Glenn Crawford spends much of his time looking into the past.
Over the past decade, the researcher and writer behind the Village Legacy Project has interviewed community elders, dug through newspaper archives and collected thousands of photographs documenting Ottawa’s LGBTQ+ history.
The project began after the Bank Street BIA sought ways to recognize Ottawa’s Village's history better. Crawford proposed something more ambitious than a plaque or public artwork — a digital archive and walking tour that could preserve the stories of the people, organizations and businesses that shaped the city’s Queer community.
But the work for Crawford was also deeply personal.
Growing up in Kanata during the 1970s and ’80s, he knew he was different long before he had the words to explain why. He was bullied and often felt isolated, unaware that just a few kilometres away, an LGBTQ+ community already existed.
“I was this sort of outcast young queer, not understanding who I was,” Crawford told the Lookout. “I didn’t recognize or understand what community was actually out there that could have supported me.”
Crawford came out at 28. Looking back, he believes years of bullying and the death of his mother when he was 20 delayed that journey.
This story is only available for members. Unlock this and other City Hall Insider stories.
We’re building the future of local news, producing in-depth, hyper-local journalism and not clickbait content. As a mostly reader-funded publication, we cannot write the stories you read without your help. Become a member today and unlock additional membership perks.
Save 40% off a membershipJoin 2,600+ Lookout members who get:
- Exclusive City Hall Insider newsletter
- Access to all paywalled stories
- Early access to Lookout events
- Invest in local journalism and the Ottawa journalists who write our stories
- Risk free: Cancel anytime and get a 100% refund
