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Blog: “For Best Service”: John Lissee’s Appliances on Ossington

Once the dispensary was removed, the sign for John Lissee’s appliance shop was revealed. Image: C.Ryan, September 2018.

Kathleen and I recently took a quick vacation to Toronto (as well as Hamilton and locations across Manitoulin Island) and while walking around, noticed this well-preserved and recently-revealed sign on one of the empty commercial properties along Ossington Avenue.

Watson Balharrie Critiques (part of) the National Capital Plan

Ottawa architect Watson Balharrie had opinions about the National Capital Plan’s vision for architecture in Ottawa. Images: (left) Ottawa Citizen, February 19, 1946, 12; (right) *Community Planning Review*, 2, no. 2 (May 1952).

Although it was indisputably popular among many of Ottawa’s citizens, the National Capital Plan was not without its detractors. Both the concept and implementation of the Green Belt, for example, were a problem for many and the plan was sometimes used by locals to oppose necessary infrastructure projects. Criticisms of the Plan were not limited to their urban planning aspects. As it would turn out, even the fairly basic prescriptions for architecture raised a few hackles.

Second City, Second Metro: John H. McDonald Calls For a Separate National Capital Region

McDonald called for a National Capital Region to be pried from the hands of those in Quebec City and in Toronto. Image: By DPenner1 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58019866.

I’m sure that, if you’ve been following along with these entries from the Jones Commission that I’ve been transcribing, you’ve likely found that they’ve been, in the main, stunningly repetitive in what they have stated. If so, you’re hardly the only one. Reporters charged with following the testimonies offered up at the Commission noticed too, and were perhaps a little bored with the assignment.

Second City, Second Metro: North Gower Sees Greater Role for Carleton County

Although the rural Township of North Gower had a list of things that needed improvement, an expanded role for the County government was envisioned. Image: Hellmut W. Schade / National Capital Commission / Library and Archives Canada RG 34 R1181 Acc. 1986-004 NPC Box 302 Item 5066298.

The Township of North Gower, which in 1965 remained chiefly rural in nature, knew that growth was inevitable and had already implemented some planning functions.

Apartment Vacancy Rate in Ottawa-Hull (1964-1977)

The above graph, adapted from Statistics Canada S232-245, applies to apartment of six units or more. I’ve noted before that the early 1960s saw unprecedented build-out in apartments in Ottawa and competition was fierce. We’re by-and-large used to rates nowadays being somewhere between 0.5 and 2.5%, but at its peak in the Ottawa-Hull CMA, it had reached 9.1%. I will be doing more with this sort of information later but figured it would be nice to share.

Second City, Second Metro: City View Aims for Change

City View is also known as St. Clair Gardens. Source: detail from Elliott (1991).

Although there were few in Nepean Township looking for change, at least one – City View – was dissatisfied with the status quo in 1965.

Bill Cadzow Views St. James Town

Shooting for his employer, the CMHC, Bill Cadzow captures a view of Toronto’s St. James Town from a building on Wellesley in July 1971. Image: CMHC 1971-528.

This shot of Toronto’s St. James Town, taken by the CMHC’s Bill Cadzow in July 1971, remains one of my favourites in what I’ve seen of the CMHC’s historic photo collection. I just wish they would digitize more of them after having done so many a few years back. A boy can dream.

Second City, Second Metro: Steady as She Goes for the Collegiate Board

Having been organized in 1873, the Collegiate Institute Board had established a system and series of agreements with the Townships that it was anxious to protect. Image: Basketball game at Lisgar Collegiate, February 1956. City of Ottawa Archives, Item CA037169.

When officials of the Collegiate Institute Board of Ottawa appeared in front of the Jones Commission, they took the time to carefully explain the system they had worked to establish, why any dramatic changes to the administration of secondary education that might come with a regional government are, at best, unnecessary, and that the existing system may be extended.

Elgin Goes From Party Palace to Golden Arches

The *Ottawa Citizen* was present for the conversion of the old Party Palace sign to McDonald’s, which still hangs proud today. Source: *Ottawa Citizen*, April 11, 1997, 20.

When I wrote about the Party Palace on Elgin Street a few years back for Ottawa Start, I remember having a hard time locating an image of its wonderful sign. One was eventually located and added to the story, but every time I find another one, I’m instantly brought back to writing that story. Above and below are two of the three I’ve since located.

Second City, Second Metro: Parkwood Hills is Satisfied with Nepean

The advertising campaign for Minto’s Parkwood Hills began in September 1959. Image: Ottawa Citizen, September 24, 1959, National Home Week Supplement, 3.

Much like Lynwood Village, Crystal Beach, and other new subdivisions in the Township of Nepean, the Parkwood Hills was also by-and-large satisfied with the foregoing arrangement in 1965. No representative of the Parkwood Hills Community Association appeared before Jones.

Metcalfe Place in Centretown

Metcalfe Place was constructed in 1984. Image: Ottawa Citizen, July 14, 1983, 19.

When I wrote about Metcalfe Court and its replacement, Metcalfe Place, a couple of years ago, I did not have such easy access to the Ottawa Citizen. In what is a happy little accident, the above was published in the July 14, 1983 edition of the paper, which I was browsing due to that being my second birthday. Leonard Koffman was likely the architect.¹”Centretown: Condo Approved,” Ottawa Citizen, June 16, 1983, 27.

Notes[+]

Notes
↥1	”Centretown: Condo Approved,” Ottawa Citizen, June 16, 1983, 27.

Second City, Second Metro: Torbolton Requests a Regional Government that is Simple, Imaginative, and Great

In 1954, Constance Bay residents hatched a plan to turn a portion of the township into a beaver sanctuary that would rival Quebec’s “Beaver Town” Image: City of Ottawa Archives, Item CA004327. May 20, 1954.

Murray Jones heard from the Township of Torbolton that regional government it something that may be supported and that any Regional Council should be elected at-large.