Sir Henry Newell Bate 1828-1917 Bate was one of Ottawa’s most important businessmen, involved in wholesale imports and food retail (he became the main food purveyor to Rideau Hall). On his golden wedding anniversary, the Ottawa Citizen wrote that … Read More
One of three original landowners in Ottawa proper (Nicholas Sparks and the British Ordnance were the other two), Besserer was a Quebec notary, politician and businessman who inherited his 124 acre property in Sandy Hill from his brother in 1824. Besserer … Read More
(1936 – ) Ed Broadbent was the leader of the New Democratic Party between 1975 and 1989. Broadbent lived with his wife Lucille at 450 Laurier Ave. E. between 1980 and 1992, leading the federal New Democratic Party for … Read More
Thomas (“Tommy”) Clement Douglas 1904-1986 A preacher, a former premier of Saskatchewan (1944-1961), the father of Canadian medicare, Douglas was leader of the New Democratic Party between August 1961 and April 1971. He is also remembered for his vigorous … Read More
Ernest Lapointe 1876-1941 Lapointe helped King win the Liberal leadership in 1919 and subsequently served in several portfolios in King’s cabinets. He advocated successfully for greater Canadian autonomy within the British empire, promoted bilingualism in government and worked to … Read More
Hon. Cairine Wilson 1885-1962 Wilson (née Mackay) was Canada’s first female senator. She was the first woman to chair a Senate Standing Committee, presiding over the Public Works and Grounds Committee from 1930 to 1947. She went on to chair … Read More
Sir Frederick Borden 1847 – 1917 A medical doctor, successful businessman, politician and philanthropist, Borden served as minister of militia and defense for 15 years in the Laurier government. Borden was first elected to the House of Commons in … Read More
Sir Richard William Scott 1825-1913 A former mayor of Bytown, Scott was elected in 1857 to the provincial legislature and gave much of his time to promoting Ottawa as Canada’s future capital. Six cities were then in the running … Read More
Sir Leonard Tilley 1818-1896 Tilley was an early advocate of colonial union and became a Father of Confederation representing New Brunswick. Inspired by a passage in the Bible, Tilley is credited for having come up with the term “Dominion” … Read More
McDougall was a Father of Confederation from Canada West (Ontario). Because he had changed political allegiance, McDougall was colloquially known as “Wandering Willie”. McDougall lived at two addresses in Sandy Hill: between 1866 and 1870, at Besserer House, corner of … Read More