More temporary housing in Ottawa

Good morning! 

I’ve been spending a lot of time reading through old Ottawa newspaper articles for a new segment we are finally getting around to test piloting here at the Lookout. And I have to admit, it’s been pretty exciting. I love history, and I love reading about what was happening on our streets decades before I was born.

One of the things that has stood out to me is just how similar the stories are to what we are reporting now. I read one about concerns over building heights for a new Minto subdivision in the early 70s. It made me think of today’s insider story linked later in the newsletter, over concerns Old Ottawa East residents have.

There was another article about the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board having its finances taken over, a similar issue this year that we’ve covered. I read another on a Merivale Road Secondary Plan taking place in the 80s, and the push for more green space in City View. Coincidentally, we will have an article coming out soon about the current Merivale Road Secondary Plan.

These are just some of the many pieces of history you will get to read over the next month or so. And if the segment proves popular, we will try to extend it even longer. It takes a lot of time, though, to go through a century's worth of newspapers and try to pull some of the neighbourhood highlights. 

What it's shown to me is proof that some things never really change!

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor, [email protected], X: @Charlie_Senack

Editor’s note: The Ottawa Lookout wants to share a retraction put out by the Ottawa Citizen, as we linked to the original article in our newsletter. While several paintings were stolen from a Hunt Club Hotel, they are still missing and were not returned defaced, as previously reported. The Ottawa Citizen said “the misunderstanding was based on human error.”

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WEATHER

Monday: 27 🌡️ 18 | 🌧️

Tuesday: 26 🌡️ 17 | 🌤️

Wednesday: 27 🌡️ 19 | 🌧️

CITY

Former office building converted into transitional housing

A new way to house: For the first time, the City of Ottawa has converted former office space to be used for temporary, transitional housing. It will be managed by the Catholic Centre for Immigrants (CCI) Ottawa.

What’s inside: The four-storey space on Queen Street can accommodate up to 140 adults who are experiencing homelessness. The 30,000 sq. ft. of space includes kitchens, dining areas, washrooms, showers, laundry facilities, lounge areas, and dedicated rooms for meetings and workshops, reported CTV. 

The three floors for lodging feature what is called a “sleep pod system”, which is rooms partitioned off with curtains as doors. Inside is typically one bed — though single rooms include two for couples — a locker, and an individual reading light. There will also be a number of social services on hand to help residents get on their feet. 

• “Clients will also have access to settlement and employment support, housing search case management, short-term mental health crisis workers, and weekly life skills workshops. The facility will be staffed 24/7 by CCI Ottawa personnel and on-site security,” the City of Ottawa said in a statement.

An ideal location: The former office building is located close to the LRT, transit, downtown amenities and is right across the street from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada offices. That is ideal, as many of its clients are newcomers to Canada. 

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who was on hand for the facility's unveiling on Thursday, said it is “exactly the kind of creative solution we need.”

By the numbers: The Queen Street housing project is being leased for 10 years at a total cost of $4.38 million. Another $1.48 million was allocated to retrofit the downtown space. In total, 35 staff members will be on-site, including crisis counselling and employment counselling.

A crisis on the streets: Ottawa is in the middle of a homelessness epidemic. A survey from October showed 2,952 people were experiencing homelessness in the city. Out of that number, 42 per cent of respondents were immigrants and refugees. 

The need to do more: The Queen Street supportive housing unit is just the beginning of what the city wants to achieve. During the recent federal election, Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi said office-to-housing conversions caused a lot more logistical challenges than he first expected. 

With that said, Naqvi is working to build Indigenous housing inside the Jackson Building downtown, while also exploring possibilities for the future of Tunney’s Pasture and the Confederation Heights office complex at Riverside Drive and Heron Road. 

The City of Ottawa is also looking at old religious buildings for housing. Last year, it purchased the 25-acre former Sisters of Charity of Ottawa convent in Orleans, where about 150 clients will reside. And in the Alta Vista neighbourhood, it’s exploring housing options at a former seminary, which could accommodate about 90 beds, but extensive repairs are still needed. 

Recently, a facility on Corkstown Road has also started lodging families. 

“This also represents a fundamental transformation of our shelter system… it is fundamentally different from the traditional shelter system,” said Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster, according to the Ottawa Citizen.

”We know that homelessness is a problem that all of us need to solve, and I hope this will be a lesson to the rest of the community that these kinds of facilities help build community, they can integrate seamlessly into our community, and that they are a good thing and we need more of them.”

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THE OTTAWA NUMBER

28

🏢 The proposed height for a new residential tower on Carling Avenue. It would house a total of 370 rental units. [Ottawa Business Journal]

THE AGENDA

🏠 It’s getting even more expensive to afford a house in Ottawa. A study from the City says that thousands of homeowners are experiencing heightened vulnerability in the housing market due to soaring mortgage rates and costs. According to the 2024 Housing Needs Assessment, the proportion of homeowners in Ottawa paying $2,000 or more per month for housing costs nearly tripled from 2006 to 2021 — from 11.5 per cent to 34.2 per cent. [Ottawa Citizen]

🏗️ Jason Burggraaf, executive director of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association, says a proposed zoning bylaw will not help Ottawa reach its housing goals. The Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw essentially sets out a roadmap for how tall residential buildings can be in different parts of the city. Burggraaf is proposing a 20-metre-deep height transition area with design elements like privacy-conscious balconies, thoughtful landscaping and facade articulation. [Ottawa Citizen]

🚗 An intersection in a rural area near Stittsville remains a problematic spot for collisions and near-misses, despite the installation of extra safety measures. Last year, the city added speed boards, flashing lights, and repainted road lines on Flewellyn and Shea roads as measures to improve safety at the skewed intersection. But residents say that’s not enough, with eight collisions reported at the intersection in 2024. [CBC]

🇺🇸 There was a lot of controversy in Ottawa last week after the city decided to fly the American Flag on July 4. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said it was just following protocol and that it was an “opportunity to highlight the shared history and deep, lasting friendship between the people of our two countries.” But many Ottawa residents felt the city should have said no this year amid trade talks and U.S. threats to annex Canada. [CBC]

🪖 Ottawa soldiers are under investigation for a private Facebook group filled with hate speech and nude photos. Known as the Blue Hackle Mafia, the group is made up of soldiers from the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, a reserve unit that operates out of the Cartier Square Drill Hall on Queen Elizabeth Driveway. [Ottawa Citizen]

⛪️ The future of Westboro’s former Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary convent remains in limbo after the property went up for sale. Ashcroft Homes was able to build one of three residential phases on the property after purchasing it in 2009, but has now been pushed into receivership by creditors. In total, $723,567 of tax arrears have built up on the property, and another roughly $140,000 is owed to a contractor. [Kitchissippi Times]

🔥 Nearly a dozen people were displaced after a fire tore through homes in the Glebe Saturday evening. When emergency crews arrived, they saw four semi-detached homes, a large tree, a garage with a vehicle and multiple outside decks on fire. The cause of the blaze is unclear and an investigation is underway. [CTV]

🚔 It took police over two hours to respond to a robbery at a Pet Value store in Riverside South, but the suspect was caught by a bystander who tackled and apprehended the suspect using a dog leash. Police say the suspect was also wanted in connection with a robbery that happened in June. [CTV]

🏫 You won’t be able to contact your local Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustee for assistance while the board is taken over by the Ontario government. Trustees have lost access to their email accounts. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education said the appointed “supervisor has the authority to make decisions that would normally be made by the trustees, including financial management, policy implementation, and operational oversight.” [Ottawa Citizen]

👮‍♂️ The Special Investigations Unit is investigating a collision that seriously injured two people in Ottawa’s east end Thursday night. The agency says “preliminary information” indicated that the incident began when an Ontario Provincial Police officer attempted to stop the driver of a black car for speeding on Highway 417. The driver failed to stop and, a short time later, says the SIU, then struck a pole on Star Top Road, between Innes and Algoma roads. [Ottawa Citizen]

EVENTS

Summer Sounds at Andrew Haydon Park | Andrew Haydon Park, 3127 Carling Ave | July 9, 7:30 pm | Free concerts by Nepean Concert Band | Free

Cars & Coffee Ottawa (Lansdowne Automotive Concourse) | Lansdowne Live, 1015 Bank St | Jul. 12–13 | Classic cars, collectibles, and entertainment | Free

Natsu Matsuri (Summer Festival) 2025 | Sandy Hill Community Centre, 250 Somerset St E | Jul. 12, 11 am | Japanese culture fest with food, vendors, shows | Free

Hintonburg 5K and 1K 2025 | Parkdale Park, 366 Parkdale Ave | Jul. 13, 8:30 am | Family-friendly 5K and kids race event | Free

Symphonic Waves – Beethoven for Everyone | National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St | Jul. 17, 7 pm | $20 NAC Orchestra concert, open seating | Tickets $20

Sausage & Patty Fest: Mid-Season Sizzle | T’s All Welcoming Pub, 323 Somerset St E | Jul. 18, 5 pm | Craft sausage BBQ and LGBTQ+ camp vibes | Tickets $20

Music and Movies in the Park | Abbott St E, Stittsville | Jul. 18, 5 pm | Live music, food trucks, night market, outdoor film | Free

The Summer Spark Market | Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd | Jul. 19, 10 am | 30 vendors, dog-friendly, free parking | Free

Lock & Paddle 2025 – Ottawa | Rideau Canal: Hartwells Locks | Jul. 19, 1 pm | Flash mob paddle event celebrating Parks Day | Free

The Original Navan Market - July 20th, 2025 | 1279 Colonial Rd | Jul. 20, 9:30 am | Market with 130+ local vendors and food trucks | Free

Hintonburg Night Market | 1088 Somerset St. W | Jul. 24, 7 pm | Night market with handmade goods & food | Free

Vegans Who Snack Food and Art Festival | 366 Parkdale Ave | Jul. 25, 1 pm | 60 vendors, music, vegan eats, outdoors | Free

Antique, Vintage & Thrift Market | 1088 Somerset St. W | Jul. 26, 2 pm | Vintage market with food, art & dry bar | Free

Queer Market at Next Door Ottawa | 955A Gladstone Ave | Jul. 26–27, 7 am | LGBTQIA+ artists, vendors, 2-day celebration | Free

Gloucester Market @ St. Gabriel's | 55 Appleford St | Jul. 26, 11 am | Family market with vendors, raffles, BBQ | Free

Dumpling Fest Ottawa | Multiple restaurants, Ottawa K2P 2E3 | Jul. 30, 5:30 pm | Dumpling tasting plates from top restaurants | Tickets $55–$77

Nostalgia Music Festival | LeBreton Flats, Ottawa | Aug. 20–24 | Tribute bands from the 70s–90s, food, bars | Tickets $63

North American Festival of Wales | Sparks Street, Ottawa | Aug. 27–31 | Welshfest street party, concerts, hymn sings | Free

Vegans Who Snack Food and Art Festival | 366 Parkdale Ave | Jul. 25, 1 pm | Vegan food, art, music, 60+ small vendors | Free

Want to see your event here? You can purchase them through our self-service portal here

NEW JOBS

Discover your new dream job in Ottawa:

1. Foodrunner in the VIP room at Hard Rock Casino

2. Receptionist at City of Ottawa

3. LeafFilter installer at Leaf Home

4. Advanced intermediate youth worker at Boys and Girls Club

5. Facilities coordinator at Robert Half

OTTAWA QUIZ

GOOD NEWS MONDAY

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of those diseases you wouldn’t wish on anyone. It slowly robs people of basic abilities that many of us take for granted – including walking, chewing, talking and, eventually, even breathing.

Carolyn Bennett, 62, learned in December 2022 that she had ALS, a condition that currently offers no cure and very limited treatment options. Her brother has been holding fundraisers in support of the ALS Clinic at The Ottawa Hospital. 

Leading up to a recent event, his fundraisers had cumulatively raised just shy of $32,000.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Buy Canadian is having a real impact on Ottawa businesses. [CTV]

• People are not happy about the paint job at the old Glebe Apothecary…

• Looking for some great kebabs? Our food editor recommends this place.

• It was the first weekend of drinking in Ottawa’s parks. Did you particiapte?

• Celtic culture was on display in Almonte this weekend. [CTV]

ON THIS DAY

Here is a look at what newspapers across Ottawa were reporting on this day in history. 

July 7, 1942: The Ottawa Journal reported changes were being made to the city building bylaw “to meet wartime conditions.” Apartment buildings up to three-storeys in height could be constructed without steel floor supports, “providing suitable protection is afforded over heating units and garages. 

• At the same time, J. Knox MacLeod was named the assistant ByWard Market superintendent. His salary was between $2,000-$2,200 a year. 

In Gloucester, the wages of teamsters, labourers, truck drivers, foreman, and power maintenance men went up. Some of the workers received between a five and 10 cent hourly raise. 

July 7, 1958: City council states it would pave the rest of River Road, which included a two-mile stretch in the vicinity of Kars, and another short section of the road in Manotick. 

• In Orleans, the Nepean Gloucester Police investigated a robbery which occurred at Omer Turgeon’s jewelry store. The break-in occurred around 4:00 am the following day, and thieves took off with about $1,000 worth of jewelry. 

July 7, 1978: The Canadian Air Traffic Controllers Association warned a major air disaster could occur at Ottawa’s airport. The organization's worry came after the transport department said it was planning to eliminate air traffic controllers at most Canadian airports between midnight and 6:00 am. 

• Also: Health officials refused to state if Rideau River beaches would ever be safe for swimming again following pollution in the water. The city had plans of spending millions over the next seven to 12 years to clean up the contamination, but it was unclear if that would be enough. Mooney’s Bay was the only city beach to open that summer. 

Information is from the Ottawa Journal archives on newspapers.com

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Check out this new mural on the top floor parking garage of Bayshore Shopping Centre.