---
title: Ottawa The Great – A Historical Love Letter to Our City
description: "Join us for a night of history, music and celebration. Ottawa the Great, A love letter to our City looks to celebrate the history and heritage of our city while sharing interesting tales and moments. \nOttawa the Great will feature two historians, Christine Landry Matamoro and David C. Martin and who will share the tales of a moment and people in our city’s history. \nMusician and local historian Paul Weber will provide music to before and between the presentations."
---

[![Beechwood](https://landing.beechwoodottawa.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Beechwood_Cyanserver_November2018%20Theme/images/logo.png?width=258&height=70&name=logo.png "Beechwood")](https://beechwoodottawa.ca/en)

## Ottawa The Great – Barrack Hill Cemetery

- **When:** Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
- **Where:** Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario

Delve into the remarkable story of Ottawa’s Barrack Hill Cemetery, a significant but long-forgotten burial ground that provides a unique glimpse into the lives of the city’s early settlers.

Established in 1827, this cemetery was located near the site of Parliament Hill and served as a resting place for Ottawa’s pioneers, labourers, and soldiers during the construction of the Rideau Canal.

The cemetery was rediscovered in 2003 during excavation work near the Library and Archives Canada building. The remains of the individuals were exhumed and carefully studied, offering invaluable insights into their lives, struggles, and the city’s history. These individuals were eventually reinterred at Beechwood Cemetery, ensuring their stories live on as part of Ottawa’s heritage.

The evening’s speaker, Dr. Janet Young of the Canadian Museum of History, will share her research on this historic population and what their remains reveal about life in early 19th-century Ottawa. From insights into health and labour conditions to personal stories of resilience, the Barrack Hill Cemetery opens a window into a time that shaped the city we know today.

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### Please register today!

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