About us
Saving Ottawa's family photos, one kitchen table at a time
Why "Bytown"?
Before it was Ottawa, this place was called Bytown. In 1874, a local poet named William Pittman Lett published Recollections of Bytown and Its Old Inhabitants. He wrote it because the people who had built the town were passing on, and he didn't want their names and stories to be forgotten along with them.
A hundred and fifty years later, that's still the job. Every family has a box of photos and a stack of tapes that nobody has looked at in years. We want to help get them organized and saved before they're lost.
Hi, I'm Jason
I'm Jason Salares. I run a retail business here in Ottawa, and I have a background in computer science and business. I started Bytown Memory Co. because most digitizing services ask you to mail your boxes to a company you've never met, somewhere far away. I don't think anyone should have to do that with the only copies of their family photos.
So we do it differently. I come to your home, or you meet me at one of our stores, and we sort everything into groups together. Your photos stay in Ottawa the whole time. When they're done, I bring your originals back along with your digital files.
What we believe
- Your memories should stay close to home. Nothing gets shipped out of Ottawa.
- Prices should be published. You shouldn't need to call for a quote to find out what something costs.
- Organized beats piled up. Your photos come back sorted into clear folders, with the writing on the back kept.
- No pressure. Whether it's a gift, a move or a memorial, you decide what gets digitized and when.
Where we go
We visit homes across Ottawa and nearby communities. If you'd rather not have someone come to your home, you can meet us at one of our store locations in the Ottawa area instead. Not sure if we come to you? Give us a call and ask.