FionaThe Nation’s capital is made up of so many unique and interesting neighbourhoods. Each has its own claim to fame, its own appeal, it can be hard to choose a favourite.
I arrived in Ottawa in 2006, newly married and transported from my native London, UK. My first job was in Old Ottawa South on Sunnyside and this cheery sounding street name was where my new Canadian life all began. We couldn’t afford an apartment in this neighbourhood so close to the trendy Glebe district, so we got as close as we could, just up the street from the nearby Billings Bridge Mall. But each day as I walked to work I would imagine living right on these streets.
In the last 12 years, some of the stores have been replaced, some seem to be on revolving leases, opening and closing before I even had a chance to visit. Some old institutions on this section of Bank street have faltered and closed down, like the Ottawa Folklore Centre, which sold me a fiddle and arranged lessons when I was fresh to the city and looking for a hobby and the chance to meet some new friends.
The year after I moved to Canada, Ottawa’s own Bridgehead coffee opened a branch at 1172 Bank St. At the time, I couldn’t secure a teaching job so I worked as a nanny, and I would come here most days with my charges and buy them a little sweet treat. Now, more than a decade later I sit here typing a love letter to this district.
Change can be a good thing, bringing exciting new businesses into the area, but the heart of a place is often in those familiar buildings and brands that stand the test of time.
Old Ottawa South holds all of my memories of discovering Canada and my place in it. In summer we walk down Grove Ave to Brewer Park where my son loves to play on the big fire truck structure and splashes in the water jets. Sometimes when we have nothing planned on a Saturday afternoon my little one will ask to go on a ride on the O train to Carleton University and then we’ll walk up these friendly streets to Bank and stop for an ice cream or a hot chocolate. In winter we walk a little further down Colonel By Drive to Dows Lake and go ice skating along the canal.
Whatever the season, these are three of my favourite spots in Old Ottawa South:
Stella Luna
1103 Bank St
This award-winning Gelato cafe opened in 2011 and five years later was declared the best gelato in Canada. Weekends are especially busy as families line up for a cone, waffle or other sweet treats. Try the winning flavour, rich chocolate made with Koval bourbon!
The House of Targ
Another relative newcomer which has fast become a neighbourhood staple is The House of Targ. Opened in 2014, it’s a basement arcade, specializing in retro games and pinball. It’s also home to eclectic live music shows and serves up tasty sweet and savoury perogies.
It makes a great venue for date night, challenge your boo to a round of street fighter-the loser buys the drinks!
The Mayfair Theatre
1074 Bank St.
The grandmother of Old Ottawa South, which is sandwiched between the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River, is the iconic Mayfair Theatre. Built in 1932 it is one of the oldest surviving independent cinemas in all of Canada and has been declared an official heritage building by the city of Ottawa.
Pamela • Editor
Sarah
Doug
Fiona – there were over 100 “Likes” when I last viewed your article about Old Ottawa South. Today I add my own. My wife Donna and I have lived in OOS for seven years in a house nestled on the Rideau River. We’ve enjoyed the attractions you describe in your article. Now that it’s time to sell our place at 3 Warrington Drive, we and our realtor would like to include your article in our marketing materials. Is that okay with you? Thanks, John Weston
Yes, of course!