Join us for our first Urbanism Lab panel discussion of the 2026-2027 season. This session reflects on the narratives that shape Ottawa’s and the National Capital Region's identity—from Bytown’s origins to the evolving stories of the capital. Speakers will explore heritage conservation, cultural memory, and the role of storytelling in building a sense of place. The discussion will highlight how cities use interpretation, public art, heritage and cultural landscapes to honour diverse histories and foster belonging.
The NCC Urbanism Lab, now in its thirteenth season, is a free series offering an innovative space where people from across Canada and leaders in urbanism, design, heritage and conservation, sustainability, and placemaking come together to inspire one another and discuss the future of the National Capital Region.
Date and location
Wednesday, November 25, 2026
- Doors open at 11:30 am
- Panel discussion: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
- Q&A with the panelists: 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Royal Canadian Geographical Society Building
50 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario
First floor
Speakers
Keisha Cuffie
Keisha is an Ottawa-based public historian, curator, and author whose research focusses on 19th-century Black history in Canada, including Black workers in Bytown between 1826 and 1855. Through her literary and curatorial work, she is committed to ensuring Black voices are recognized in Canada's cultural and historical landscape. She is the founder of Black Legacy Collective and an MA student in Canadian Studies (Heritage and Planning) at Carleton University.
Kathleen Durocher
Kathleen Durocher is a PhD student of history, with a specialization in feminist studies, at the Université du Québec à Montréal. Her research focuses on white phosphorus poisoning in the matchmaking industry in Canada and internationally. During her Master’s studies at the University of Ottawa, she focused on the conditions of the working classes in Hull, the role of women within those classes, and women’s activism.
In 2022, she published a monograph with the University of Ottawa Press entitled Bringing Matchmakers Out of the Shadows: The Women Workers at the E.B. Eddy Match Factory in Hull (1854–1928). She is also a lecturer at the Université du Québec en Outaouais, the University of Ottawa and Saint Paul University.
Don Kwan
Don Kwan is a multidisciplinary artist based in Ottawa with a studio in the Ottawa Valley. A third-generation Chinese Canadian, Don Kwan turns to his own experiences and challenges of being a gay, East Asian multidisciplinary artist as a way to ground broader conversations about identity, representation, and intergenerational memory-making in the diaspora.
Kwan’s practice is deeply rooted in place, particularly the streets and neighbourhoods that hold personal and collective histories. Through performance, installation and public art, Kwan explores how the built environment can carry memory, shape belonging, and reveal stories of migration, resilience, strength and community.
Heather Thomson (Moderator)
Heather Thomson (MCIP RPP CAPH) is Manager of the Heritage Conservation Program at the National Capital Commission, where she provides advice on heritage planning and management for federal lands in the National Capital Region. Heather has worked in heritage conservation for over 25 years, for organizations at the local, provincial and national levels, including at Parks Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Culture. She has also taught courses in heritage conservation at Carleton University and the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts.
Good to know
Sessions are free and offered in both official languages, with simultaneous interpretation.
A light lunch will be available, including tea, coffee, sandwiches and cookies.
Accessibility
The venue is wheelchair accessible, and simultaneous interpretation in both official languages will be offered.
We strive to host inclusive and accessible events. If you need accommodation, please let us know as soon as possible at lab-labo@ncc-ccn.ca.
How to get there
Urbanism Lab attendees are encouraged to use public transportation (OC Transpo Route 9) or opt for street parking.
Parking is very limited at 50 Sussex. If parking on nearby streets, please check posted signs for restrictions.
Register today
Space is limited, so register today!
Stay informed
If you are interested in receiving information about future Urbanism Lab events, please sign up for our newsletter.
