Bike Tour: A Place- making Experiment. 10 Touchstones; 10 Kilometers; 10 Mostly True Tales of Ottawa History

Patterson Creek, looking west

The NCC multi-use paths along Ottawa’s waterfronts are a real treasure for Ottawa residents—and also for the tourists who are able to find them. But they are not well marked, not consistently identified as trails, and it is not uncommon in the summer to find sweaty tourists lost on the Western Parkway staring at maps with no idea where they are, or where they are going.

But in this bike tour, local storyteller and community activist DenVan asks: what if we could mark key central paths on the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal with a regular series of themed “Touchstone Places”? These small plazas or parklets would provide distance markers and directional signage for walkers, runners, and cyclists, but could also enliven the path system by creating interesting gathering spots, and provide a chance to highlight themes and tell stories about the Capital’s history and growth.

Along the way, DenVan will highlight some lesser known tales of our history that will surprise even Ottawa natives—epic tales of battles, betrayal, incredible heroism, and even a bit of well-deserved cannibalism. And he swears that (at least most of) these stories are completely true.