Explore Hintonburg and Wellington West through fiction and poetry

Join Susan for an interactive walk through Hintonburg and Wellington West as we explore some familiar streets and landmarks through works of fiction and poetry. We'll do some readings and/or discuss the choice of setting for selected works, and muse on what the location may be telling us about its meaning.


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

  • Amy Tector The Foulest Things
  • Andre Alexis The Night Piece
  • Anita Lahey Spinning Side Kick, While Supplies Last
  • Blaine Marchand Becoming History: A Life Told Through Poetry
  • Brenda Chapman Cold Mourning, The Success Story in: A Capital Murder
  • Charles de Lint Moonheart, Yarrow
  • Diana Brebner The Golden Lotus
  • Jean Van Loon Bridgehead and Grace’s Luck (in The New Quarterly)
  • Katie Tallo Dark August, Poison Lilies
  • Nina Berkhout The Gallery of Lost Species
  • Peggy Blair Shadow Play
  • Rob Mclennan The Ottawa City Project
  • Selim Ulug The Woman in Red


Note: this is a non-exhaustive list of work referencing, or set in, Hintonburg and Wellington West. There are lots more.

Carte indiquant le point de départ
Trajet

We'll meet in front of Suzy Q Donuts, at 1015 Wellington Street West.


Closest LRT stop: Bayview Station (also featured in Peggy Blair’s Shadow Play)


Accessibility: The area of the walk is generally flat with standard sidewalks and curbs. If you have special accessibility concerns, please drop Susan a line in advance.

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.

Guide:

Susan Johnston

Quand:
Date:sam 25 oct., 2025
Heure:9h30
Durée: 1 heure 45 min
Langue: anglais
Où:
Début:Suzy Q Donuts, 1015 Wellington Street West
Fin:same
Quartier:Hintonburg/Wellington West
Distance:2.5 kms
Accessibilité:

The walk will follow city sidewalks and paved paths.

Inscription pour participer

L'inscription n'est pas obligatoire pour cette promenade. Si vous prévoyez d'y assister, en vous inscrivant, vous nous aiderez à estimer la taille du groupe. Veuillez soumettre votre courriel et le nombre de participants ci-dessous.

Galerie d'images
Susan Johnston talks to her group in front of the Chateau Lafayette on Plotlines and Pathways walk, May 2025. Suzy Q Donuts storefront on Wellington St West in Hintonburg.