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for future generations.
HSO 2026 Bytown200 Bicentennial Storytelling Collection
The Historical Society of Ottawa is proud to share stories about Bytown and the Rideau Canal to highlight the 200th anniversary of both in 2026.
Have a story to share as part of our Bytown200 Challenge? Follow this link to learn more: www.historicalsocietyottawa.ca/hso-news/the-hso-2026-bytown200-bicentennial-storytelling-challenge
The HSO Bytown200 initiative has been made possible, in part, thanks to the generous legacy bequeathed to the Historical Society of Ottawa by the late Ms. Vivian Lawrence.
Ken Watson – History of the Rideau Canal
11 August 2025
HSO
![This 1688 map [1910 copy] is one of the first to name the Rideau River. "Kataracoux" is today's Kingston and "Tonniata" is Brockville.](/media/k2/items/cache/3119c7be2ab58173062c39c6b8c72ed7_L.jpg?t=20250818_135537)
Ken Watson, a member of the Board of “Friends of the Rideau” since 1997, is a geologist with a deep interest in Rideau heritage and the environment. Ken recounts the…
Alastair Sweeny – “Ice Shintie” in Bytown
10 August 2025
HSO
Alastair Sweeny, PhD, has written extensively about Thomas Mackay, including his 2022 book “Thomas Mackay: The Laird of Rideau Hall and the Founding of Ottawa”. Other books authored by Alastair…
James Powell – The Anishinabek
9 August 2025
HSO
James Powell is the author of the blog Today in Ottawa's History giving a day-by-day account of local history. The AnishinabekFor thousands of years before the Rideau Canal and Bytown, the Ottawa Valley was…
James Powell – Today in Ottawa's History
9 August 2025
HSO
James Powell takes us back to the early days of the Rideau Canal and Bytown with stories about the Shiners’ War, the Stony Monday Riot, The ByWard Market, Bytown’s first…
Paul Weber – Stories in Song
8 August 2025
HSO
Paul Weber is a bilingual singer-songwriter, guitarist, storyteller and videographer who likes to share Ottawa history in song. In this 3½ minute video, Paul performs an ode to the workers who…
Andrew King – Boats, Taverns, and Beer
8 August 2025
HSO
Andrew King is an Ottawa artist and historian and author of the Ottawa Rewind blog. Andrew recalls the steamships that once plied the Rideau Canal: The Lost Steamships of The Rideau…
George & Iris Neville – Dr. A. C. Christie’s Travels 1830-1833
8 August 2025
HSO
These transcriptions of Dr. Christie’s travel writings (1830-1833) along the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal provide a unique perspective into that early era. From the HSO Bytown Pamphlet series: 107.…
John Morrison – The Rideau Canal - A Poem
8 August 2025
HSO
John Morrison lived in Manotick from 1994 to 2005 where he spent many happy hours paddling the area waterways and viewed the river and the canal as his own little piece…
Curtis Wolfe – William Tormey
8 August 2025
HSO
Curtis Wolfe researches local history and heritage and his writings have been featured in Lowertown’s Community Newspaper The Echo. Curtis uncovers the history of a local street: What’s in a name? Uncovering…
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