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Folk Walk of Fame in Old Ottawa South

A Singing Tour of the Folk Walk Of Fame in Old Ottawa South

This walk is also offered on Sunday.

Ottawa has been 'Folk City' since the 1950s. Venues such as Le Hibou, The Wasteland, The Kitchen Cinq, Le Monde, Roosters, Rasputin's Folk Cafe, Irene's Pub, and Red Bird have highlighted some of Canada's finest talent, much of of it local. Ottawa is the home of the Ottawa Grassroots Festival, the Canadian Folk Music Awards, Folk Canada, and the Canadian Folk Music Walk Of Fame. Ottawa is also the former home of the Ottawa Folklore Centre and the Ottawa Folk Festival.

Spend an afternoon in the neighbourhood that hosts the Canadian Folk Music Walk Of Fame and hear about the current plaques, the folk murals, and the state of folk music in our city. Inductees to the Folk Walk of Fame include Bruce Cockburn, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Helen Creighton, Gordon Lightfoot, Jean Carignan, Sylvia Tyson, Stan Rogers, Estelle Klein, Sam Gesser, and Kate & Anna McGarrigle. Walk leaders Arthur McGregor and Chris White were instrumental in creating the Canadian Folk Music Walk Of Fame.

There will be participatory live music. Arthur and Chris will provide some information about each person who is honoured in a Folk Walk plaque, and lead a song relevant to that person. Song sheets will be provided for those who wish to sing along.

For information about the Folk Walk inductees, see https://folkawards.ca/projects/folk-walk

Location
Route

We will meet outside Patty's Pub at 1186 Bank Street (the northwest corner of Bank and Ossington) in Old Ottawa South. From there, we'll head north on Bank St, stopping at each Folk Walk plaque along the way. We will complete the walk with a get-together at Dessert First at 1071 Bank St. near Sunnyside Ave.

We'll be walking on city sidewalks, crossing Bank St here and there. Please note that there is a moderate uphill incline along this stretch of Bank St.

About the walk leader

Chris White is a singer-songwriter and is the host of the 'Canadian Spaces' folk/roots show on CKCU-FM. He is a co-founder of the Ottawa Folk Festival.

Arthur McGregor is a performer, the founding director of the Canadian Folk Music Awards, a founding sponsor of the Ottawa Folk Festival, and co-founder of the Ottawa Folklore Centre.
Guides:

Chris White and Arthur McGregor

When:
Date:Sat May 2, 2026
Time:3:00 PM
Duration: 1 hour
Language: English
Where:
Start: Patty's Pub, 1186 Bank Street
End:Dessert First, 1071 Bank Street
Area:Old Ottawa South
Distance:1.0 km
View in Google Maps
Accessibility:

The walk will follow city sidewalks, with a moderate uphill incline.

Gallery
Map of the Canadian Folk Walk plaques and the names on those that have been assigned.