London Oxford in Pointe-Gatineau: Meet rue Jacques Cartier's first log driver settler

Rue Jacques Cartier has a storied past stretching back to the misty times of prehistory, from Indigenous occupation, Samuel de Champlain's visitation in 1613, through to the logging era, and popping out into today's quickly evolving waterfront neighbourhoods. This place is now known for strolling along a path with exceptional river views, all kinds of recreation (cycling, skateboarding, running, boating), and its variety of restaurants. It is perhaps the National Capital Region's oldest place of human habitation, stretching back at least 7300 years. This was the site of a protest in 2014 to protect and preserve the artifacts found here, led by a grand standing, do-gooder resident of the street.

Since then, we have discovered another interesting story and that is of London Oxford, who was the original settler who owned property on what became rue Jacques Cartier. London Oxford was a free black man from the United States, who came to this area with Philemon Wright, the celebrated founder of what became Hull, Quebec. The two collaborated to establish the region's lumber trade, shipping squared timber by raft to Quebec City from the shores of this locale. This gave rise to the largest lumber trade in the world at that time, which influenced the neighbourhood development for the next two centuries, a blink in time compared to the Indigenous peoples who occupied this region before them, but impactful on the way the street looks today.

Join us for a pleasant walk along the shores of the Gatineau River that bend to the Ottawa River. Across the street from our walking path are several restaurants; you may want to visit one of these after satiating your appetite for local history and neighbourhood stories.


London Oxford (English): London Oxford - the First Black Settler in the Ottawa Valley (capitalchronicles.ca)

London Oxford (francais): London Oxford - le premier colon noir de la vallée de l'Outaouais (capitalchronicles.ca)


Location
Route

We will meet at Place Abinan, 831 rue Jacques Cartier. We will walk along the multi-use waterfront pathway to the Quai-Claircée, near the intersection of Jacques Cartier and Prince Albert.

Visitors are encouraged to visit Place Abinan (831 rue Jacques-Cartier) before or after the walk to learn about the ancient 7300-year-old Indigenous archaeological site that confirms how important this area was to Indigenous peoples and to view the artifacts that have been found. You might also consider dinner at any of the waterfront restaurants along rue Jacques Cartier.


There is public parking in the parkette near our starting point at Place Abinan as well as right across the road from our endpoint at Quai-Claircée.

To reach Pointe-Gatineau from Ottawa, you can take Highway 5 over the Macdonald-Cartier bridge and take the exit for Boul. Fournier (keep to the right on the ramp), and continue on Fournier Blvd. until you cross the Gatineau River. As soon as you have crossed the bridge, turn right onto rue Jacques-Cartier by the church.


Please review our covid guidelines before attending a walk.
About the walk leader

John Savage is a resident of rue Jacques-Cartier a local historian who will be sharing his knowledge based on the work of other historians, such as Rick Henderson who uncovered the story of London Oxford.

Guide:

John Savage

When:
Date:Sat Jun 17, 2023
Time:10:30 AM
Duration: 1 hour 30 min
Language: English
Where:
Start:Place Abinan at 831 rue Jacques Cartier, Gatineau
End:Quai-Claircee
Area:Pointe-Gatineau
Distance:1.0 km
Accessibility:

The walk follows paved pathways.

Gallery
St Francis de Sales Church in Point Gatineau beside the Lady Aberdeen Bridge. The Kitigan Zibi flotilla passes St Francis de Sales Church along the Pointe-Gatineau waterfront. Kayakers and canoeists on the Ottawa River near the Pointe-Gatineau waterfront. The view down the Ottawa River from our starting point at Quai-Claircée.
Volunteer to Marshal This Walk