Who We Are

Objectives
Our mandate is twofold: to advocate on behalf of the preservation of heritage buildings and historic landscapes and to educate and inform residents and visitors to Ottawa on the benefits of preserving the city's heritage from the perspectives of history, architecture, quality of life and tourism.

History
Heritage Ottawa began as a committee of "A Capital for Canadians", an organization founded in 1967, concerned with the conservation of buildings and sites in the National Capital which are part of our living heritage. The organization was supported by community associations and historical societies that had an interest in heritage conservation. Early successes include the preservation of such historic structures as the Billings' Estate and the East Block of the Parliament Buildings.

Heritage Ottawa was incorporated in 1975 and the first office was located at 62 John Street in New Edinburgh, the site of the former Fraser Schoolhouse. During the 1990s, we moved to our present location in Arts Court at 2 Daly Avenue, the restored former municipal courthouse.