Billy Bishop was Canada’s top flying ace of the First World War, and was officially credited with 72 victories. He was the first Canadian airman to receive the Victoria Cross, as well as several other decorations. The Toronto Islands airport … Read More
1897-1941 Lois Booth was the daughter of John Frederick Booth and granddaughter of the legendary John Rudolphus Booth. J. R. Booth was a Canadian lumber king and railroad baron who also had several other commercial interests. In 1892, his lumber … Read More
1827-1915 Fleming was a true polymath although he finished his formal schooling at the age of 14. He was in turn a surveyor, a lithographer, a map-maker and an engineer. He was also a tireless promoter and became one … Read More
1885 – 1958 Gauthier was a rare classically-trained Canadian singer to achieve international fame in the early 20th C. She adapted her wide vocal range to sing opera, folk songs and jazz. Eva Gauthier was the daughter of Louis Gauthier, … Read More
1915-2001 Malak Karsh was an internationally-known photographer. Karsh and his wife Barbara lived at 292 Laurier Ave. E. (corner of Russell Ave.) for five years between 1980 and 1985. While Karsh’s older brother Yousuf became world-famous for his … Read More
1878 – 1964 Noffke has been described as one of Ottawa’s most influential and prolific architects, designing over 200 buildings in and around Ottawa (he built several more further afield). An observer wrote that “one can be born in a … Read More
1928-2012 In 1948, 19 year-old Barbara Ann Scott won Canada’s first-ever gold medal in singles figure skating at the Olympics in St Moritz (Switzerland). Scott received the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year in 1945, 1947 … Read More
1882 – 1929 A student and later associate of famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Sullivan introduced the modernist Prairie School of architecture to Canada. An architect of undoubted talent and energy, Sullivan’s career was marred by a quick temper … Read More
When Igor Gouzenko defected from the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa in September 1945, Emma Woikin was one of the 22 Canadians he named as spies. Woikin was the first to plead guilty, the first to stand trial, and the first … Read More
1830 -1904 Born in Ireland, Alexander “Alex” Smith Woodburn was a prominent Ottawa businessman and philanthropist and the founder of the Ottawa Journal. Between 1898 and 1904, Woodburn lived at 46 Henderson Ave. That home is still standing … Read More