Plotlines & Pathways

Plotlines & Pathways: Central Ottawa in Contemporary Fiction

The ByWard Market Building, north entrance, outside Le Moulin de Province (York St),

Join us for an interactive walk through downtown Ottawa as we explore some familiar streets and landmarks through works of fiction. There are so many books we could explore, and so many neighbourhoods, so we'll start in the Byward Market, walk through Major's Hill Park, through the many works at least partially set in the Chateau Laurier, around the War Memorial, along Sparks Street, past Parliament Hill, and finishing up with one of George Elliott Clarke's poems at Library and Archives Canada where the Ottawa International Writers Festival is taking place.

The following are books we'll touch on/read from, and there may be others:

Charles de Lint — Moonheart
Daniel Poliquin — A Secret Between Us/La Kermesse
Deborah-Anne Tunney — The View from the Lane & Other Stories
Gwen Tuinman — Unrest
Jamie Chai Yun Liew — Dandelion
Jane Urquhart — Away
Katie Tallo — Poison Lilies
Nina Berkhout — The Gallery of Lost Species
Rebecca Hirsch Garcia — The Girl Who Cried Diamonds
rob mclennan — On Beauty
Terry Fallis — The Best Laid Plans.

Carte indiquant le point de départ

Trajet

We'll meet outside Le Moulin de Provence, 55 ByWard Market Square, at the north end (York St. end) of the ByWard Market building. The walk will start promptly at 6:00.

From Le Moulin de Provence, we will walk west past The Laff and Dominion Tavern to Major's Hill Park, then south past Maman at the National Gallery of Canada and the Chateau Laurier, through the Rideau Centre/Underpass (subject to time and/or accessibility preferences), past the War Memorial, and west on Sparks Street, ending on Parliament Hill, not far from where the Ottawa International Writers Festival is taking place.

Accessibility: There are some inclines around Major's Hill Park, the National Gallery, and the Chateau Laurier, and again up Wellington from the Chateau Laurier to Parliament Hill.

Au sujet du guide

Hello! I’m Susan. I’m passionate about using radio, storytelling, and walking to help people deepen their relationship with Ottawa. I’ve hosted a morning show on CKCU-FM since 1999, and I've had the privilege of interviewing hundreds of writers and poets (and artists) of all kinds. In 2014, I co-founded Ottawa (de)Tours, a social enterprise with a mandate to help people explore and discuss contemporary issues, which operated for six seasons, and I still love a great walk.