Jane’s Walk Ottawa - A River Flows Through It
Saturday, May 07, 2011
The Ottawa River has stories to tell – stories about how it has shaped our city and our lives over time and how we affect it today. Come for a short walk with Algonquin Elder Albert Dumont, Ottawa Riverkeeper Meredith Brown, and other local experts along a stretch of the river in Ottawa West and get a glimpse into some of those stories – living in the rocks, plants, ruins, and waters. The tour will be jointly led by local residents well-versed in the natural and cultural history of the area. A troubadour will begin and end the walk with an Ottawa River song. Bring the whole family!
The walk is organized by the Knowing This Land group of Sustainable Living Ottawa West, and is part of the “Jane’s Walk” events taking place throughout the weekend. Tour starts at 2 pm, leaving from the Kitchissippi parking area off of the Ottawa River Parkway, overlooking Westboro Beach. Heads east on the footpath by the Ottawa River. It ends on the bike path just west of the Champlain Bridge at Island Park Drive. Walk participants can then return at their own pace to the Kitchissippi parking area, if they have arrived by car. Those traveling by bus can access Westboro Beach easily from the Dominion stop on the transitway. The tour is expected to take a little more than an hour.
Itinerary for the walk:
1:45 to 2:00 — Walk participants will gather at Kitchissippi Parking area.
2:00 — SLOWest tour leaders will begin the walk with a welcome, an explanation of Jane’s Walk, and a quick introduction. Albert Dumont will share a few opening words about the Algonquin relationship to the river.
Stop #1 — Westboro Beach — Meredith Brown, Ottawa Riverkeeper — The Ottawa River today
Stop #2 — Skeads Mills ruins — Fraser Mackay – will describe the mills and the life of a mill worker
Stop #3 — A short walk east of Skeads Mills, along the path — Tour leaders will highlight the importance of the river in terms of exploration, voyageurs, and logging
Stop # 4 — A few minutes further east: Albert Dumont — will share an Algonquin story
Stop # 5 —Bev McBride will identify and discuss some of the plants on the route and highlight the Ottawa River as a bird migration route
Stop # 6 — Steve Cumbaa — will give an overview of the paleontology and geo-history of the Ottawa River and show some fossil samples
Stop # 7 — Pat Moore will wrap up with a song to send people on their way.
3:15 – 3:30 — Participants will make their way back to Kitchissippi parking area at their own pace.
Click here for full details: http://www.janeswalkottawa.ca/view/?walk-169
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