Immigrant Heritage Walking Tours 2022

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Join us for a guided tour in English of Chinatown with Don Kwan to learn about the contribution of immigrant communities to the neighbourhood, along with its history, people and vibrant culture. They learn about the multicultural village this neighbourhood has become, not only including Asian cultures, but also influences from French Canada, the Middle East, Latin America and more.

The tour starts at the Plant Recreation Centre (930 Somerset Street West) and ends at the Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch (near Bronson Avenue and Somerset Street West intersection).

This tour is part of a series of Immigrant Heritage Walking Tours organized by Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership (OLIP) and Heritage Ottawa during Welcoming Ottawa Week (June 20 to 30, 2022).

About the Tour Guide

Don Kwan is the guide for the Chinatown tour in English. He is a well-known artist and figure in Ottawa’s Chinatown and organizer of the annual Chinatown festival – Chinatown Remixed. He includes his own extensive knowledge of the neighbourhood to develop the tour script.

4:30 pm – 6 :00 pm

Established in 1826, the Byward Market is one of Canada’s oldest and largest public markets. It is home to a local farmer’s market and artisans with many stands, as well as over 600 businesses. French-Canadian and Jewish merchants and vendors were two of the dominant ethnic cultures for many decades. Hotels, taverns and boarding houses also became common on the streets around the market. Today, many immigrant-owned restaurants and stores can be found in the area. Mario Belisle is the guide for the French and English language tours of the Byward Market.

The tour starts in front of Giant Tiger (98 George St.)

This tour is part of a series of Immigrant Heritage Walking Tours organized by the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership and Heritage Ottawa during Welcoming Ottawa Week (June 20 to 30, 2022).

About the Guide

Mario Bélisle is the guide for the French and English language tours of the Byward Market. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, specialization in Theater from the University of Ottawa and he is an educator and program manager at the Museopark Vanier.  An excellent popularizer, Mario knows how to share his passion for our history and our culture like no one else.

10:00 am to 11:30 am

Established in 1826, the Byward Market is one of Canada’s oldest and largest public markets. It is home to a local farmer’s market and artisans with many stands, as well as over 600 businesses. French-Canadian and Jewish merchants and vendors were two of the dominant ethnic cultures for many decades. Hotels, taverns and boarding houses also became common on the streets around the market. Today, many immigrant-owned restaurants and stores can be found in the area. Mario Belisle is the guide for the French and English language tours of the Byward Market.

The tour starts in front of Giant Tiger (98 George St.)

This tour is part of a series of Immigrant Heritage Walking Tours organized by the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership and Heritage Ottawa during Welcoming Ottawa Week (June 20 to 30, 2022).

About the Guide

Mario Bélisle is the guide for the French and English language tours of the Byward Market. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, specialization in Theater from the University of Ottawa and he is an educator and program manager at the Museopark Vanier.  An excellent popularizer, Mario knows how to share his passion for our history and our culture like no one else.

5:00 pm to 6:30 pm

Guided walk in English with Don Kwan throughout Little Italy to learn about the contribution of immigrant communities to the neighbourhood, along with its history, people and vibrant culture. Participants take a leisurely stroll down Preston Street, hearing about the Italian community and other immigrants who settled in the area. They learn about important institutions like St. Anthony’s Soccer Club and visit many landmarks.

The tour starts at the Plant Recreation Centre (930 Somerset Street West) and ends at Saint Anthony of Padua Church (427 Booth Street).

This tour is part of a series of Immigrant Heritage Walking Tours organized by the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership and Heritage Ottawa during Welcoming Ottawa Week (June 20 to 30, 2022).

About the Tour Guide

Don Kwan is the English-language guide for Little Italy tour. He is a well-known artist and figure in Ottawa’s Chinatown and organizer of the annual Chinatown festival – Chinatown Remixed. He includes his own extensive knowledge of the neighbourhood to develop the tour script.

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Join us for a guided tour in English of Chinatown with Don Kwan to learn about the contribution of immigrant communities to the neighbourhood, along with its history, people and vibrant culture. They learn about the multicultural village this neighbourhood has become, not only including Asian cultures, but also influences from French Canada, the Middle East, Latin America and more.

The tour starts at the Plant Bath Recreation Centre (930 Somerset Street West) and ends at the Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch (near Bronson Avenue and Somerset Street West intersection).

This tour is part of a series of Immigrant Heritage Walking Tours organized by Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership (OLIP) and Heritage Ottawa during Welcoming Ottawa Week (June 20 to 30, 2022).

About the Tour Guide

Don Kwan is the guide for the Chinatown tour in English. He is a well-known artist and figure in Ottawa’s Chinatown and organizer of the annual Chinatown festival – Chinatown Remixed. He includes his own extensive knowledge of the neighbourhood to develop the tour script.

7:00 pm to 8:30 pm 

The Vanier area settlement began in the 19th century and grew in 1908, from the small communities of Janeville, Clarkstown and Clandeboye, to become Eastview. It was in 1969 that the area took the name Vanier. The francophone population was dominant for many decades of the 20th century, but today there are now many sizeable newcomer populations. Beginning in the 1980s and 1990s, the area began attracting Inuit, African, Afro-Caribbean and Middle Eastern communities.Mario Bélisle is the guide for the bilingual tour of Vanier.

The tour starts under the mural of Sir Georges Vanier (150 Montréal Rd).

This tour is part of a series of Immigrant Heritage Walking Tours organized by the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership and Heritage Ottawa during Welcoming Ottawa Week (June 20 to 30, 2022).

About the Guide

Mario Bélisle is the guide for the bilingual tour of Vanier. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, specialization in Theater from the University of Ottawa and he is an educator and program manager at the Museopark Vanier.  An excellent popularizer, Mario knows how to share his passion for our history and our culture like no one else.