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PO Box 523, Station B,
Ottawa, ON, K1P 5P6

PO Box 523, Station B, Ottawa, ON, K1P 5P6
Slide 1 - With Welcome Message - Bottom

Lady and Lord Aberdeen with the National Council of Women at Rideau Hall, shortly before their return to the United Kingdom, October 1898, Topley Studios/Library and Archives Canada, PA-029033

Truss Bridge over the Chaudière Falls, Ottawa River, watercolour by John Burrows, 1828, Library and Archives Canada, I.D. No. 2833217.

Welcome

The Historical Society of Ottawa (HSO) is Ottawa’s oldest historical organization.The principal aim of the Society is to increase public knowledge of the history of Ottawa and the surrounding region through meetings, tours, awards, publications, and sponsored research.

Historical Society Articles

  • Lynn Gehl – Algonquin Anishinaabeg of the Ottawa River Valley:Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

    10 March 2026 Speakers Presentations
    The Historical Society of Ottawa’s Zoom presentation of February 11th, 2026, was the 1 st of a 3 part series on the beginning of the Rideau Canal, (March 28), and the founding of Bytown, (April 25), in recognition of 2026 being the 200 th anniversary of both. We started the…

  • The Ottawa Mosque

    28 February 2026 Speakers Presentations
    On the afternoon of Monday, February 23rd, the Historical Society of Ottawa offered its first English language in-person Speaker presentation for 2026, generously hosted by the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. That afternoon, we were honoured to welcome Mohamed Ghadban, former member of Tannis Food Distributors and current…

  • Barbara Ann Scott – Queen of the Ice

    5 February 2026 Speakers Presentations
    Barbara Ann Scott, Queen of the Ice, was the subject of the Historical Society of Ottawa’s first Zoom presentation of 2026, which was held on the evening of January 14, 2026. We were joined that evening by Ryan Stevens, an award-winning author and noted figure skating historian. Ryan runs the…

  • A Holocaust Testimonial: My Father’s Story

    3 February 2026 Speakers Presentations
    On the evening of November 12, 2025, the Historical Society of Ottawa held its first Zoom presentation of the season. In partnership with The Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship - Ottawa (CHES), we were pleased that night to welcome Phil Emberley, who told us of his father whosurvived the…
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Upcoming Events

Mar 28 2026
Afternoon Series
1:30PM
Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch Auditorium

The Rideau Canal

Allison Margot Smith

Apr 4 2026
French-language
1:00PM
Ottawa Public Library, St-Laurent Branch, 515 Coté Street

Histoire de la jeunesse franco-ontarienne engagée (1905-1970)

Apr 25 2026
Afternoon Series
1:30PM
Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch Auditorium

The Era of Bytown

James Powell

May 2 2026
French-language
1:00PM
Ottawa Public Library, St-Laurent Branch, 515 Coté Street

Le coeur de mère Elisabeth Bruyère

View Full Calendar

Ottawa Stories

Ottawa has an interesting and varied history.
Enjoy stories from our Bytown and Rideau Canal Bicentennial collection or discover other Ottawa stories.

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