On the Northwest side of the soon-to-be constructed Gladstone LRT station is the original factory building for The Standard Bread company and current home of the Enriched Bread Artists.
There was an early 20th century state-of-art bread making facility was built here in Ottawa. First sod was turned by Alderman E.D. Lowe on May 8, 1924 followed by the foundation stone on August 14, 1924. Mr. Max Kiefl, an 8-year employee, laid the cornerstone, which copies of The Ottawa Journal and Citizen newspapers of May 6th [1924], the date of the turning of the sod and also copies of yesterday’s [August 20th, 1924] newspapers, a list of the names of the employees; Canadian coins; and the first issue of the Standard Bread newsletter.” According to an Ottawa Citizen article, the wording on the cornerstone, Audaces Fortuna Juvat, means, Fortune favours the bold.
The factory officially opened on Saturday January 31, 1925 with about 3000 people attending. Even the Mayor of Ottawa, J.P. Balharrie was involved to ceremoniously turn on the power to the plant, with the Mayor of Hull, Louis Cousineau, also participating. I am well acquainted with bitter Ottawa winter and I can’t imagine the kind of spectacle that would encourage 3000 people to go to see the opening of an industrial bread factory.
On February 7, 2020 The City of Ottawa, under the Ontario Heritage Act gave notice of Intention to Designate 951 Gladstone Avenue for its “cultural heritage value.” I have not yet found when The Standard Bread Company officially closed its Gladstone location but according to this CBC article the building has not been in use from the late 1960’s until a group of artists, Enriched Bread Artists (EBA) rented the property for studio space and held their grand opening on October 21, 1993. Linda Hoad of the Hintonburg Community Association credits the EBA with the preservation of the site as their occupation prevented the building from being demolished due to neglect.. The Standard Bread company site is part of a new development that will rejuvenate the area in conjunction with the new Gladstone LRT station, “there’s concern that the development could ultimately force the artists to relocate”.
Plaques, Statues and Cornerstones 