Pedal your way through Vanier's Franco-Ontarian history

We're more than a year into the pandemic, andthere's a decent chance the trusty neighbourhood walk one of ourfew consistent outlets for physicalexercise and mental stimulation is starting to feel a bit stale.

Well, we wantto help.

Over the past few weeks, we've been rolling out curated neighbourhood strolls designed to give you new insight into the streets you've been trudging along allthese months.

• Take a stroll through the streets of Stittsville
• Explore the working-class roots of Mechanicsville
• Get the story behind Centretown's murals, while you still can

And while earlier entries in this series required you to actually live in the neighbourhood, thanks to the stay-at-home order, there's good news, intrepid city walkers: that order has now been lifted.

This week: instead of walking,Suzanne Lpineinvites you to jump on your bicyclette and delve into the French history ofVanier, the former city where she was born, raised, and still calls home.

The ideal starting place,Lpinesays, is the foot of the Cummings Bridge, on the southeast corner where the bike path begins.

For starters, it marks the start ofMontreal Road,the commercial heart of Vanierfor as long asLpinehas been alive.

"I grew up in the 50s, 60s, 70s here. It was very busy. We had a lot of stores, a lot of small industry, we had lumber yards... restaurants, jewelry stores," said Lpine.

"There was so much happening. It was great."

Walk This Way: Explore Franco-Ontarian history in Vanier

3 years ago

Duration 3:58

Lifelong Vanier resident Suzanne Lpine showed CBC Ottawa around the neighbourhood by bike, exploring the areas religious, municipal and cultural history.

This year marks the 100thanniversary of theCummings Bridge, but previous crossings existed including a wooden bridge that once spanned Cummings Island just to the south. It's now immortalized on a mural on the shopping centre across the street.

Just south of the bridge, tucked away in the greenery, isa small plaque to three Vanier men killed while breaking the ice on the Rideau River in the mid-1970s.

Lpine went to school with the daughter of one of the men.

"The boat tipped right here, on the north side of the bridge," she recalled. "They wore heavy clothing, heavy boots. They had no chance."

"Every spring, when they work on the ice ... it brings back that memory. Every year."

Bike south on the path and turn leftat McArthur Avenue,and a few blocks past the now-closed McArthur Lanes bowling alley isHorizon-JeunesseCatholic Schoolwhich once housedthe first French public high school in Ontario.

Then, head north on Olmstead Avenue and zigzag towardDupuis Street.

The large brick building on the east side of the street served for a time asVanier's pre-amalgamation city hall all while the basement was used as the former city's jail.

As part of Montreal Street's revitalization, Dupuis Streethas also been designated le carr de la francophoniemeaning it will be blocked off from traffic, Lpinesaid, and animated with nods to francophoneculture, including the green-and-white Franco-Ontarian flag.

The next stop is north of Montreal Road, but given that revitalization work, it's easiest to head back toLvisAvenue and swingeast to LafontaineAvenue and cross there.

Just to the northeast off of MontfortStreet is potentially one of the most tranquil spots in all of Ottawa: theOur Lady of Lourdes Grotto.

The sanctuary was initially built in the late 19th century in the former village of Cyrille, not long after apparitions of the Virgin Mary were purportedly spotted in a cave near Lourdes, France.

It was later relocated to its current spot, tucked away in a canopy of trees and secluded from the noise of nearby Montreal Road.

"I used to go to [school] a few blocks down, and every last Friday [of the month] we had to walk from the school to the church to go to mass ... but in the summer we had mass out here," saidLpine. "It was beautiful."

Biking north on Granville Street will eventually bring you to the winding trails of Richelieu Park.

Tucked away in a grove of maple trees iswhatremains of the Vanier Sugar Shack, which before it was heaviiy damaged in afire last summer was a rare example of a functioning sugar shack in an urban environment.

It's actually the third time the shack has burned down, and it's been rebuilt each time, Lpine said. This most recent fire, she added, is still being investigated and could be connected to a string of unsolved arsons in the community.

"It's a cost to the community," said Lpine. "I'm glad that people are [engaged with] the project and it's being protected now."

Emerge from the park on Lebrun Street, and then wind your way southwest possibly taking in some of the older homes on Marier Avenue to your final stop, the corner of Beechwood Avenue and St. Charles Street.

There, behind construction fencing, you'll find the former Saint-Charles Church. Built in the early 20th century, the church was an important gathering spot for Ottawa's francophone community so important, in fact, that itspawned a French secret society, the Order of Jacques Cartier.

The first meeting of the society, which at its peak numbered more than 10,000 members, was held in the church's rectory in 1926.

"It was to promote and safeguard the francophone community," said Lpine.

"It was very secretive. I have a friend who grew up very close to here he's older then me and his parents were very much involved in the parish. And he didn't know anything about it!"