The first of two Awesome Ottawa awards for March goes to Susan Johnston to support walking tours of Ottawa fiction and poetry.

“Ottawa has featured in fiction and poetry since long before it became the political capital and city of neighbourhoods we know today,” says Susan.

“While hundreds of works are set here,” she continues, “few of them are an active part of the iconography of our daily life. I want to change this by highlighting the inspiring range and breadth of fiction and poetry set across Ottawa.”

Susan is developing an open-source map so readers and walkers can connect works of fiction and poetry with locations across the city, and setting out self-guided walks so people can see the locations in person.

This spring, Susan will also host a live walk, featuring authors whose work references sites within central Ottawa. It will be offered through VerseFest Ottawa in April, and again through Jane’s Walk Ottawa in May.

Susan hosts a morning show on CKCU FM and co-founded Ottawa (de)tours.