Andrew Cohen’s Ottawa

Category: Newspaper article

I appreciate Andrew Cohen’s effort to make us see what Ottawa could be even if, at least judging by the Citizen excerpt of his new novel, it is by way of saying what it isn’t.

When one has traveled to places like Paris or London, or even lived in a grand capital such as Washington DC like Mr. Cohen has, it is difficult not to draw observations about the city you live in now.

I recall former prime minister Chretien toying with the idea of building a Grand Alley along Metcalfe street to Parliament Hill. Now that was a grand idea. Not bad for ‘le petit gars de Shawinigan’. Of course it was never going to happen. This would have meant tearing down a few buildings and changing the status quo.

Thanks to the publicity The Citizen has given Mr. Cohen, through its rather harsh rebuke of many of Mr. Cohen’s comments, more Ottawans will pick up Mr. Cohen’s book and perhaps the seed of grandeur, that Mr. Cohen wishes for this city, will be planted.