Ottawa Jewish community member Stuart Lazear has been recognized for his decades of work preserving the city’s history, receiving the Louise and Eric Moore Award for Outstanding Volunteerism at this year’s Capital Heritage Connection Heritage Day ceremony.
The award, presented annually to individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to heritage preservation, recognizes Lazear’s lifelong commitment to protecting Ottawa’s historic buildings and sharing the stories behind them. He was one of two recipients honoured this year.
An Ottawa native raised in Sandy Hill, Lazear developed an early fascination with the historic architecture that defines many of the city’s core neighbourhoods.
“I enjoyed looking at older buildings,” he said. “It’s something that appealed to me aesthetically.”
That early curiosity grew into a lifelong career dedicated to heritage preservation. After earning a master’s degree at the University of British Columbia, Lazear travelled across Canada, working with organizations involved in heritage preservation and restoration.
Eventually, his journey brought him back home to Ottawa, where he worked for the National Capital Commission (NCC) and later served as a heritage planner for the City of Ottawa, helping protect historic sites and guide the thoughtful development of the city.
Beyond the many roles he has held professionally, Lazear has also devoted decades of volunteer service to heritage causes.
Over the years, he has served as a juror for the National Trust for Canada’s awards and youth employment programs, the Ottawa Regional Heritage Fair, and Heritage Ottawa, where he has volunteered since the organization’s earliest days.
He has also volunteered as an architectural tour guide for Algonquin College’s art history excursions and delivered guest lectures on heritage preservation, sharing his passion and knowledge with new generations.
“I was very honoured to receive this award,” he said. “When I attend [events like this], I feel like I’m among friends. I feel connected to my community.”
Lazear credits his parents as early inspirations for his commitment to giving back.
“My parents were each generous with their time in their own ways,” he said. He spoke about how his father made signs and that he would make them for different businesses and organizations, sometimes free of charge. His mother painted portraits and often donated them to synagogues.
He was also inspired by Jewish community leaders like Thelma Steinman, with whom he volunteered through the Ottawa Jewish Historical Society.
“When I look around me, it’s very inspiring to see these people and all the work that they do,” he said. “I look at both the Jewish community and the heritage community, and I see just how many people are doing what they can.”