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A former gas station noted for its architecture, location and historical value is being recommended for heritage status by the City of Ottawa.

The cottage-like building in Westboro served as a gas station while motor vehicles were in their growth period. Initially owned by Benzolene in 1934, the station was sold to Champlain Oil Products in 1937 for $1. It was eventually sold and reborn as a used car lot before shutting its doors for good in August 2014.

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Kitchissippi Ward Coun. Jeff Leiper credits Ottawa Citizen columnist Andrew King with the revived interest in the building.

“Much of the impetus to designate this building is due to the work of city-chronicler and artist Andrew King, who exhaustively researched the Champlain Oil station for his Ottawa Citizen column,” said Leiper in the recommendation, quoting multiple passages from the 2014 article.

“It is a symbol of how our city grew, and gives us pause to think about how we want it to continue to grow,” he added.