Ottawa - Then & Now

13 × 18 inches

There was nothing like shoe shopping on the Sparks Street Mall.  I must have purchased a dozen pairs of shoes and matching purses.

The Shoe Box was the best shoe store in Ottawa. I never was disappointed and the service was excellent. Unfortunately COVID did them in. Now CLOSED.

Federation of Canadian Artist "2022 Limitless Juried Exhibition" Nov 01-30/22, Vancouver, BC.

13 × 18 inches

Laura Secord, So Canadian.

I remember during Y2K, lining up for ice cream on a hot summer day during my lunch break, at the corner of Queen and Bank St.  The orange cream chocolates were my favourite. 

The storefront was perfectly situated for last minute gifts on the way home from work. Now a coffee shop.

13 × 25 inches

If you are from Ottawa, a great day can include visiting Irving River’s “We Corner the Market” store followed by heading around the corner to the “Laff” for a quart. Both are surviving the times.

My mother went to school with Irving’s daughter at Lisgar Collegiate during WWII.  She was envious of her as she lived above the store and wore a leopard skin designed sweater to school.

Federation of Canadian Artist "On the Edge" Juried Exhibition July 12-Aug 10/21, Vancouver, BC.

12 × 15 inches

I think diners are one of the best inventions from the Art Deco Movement. 

The real soda counter! This precious restaurant has changed hands over the years. Now looks different. However is still a popular spot, located in a 1960’s vintage mall on Montreal Rd.

13 × 25 inches

Ottawa’s China Town has some gems. Wah Shing Store, 835 Somerset St. W. – no longer in business. 

Then Wellington St., an Ottawa neighbourhood where you will find Watson’s Pharmacy and Compounding Centre, 1308 Wellington St. W.. Still serving the neighbourhood as a family run business.  

Unfortunately, Burton’s Dive Service is gone. It was located at 198 Beechwood Ave.  Open all year round, you could buy your scuba equipment while looking outside at 3 feet of snow.

13 × 25 inches

It’s still there! One of the oldest commercial buildings in Ottawa, located at 111 Rideau Street at Dalhousie. 

Vac Shack, 686 Bronson Ave.- a family business who supply and repair vacuum cleaners.  Still there, just looks different. That’s one of my friends picking up her machine.

Next door, I painted Hammoud Bros Ltd, located on 154 Beausoleil Dr., An example of neighbourhood family businesses changing up the front into a store with living quarters to make ends meet.

13 × 18 inches

Chez Charlot Convenience Store, 46 Charles St. It screams of proprietorship – so much a part of the Vanier neighbourhood culture trying to survive.

Federation of Canadian Artist "2023 Active Member" Juried Exhibition Jan 10-24/23, Vancouver, BC.

16 × 31 inches

One of New Edinburgh neighbourhood’s treasures. This original federal government employee row-housing, known as Lansdowne Terrace, is on Mackay St, facing the Governor General’s properties.  Now a registered historical property that hosts beautiful gardens spread over 6 households. 

13 × 37 inches

My Saturday morning list – First the bakery- Yum!, Then to Foster’s Sports to pick up my bike and then head to the laundry mat.  

The Portuguese Bakery had the best Easter bread.  The owners worked hard to keep their children in good schools. Gone.

Foster’s Sports Centre, 305 Bank St., was an iconic location with guaranteed service every time. Gone.

Tang Coin Laundry, 609 Somerset St. W. an essential service to the community of which Ottawa has too few. This being one of them.

12 × 15 inches

Winterlude would not be complete without a skate at the Governor General’s Rideau Hall Skating Rink.   This well-preserved rink has been bringing Canadians together since 1872.

The Right Honourable David Johnston CC, CMM, COM, 28th Governor General signed the back of the painting with an inscription on November 21, 2024.

9 × 11 inches

Everyone loved going to the movies!  I loved going to the movies!  The Linden Theatre was distinctive to Beechwood Ave.  This theatre dates back to the 1940’s.  Now a restaurant and a drug store.

9 × 11 inches

I read that Leech’s Drugs morphed into Harts Pharmacy and then into Guardian Drugs. A pillar of the community for generations.

I imagined what Leech’s Drugs would look like on a nice Spring day during WWII. The original was B/W during a snow storm.

13 × 25 inches

There’s Hamies with people eating breakfast, the Edinburgh News next door, sharing the entrance with Bread and Roses. Gone.

That’s my dad getting his hair cut at Lester’s Barbershop.  Parker Cleaners and Time Sharpening fixing clocks - both enterprising business establishments. Gone.

Beside the Home Hardware is the organic food store, Nature’s Buzz. Gone.

We all remember the day Beechwood Ave. went up in flames in 2011.

11 × 15 inches

Kavanaugh’s Garage, Beechwood Ave. Another neighbourhood institution. 

After my dad stopped driving, I’d take him down to the gas station to fill up and the Kavanaugh boys always found time to come and say hello. 

The property was sold. The garage moved to Marier Rd. and now stands condominiums in the name of Kavanaugh.