The Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church on Somerset West is undergoing a major renovation, set to finish soon – reflecting other changes in the community it serves.
An Orthodox Church in Chinatown reaffirms its deep Centretown roots
Category: Featured Article
SAW gallery rises from the flames
Centretown resident Arthur II inaugurated SAW Gallery’s new project display space at Arts Court with a solo exhibition entitled Crucible. This show explains the source of SAW’s curious name.
Remembering Ed Broadbent
Both dignitaries and regular Centretown residents waited in long lines and packed the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre on January 28 to pay tribute to the late Ed Broadbent.
Gone but not forgotten: Slices of Bank Street’s history
In this issue, Robert Smythe’s Skyline column looks back at iconic Bank Street places that have disappeared.
The BUZZ and me
Wendy Bennett tells why delivering The Centretown BUZZ has been such a joy for her for many years, and why you should consider joining the delivery team, too.
“Take me to your leader”: the November Centretown crossword
“Take me to your leader” – a new Centretown-themed crossword by Cassandra Morton (with a link to the key as well).
Heritage Skyline: Plouffe Park fought to survive in its first 15 years
Plouffe Park ranks among the City’s oldest parks – and, like the community it serves, this patch of green has been tenacious in fighting for its survival.
First person account: birth and death in print
Marit Quist-Corbett tells of an unexpected encounter in a photo shop that ended up having greater meaning.
Users defend the car-free Queen Elizabeth Driveway
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe recently suggested chopping half of the active-transportation-only section of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway. He’s got a lot of pushback from community groups, city councillors, and the CEO of the National Capital Commission (NCC).
Skyline: Turning office buildings into housing. Is it magic?
The Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) has just released a timely report entitled “The Case for Conversions: Understanding opportunities for conversions of office space to housing in Canada,” with particular relevance to Ottawa’s vacant downtown offices.
Don Smith: a tireless activist who was always there when needed
Don Smith, a longtime community activist and BUZZ volunteer, saw what needed doing and did it.
The fish “orgy” in the Canal
Each spring, for a brief time, big crowds of big fish make a big commotion in the Rideau Canal. It is the annual spawning of the common carp.
Skyline: Recent new-build and restoration proposals, big and small
As heritage-adjacent developments go, it’s a honking big project. A full block of historic buildings on downtown Bank Street is to be rehabilitated with fully restored façades and street level storefronts, surmounted by a new nine-storey apartment building.
Heritage Skyline: The snows of yesteryear
Robert Smythe highlights three images of snowy Centretown winters from more than a century ago.
John Leaning (1926-2022): his Centretown legacy
John Leaning, a visionary urban planner and architect, died on September 22, 2022 at the age of 95. A pioneer in the protection of older residential neighbourhoods, the restoration of historic streetscapes, and the development of a citizen-driven community-based process for city planning, he held a special significance for Centretown.
People’s Commission hears tales of convoy trauma
The opening session of the Ottawa People’s Commission hearings heard from four residents traumatized by the convoy occupation, and from one person who felt freed by the experience.
Heritage Skyline: Secrets of Dundonald Park
The name and much of the appearance of Dundonald Park are due to political infighting 115 years ago.