of gay bars and organizations, where he quickly immersed himself in the city’s LGBTQ+ community.

“Being gay was still partially illegal. You learned just to keep a very low profile,” Hartsgrove told the Lookout. “You would notice people — it was that one-second stare thing. If they stared for more than two seconds, you sort of thought maybe they were like you.”

It was an era before dating and hookup apps, when meeting another gay person often relied on chance encounters and quiet signals. Hartsgrove recalled two moments when men noticed him.

“There was one time I had a little rainbow flag on the back of my car,” he said. “Someone followed me back to my place after I’d finished my shopping because they noticed the rainbow flag.”

Another afternoon, he was lying on the beach at Mooney’s Bay when an attractive man caught his eye.

“I walked back to my home along Springland Drive,” he said. “He followed me back.”

George Hartsgrove stands on Elgin Street, where Ottawa's first unofficial pride parade was held. Photo by Charlie Senack.

Over the decades, Hartsgrove volunteered with the AIDS Committee of Ottawa, Pink Triangle Services, Ottawa Senior Pride Network and Capital Xtra, the city’s LGBTQ+ newspaper. He never considered himself the face of the movement, but when the AIDS crisis arrived, he watched friends step up for one another in ways he never forgot.

The first reports of what would become known as AIDS surfaced in the early 1980s. At first, little was understood about the virus. There were no effective treatments, misinformation spread quickly, and fear became commonplace. Ottawa’s first known case came in August 1983. Peter Evans, a bisexual actor in his 30s who had recently returned from England, died six months later.

Volunteers with Gays of Ottawa organized public education efforts as medical understanding slowly evolved. Community members later founded the AIDS Committee of Ottawa to provide education and support, while Bruce House opened to offer housing and compassionate care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Hartsgrove remembers gathering with friends at a cottage one summer, only to attend their funerals months later.

“I would say about 100 people I knew passed away,” he said. “At the beginning, there weren’t any medications at all. Then there was AZT, which was very toxic. It kept some people alive longer, but that was a very difficult time.”

He also remembers churches refusing to allow the casket of someone who had died of AIDS to be brought to the altar, and hospital staff so fearful of the virus that food trays were left outside patients’ rooms because nurses would not enter.

Crawford said nearly everyone he interviewed described the epidemic as a defining chapter in Ottawa’s LGBTQ+ history because of how the community responded.

“There was no support from the government. There was no support from the medical system,” he said. “The lesbian community particularly stepped up to the plate and took care of their friends and community members who were in dire straits, whose families abandoned them, who were not getting proper medical treatment, or just basic support.”

As treatments gradually improved through the 1990s, HIV became a manageable condition for many people who had once expected it to be a death sentence. But the epidemic permanently reshaped Ottawa’s LGBTQ+ community.

“We don’t have a large peer group like other 70- and 80-year-old men,” Hartsgrove said. “A lot of them are gone.”

Editor’s note: We don’t often split stories into multiple parts, but this one deserved the space. In Part 2, we’ll look at one of the darkest chapters in Ottawa’s queer history — a wave of murders and attacks that shook the community — before exploring the birth of the city’s Pride parade and why, decades later, Pride remains as important as ever. Stay tuned!

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SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE

Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean live in concert!

Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean sails into the National Arts Centre for a live concert experience featuring the NAC Orchestra and chorus performing the film’s iconic score alongside the movie.
Watch Captain Jack Sparrow’s unforgettable adventure unfold on the big screen while the music of Hans Zimmer and Klaus Badelt is performed live in real time.
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From sword fights and ship battles to sweeping cinematic themes, this immersive performance brings new energy to one of Disney’s most beloved adventure films.
A perfect night out for movie lovers, families, soundtrack fans, and anyone ready for a fun summer event in downtown Ottawa.

July 9–11, 2026
National Arts Centre, Ottawa

Tickets: https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/38422?promo=1817

THE OTTAWA NUMBER

$200,000

🌷 That’s how much funding the annual Tulip Festival was down this year after losing 50 per cent of its government support. As a result, regular attractions such as the fireworks and big bug boardwalk were cancelled. Now, the organization is wondering how it will fund next year's activities. [Kitchissippi Times]

THE AGENDA

A map showing the proposed route for the new high-speed Alto rail line.

🚄 Ottawa city council is calling for increased transparency from Alto about the impacts of the proposed high-speed rail project on private land. The motion requests more information and consultation throughout the process. Read more. [CTV]

🚗 Speed limits will be increasing on sections of Highways 7, 416 and 417 this summer as the Ontario government looks to change speed limits on several provincial highways. Read more. [CTV]

📚 OC Transpo will be cutting some of its school routes in the fall, leaving school bus authorities to plan transportation for an estimated 3,600 students who will no longer be able to take city buses. Read more. [CTV]

🏗️ A parking structure has been torn down at Carlingwood Shopping Centre, but the mall’s owners say there are no plans for future development. Instead, they are replacing the aging facility with a surface parking lot. Despite the front of the mall being rezoned for housing, tenant leases prohibit large-scale development from occurring. Read more. [Kitchissippi Times]

🏫 The Ottawa Catholic School Board has reversed its decision to remove bus attendants after parents and advocates shared concerns. The bus attendants ride the school bus with students, including those who are non-verbal or have medical needs. Read more. [Ottawa Citizen]

⚡ The CEO of Hydro Ottawa says the company is facing requests to connect large-scale customers to Ottawa’s power grid. About 60 per cent of the requests are coming from data centres. Read more. [CTV]

🚑 Ottawa paramedics say a woman was taken to the hospital overnight on Wednesday after she fell approximately six metres from the Rockcliffe Lookout. Read more. [CTV]

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WEEKEND EVENT GUIDE

Noche Latina Block Party | Metcalfe Plaza | June 26 at 5 p.m. | Come out for Amashowza Fridays, with block party energy featuring DJ REYES, DJ FABIAN, and DJ O-ZEY for a night of Reggaeton, Dembow, Bachata and Latin sounds | Free

Sunset Party: Karaoke at the Beach | Britannia Beach | June 26 at 5:30 p.m. | Come to the beach for a party in the sunset and try your hand at karaoke with friends | Free, tickets recommended

A Knight at the Symphony | Carleton Dominion Chalmers Centre | June 26-27 | Ottawa Pops Orchestra plays music from the age of kings, including How to Train Your Dragon and Shrek | Tickets $25+

Le Petit Chef | Tulip Restaurant and Bar | June 26-27 | Imagintive dining experience with 3D projection | Tickets $129+

Beechwood Market | 203 Stanley Avenue | June 27 | Local products, produce and more | Free

Small Pet Rescue Craft Show | 170 Castlefrank Rd. | June 27 at 9 a.m. | Participate or come out to shop jewelry, crochet, crafts, pet gifts and products, and more in support of the Wish You Were Home Small Pet Rescue | Free admission 

Immersive Summerween Night Market – Cirque De Bizaar | Walter Baker Park | June 27 at 4 p.m. | Step into a new world where spooky season lasts year-round with creators, oddities and live performances | Free admission

The Original Navan Market | 1279 Colonial Road, Navan | June 28 | Local vendors selling produce, meat and more | Free

Bytowne Oysterfest | Beyond the Pale Brewing Company | June 28 | Fresh oyster, craft beer, and music, what’s not to like! | Tickets $10

Want to see your event here? Submit them to our event calendar.

BARRHAVEN

How Barrhaven is preparing for the future after reaching a population of 110,000

Barrhaven has seen rapid growth in recent years and is now close to having a population of 110,000 people. Photo by Charlie Senack.

Over the past few decades, the community has changed dramatically. Former longtime councillor Jan Harder often joked there was a time when you couldn’t even buy a pair of socks in Barrhaven. Today, residents have dozens of places to shop.

Read the story and subscribe for free to our Nepean and Barrhaven newsletter

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Photo by Charlie Senack

Carleton University students watch the World Cup between Canada and Switzerland in the Nicol building. Unfortunately, Canada lost 2-1. The team now heads to Los Angeles for a game on Sunday against South Africa.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Summer is officially here — and your will is still not. It takes 20 minutes. Get started at Willful. [Sponsored]

• Craving an alternative to coffee? Pestle & Pods provides a healthy alternative with ingredients you wouldn’t expect. [Capital Eats]

• Ottawa transit riders are bonding over OC Transpo experiences that only local residents would understand. [Narcity]

• The local music community is mourning the loss of folk singer David Wiffen, who was well-known across Canada. [Apt6130

• Did you know there is a cave network you can explore in the Ottawa Valley? [CTV]

• Grounded Kitchen is a BBQ destination worth seeking out. [Capital Eats]

OTTAWA WORDLE

Think you can guess today’s Ottawa Wordle? Play it here.

Glenn Crawford spends much of his time looking into the past.

Over the past decade, the researcher and writer behind the Village Legacy Project has interviewed community elders, dug through newspaper archives and collected thousands of photographs documenting Ottawa’s LGBTQ+ history. 

The project began after the Bank Street BIA sought ways to recognize Ottawa’s Village's history better. Crawford proposed something more ambitious than a plaque or public artwork — a digital archive and walking tour that could preserve the stories of the people, organizations and businesses that shaped the city’s Queer community. 

But the work for Crawford was also deeply personal. 

Growing up in Kanata during the 1970s and ’80s, he knew he was different long before he had the words to explain why. He was bullied and often felt isolated, unaware that just a few kilometres away, an LGBTQ+ community already existed. 

“I was this sort of outcast young queer, not understanding who I was,” Crawford told the Lookout. “I didn’t recognize or understand what community was actually out there that could have supported me.”

Crawford came out at 28. Looking back, he believes years of bullying and the death of his mother when he was 20 delayed that journey.

There’s a feeling of leaving the big city as you drive into Barrhaven. You pass farms lining the Greenbelt, where rows of corn stretch toward the horizon and horses graze in nearby fields. The air feels a little cleaner. The temperature seems to drop slightly. The sky suddenly feels bigger.

Despite those reminders of rural Ottawa, Barrhaven has become anything but the country.

The suburb grew from a population of about 13,000 in 1981 to roughly 40,000 a decade later and more than 72,000 by 2011. Today, estimates put its population at around 110,000 — and it’s still growing rapidly.

Over the past few decades, the community has changed dramatically. Former longtime councillor Jan Harder often joked there was a time when you couldn’t even buy a pair of socks in Barrhaven. Today, residents have dozens of places to shop.

Strip malls and shopping centres line major roads. Nearly every major retailer — Walmart, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Costco and Loblaws among them — now has a presence in the community. Amazon even chose Barrhaven for one of its largest Canadian fulfilment centres. Alongside the national chains, locally owned businesses, independent restaurants and coffee shops are helping give the suburb a stronger sense of identity.

The Lookout sat down with Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill to discuss how he sees the community evolving over the next decade.

For as long as she can remember, Bells Corners resident Natalie Patrick’s summers have been spent in the water at the Entrance Outdoor Pool. 

The longtime local grew up just a few blocks away after her mother bought their condominium in 1988. As the daughter of a single parent who worked long hours, the outdoor pool became more than somewhere to cool off. It was where she spent entire summer days splashing around with friends, packing lunches, playing volleyball, swimming until closing time and building the kinds of childhood memories that still stay with her decades later.

Years later, after returning to Bells Corners to raise her own daughter, Patrick found herself reliving many of those same moments.

She still remembers watching her then four-year-old nervously make her way to the diving boards, first on the smaller board wearing a puddle jumper, then eventually gathering enough courage to leap from the higher one.

“She passed the swim test, and then she jumped off that diving board, and she was so happy,” Patrick recalled in an interview with the Ottawa Lookout. “It was that look — ‘I did it.’ You can never replace that look.”

Another summer, a City of Ottawa lifeguard noticed her daughter struggling to dive and took time to coach her through the technique.

Those memories won’t be recreated this summer.

The City of Ottawa has closed the Entrance Pool dive tank for the entire 2026 season after winter damage revealed worsening structural deterioration. While the main swimming pool remains open, city staff determined the diving area could not safely operate after discovering new cracking, concrete spalling and erosion around the deck structure.