By Teigan Goldsmith Hitsman

 

As the days grow longer and tulips begin to bloom, there’s no better time to step outside and rediscover the stories that shaped our city. In honour of Jewish Heritage Month this May, I’ve put together a walking tour through downtown Ottawa that invites you to see familiar streets with fresh eyes — and uncover the deep Jewish roots woven into our capital’s history.

 

Ottawa’s Jewish community dates back to the 1860s, and many of the buildings you pass every day carry the legacy of Jewish life, entrepreneurship, and community. Beginning in the ByWard Market and winding toward Somerset Street, this tour takes about an hour to walk — but feel free to explore at your own pace. Whether you start at the beginning, skip ahead, or make it a family outing, you’re the tour guide on this journey through Jewish Ottawa.

 

Happy exploring — and happy Jewish Heritage Month!

 

 

 

Jacob Freedman was born in Zhitomir, Ukraine, on April 15, 1864. He arrived in Ottawa in 1891, at the age of 27.

 

Initially, Freedman sold butter, eggs, fruit, and vegetables door to door in Sandy Hill and Lowertown. He opened his first store in 1894 at 34 1/2 ByWard Market Square. By 1904, he had established the J. Freedman & Son Wholesale Grocery with son Michael. The store became the largest wholesale grocery in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.

 

This location was at 54 ByWard Market Square. In 1912, Freedman became a very successful commodities trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. In 1951, he sold the Ottawa business to the Zelikovitz brothers, Nathan, Dave, Max and Saul, and turned to real estate, founding the Freedman Realty Co. Ltd.

 

By 1927, J. Freedman had moved on to another location and Mrs. Sarah Diamend had opened Diamend’s Dairy at 54 ByWard Market Square. 

 

By 1952, the shop had been taken over by Zunder’s Quality Fruit Supply another Jewish owned business. 

 

For nearly 100 years, 24 ByWard Market Square has been Jewish owned. By 1927, the location was owned by a Mr. John Shore who also owned 44 ByWard Market Square. Both businesses were recorded as produce shops. By the 1930s, 24 was renamed “Shore’s Dairy” and 44 was “Jack Shore Dairy.” While the shop was still owned by John Shore, it is Dave Sinder in the photo, presumably the individual managing the location.

 

In 1950, Irving Rivers purchased the retail clothing side of his father’s business. He renamed the store “Irving Rivers” after himself and adopted the slogan “We corner the Market” which has been used for the past 75 years. 

 

The shop still operates today in its original 24 ByWard Market location and is one of the longest standing Jewish businesses in the Market. 

 

 

From the early 1920s to the 1940s, 111 Clarence Street in the ByWard Market was home to D. Wolfson Watchmaker as well as his home. The shop owner, David Wolfson, was a watchmaker, repairer, and jeweler. Wolfson decorated the storefront of his business with several clock-themed pieces, including, a large, tin pocket watch which hung over the doorway of his shop until it closed. 

Upon closing the store, Wolfson gave the tin pocket watch to Sam Nathanson who owned Sam's Buy and Sell at 41 William Street. Nathanson had a friend add the words “Pawnbroker” across the clockface and attached the three balls to the bottom, indicating the international symbol for a pawnbroker's shop. Between the two stores, the pocket watch became an iconic piece of ByWard Market history. So much so, that in 2017, a replica of the Wolfson Clock Sign was erected at George Street Plaza. 

 

 

Since 1904, 375 King Edward Avenue has been home to the Adath Jeshurun Synagogue. 

 

In 1893, congregation Adath Jeshurun purchased a plot of land at 375 King Edward to build a synagogue. In 1904, the plans were completed, and the corner stone was laid.

 

During the first half of the 20th century, Adath Jeshurun served as the principal orthodox congregation. However, in 1956, congregation Adath Jeshurun and the congregation Agudath Achim joined together to form the Beth Shalom Congregation, which was located on Chapel Street. Because of this amalgamation, the King Edward Shul became the Jewish Memorial Chapel, also known as the Chevra Kadisha, which provided funeral services. The building remained the Chevra Kadisha until its sale to a Seventh Day Adventist group in 1997. You can still visit the original building and it still has its beautiful Magen David window. 

 

 

The Petigorsky home, located at 25 Stewart Street, was the home of Oscar Petigorsky and his family. The house, which features a prominent Magen David in the gables, was built by Oscar Petigorsky himself and is rumoured to have the built with the Magen David as a message to the University of Ottawa, which did not accept Jewish students into their school at the time. 

 

Oscar was born in southern Russia near the Black Sea in 1881. He arrived in Ottawa in 1904 and worked in a variety of jobs before establishing Petigorsky Ltd. Leather and Shoe Findings at 21-23 York Street in the ByWard Market.

 

He was very active in community affairs, serving as President of Congregation Machzikei Hadas and was also a founder of the Ottawa Hebrew Benefit Society. 

 

 

The Freiman home, located at 149 Somerset Street has seen decades of the city’s history within it’s walls. 

 

Lillian and A.J. Freiman were well known Ottawa residents, not just in the Jewish community, but in Ottawa as a whole. A.J. owned the prominent department store Freiman’s Ltd. on Rideau Street, and Lillian was known for her philanthropic nature. 

 

In 1913, Lillian and A.J. moved to 149 Somerset Street, which became the meeting place for many of Lillian's charitable groups. During the First World War, Lillian hosted a Red Cross Sewing Circle in her home. She worked tirelessly throughout the war providing relief and established the Great War Veterans Association which later became the Royal Canadian Legion. Her home was often used as a sanctuary for veterans on leave. 

 

Lillian Freiman's charitable and philanthropic work continued after the war, and it is widely accepted that the first Canadian poppies for Remembrance Day were produced in her living room at 149 Somerset Street. Lillian's involvement with the National Poppy Advisory Committee and as the Chair of Ottawa's annual Poppy campaign earned her the nickname "The Poppy Lady."

 

After Lillian and A.J. had passed away, the home was left to the Royal Canadian Legion and is now home to the Army Ottawa Officers' Mess, which hosts veterans and those on active duty. While the home is now used by the Legion, the family’s original menorot are on display and the craftmanship of the interior remains the same. 

 

 

-- Teigan Goldsmith Hitsman is the Archivist at the Ottawa Jewish Archives, which is part of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa