This summer, CBC Ottawa tracked down some of the unique characters living and working in this city, to learn their stories. Click here to meet the Bone Lady, the Slipper Man, the Henna Lady and the Sax Man of Highway 416.
The following interview has been edited for style and clarity.
I'm John Cundell. I own Cundell Stables in the ByWard Market. We are the last stable in downtown Ottawa.
I’ve never considered another job. It’s been horses my whole life. It’s in my blood.
I always said I’d retire at 70, but I turned 70 last December and I am still here.
People look through the gate to see the horses, and we tell ‘em to come on in. Seeing their excitement makes me reconsider retiring. But everything has to come to an end.
My grandfather started selling horses in 1880. I am the third generation in the horse business.
In 1889, we worked with the city with the horses, plowing the streets. We sold horses to the Ottawa fire department in 1910.
The ByWard Market used to be filled with wagons and horses. People carted their produce to sell there. There was a watering hole for horses where a car dealership is now.
So, we’ve never considered moving the horses out of the city because the horses are a part of Ottawa’s history. We’re a small picture of what life in Ottawa used to look like.
Cast of characters
I have a big team. Two Belgians named Chippy and Jake. And then there’s the miniatures: Rosebud, Queen, Dexter, Jill and Janelle.
They all have different personalities. They're like people. Some of them are nice and some are cocky. Some like attention and will put their head on your shoulder.
It's so nice to work with something alive. Some people have to get up every morning and work with machines or computers. Computers are great, but I think horses are better.
Famous passengers
My dad used to drive a lot of the prime ministers around in our wagons. We drove Pierre Trudeau three or four times. We've had Gene Autry and several governors-general in our wagons.
Paul Anka wanted to show his kids a real Canadian winter, because they live out in California. And I remember that night we drove them around and the snow was blowing around — there was about a foot on the ground. They had a real adventure.
We’ve seen a lot of people, good people and bad.
Changing landscape
It’s getting harder every year. People are less interested in horses, and the city has grown up around me. A new store will go up next to us, and we will have less space. We’re going to be totally boxed in.
So, I wonder if I should just sell this place and use the money to enjoy my life and my family. But I enjoy what I am doing. When you're doing rides and birthday parties, weddings and carnivals, you're dealing with happy people. That makes a big difference.
Ride’s not over yet
I hope to see the stables pass to another generation, but it’s a big job. Most businesses these days don’t even last three generations, and we are lucky.
This place means a lot to people. When I think about quitting, I think, “Nah, I can do this for another 10 years.”
Ash Abraham is an associate producer and reporter at CBC Ottawa. You can reach her by email at ash.abraham@cbc.ca.