Exhibitors, volunteers, heritage workers and local visitors gathered at City Hall as Mayor Jim Watson proclaimed Feb. 21, 2017 as Heritage Day in Ottawa. The event kicked off the nationwide Heritage Week and featured exhibits from more than 45 local historic sites, museums and historical societies.

The week is meant to encourage Canadians to explore their local heritage and to learn about the history of the country. For Ottawa students, the week presents the opportunity to discover the past of the city they live and study in.

“Now, you sometimes hear people say that Ottawa is boring,” says John Ryan, a programming intern at the Bytown Museum. “But it used to be a dangerous, rough city.”

Glue attended the Heritage Day showcase to find out what some of the groups had to offer.