Ottawa barber shop steps away from Parliament Hill marks 100 years in business
Just steps from Parliament Hill is a barber shop that for the last 100 years has catered to everyone from prime ministers to tourists.
- Sign up now for our daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Victoria Barber Shop on O'Connor Street has been serving Ottawa since 1924 and has seen its fair share of ever-changing hairstyles and trends come through its doors.
The shop prides itself on being old-fashioned and is neatly tucked away among the concrete buildings that house the federal government.
"I think it's very, very impressive the fact that we've been able to stay here in the parliamentary precinct," said Robin Seguin, the owner of the Victoria Barber Shop.
"All the way through COVID-19, all the way through the convoy, all of the things that have happened here on the Hill over the years, all of the changes, all of the different governments that have come and gone."
Articles and photos on the wall of the shop tell the story of its history and those who have sat in the chair, including former Prime Minister Paul Martin, the first Canadian astronaut in space Marc Garneau and NHL player turned Senator Frank Mahovlich.
"We've had everybody from your regular people that come in off the street, you know, tourists, right up to prime ministers have been here. A lot of ministers come here to this day. A lot of Supreme Court judges, MPs and a lot of senators," said Seguin, who is the fifth person to own the century-old shop.
The cost of a cut is $20.
"I'm happy to work here," said barber Joseph Hamdan. "Not only because of the shop itself. Because of the people too."
"I try to be humorous and keep a good sense of humor, keep things going. A little bit of sarcasm thrown in there every now and then always helps. And I think it's the vibe too that keeps people coming back."
As long as the shop remains open, Seguin said she will be there.
"Just going to keep doing what I'm doing because I love what I do. And when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Inspires a sense of adventure': Sask. man conquers Mount Everest
A Saskatchewan man made it to the summit of Mount Everest earlier this month.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event. The family asked for privacy and that people honor Murray by being kind to one another.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Hamas rocket attack from Gaza sets off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv for the first time in months
Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza that set off air raid sirens as far away as Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday in a show of resilience more than seven months into Israel's massive air, sea and ground offensive.
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Indianapolis 500 delayed as strong storm forces fans to evacuate Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The start of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed as a strong storm pushed through the area Sunday, forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to evacuate about 125,000 fans who had already arrived for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.