Our popular Heritage Ottawa Lecture Series runs from September to June every year, and features a wide range of interesting speakers and topics pertaining to Ottawa's history and heritage.
Unless otherwise noted, lectures are free and are held at the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library, located at 120 Metcalfe Street at the corner of Laurier Avenue. Elevators are available and the room is wheelchair accessible.
Lectures begin at 7:00pm, last approximately one hour and are followed by an informal gathering.
There is no need to pre-register. We look forward to welcoming you at our next Heritage Ottawa event!
Thanks to our Lecture Series sponsors Andrex Holdings and the Ottawa Public Library.
Our first lecture of the Fall 2017 season takes place on September 21. The full schedule of upcoming lectures to June 2018 will be posted to the website shortly.
Upcoming Lectures
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A Legacy to Build On: Renewing the NCC’s Conservation Role in the CapitalThursday, September 21, 2017 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaIn the context of the 150th anniversary of Confederation and the recent launch of the Plan for Canada’s Capital 2017-2067, Heather Thomson will discuss what has been and is being conserved as...
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Celebrating Village Heritage: The Sixth Annual Heritage Ottawa ForumSaturday, September 30, 2017 - 09:30 to 16:00Celebrating Village Heritage The Sixth Annual Heritage Ottawa ForumVillage of Kars | Saturday, September 30, 2017
9:30 am to 4:00 pm | Doors open at 9:00 am
Heritage Ottawa...
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Emerging Scholars: Three Talks And a Pub NightTuesday, October 17, 2017 - 19:00 to 21:00Brigid's WellSt. Brigid's Centre for the Arts310 St. Patrick Street at CumberlandOttawa, ON K1N 5K5Canada
Join us at 7pm for three informative talks by recent graduates. Each talk will be 15 to 20 minutes in duration and the audience will have an opportunity to pose questions to the speakers.
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Ottawa Architects 150: A Genealogy of Architectural Practices in OttawaThursday, November 16, 2017 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2Canada
Ottawa Architects 150 documents the history of the practice of architecture in Ottawa from 1867 to 2017, marking Canada’s Sesquicentennial and recognizing the contribution of local architects to...
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From Walk-Up to High-Rise: Ottawa’s Historic Apartment BuildingsWednesday, December 13, 2017 - 19:00 to 21:00Dominion-Chalmers United Church355 Cooper Street ( use entrance on Lisgar Street )Ottawa, ON K2P 0G8CanadaA HERITAGE OTTAWA BOOK LAUNCH
Join Heritage Ottawa as we launch our newest book with this special presentation by two of its contributors, Shannon Ricketts and Susan Ross.
The fascinating...
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Cultivating Canadian Modernism: The Architectural Research Group of Ottawa and MontrealWednesday, January 17, 2018 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2Canada
This talk will explore how a group of young, political-savvy architects promoted modern architecture across Canada and in the Ottawa region during the 1940s through articles, radio addresses, and...
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And after: The consequences of World War 1Wednesday, February 28, 2018 - 19:00 to 20:00To Be AnnouncedOttawa, ONCanadaHeritage Ottawa 2018 Phillips Memorial Lecture
World War I had deep transformative effects on Canada and on France felt at all levels of society, then and now.
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OMB Reform: Getting Heritage Planning RightWednesday, March 21, 2018 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2Canada
The workings of the Ontario Municipal Board have been controversial. Now it is set for replacement.
Join Attorney General Yasir Naqvi, former OMB adjudicator and advocate Marc Denhez, and...
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The Algonquins of PikwakanaganWednesday, April 18, 2018 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2Canada
Join us for a special evening presentation by Pikwakanagan Elder Ron Bernard on the past and present of this vibrant Algonquin community.
Pikwakanagan, meaning “a hilly place,” is situated...
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Carved in stone: The Art of Architectural Stone CarvingWednesday, June 20, 2018 - 19:00 to 20:00Orange Art Gallery290 City Centre AvenueOttawa, ON K1R 1C7Canada
From the European guilds of the Gothic era to modern day digitally assisted techniques, John-Philippe Smith will discuss the history of stone carving as well as tales from his journey working as a...
Past Lectures
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What's in a Name?Wednesday, June 21, 2017 - 19:00 to 21:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaThis lecture will present the early histories of Bytown, Rochesterville and Nepean with an exposé woven from the Rochester, Cole, Baillie and McDougall families whose collective...
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Prime Ministers' Row ProjectWednesday, April 19, 2017 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaThe extraordinary built heritage of Ottawa’s Laurier Avenue East, historically home to seven Fathers of Confederation and eight Prime Ministers, will be transformed into Canada’s first...
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Vimy One-Hundred Years Later: A New Education CentreWednesday, March 15, 2017 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaThe Canadian National Vimy Memorial, centred on the evocative design of Walter Allward's beautiful monument and the surrounding landscape, evokes tremendous emotion and provides...
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A Landmark Transformed: The New Global Centre for PluralismWednesday, February 15, 2017 - 19:00 to 20:30The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat199 Sussex Drive ( use Boteler Street entrance )Ottawa, ON K1N 1K6Canada
HERITAGE OTTAWA 2017 PHILLIPS MEMORIAL LECTUREUPDATE: This lecture is available on YouTube courtesy of our partners at the Global Centre for Pluralism.
Order...
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Heritage Ottawa at FiftyWednesday, January 18, 2017 - 19:00 to 21:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaJoin us for a lively review of the past and future of local heritage as we gear up to celebrate a milestone anniversary year!
Councillor and Chair of the Built...
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THE GRÉBER PLAN: 65 YEARS LATERTuesday, December 13, 2016 - 19:00 to 20:00Dominion-Chalmers United Church355 Cooper Street ( use entrance on Lisgar Street )Ottawa, ON K2P 0G8CanadaThis talk presents the fascinating story of Jacques Gréber’s vision and plan for Canada’s capital, with a look at what worked and what we might do differently today.
From his 1950's lens,...
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THE DIEFENBUNKER: COLD WAR FORTRESSWednesday, November 16, 2016 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaA marvel of Canadian engineering built under duress during the unknown threats of the Cold War era, the massive structure now known as "The Diefenbunker" demanded the development of a number of...
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Emerging Scholars: Three TalksTuesday, October 25, 2016 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaJoin us at 7pm for three informative talks by recent graduates. Each talk will be 15 to 20 minutes in duration and the audience will have an opportunity to pose questions to the speakers.
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HOW HERITAGE WORKS IN OTTAWA: THE FIFTH ANNUAL HERITAGE OTTAWA FORUMSaturday, October 15, 2016 - 12:00 to 16:30allsaints317 Chapel Street ( at Laurier Avenue East, main entrance of former Church )Ottawa, ON K1N 7Z2CanadaThe Event is Full and Pre-Registration is Now Closed.Join us for this informative afternoon of presentations and practical information focusing on How Heritage Works in Ottawa. Hear and share...
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From Triplex to Tower: Building Ottawa's Apartments 1945-1975Wednesday, September 21, 2016 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaBetween the post-World War II housing crisis and the dawn of the condo era, Ottawa witnessed successive waves of apartment building construction - good, bad, and indifferent.
This...
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National Arts Centre: The Rejuvenation in its Urban and Historic ContextWednesday, June 15, 2016 - 19:00 to 20:00National Arts Centre53 Elgin Street( Lecture takes place in the SALON, access via Main Lobby )Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1CanadaThe National Arts Centre was the federal government’s centennial project to commemorate Canada’s 1967 celebration of Confederation. The project fulfilled a long-held national dream to create a...
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History of Ottawa's BrickyardsWednesday, April 20, 2016 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaBrick was an uncommon building material in the Ottawa area until the building boom that crested in the early 1870s.
Brickworks for the Ottawa market mostly developed along the banks of the...
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Bletchley Park's Outpost in Sandy HillWednesday, March 16, 2016 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaDuring World War ll, an Examination Unit was installed in a Victorian mansion in Sandy Hill to carry out top secret code breaking activities. This lecture will examine how the Unit came to be set...
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2016 Phillips Memorial LectureWednesday, February 24, 2016 - 19:00 to 21:00The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat199 Sussex Drive ( use Boteler Street entrance )Ottawa, ON K1N 1K6CanadaSaving Heritage: Preserving History in the Developing WorldPlease note that PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for this lecture.
Harnessing the culture and history of a region can be a powerful...
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MacDonald Gardens: A Study in Community HeritageWednesday, January 13, 2016 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaBEFORE AND AFTER FREDERICK TODD
The park at the centre of Macdonald Gardens commemorates the graveyards of four congregations from 1845 to 1873.
This lecture will reveal how...
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Landscape Architecture in Canada 1870 - 1920Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaThe Creation of Canada's Iconic Public Open SpacesThis well illustrated talk explores the outstanding work carried out in the creation of Canada's public open spaces and institutions from about...
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CRAFT, HERITAGE AND DIGITAL TOOLSWednesday, November 18, 2015 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaDigital technologies play an increasingly significant role in large, complex heritage documentation projects such as the one under way for the Parliament Buildings National Historic Site of Canada...
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REINVENTING BUILDING 94 AT THE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARMWednesday, October 14, 2015 - 19:00 to 20:00Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K1P 5M2CanadaThe New Canadian Agriculture and Food MuseumThe masterful re-purposing of Building 94, a "Recognized" Federal Heritage Building on the Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site, was...
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Behind Closed Cells: The Architecture of Canada's Jails and PrisonsSaturday, October 3, 2015 - 19:00 to 20:00Ottawa Jail Hostel Courtyard75 Nicholas StreetOttawa, ON K1N 7B9CanadaSPECIAL PUB LECTUREFor over a century, the intimidating architecture of Canadian prisons inspired sentences to be carried out in solitude and silence.
Set within Ottawa's own historic jail...
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OTTAWA'S RURAL AND SUBURBAN HERITAGESaturday, September 26, 2015 - 09:30 to 17:00St. John's Anglican Church, South March325 Sandhill RoadKanata, ON K2K 1X7CanadaThe Annual Phillips Memorial Heritage Forum Saturday, September 26, 2015 9:30 am - 5:00 pmFollowed by an optional bus tour of Beaverbrook to 6:30 pm
PLEASE NOTE: Registration for this...