Ottawa Then and Now

Ottawa Then and Now invites you to discover the history of Canada’s capital city, showcasing over 70 archival images poignantly contrasted with photographs of the same sites today.

Published bilingually in English and French, learn about the history of Ottawa: its political landmarks, cultural heritage and sites of natural beauty.

Sites include the Rideau Canal, which in winter becomes the world’s longest skateway; the Parliament Buildings, including the “jewel of Parliament Hill”; the National Arts Centre, illuminated by the incredible architectural lantern; Nepean Point / Kìwekì Point, with its view of Parliament Hill; Chaudière Falls, and more.

Dr Sharon Hamilton explains Ottawa’s events past and present: such as the devastating Great Fire of Ottawa in 1900, or today’s internationally recognized Tulip Festival in Commissioners Park.

Whether local or tourist, Ottawa Then and Now is your opportunity to discover the history and beauty of Canada’s political epicenter.

About the author

Dr Sharon Hamilton has called Ottawa her home for more than 30 years. The daughter of an architect, Sharon holds a Ph.D. in English and completed one of her graduate degrees at Carleton University in Ottawa. She has taught classes on research and writing at universities in Austria, Italy, the United States, and Canada, including at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa.

Sharon's memoir pieces have appeared in Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail, and in the country’s premier journal of arts and culture, The Literary Review of Canada. A specialist in the history and culture of the 1920s, Hamilton’s work on Canada has appeared in The Routledge Companion to Ernest Hemingway and in From Bytown to the Big Leagues. She blogs regularly about literary tourism for the International Hemingway Society, including about Hemingway and his first wife Hadley Richardson’s time in Canada.

Translated by LINDA HILPOLD, Principal