About the Maker
My name is Nathalie Picard, and I am responsible for the creation of this website. I'm currently in my first year of the Masters of Public History Program at Carleton University. The areas of study in history that interest me the most focus on space in the formation of identity, Asian diaspora and transnational identities, diasporic community development. My research focus is on Japanese Canadian Internment in Canada, which like this project, speaks to the historical identity of Asian community within Canada.
I'm a native to Vancouver, and although I am very familiar with our own Chinatown, Ottawa and its neighbourhoods are new to me. I came into this project very much as an outsider, surprised to learn that the Somerset St. that I frequented was not the original home to Ottawa's Chinese Community. This discovery led to my research into the businesses and community built around Albert Street, finally manifesting itself into this project.
All this being said, I am by no means anywhere close to an expert on the Chinese Community in Ottawa. I gained so much of my information on the topic from the researchers and writers who came before me. This website can function as a launching point for those interested in learning more about the original Albert Street Chinatown. The Resources page can point you in the direction of more detailed information about the people and their community.
Meanwhile, I hope that the videos and mapping spark your interest to learn more about the historic communities that may now be invisible on the streets that you walk everyday. And I hope that you enjoy reading what information there is to glean from this small foray into one of those hidden histories.
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