At first glance, Orangeville Street appears to just be a small stretch of road connecting the Queensway to Centretown. But after venturing just a few steps down the sidewalk, the true character of the street shows itself.
Orangeville Street, probably named for the community of Orangeville that existed in the same area in the 1870s, shows its age.
Leaving behind the government buildings a stone’s throw away on Booth Street, a handful of houses appear on Orangeville. They are painted different colours, red and blue and a deep green, but all show signs of having gone through many a winter and summer. The houses’ wood balconies are weathered, but still hold lawn chairs and boxes of Christmas decorations.
Although escaping the low roar of the Queensway is impossible, the street itself is surprisingly quiet. The trees lining one side of the road muffle the sound of cars speeding past and a little further east the parking lots stand empty.
The origins of the street can probably be traced back 150 years, when Ottawa was home to a large number of members from the Orange Order, a Protestant fraternal organization.
Orangeville Street was not always the name on the sign, marking this quaint collection of houses and buildings.
Originally named Elizabeth Street, the name was changed when the city of Nepean was amalgamated into Ottawa and Elizabeth became Orangeville in 2002.