Category: MAJOR URBAN

On Sunday, May 21, 2006, the Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee organized the first of a series of walks in Ottawa’s natural areas. The walk took place in McCarthy Woods and its Meadow to the west and was under the guidance of Erwin Dreessen and Seaton Findlay. Here is Erwin’s report. There was an excellent turnout — I estimate about 50 people, and this on a rainy day! Actually,

In the crisp morning hours of April 5, 2005 renowned bird photographer Tony Beck led a field trip to the future Canadian Poets’ Park. Participants included Richard Scott (then of the NCC) and Councillor Maria McRae. These lines from Archibald Lampman’s “Solitude” set us on our way: Sometimes a hawk screams or a woodpecker Startles the stillness from its fixed mood With his loud careless tap. Sometimes I hear The

In May 2005, the Poets’ Pathway Committee made a second presentation to the NCC’s Board of Directors, this time focussing on what we propose for the Southern Corridor. Here is the brief that was submitted. A Press Release and Mr. Beaudry’s reply follow below. Erwin Dreessen’s slides (download all [2.86 MB pdf], or one by one below) and speaking notes: Presentation to the NCC Board of Directors – May 3,

One important objective with the creation of Poet’s Hill is to make contributions to the literary life of the capital. A number of events have already been held and others are planned. This programming goes under the catchy title “Dead Poets Live!” Here is what’s taken place so far, often in the beautiful Reception Room in the Beechwood Cemetery office building. June 24, 2007 – While not formally part of

One key reason why the particular site of Poet’s Hill at Beechwood Cemetery was chosen, is that it offers an excellent view of Parliament Hill. The central axis of the site’s design points to the Peace Tower. However, this view is not protected in Ottawa’s Official Plan! Nor is the even more spectacular view of Parliament Hill from the memorial to Tommy Douglas, which is nearby Poet’s Hill. As it

On September 10, 2006, the Ottawa Citizen published a major article on the Poets’ Pathway. written by Janice Kennedy. Here is a photographic image of the article. It is noteworthy not only for its content but also for the excellent graphics. Read the text of the article here. A year earlier, Kate Heartfield, a member of the Citizen’s editorial board, had devoted a glowing column to the Poet’s Hill project.

The Poets’ Pathway is referenced in section 2.2.1.2 of the 2003 Ottawa 20/20 Arts and Heritage Plan: “Work with the NCC … to ensure that on NCC lands and along recreational pathways commemoration of local individuals, places, events and structures are developed, maintained and improved, and additional themes introduced, e.g., Poets’ Pathway.” And section 4.6.5 of Ottawa’s 2003 Official Plan states: “The pathways are part of the Greenspace Network and

Ever since the Poets’ Pathway project was conceived, the meadow to the west of McCarthy Woods was envisaged as the central anchor of the Pathway. It is indeed here that Bill Royds, the originator of the concept, was snowshoeing one wintry day in February 1995 when the last lines of Archibald Lampman’s final poem, “Winter Uplands,” came to mind: The crunching snowshoes and the stinging air, And silence, frost and

In September 2002, the Poets’ Pathway Committee participated in the Ottawa International Writers Festival by putting on a performance at Arts Court, “The Poets’ Pathway: A Walk Through Ottawa’s Literary History.”  Six actors, Pádraig Finlay, Peter Politis, Chris Roberts, Katryn Baker, Allan Meltzer and Mark Leahy,  dressed up in period costume and recited poems of the Confederation and Mouvement littéraire poets and their contemporaries, in between telling a bit of

The eastern anchor of the Poets’ Pathway is at Beechwood Cemetery, where many of Canada’s literary luminaries are buried. At the invitation and with the generous support of Beechwood Cemetery management, a Poet’s Hill Committee was formed in the spring of 2005. Here is the original project description. Landscape architect and Poets’ Pathway volunteer Ryan James designed the site (436 KB pdf). The inauguration of the site took place on