Random Conversations

[Richard Eade]

Various Websites try to provide historical precipitation amounts. They find the data where they can. Weather Stats is just one of those sites, drawing reports from a number of places. If data is not available from one source, they move on to another potential source.

Weather Stats has a priority list for sources; The Ottawa Airport is number one. But if that is not available, it can move onto source two, which is at the Central Experimental Farm.

I looked up another source, looking specifically at July 1, 2026. According to what Weather Underground read from the Ottawa Airport there was NO PRECIPITATION on that date. Obviously, that is false, but if the Airport’s feed is not working, then that is what automated sites report – ZERO.
Look for your self: https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/ca/ottawa/CYOW/date/2026-7-1

So, when Weather Stats scraped its data, I suspect that the Ottawa Airport precipitation data was not available. Thus, the app went down its list of possible sources. It finally found one that gave it a value of 82.4 mm of rain. That might have been at the Central Experimental Farm, or another location within Ottawa. The rain did not fall evenly everywhere.

Another site that gives the date and amount of greatest precipitation per year (1890-2023) is Current Results. I didn’t use that site because I did not want to limit the search to one day of the year. However, for September 9, 2004, it gives a rainfall of 108.7 mm. I have seen sources (including Weather Stats) that say 135.4 mm fell that day. Again, the amount of rain that falls in any one location is not necessarily the same as in another location.

My point above was not to provide absolute numbers for precipitation. It was to point out that Ottawa sometimes gets lots of rain. Infrastructure should be designed to handle more than it is currently designed for.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by urbanforest

Where did you get 82.4mm from? 118.4mm is what fell on Canada Day.

I think that is the Central Experimental Farm weather station total

[Norman Bates]

I measured 88.2 mm in Bridlewood on my NIST-traceable sensor.

[kevinbottawa]

This past weekend I was in Ottawa for the first time in two years (I moved to Toronto 4 years ago). I was nice seeing a lot of the developments on this forum in-person. I went on a few long walks to try and see as much as possible.

Here are the things I found most impressive:

Office to residential conversation at Elgin and Lisgar: This has to be the most beautiful office to residential conversion I've ever seen.

Claridge Skye and Releve: The whole area around these two developments looks amazing. A real step up for Ottawa, especially with the Food Basics and LRT entrance. I agree with whoever said Dollarama seemed like an odd choice for the retail space at Releve. The Releve design really elevates the whole west side of downtown. Still can't believe it was built and that they were so close to the renderings.

Claridge Moon and Rideau Street: Claridge Moon looked really good in the late evening. Haven't seen it during the day. The Metro was nice too. Actually, outside of all the dirt on the Claridge Plaza buildings (which is worse than I remember), Rideau Street looks good with all the tallish buildings. Feels like a real city.

Scott Street and Tunneys skyline: From Kiweki Point, the Scott Street and Tunneys skyline looks really good. Looking forward to seeing how it grows.

Byward Market: The market was really lively and full of people. The changes they made with the stage, play area for kids, and large patio were very well done.

Space in front of World Exchange: Although there was nobody there, the new redesigned space in front of the World Exchange Plaza was well designed. Really impressed. The Metcalfe Plaza, that looks like a mini festival grounds was nice too.

Medical Arts Building: I really love what they did with the Medical Arts Building.

Park next to the Supreme Court: The new park next to the Supreme Court wasn't open yet, but it's one of the better looking parks that I've seen. I can actually see people using it.

Zibi: Nobody was around when I walked by on Saturday, but standing in the square and looking around at the buildings, the Ottawa side of Zibi is beautiful. I really hope more people start hanging out there.

New Library and Odenak: Saving the best for last, walking down Albert towards the library was an amazing experience. The landscaping and road work were so well done. Seeing Odenak in-person was impressive. Looking around at Odenak, Pimisi Station, the Claridge building, and library, I felt like I was in a different city. Really looking forward to seeing Lebreton Flats built up.

Kiweki Point was okay. There were a lot of people. It provided good views, but wouldn't add it as a highlight. The bridge from Majors Hill Park felt cheap.

Anyway, I only had just over 24 hours in Ottawa so that's all I saw. I spent some time in Vanier and at St. Laurent shopping centre since that whole area still feels like home. If my business didn't take me to Toronto, I wouldn't have left Ottawa. A big part of my heart is still there.

[OTSkyline]

Thank you for your comments and review. I agree there's been a lot of nice projects and improvements in Ottawa over the past couple of years. It's both refreshing - and reassuring - to hear it from an outsiders' perspective once in a while.

[AuxTown]

Nice to hear some things in Ottawa might possibly potentially maybe be moving in the right direction.

The biggest thing in recent years for me is the NAC reno. My family and I spend a lot of time there (Broadway shows, concerts, events) and it is one of the nicest spaces in the city (inside and out). While it's not a large area, I always like walking from NAC to the market: lots of tourists and action by the Canal/Chateua/Rideau Centre.

Looking forward to all the areas/projects you mentioned above, Kevin. Your insights are welcome anytime!

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

Thank you for your comments and review. I agree there's been a lot of nice projects and improvements in Ottawa over the past couple of years. It's both refreshing - and reassuring - to hear it from an outsiders' perspective once in a while.

I wouldn't consider myself an outsider though. I moved to Toronto out of necessity, but my heart is still in Ottawa. I still check this forum daily.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by AuxTown

Nice to hear some things in Ottawa might possibly potentially maybe be moving in the right direction.

The biggest thing in recent years for me is the NAC reno. My family and I spend a lot of time there (Broadway shows, concerts, events) and it is one of the nicest spaces in the city (inside and out). While it's not a large area, I always like walking from NAC to the market: lots of tourists and action by the Canal/Chateua/Rideau Centre.

Looking forward to all the areas/projects you mentioned above, Kevin. Your insights are welcome anytime!

Since the expansion, the NAC has become a great third space. Always packed with people. I'd love to see some work on the Convention Centre, maybe a café, more art and seating, to make it a more popular spot outside conventions.

[jumpyjoe1]

What do people in this forum think: if you could put one skyscraper anywhere in Ottawa, where would you put it, how tall would you make it, and what would you want it to be used for?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by jumpyjoe1

What do people in this forum think: if you could put one skyscraper anywhere in Ottawa, where would you put it, how tall would you make it, and what would you want it to be used for?

Just one, I'd want it in the Place de Ville surface parking on Kent at Queen. I'd be happy with just 40 to 45 floors, just enough to have one stand out tower in the traditional Downtown without overwhelming the skyline and Parliament. I would want office space for that one.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Norman Bates

I measured 88.2 mm in Bridlewood on my NIST-traceable sensor.

Wate wut ... the City's own open data people didn't know that the city itself has a network of data-generating rain gauges?

https://engage.ottawa.ca/openottawa/brai...ta-sets-would-you-like-to-see?idea=94902

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Just one, I'd want it in the Place de Ville surface parking on Kent at Queen. I'd be happy with just 40 to 45 floors, just enough to have one stand out tower in the traditional Downtown without overwhelming the skyline and Parliament. I would want office space for that one.

I agree with this. I think a curvy tower would look out of place in our downtown so straight lines would be in order. Maybe a tapered top as well. Here's a 45ish storey tower where I have stolen the top of Ping An Finance Centre in Shenzhen

[phil235]

Can't argue with those images. I'd like something tall and thin that leaves space for a big public plaza on the site.

Another option would be replacing DND with a skyscraper or putting one where the Rideau Centre parking garage is. And I would love to see something tall at Confederation Heights.

[SL123]

Originally Posted by jumpyjoe1

What do people in this forum think: if you could put one skyscraper anywhere in Ottawa, where would you put it, how tall would you make it, and what would you want it to be used for?

Personally i think the Bayview station area is screaming for development and i think its perfect for the tallest in Ottawa. I really wish the 900 albert project would get going or anything on the other side on Bayview yard. How is Bayview yard still sitting empty is a mystery to me.

[jumpyjoe1]

I'm surprised that the surface parking lot at kent and queen has stayed undeveloped for decades. Does anyone know what use to be there?

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by jumpyjoe1

I'm surprised that the surface parking lot at kent and queen has stayed undeveloped for decades. Does anyone know what use to be there?

Looking at the 1965 air photo, the most notable building facing Albert Street was the old bus terminal before it moved to Catherine Street. The rest looks like a group of small office or retail buildings with parking lots interspersed. The details of each building could be found from an old city directory.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by jumpyjoe1

I'm surprised that the surface parking lot at kent and queen has stayed undeveloped for decades. Does anyone know what use to be there?

I got as far as this 1928 aerial photo that shows something there indeed. It doesn't look tall but appears to be a substantial building. Probably something industrial/manufacturing I'd bet.

This was interesting (unrelated) info though:

While the water mains on Queen Street were being replaced in 2013, workers discovered several human bones and later an historical burial site. The burial site was Ottawa's oldest Christian cemetery dating back to around 1828-1845. Archaeologists found the remains of 19 individuals, and they suspect that there are around 500 people buried there. The burial site is believed to have been for workers constructing the Rideau Canal. Researchers think that it extends to Queen Street to the south, Sparks Street to the north, Elgin Street to the east, and Metcalfe Street to the west.

from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Street,_Ottawa

[lrt's friend]

The 1928 air photo shows mostly small buildings on that block and particularly on the west half where the parking lot is located. The corner of Bank and Queen was the site of the Capitol Theatre and that appears in both the 1928 and 1965 photo. Interestingly, the the bus terminal building also appears in the 1928 photo even though it did not become the bus terminal until around 1950. So, it had been repurposed. I wonder if it had been previously a car dealership. Car dealers were often located downtown in the old days.

The burial site was right in front of 66 Queen Street, (between Elgin and Metcalfe) and was my Dad's office in the 1960s. They had discovered bones at that location during that era as well when Queen Street was previously rebuilt. This was part of Bytown's first cemetery.

update:

Royal Auto Sales opened at 265 Albert Street on October 9, 1926. They sold Jewett, Stutz, Pierce-Arrow and Graham-Page automobiles. Previously, it was a 13 room, 2 bathroom brick house offered for sale in 1925 for a potential rooming house. Royal Auto Sales was up for bailiff's auction sale on December 2, 1932. Auto sales had declined because of the Great Depression. It had become Pinks Limited used car lot by September 1933. The Post Office was using it for its delivery trucks temporarily in December 1933 when one of their trucks caught fire inside the building on December 15th. Colonial Coach Lines opened their new bus terminal in this building on May 16, 1934. The bus terminal was fully renovated and modernized and re-opened on July 25, 1950. The new bus terminal at 265 Catherine Street opened on March 13, 1973. It was reported that the old terminal was sold to a developer and was to be demolished.

260 Queen Street was right behind the Capitol Theatre, was an apartment building which was converted into a hotel and opened on December 31, 1934. The name was the Belle Claire Hotel. It was described as a 3 storey building with 20 rooms, dining room and men's and women's beverage rooms during the days when 'taverns' were segregated. The hotel remained open until at least 1974. The site is now part of the parking lot.

270 Queen Street was Office Appliances Limited during the 1950s and 1960s.

[AuxTown]

Belle Claire Hotel is a great find. Lots of interesting articles online. (photos from https://ottawastart.com/christopher-ryan...manent-suite-at-the-belle-claire-part-1/)







and their ? famous stir sticks on ebay


Looks like they tried to develop it in the 1970s:


from https://ottawastart.com/christopher-ryan...manent-suite-at-the-belle-claire-part-2/

[lrt's friend]

Well, that is interesting.

I assumed (incorrectly) that the Belle Claire Hotel was always in the same location.

As indicated above, it was at 227-229 Queen Street, where the 240 Sparks Street complex is today.

The original location of the Belle Claire was up for demolition in 1968 and it had moved across the street to 260 Queen Street in 1967, a former apartment building.