Stopwatch Gang

The Stopwatch Gang, led by Ottawa’s own Paddy Mitchell (who grew up in Little Italy), Stephen Reid (of Massey, Ontario), and Lionel Wright, are perhaps Canada’s most infamous bank robbers. The trio, whose orchestrated meticulous heists never took longer than 90 seconds, robbed more than 100 banks and armoured cars during the 1970s and 80s in the United States and Canada. Their most notorious job was a 1974 gold heist (worth $750,000) at the Ottawa airport, earning themselves a place on the FBI’s most-wanted list. The gang’s exploits were detailed in several movies, including Point Break (1991) and The Heist (2001), as well as in the book The Stopwatch Gang (1992) by Toronto Sun reporter Greg Weston, and in Mitchell’s own memoir, This Bank Robber’s Life, which he wrote in prison and sold over the Internet. While still in jail, Reid wrote his own book, a semi-autobiographical novel titled Jackrabbit Parole. Through this book he met his editor, West Coast poet and writer Susan Musgrave, and in 1986 they married while he was still imprisoned. Upon his release a year later, he and Musgrave attempted to live a quiet life on Vancouver Island, and had a child as well. He appeared as a rifle-toting security guard in a 15-second cameo (as well as acting as the film’s bank heist consultant) in the independent movie Four Days (1999). Unfortunately, in the spring of 1999 in Victoria, BC, his heroin addiction resulted in a return to crime and a botched robbery and shootout; currently, Reid remains in prison. The leader of the gang, Patrick “Paddy” Mitchell, called “North America’s most famous, most successful and, especially, most likeable bank robber of our time” by his son, grew up on Preston Street in Ottawa, and died of cancer on in 2007 in a US prison while serving a 65-year sentence. Wright served his sentence, and according to a 2005 report from the CBC, worked as an accountant for Corrections Canada. The gold from the airport robbery in 1974 was never recovered.

Ottawa Italia

Once you’ve gone through cooking school, or if you want to forego that step, simply head over to Little Italy’s Trattoria Caffé Italia. With one of the best wine cellars in the city, it has been run by the Carrozza family for over 20 years, originally opening in the 1950s as a billiard and card-laying social club for the Preston Street community. On the corner of Gladstone and Preston.

Some other recommended Italian restaurants: Allegro Ristorante (422 Preston Street, 235-7454), Ciccio Caffe (330 Preston Street, 232-1675), Giovanni’s, featuring Toscany Regional Cuisine (362 Preston Street, 234-3156), La Dolce Vita (180 Preston Street, 233-6239), La Roma (430 Preston Street) and La Vecchia Trattoria (228 Preston Street, 230-0009).

If straightforward Italian doesn’t float your boat, get down to Little Italy’s The Prescott (379 Preston Street, 232 1136. One of the oldest taverns in town, they cleaned up a few years ago, somewhat taking the point out of going to a cleaned up “gritty tavern,” but they still have some of the best pasta and meatball sandwiches in town. Grab a quart and watch the game, even.

Dining in Ottawa’s Little Italy

If you want to talk food, than you have to talk about one of downtown Ottawa’s most important neighbourhoods, Little Italy.

Ottawa’s Little Italy was originally an Irish neighbourhood housing employees of nearby lumberyards before an influx of Italian immigration at the turn of the century. By 1908, the Italian community around Division (now Booth) Street was firmly established, with the building of St. Anthony’s Church in 1913 and the forming of the local chapter of the Sons of Italy. A second wave of Italian immigration came after WWII, and turned the area between Booth and Preston Street from Carling Avenue north into Ottawa’s unofficial official “Little Italy,” featuring fine restaurants, street parties, and other activities (World Cup Soccer in Little Italy is a must).

The City of Ottawa officially recognized the community in 1983 by designating Preston Street Corso Italia and Gladstone Avenue as Via Marconi. Their website lists local businesses, including restaurants, night life, services and entertainment, as well as information on the annual Ferrari Festival, Italian Week Settimana Italiana, and La Vendemmia - Ottawa’s Celebration of Italian Wine & Food in September.