Living Library – Bytown 200

Beechwood’s Annual Living Library – Bytown 200

Join us at Beechwood Cemetery for the Annual Historical Tour, a unique event that brings history to life. This year, we celebrate the incredible stories of those who helped build Bytown. Presented as a living library, this immersive experience features performances by the Ottawa School of Theatre.

• James Slater and Esther Sparks Slater (Section 48, Lot 1) – Engineer, surveyor, and superintendent of the Rideau Canal, James Dyson Slater helped build and maintain critical transportation infrastructure that supported the growth of Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley.
• William Pittman Lett (Section 34, Lot 28 NW) –Ottawa’s first and longest-serving city clerk, William Pittman Lett served as the city’s leading chronicler, poet, and civic advocate.
• John Bower Lewis (Section 34, Lot 8 E) – A prominent lawyer and two-time mayor, John Bower Lewis played a key role in Ottawa’s early governance and helped persuade Queen Victoria to select Ottawa as Canada’s capital.
• Jenney Simpson (Section 41, Lot 120 NW) –Artist, historian, and curator, Jenny Russell Simpson preserved and promoted Ottawa’s heritage by transforming the Bytown Museum into a professional historical institution and championing Canadian historical preservation.

• Location: Beechwood Cemetery- Starting location is the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave

• Time: 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM Format: Self-guided tour through the grounds with interactive performances

• Arrive before 3:00 PM to fully enjoy this historical journey.

• Dress appropriately for the weather

• Sunscreen and bug spray

In case of rain, the event will be held inside the Beechwood National Memorial Centre.