HERITAGE OTTAWA

Heritage Ottawa president David Jeanes and architectural historian/photographer Peter Coffman will be leading a Jane’s Walk on the history and architecture of the Château Laurier Hotel this Sunday, May 6. 

The tour will feature the original architecture of this 1912 icon, its 1927 expansion, and the controversial proposals for a new addition.

When: Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 2:30 pm
Meet: Plaza on the south side of Rideau Street, beside the former Union Station.

Jane's Walk is an annual weekend festival of free neighbourhood walking tours throughout Ottawa-Gatineau, led by local citizens who care passionately about where they live, work and play.  The event takes its name from the late urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs, born 102 years ago on May 4, 1916.

Jacobs had a profound influence on the way we consider urban space, urban life and urban infrastructure.  Her 1961 book The Death and Life of Great American Cities roundly criticized the large-scale destruction of neighbourhoods resulting from urban renewal policies of the 1950's and 60's.  Many of her groundbreaking ideas about urbanism remain relevant today, and are now considered "common sense" by many contemporary architects and planners.

After starting in May 2007 in Toronto, Jane's Walk spread quickly to other cities—including Ottawa—in 2008 and is now a global event.

Tours offer insights into local history, planning, design and civic engagement.  The 2018 edition of Jane's Walk Ottawa-Gatineau features a wide range of interesting walks, in both English and French, including such places as Centretown, Hintonburg, the Central Experimental Farm, Prime Ministers Row, Victoria Island, Stittsville, as well as the architecture and history of the Château Laurier.

Visit the Jane's Walk website for the full schedule of events!

Heritage Ottawa is pleased to be a supporter of Jane's Walk.