The OSCAR celebrates Ottawa's Folk Scene and Jane's Walk
The June issue of the Old Ottawa South Community Association Review (OSCAR) featured an article by John Bond recounting one of the walks from this year's May festival. Entitled "The Canadian Folk Music Walk of Fame," the article describes the walk led by Chris White and Arthur MacGregor which visited each plaque along the Folk Music Walk of Fame along Bank Street in Old Ottawa East.
Excerpts of particular interest:
"On the sunny afternoon of May 3,* the former owner of the Folklore Centre, Arthur McGregor, led a public walk along Bank St. to celebrate one of Old Ottawa South’s hidden treasures – The Canadian Folk Music Walk of Fame. Arthur was joined by CKCU’s Chris White and Mary Gick as they led a group of about twenty-five full-voiced participants on a tour of the brass plaques embedded in the sidewalks celebrating Canadian musical luminaries. "
"This walk was one of many celebrating the legacy of Jane Jacobs, the urban activist who championed the idea of livable cities. The walks have been going on since 2007 and happen in over 500 cities around the world. . . . Jacobs died in 2006, leaving a powerful legacy of urban thought and commitment to creating cities designed around the needs of the people who live there. Jane Jacobs may be best known for her fights against major highway developments in both New York City and Toronto. Her books, such as The Death and Life of Great American Cities and Dark Age Ahead are indispensable readings for anyone dedicated to developing our cities as human-scaled places to live."
The full article can be found here. See page 4.
The walk description can be found here.
The photo at the top of this page shows the mural celebrating Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Sylvia Tyson, and Bruce Cockburn. The mural can be found on the side of the Paper TIger building on southeast corner of Bank St and Sunnyside Ave. in Old Ottawa South.
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* The walk was held twice, once on the afternoon of May 2 and again on May 3.