City of Ottawa Archives
The City Archives is a centre for local heritage preservation and programming. It is the only city-wide program focused on preserving and making accessible Ottawa’s documentary heritage for current residents and for future generations. Working in partnership with community-based archival and genealogical societies, the Archives identifies, acquires, organizes, preserves and describes Ottawa civic government records as well as private sector records of individuals, community groups, and businesses within the City of Ottawa.
Ottawa civic government records include the records of the new City of Ottawa, as well as the 12 former municipalities, the Ottawa Public Library, Police Services and OC Transpo. Some of the holdings include: original by-laws, original minutes of Council and Committees of Council, assessment rolls, historical maps, historical photographs of major civic events, historical plans of major structures, and more.
The City Archives also collects private sector records that enhance our understanding of the history and evolution of Ottawa. Some examples from more than 350 collections include the Billings, Lett and Ogilvy family papers and records from the United Church of Canada and Royal Ottawa Sanitarium (now Royal Ottawa Hospital).
Public and private sector records are found in a variety of formats including textual and electronic records, rare books, historical publications, maps, plans, microfilms, films, photographs, postcards, documentary art, and corporate memorabilia. These materials provide the best evidence of municipal functions, business transactions, acquired assets and rights, and civic accomplishments, or contain information that may be used for research purposes by the community at large.
Access to certain civic and private sector records shall be restricted if they are exempt from access under various Federal and Provincial Statutes and Regulations, including the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (MFIPPA), Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and the Vital Statistics Act. Access to some private sector records may also be restricted for specified periods of time due to an agreement between the Archives and the donor.
The City of Ottawa Archives welcomes all researchers. Most of the above Archival Holdings can be accessed and viewed on site in the reference room – some access restrictions apply for records that contain confidential and/or personal information. The Archives does not circulate any of its holdings. Researchers, including City employees, are expected to come to the Archives to do their own research.
All researchers are also welcome to use our extensive non-circulating Reference Library that contains a variety of published and unpublished items relating to the history of Ottawa and its inhabitants, including an online Corporate Reports Library containing a large collection of previous City of Ottawa staff and consultant reports dealing with all city functions. The Reference Library also contains the holdings of five partner libraries (see links) and reference copies of Council Minutes and By-laws from the City of Ottawa and from the former Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton.
The Central Archives strives to provide a positive experience for patrons with disabilities. For information about the accessibility of the facility, or our programs and services, please contact the Central Archives.
Central Archives
111 Sussex Dr., 1st Floor (Bytown Pavilion)
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1J1
tel.: 613-580-2424, ext. 13333
e-mail: archives@ottawa.ca
Please note our new reference room opening hours
September to May inclusive:
Monday: reference room closed
Tuesday to Friday: 9 am to 4 pm
Saturday (except long weekends): 10 am to 5 pm
June to August inclusive (summer hours):
Monday: reference room closed
Tuesday to Friday: 9 am to 4 pm
Closed on Saturdays
The Archives are always closed on Sundays, statutory holidays and long weekends.
Mailing address:
City of Ottawa Archives
c/o City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa Ontario K1P 1J1
MC: 19-49
Gloucester Branch
4550 Bank Street (at Leitrim Road)
Gloucester, Ontario K1T 3W6
tel.: 613-822-2076
Open to the public by appointment only.
Rideau Township Branch
6581 Fourth Line Road (Main Street)
North Gower, Ontario
tel.: 613-489-2926
e-mail: rideauarchives@ottawa.ca
Tuesday: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Mailing address: P.O. Box 56
North Gower, Ontario K0A 2T0
