February 16 Ottawa Fire destroyed […]
When
1979-02-16
Description
February 16 Ottawa Fire destroyed the GO Centre and several other offices and small stores at 378 Elgin Street. Arson was not suspected. GO lost all of its books, furniture, files, and some of its archives. During the following months GO was frustrated by anti-gay bigotry in searching for accommodation for a new centre. By June 1979 GO had relocated to 288½ Bank Street, but moved again in October 1979 (to 175 Lisgar Street) after having a dispute with the landlord over building standards. (See also May 23, 1980.)
All Places
Gays of Ottawa CentreOttawaAll Citations
Michelle Morissette, "Gays Refused Space, Claim Discrimination," Ottawa Journal, 27 March 1979, p. 3.Denis LeBlanc, "FIRE!!! Destroys Canadian Coalition (Office)," Forum (CLGRC, Montréal), 4, no. 2 (Spring 1979): (3)"Homosexual Group Finds New Quarters," Ottawa Journal, 10 May 1979, p. 39"Gays of Ottawa Burn," Gay Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), 2, no. 3 (March 1979): (8)David Garmaise, "GO Centre Destroyed by Fire," Body Politic, no. 51 (1979), p. 10David Garmaise, "Bigotry Keeps GO Homeless," Body Politic, no. 52 (1979), p. 11"GO's New Centre—288½ Bank St. (at Somerset)," GO Info, June 1979, pp. 1–2"GO Moves to Lisgar Street," GO Info, 6, no. 5 (November 1979): 2"GO détruit par le feu," Gai(e)s du Québec: Journal, 1, no. 6 (April–May 1979): 4"GO Centre: The Search Goes On," GO Info, May 1979, pp. 2–3"GO Centre," GO Info, 6, no. 4 (October 1979): 4"Fire Destroys GO Centre," GO Info, April 1979, pp. 1–2
