Time Line Index

c. 6,500 BCE – 1613 

  • A variety of First Nations groups, most recently the Odawa, completely ignore Britannia. Link

1613 – 1763 

  • The French completely ignore Britannia. Link

1763 – 1809 

  • The British completely ignore Britannia. Link

1809

  • The British Crown grants land that will become Britannia to Loyalists and descendants of Loyalists, but otherwise continue to completely ignore Britannia. Link

1818

  • The Richmond Road (dirt track) is built Link
  • John LeBreton purchases two of the grants in Britannia. Link

1871

  • The paddle wheel steamship Ann Sisson is beached and burned in Britannia Bay Link

1872

  • Princess Louise Dragoon Guards is commissioned, D Squadron to be headquartered in Britannia. Link

1875

  • Britannia’s first post office opens. Link

1887

  • Britannia’s first telephone service becomes available at Hand’s Grocers. Link

1900

  • Britannia Pier is built Link
  • Electric Railway

1906

  • Boat Club Clubhouse on Britannia Pier is built Link

1916

  • Britannia Pier opens recruiting station for the 207th Battalion to be sent to the trenches in France  Link
  • Men of Britannia serve in ‘The Great War Link

1918

  • Aug: Boat Club Clubhouse on Britannia Pier burns down Link

1930

  • Aug: Monarch Airways refers to it’s “flying field” in Britannia Link

1939

1948

  • 16 July The Britannia Drive-In opens, Ottawa’s first Drive-In Theatre. Link

1950

  • Annexation by the City of Ottawa. Many street names are changed. Link

1955

  • Wooden sections of Britannia Pier demolished  due to rot and decay. Original jetty significantly widened with fill. Link

1958

  • St Leonard’s Separate School opens. Link

1960

  • Britannia gets door to door postal service. Link

1961

  • May, Drive-by shooting at 85 Humber St Link

1962

  • Sept: The wreck of the paddle wheel steamship Ann Sisson is found in Britannia Bay, and then lost again Link

1965

  • Apr: Squirrels and Yohawks youth gangs run amok, or not. Link

1977

  • Aug: Shootings at Satan’s Choice Club Headquarters on Bond St Link

1978

  •  Apr: Arson at Outlaws Club  former headquarters on Bond St Link

1984

  • St Leonard’s Separate School closes. Link

2009

  • Feb: Arson at Britannia Plaza destroys five businesses Link