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Plotlines & Pathways

Plotlines & Pathways: Central Ottawa in Contemporary Fiction
The ByWard Market Building, south (George St) end.
The ByWard Market Building, south (George St) end.

Join us for an interactive walk through downtown Ottawa as we explore some familiar streets and landmarks through works of fiction. There are so many books we could explore, and so many neighbourhoods, so we'll start in the Byward Market, walk through Major's Hill Park, through the many works at least partially set in the Chateau Laurier, around the War Memorial, along Sparks Street, past Parliament Hill, and finishing up with one of George Elliott Clarke's poems at Library and Archives Canada where the Ottawa International Writers Festival is taking place.

The following are books we'll touch on/read from, and there may be others:

Andre Alexis — The Night Piece

Charles de Lint — Moonheart

Daniel Poliquin — A Secret Between Us/La Kermesse

Deborah-Anne Tunney — The View from the Lane & Other Stories

George Elliott Clarke — Black (poetry, but with a fantastic reference to the place we'll end)

Gwen Tuinman — Unrest

Ian Fleming — For Your Eyes Only

Jamie Chai Yun Liew — Dandelion

Jane Urquhart — Away

Jenny Haysom — Keep

Katie Tallo — Poison Lilies

Nina Berkhout — The Gallery of Lost Species

Rebecca Hirsch Garcia — The Girl Who Cried Diamonds

rob mclennan — On Beauty

Terry Fallis — The Best Laid Plans.


Location
Route

We'll meet outside Le Moulin de Provence, 55 ByWard Market Square, at the north end (York St. end) of the ByWard Market building. The walk will start promptly at 11:00.

From Le Moulin de Provence, we will walk west past The Laff and Dominion Tavern to Major's Hill Park, then south past Maman at the National Gallery of Canada and the Chateau Laurier, through the Rideau Centre/Underpass (subject to time/accessibility preferences), past the War Memorial, and west on Sparks Street, Parliament Hill, and Uppertown, ending at Library and Archives Canada where the Ottawa International Writers Festival is taking place.


There are plenty of snack and washroom options available for folks who wish to arrive early.


Accessibility: There are some inclines around Major's Hill Park and the National Gallery and the Chateau Laurier, and again up Wellington from the Chateau Laurier to Parliament Hill. We may go through the Rideau Underpass (stairs). If you have special accessibility needs or preferences, please drop Susan a line in advance.

While we won't have a lot of time for bathroom breaks, there are nice ones available at the Chateau Laurier!

About the walk leader

Hello! I’m Susan. I’m passionate about using radio, storytelling, and walking to help people deepen their relationship with Ottawa. I’ve hosted a morning show on CKCU-FM since 1999, and I've had the privilege of interviewing hundreds of writers and poets (and artists) of all kinds. In 2014, I co-founded Ottawa (de)Tours, a social enterprise with a mandate to help people explore and discuss contemporary issues, which operated for six seasons, and I still love a great walk.

Guide:

Susan Johnston

When:
Date:Sat May 3, 2025
Time:11:00 AM
Duration: 1 hour 30 min
Language: English
Where:
Start:Le Moulin de Province, York St. & Byward Market Sq
End:Library and Archives Canada
Area:Market/Parliament Hill
Distance:2.0 kms
Accessibility:

The walk will follow city sidewalks and paved paths, possibly some stairs.

Walker Sign-up

This walk requires you to sign up to attend or join a waitlist if walk is full. Please submit your email and the number of walkers that will be attending with you below.

23 walkers registered

Gallery
The ByWard Market Building, south (George St) end. The Dominion Tavern, music venue in Ottawa's ByWard Market. Ottawa's oldest tavern, located at York St. and ByWard Market Sq. Pedestrian gate onto the east side of Parliament Hill Looking down from Wellington St over the lock steps of the Rideau Canal descending to the level of the Ottawa River. The Secret Bench of Knowledge, sculpture in front of the Library & Archives building.
Volunteer to Marshal This Walk