Bytown Fire Brigade

've been busy making displays for The Bytown fire Brigade's Historical Societies booth at this years HERITAGE DAY 2026!
Celebrate this year's theme "Voices of a City: Celebrating Two Centuries of Collective Histories and Local Heroes in Ottawa".
Join us at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, February 17 at Jean Pigott Place, City Hall for a celebration of Heritage Day. We will have a booth at the Marketplace there and we hope you will stop by and say hello.
Heritage Day is organized by Capital Heritage Connexion in partnership with the City of Ottawa Cultural and Heritage Programs Branch.

BYTOWN MOBILE EXHIBIT WITH THE OFS FIRE VENTURERS AT A SCOUTING EVENT AT MORRISBURG
In Canada, Venturer Scouts is the senior section of Scouts Canada. In early 2025, the Ottawa Fire Service (OFS) Venturers announced their 2025 participation in a cross-border Camporee scheduled to be held at Morrisburg's Riverside-Cedars Campground on 27 September. Scouts from New York, Pennsylvania, Quebec and Ontario participated.
The OFS Venturers invited the Bytown Fire Brigade Historical Society to participate alongside them at the Camporee, by displaying some of our valuable and unique firefighting equipment from years past.
Thanks to OFS Venturers leader Marc Couturier for the opportunity to take part. Bytown Member Henry Vanwyk answered the many questions. Not surprisingly, some American scouts from troops sponsored by volunteer fire departments were more knowledgeable.
The favourite and most asked about artifact at the all-day event was the red-painted firefighting pail with the black convex bottom. Contact [email protected] to learn the story behind the black, convex-bottom pail.

The artifacts team welcomed Brian Grison and his partner Laura Dempsey to The Bytown Fire Brigade Historical Society on September 19th.
Brian and Laura travelled from Victoria B.C. to Ottawa.
In their travels they stopped by the museum to present his Great Grandfather's inkwell set to the museum's collection.
Brian's great grandfather was Louis Grison who was born in 1831 and lived in Bytown.
Louis Grison became a member of the Rideau Company and volunteered as a firefighter up until the brigade became full time.
Louis Grison passed away in 1918.
The inkwell set will sit in the case beside Captain Grison's walking stic

The delegates from the International Fire Buffs Association and the Ontario Fire Buffs Association were on site for a tour of The Bytown Fire Brigade Historical Societies museum today. It was the last day of their gathering here in Ottawa. What a great morning of chatting all things fire. Thank you Bob Dupuis for capturing some amazing photos.

A blast from the past. A few members of The Bytown Fire Brigade Historical Society at Upper Canada Village in 1992.

Don't forget today, Sunday June 8th is our second day of Doors Open Ottawa. We will be there to greet you from 10am til 4pm today.

Fun times at the Bytown Fire Brigade Historical Society museum at Doors Open Ottawa.

Having fun at Doors Open Ottawa

The many faces of firefighter Alice at The Bytown Fire Brigade Historical Society museums Doors Open Ottawa.

I just completed a display at The Bytown Fire Brigade Historical Society's museum recognizing The Ottawa Fire Service Band.