City of Ottawa - At your museum - July 2026

 

At your museum Fairfields Summer Picnic Celebrate summer with us at Fairfields Heritage House! Enjoy a guided tour of the 19th century Gothic Revival farmhouse. From the traditional parlour to the mid-century kitchen, you can follow the Bell family’s story for a glimpse at how the community has evolved through the decades. Pack a lunch and a picnic blanket to relax in the shade on the museum’s back lawn. We’ll have old-fashioned games and live music to entertain visitors of all ages. You can even try your hand at flower arranging! Don’t forget to join us for some refreshing lemonade and a slice of cake. Admission to the museum is pay-what-you-can. Music: DeeDee Butters featuring Omar Winelight Florist: Nectar Flowers Ottawa Saturday, July 4 from 1 pm to 4 pm Introduction to Quillwork Learn beginner-friendly quillwork techniques with Anishinaabe artist Christine Toulouse. Inspired by quillwork featured in the special exhibition “Beyond the Brim: Tales Told Through the Hats We Wore”, Christine will introduce the cultural significance and foundations of this traditional art form, including how porcupine quills are prepared, dyed, and applied, before guiding participants through the creation of their very own birchbark keychain featuring a simple quillwork design. Set in the beautiful gardens at Billings Estate National Historic Site, this workshop will be hosted outdoors (weather permitting). A guided tour of “Beyond the Brim” is included in the experience and light refreshments will be served. Advance registration is required.  Saturday, July 4 from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm Music & Beyond The buildings and grounds at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum will be filled with the sounds of Music & Beyond. Enjoy a family-friendly event with concerts, musical games and more—all matched to the era of this beautiful and remarkable site! Tickets can be purchased in advance through Music & Beyond or admission can be paid at the door on the day of the event. Sunday, July 5 from 10 am to 2 pm Vintage Vehicle Experience Explore the rapid design and mechanical advancements made during the earliest years of the automotive era at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum! See partially restored, restored, and un-restored pre-1940 vehicles up close. Discover how Ford Model T and Model A cars transformed over the 20s and 30s. Chat with car owners and ask questions about their vehicles. Check out the Car Games—inspired by car obstacle courses from the 1920s and 30s where drivers tested their vehicle’s steering and maneuverability to complete challenges before crossing the finish line. Don’t forget to visit Watson’s Garage for a peek at a piece of local automotive history.  Sunday, July 12 from 10 am to 3 pm Can you dig it? Learn to dig for artefacts, identify mysterious objects and use techniques that scientists use every day. Inspired by Canada’s first paleontologist, Elkanah Billings, kids will get their hands dirty like Indiana Jones in a simulated excavation site at one of Ottawa's historic homes. Ages 8 to 11. Advance registration is required. July 9, 16, 23, 30 and August 5, 12, 19 and 26 Billings Estate National Historic Site Archeology (July 9 and August 5): Dig into archeology! Learn about the Billings family and identify the artefacts you find. Geology (July 16 and August 12): Unearth the secrets of our natural history and identify geological samples. Paleontology (July 23 and August 19): Discover the world of plant and animal fossils. Beyond the Pit (July 30 and August 26): Tell the story of your excavation! Piece together your discoveries and curate a museum exhibition.  Time Travellers Step back in time and discover all the museum has to offer! Kids will explore the museum inside and out, while tackling projects inspired by the day-to-day life of the Billings family. Each week they’ll explore different heritage chores, skills, and pastimes through fun, hands-on activities. Ages 5 to 7. Advance registration is required. July 8, 15, 22, 29 and August 6, 13, 20 and 27 Billings Estate National Historic Site Botany (July 8 and August 6): One of the Billings family members is feeling unwell. Use Lamira’s remedies and ingredients from her garden to help get them back on their feet. Bugs (July 15 and August 13): Follow in Braddish Billings II’s footsteps and learn how to identify the insects living around the museum grounds. Create a field journal, learn how pollination works and make a take-home craft.  Games and Toys (July 22 and August 20): Discover how children in the Billings family had fun! Try historic games and toys to see how play has changed and stayed the same through the years. Butter (July 29 and August 27): Sabra and Sally Billings are away. Who will run the dairy without them? Step into their roles—find the lost cows, create a butter mould and make fresh butter.  Weekend Crafters Families are invited to get crafty with drop-in activities inspired by local history. We’re switching up the craft and themed scavenger hunt at each session to explore the permanent exhibition from new perspectives! Weekend Crafters is best suited to families with children ages 6 to 12. However, younger children may be able to enjoy the activities with the assistance of an adult or older sibling. Admission to the museum is pay-what-you-can. July 5 and July 19 from 1 pm to 4 pm Nepean Museum July 12 and July 26 from 1 pm to 4 pm Fairfields Heritage House More upcoming events! Alone in the Dark - The Haunted Walk: July 3, 10, 11, 17, 18, 25, 31 Billings Estate National Historic Site (Advance registration required) Ottawa Valley Live Steamers and Model Engineers: July 26 Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Murder Mystery Brunch: August 23 Cumberland Heritage Village Museum (Advance registration required) 1930s Fair Day: August 30 Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Stay tuned Follow us on social media to make sure you don’t miss a single announcement. Billings Estate National Historic Site (or @billingsestatemuseum on Instagram) Cumberland Heritage Village Museum (or @cumberlandmuseum on Instagram) Fairfields Heritage House Nepean Museum Pinhey’s Point Historic Site (or @pinheyspoint on Instagram)

This email was sent by the City of Ottawa to Melissa.a.fraser@gmail.com because you subscribed to At your museum. City of Ottawa, 110 Laurier Ave. W., Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1J1, Canada © 2001-2026 City of Ottawa Unsubscribe from this list | Privacy statement | Update your contact info Visit ottawa.ca for a full list of newsletters

City of Ottawa - At your museum - June 2026

 

Happy Doors Open Ottawa!

Doors Open Ottawa returns June 6 and 7 with Billings Estate National Historic Site, Cumberland Heritage Village Museum and Fairfields Heritage House all taking part! Explore the full building list to plan your weekend and check out the shuttle schedule, including free trips between Vanier Museopark (320 Des Pères Blancs Ave) and Cumberland Heritage Village Museum (2940 Old Montreal Road) on Sunday, June 7. Bonus! Saturday, June 6 is Firefighter Day at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum. Join Ottawa Fire Services to watch and participate in exciting demonstrations of firefighting skills and equipment.   Celebrate Father’s Day at Billings Estate Treat your favourite car enthusiast to a special day out at Ottawa’s oldest wood frame house. Community members will have their pre-1999 antique and vintage cars on display alongside the Billings family’s 1959 Cadillac Sedan de Ville. Vote for your favourite car, complete the kid-friendly scavenger hunt and enjoy the museum’s latest special exhibition, Beyond the Brim.   Sunday, June 21 from 10 am to 3 pm Billings Estate National Historic Site Put pen to paper with Ottawa’s former poet laureate Join Algonquin poet Albert Dumont at Billings Estate for an intimate poetry workshop. Through readings and storytelling, the former Ottawa Poet Laureate will share insights into the inspirations for his works and his approach to composition. Participants will have the opportunity to craft a poem of their own with thoughtful guidance from Dumont. Light refreshments will be served. Ages 16 and up. Advance registration is required. Saturday, June 27 from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm Billings Estate National Historic Site Craft your own quillwork keychain Learn the cultural significance and foundations of traditional quillwork with Anishinaabe artist Christine Toulouse. Take inspiration from the quillwork featured in Beyond the Brim and relax in the beautiful gardens at Billings Estate while you make a birchbark keychain embellished with a simple quillwork design. Ages 16 and up. Advance registration is required. Saturday, July 4 from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm Billings Estate National Historic Site Animal helpers is back! Animal helpers played an important role in rural life during the 1920s and 30s. Learn about the heritage breed farm animals who spend their summer at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum then explore how animals continue to help with important jobs and tasks today with special guests including the Ottawa Valley Border Collie Club, Wilhaven Ridge Alpacas, Prettiest Petal Farms, Ottawa Volunteer Search and Rescue, and more! Sunday, June 28 from 10 am to 3 pm Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Can you dig it? Kids are invited to get their hands dirty this summer at Billings Estate National History Site and Fairfields Heritage House. Uncover a different theme each week and learn to dig for artefacts, identify mysterious objects and use techniques that scientists use every day in our simulated excavation sites. Ages 8 to 11. Advance registration is required. Explore a piece of railway history All aboard! Next time you’re at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, pop into the newly updated CN Rail Caboose exhibition to learn about life on the rails. Over the winter, students from Carleton University’s Curatorial Studies program helped bring a fresh perspective to the storytelling and interactive elements in this space. Bonus! The Ottawa Valley Live Steamers and Model Engineers are at the museum on the last Sunday of every month (June 28, July 26, August 30, September 27) demonstrating their large-scale model locomotives in action. New hours of operation at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Parents and early risers alike have shared that extended morning hours help fit a visit to the museum into busy daily schedules. We heard you loud and clear! Cumberland Heritage Village Museum is now open from 9 am to 4 pm (Wednesday to Sunday), with heritage activities and demonstrations offered until 3 pm. Planning your visit? Mornings are a great time to beat the heat and enjoy everything our recreated 1920s and 30s village and working farm has to offer before the warmest hours of the day. Hats off to Beyond the Brim In May, we celebrated the opening of Beyond the Brim: Tales Told Through the Hats We Wore at Billings Estate National Historic Site. Beyond the Brim showcases headwear alongside stories about the individuals who wore them, sharing their impact on Ottawa’s history and diverse cultural landscape. It was wonderful to share the exhibition with the many community members and heritage colleagues who contributed headwear to the exhibition! You can visit Beyond the Brim at Billings Estate all summer long. We can’t wait to hear which hat, helmet or head covering captures your imagination. Stay tuned Follow us on social media to make sure you don’t miss a single announcement. Billings Estate National Historic Site (or @billingsestatemuseum on Instagram) Cumberland Heritage Village Museum (or @cumberlandmuseum on Instagram) Fairfields Heritage House Nepean Museum Pinhey’s Point Historic Site (or @pinheyspoint on Instagram)

City of Ottawa - Accessibility Spotlight - May 2026

 

Accessibility Advisory Committee Updates

The Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) provides advice to Council and consults on projects required under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) and many more, where the City benefits from an accessibility lens.    The Committee meets at least eight times per year, with additional special meetings as required. In addition to their meetings, the group provides feedback by email, and many members participate in working groups or other sub-committees.      Next Meeting   Date: June 16 Time: 6pm     Members of the public are encouraged to attend AAC meetings, which take place via Zoom.  If you have any questions or are interested in speaking or providing comments to the AAC about an item they are considering at a meeting, please contact Committee Coordinator,  Jérôme Courchesne.

QTSR Community Garage Sale and Summer Social – Sunday, July 5

Join the QTSR Community Association for a fun-filled day of neighbourhood connection at our annual Community Garage Sale and Summer Social on Sunday, July 5! 

 

Community Garage Sale

Looking to declutter, earn some extra cash, or hunt for hidden treasures? Residents are invited to host garage sales in their front yards or driveways throughout the neighbourhood.

The QTSR Community Association will help promote the event with community signage to encourage visitors from across the area.

Date: Sunday, July 5

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Location: Front yards and driveways throughout the neighbourhood

 

Community Summer Social

After the garage sale, join your neighbours at Kilreen Park for an afternoon of community fun. Enjoy snacks, connect with friends and neighbours, and explore a fire truck during this family-friendly gathering.

Date: Sunday, July 5

Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Location: Kilreen Park, 1240 Southwood Drive

We hope to see you there!

City of Ottawa Accessibility Spotlight - Special Edition

 

Accessibility Spotlight

Reminder: Register for the 2026 AccessAbility Day Event

Please register for the City of Ottawa’s 23rd annual AccessAbility Day event, held each year as part of National AccessAbility Week. This event will be in-person at Ottawa’s City Hall. The morning event will be livestreamed via the City’s YouTube channel. As part of AccessAbility Day 2026, the City is proud to be partnering with Wheelchair Basketball Canada in anticipation of the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships, which will be hosted in Ottawa this fall. In recognition of this partnership, the theme of this year’s AccessAbility Day is Game Changers: Accessible Sport in Action.  Date: Friday, May 29   Time: 9:30 am to 3 pm   Place: Ottawa City Hall (110 Laurier Avenue West); the morning portion of the event will be livestreamed via the City’s YouTube channel     RSVP: Please use the AccessAbility day registration form to register by Friday, May 22  Please join Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, City Manager, Wendy Stephanson, City Councillors, senior leaders, members of our Accessibility Advisory Committee, staff and residents as we mark this important day. In keeping with our collective commitments to equity and inclusion, the event will include accessible and bilingual communication services and will feature speakers from diverse backgrounds. During the morning ceremony, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe will provide remarks and proclaim AccessAbility Day in Ottawa. This will be followed by a variety of engaging speakers, including a presentation from the City’s Inclusive Recreation team on accessible and inclusive Recreation and Culture programs and services. Following this, our panel discussion will feature representatives from a range of accessible and inclusive sports organizations, including wheelchair basketball players. There will be light refreshments and lunch available to registered attendees. The event will also feature a resource fair showcasing accessibility‑focused projects from various City departments and will provide opportunities for participants to share feedback.   Try it experience! Throughout the event, guests will also have the chance to try wheelchair basketball, supported by staff from Wheelchair Basketball Canada.  To promote the inclusion of all participants, the following accessibility supports will be in place for the event: American Sign Language (ASL) Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) Continuous real-time captioning in English and French Simultaneous French translation Personal Support Workers You are welcome to call Para Transpo one week in advance as of May 22, to book your trips for AccessAbility Day or book online the day before. When registering, please let the Accessibility Office know if you require any accommodations to participate. We look forward to celebrating with you!

City of Ottawa - Cycling in the City - May 2026

 

Welcome to the May edition of Cycling in the City. This issue highlights upcoming cycling project consultations, newly opened pathway connections, construction updates and ways residents can get involved in cycling across Ottawa this season.  Kanata Rail Trail Consultation

The City has launched a public consultation period for a proposed multi-use trail along a section of the decommissioned Beachburg rail corridor in Kanata. The trail would extend from Carling Avenue to Cameron Harvey Drive, approximately seven kilometres in length. The project proposes a multi-use trail with a compacted stone dust surface to be built on the existing railway bed, with a parkette and numerous rest stops. Further details are available on the project webpage. The consultation period will run until Friday, May 22 and residents are invited to send any comments or questions to the project manager, Mazen Shuhaibar (mazen.shuhaibar@ottawa.ca).      Leitrim Station to Findlay Creek In March, City staff hosted a public consultation session on a project to improve connectivity between the Findlay Creek neighbourhood and the Leitrim Station, located at the west edge of the community. Albion Road is one of the most direct routes to the station. It is an arterial road with a posted speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour, adjacent drainage ditches and no separated active transportation facilities.   This project proposes a multi-use pathway parallel to Albion Road between Bunchberry Way and Quinn Road. The path would be separated from the roadway and would include a new signalized crossing of Albion Road at Quinn Road and use the existing pedestrian and cycling connection at the west end of Quinn Road to access the station.   The project would also provide better access to the Osgoode Pathway, which provides long-distance off-road connections to destinations between Osgoode Village and downtown Ottawa. Residents can view the consultation materials on the project webpage.  New Pathway Segments in Stittsville East, Osgoode, and Copeland Park This spring, residents in Stittsville East, Osgoode, and Copeland Park will be able to take advantage of new segments of pathway that were constructed in late fall 2025. These small-scale projects addressed missing links along established desire paths (shortcuts people already use) and provide important connections for local communities. These projects include:   Two segments of multi-use pathway adjacent to Terry Fox Drive between Westphalian Avenue and Cope Drive. These segments complete a continuous route between these streets, connecting the pathways around the stormwater ponds (map) and providing off-road links to neighbourhood destinations.   A 160-metre pathway segment through Ainsley Park (map), addressing a community desire path through the park between Ainsley Drive and Baseline Road.   Two connections to the Osgoode Pathway in Osgoode Village from Cuddy Street and from MacTavish Place (map). Together, these new connections provide a shortcut for cyclists and pedestrians within the neighbourhood and provide an alternative to travelling on Osgoode Main Street.   Laurier Avenue and Elgin Street protected intersection Construction has ramped up for the Laurier Avenue cycling modifications project between Elgin Street and Queen Elizabeth Drive. Key elements of the project include upgrading the westbound on-road bike lane by separating it from the adjacent travel lane and adding a protected intersection at Laurier Avenue and Elgin Street. Construction will affect travel through the area, with lane and turn restrictions in place. A portion of the westbound bike lane is closed during the construction. An alternate route via the Corktown Bridge is identified on the project webpage. Cyclists can choose to take the alternate route or dismount and travel through the construction zone as a pedestrian.   Residents can visit the project webpage for further information, see a map of the alternate route, and sign-up to receive regular project updates.    Belfast Road and Trainyards Drive Intersection  Construction will start later this month on improvements at the intersection of Belfast Road and Trainyards Drive. The project will include a crossride on the south leg of the intersection to improve the safety of cyclists travelling between the multi-use pathways along both Belfast Road and Trainyards Drive (map).  The project also includes adding missing segments of sidewalk on the north side of Belfast Road between Trainyards Drive and St-Laurent Boulevard. The project is expected to be completed by fall 2026.    Let's Bike Month 2026  This June, join thousands of Ottawa residents participating in Let’s Bike Month. The City of Ottawa has been partnering with EnviroCentre to support this annual cycling campaign for 17 years. Let’s Bike Month is one of the largest and longest-running cycling campaigns in Canada.  Ways to participate this year include:  Sign up as an individual  Join or start a team to encourage your community or colleagues to join in  Log your bike rides and see the impact you make by choosing to bike  Join one of our exciting events or workshops! Note that some activities require registration and space may be limited.  Thanks to the amazing community sponsors, Let’s Bike Month will be giving away thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes to participants throughout the month of June, just for riding their bike. To be entered into the prize draws, participants just need to have logged a ride during the month of June. Residents can see a list of prizes and sponsors on the Let’s Bike Month website! For more information about the campaign, please contact transport@envirocentre.ca.    Bruce Timmermans Cycling Awards Nominations   Do you know someone or an organization who has been a local champion for cycling in Ottawa? The City of Ottawa is once again accepting nominations for the Bruce Timmermans Cycling Awards. Two awards will be presented in June to recognize outstanding contributions to cycling in Ottawa.  EnviroCentre is coordinating the 2026 awards. All nominations are treated confidentially, and the deadline for submissions has been extended to May 15. Complete the survey form to nominate an individual or organization you believe deserves recognition!  More information about the Bruce Timmermans awards and a list of past winners can be found on the City’s website.  Cycling Skills and Safety Workshop  The City of Ottawa is running a cycling skills and safety workshop at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility on June 13. These workshops are intended to enhance participants' cycling confidence and road awareness. Topics covered include bike inspections, gear shifting, lane positioning, proper braking techniques, signaling, intersection navigation, and effective communication with other road users. Visit the city's webpage for more information and to enroll.