Latest news with #Gatineau
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dow's Lake swimming isn't as disgusting as you think
Swimming at Dow's Lake is not for the squeamish. Although authorities insist the water quality is fine, anyone who's been in Ottawa for a few freeze-thaw cycles has seen the crap on the bottom when the water is drained from the Rideau Canal. After the skateway season ends and the ice melts, those fancy change huts aren't the only things left behind. There's usually a fair amount of litter, too, which means the canal bed is not a pretty sight in spring. Plus it smells like a swamp, which is not surprising. Two hundred years ago, before the Canal was built, Dow's Lake was known as the Great Swamp. At some point a dam was constructed, flooding the area and creating a small man-made lake that was named after a local landowner, Abram Dow. And there I was just a few weeks after the thaw of 2025, preparing to take a swim in it. I'll admit my first reaction to the notion of swimming at Dow's Lake was something close to revulsion. 'Ugh,' I thought, not only remembering the slimy debris along the sides of the canal that leads to it but also countless tales of the monster muskie that supposedly inhabit its depths. Still, as a committed amateur swimmer, I loved the idea of adding another entry to the list of wild-swimming spots in Ottawa-Gatineau — especially when it's one that people can ride their bicycles to. To quell my doubts as to the quality of the water, I emailed the National Capital Commission, the federal agency that came up with the idea to put a dock at Dow's after the huge success of the 2023 re-opening of River House. The NCC's River House is the heritage boathouse situated along a wide stretch of the Ottawa River east of Rideau Falls. Following a years-long, $15-million-dollar renovation, it was fully restored, adding floating docks and a swimming area in the river. I have done my laps there several times, and it's amazing to feel the wind, waves and current of the mighty river. The folks at Ottawa Riverkeeper test the water quality at River House three times a week, while at Dow's Lake, they test five times a week. The samples are processed at the Riverkeeper's in-house lab, but it takes a minimum of 24 hours for lab results to be available. That 24-hour delay is only a problem when it rains because water that tested fine yesterday may not be e. coli-free today. If there was a big dump of precipitation overnight, it could wash sewage and/or goose poop into the waterways, spiking the e-coli levels. Just to be sure, I don't swim outdoors in the city after a significant amount of rain, no matter what the testing says. As for the host of other chemicals that could be washed from the parkway into the lake, NCC spokesperson Benoît Desjardins sent along this information: 'The NCC has conducted extensive water testing for more than 140 parameters, including E. coli, metals, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and petroleum hydrocarbons. To date, these tests have shown concentrations below detection limits or below human health thresholds, consistent with other swim sites.' 'Okay, I'll do it,' I vowed to myself. The next step was to plan the logistics. The Dow's Lake swimming dock is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and it's free. However, it's unsupervised and lacking amenities, with no changing area, washroom, snack bar, parking or even lane-markers in the water. At least it has the basics covered, sporting cheerful red Muskoka chairs on the dock, sturdy ladders to get out of the lake and a bicycle rack nearby. I wore my swimsuit under my clothes to make it easy, then drove against the rush-hour traffic and found a parking spot on a quiet side street west of Bronson Avenue. Toting my towel, goggles and pink swim cap, I walked the short distance to the dock, admiring the flower beds along the way. The dock is located on a deep part of the lake, at least four metres (or 13 feet) to the bottom. I far prefer swimming in deep water, partly because your toes can't feel the weeds, stumps or car parts that may be down there, and you aren't likely to bump into a muskellunge in wait for its prey. The temperature of the water was refreshing but far from frigid, and I bet it will warm up quickly in hot weather. Instead of diving into the unknown waters, I pushed off from the ladder, put my face down and pulled a few front-crawl strokes. Despite my prescription swim goggles, I saw absolutely nothing in the murky depths except sunlight reflecting off the particles of sand clouding the water. I had the 'pool' to myself most of my time there. While I swam a dozen or so laps, haphazardly as there are no lane markers, a handful of student-aged exercisers stopped to take a quick plunge, while others simply relaxed in the red chairs. From the corner of one eye, I spotted an extended family of geese, with goslings, minding their own business on the shore a stone's throw from the dock. I also saw a fleet of after-work paddleboarders on the horizon, making their way across the wind-rippled lake. Floating on my back, I watched fluffy white clouds decorate a bright blue sky. Here's what I didn't do: I tried to avoid getting water in my mouth. I did not attempt to propel myself downward to touch the bottom. I stayed within the boundaries of the roped-off zone. I didn't open my eyes underwater without goggles, and most importantly, I didn't let my imagination take over in conjuring a menace lurking below. Afterwards, I felt great and paused to share my elation with a young woman in an NCC shirt who had been sitting near the dock all afternoon. She was a Carleton University student whose summer job is to serve as an 'ambassador' at the swimming dock. Neither security guard nor lifeguard, she was there to answer questions from the public and take their suggestions, in both official languages. 'What's the most popular question?' I inquired. 'Water quality,' she replied without hesitation, outlining the frequency of the testing and the contaminants being tested like she had done it a million times before. She also let me know about the licensed, pop-up bistro that's coming soon to the area. I jokingly observed that it's not quite close enough to be a swim-up bar, a detail that can only help the water quality. But seriously. For strong swimmers, I would score the Dow's Lake dock higher than Westboro, Britannia and Mooney's Bay beaches, largely because of the depth, but not as high as River House, which has change rooms, lockers and showers. Speaking of showers, I wasted no time in proceeding directly to one. While I didn't think the water of Dow's Lake left me smelling like a turtle, it seemed prudent to treat myself to some hot water and soap after being immersed in the former Great Swamp. lsaxberg@ For more smart picks and offbeat stories from around the city, subscribe to Out of Office, our weekly newsletter on local arts, food and things to do.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Could the O-Train one-day travel across the Chief William Commanda Bridge?
The Chief William Commanda Bridge connects Ottawa and Gatineau over the Ottawa River. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa) The City of Ottawa's long-range roadmap to move people around the national capital region includes the possibility of running the O-Train across the Chief William Commanda Bridge to Gatineau. The public works and infrastructure committee will vote next week on the transportation master plan's 'capital infrastructure plan,' which identifies the transit, road and active transportation investments needed to be built over the next 20 years. The report says that with Ottawa's population expected to grow to 1.4 million by 2046, the city is expected to see demand for an additional 1.2 million daily trips, including more than 620,000 daily trips in vehicles. The plan outlines approximately $3.9 billion in capital projects, including a new bus Transitway along Baseline Road, the Cumberland Transitway and Kanata North Transitway, bus lanes on Carling Avenue, Blair Road and St. Laurent Boulevard, and road projects like the Airport Parkway Widening and the Alta Vista Transit Corridor. Staff also outline the 'Ultimate Transit Network' that includes additional long-range transit projects that will be needed beyond 2046 to 'support the city's future growth and intensification.' One of the projects identified is the Chief William Commanda Bridge as a 'potential future interprovincial rail link.' Staff say the O-Train extension has been shifted to the 'beyond 2046 horizon given the expected investment in the STO Gatineau Tramway.' Chief William Commanda Bridge The Chief William Commanda Bridge connecting Ottawa and Gatineau is now open for cyclists, runners and walkers. (Jim O'Grady/CTV News Ottawa) William Commanda Bridge Cyclists cross the Chief William Commanda Bridge over the Ottawa River between Ottawa and Gatineau Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (Natalie van Rooy/CTV News Ottawa) The City of Ottawa purchased the former Prince of Wales Bridge from Canadian Pacific Railway in 2005 for $11 million. In August 2023, the city opened the bridge, newly renamed the Chief William Commanda Bridge, as a multi-use pathway. The $22 million project to refurbish the bridge over the Ottawa River included new timber deck on top of the existing rail track ties, new lighting and park benches. Another project expected to be needed beyond 2046 is the double tracking and the electrification of O-Train Line 2, the new north-south line that runs between Bayview Station and Limebank Station. The Priority Transit Network part of the transportation master plan includes Stage 3 O-Train extensions to Barrhaven and Kanata-Stittsville, which would cost $8.3 billion. Here is a look at the road and transit priority projects for the next 20 years, according to the transportation master plan. The 'priority network' are projects that should be prioritized for implementation and 'are expected to be delivered by 2046,' staff say. Transit Network Priority Transit Network O-Train Line 1 extension to Barrhaven Town Centre O-Train Line 3 extension to Kanata and Stittsville Baseline Transitway (Algonquin College to Billings Bridge) Cumberland Transitway (Blair Road to Chapel Hill Station) Cumberland Transitway (Chapel Hill Station to Esprit Drive) South Transitway (Longfields Drive to Greenbank Road) Southwest Transitway (Barrhaven Centre Station to Kilbirnie Station) South Transitway (Riverview Station to Limebank Station) Kanata North Transitway (Eagleson-March Station to Terry Fox Drive) Heron-Walkley Transitway (Billings Bridge Station to Russell Road) Carling Avenue bus lanes between Lincoln Fields Station to Sherwood Drive Blair Road bus lanes from Blair Station to Cumberland Transitway St. Laurent Boulevard bus lanes from Innes Road to St. Laurent Boulevard Montreal Road bus lanes from St. Laurent Boulevard to Blair Road Merivale Road bus lanes from Woodfield Drive to Baseline Road Conroy Road bus lanes from Leitrim Road to Bank Street and Rosebella Avenue to Walkley Road Road Projects Priority Road Network Stittsville Main Street extension from Maple Grove Road to Derreen Avenue Greenbank Road realignment from Cambrian Road to Kilbirnie Drive Robert Grant Avenue extension between Palladium Drive to Hazeldean Road) Prince of Wales Drive widening between Deakin Street to Amberwood Crescent Brian Coburn Boulevard widening between Navan Road and Mer-Bleue Road Earl Armstrong Road extension from Bowesville Station to Bank Street Green Bank Road realignment from Kilbirnie Drive to Barnsdale Road Airport Parkway widening between Brookfield Road and Hunt Club Road A new road to serve development near Hurdman Station For a full list of transit, road and active transportation projects, click here.
CBC
a day ago
- Sport
- CBC
Watch Canada's Audrey Leduc compete at Paris Diamond League
2025 World Athletics Wanda Diamond League - Paris Live in 1 day Social Sharing Click on the video player above beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. ET to watch live action from the Diamond League track and field meet in Paris, France. Canada's Audrey Leduc will compete in the women's 200 metres at the Diamond League's latest stop on Friday in Paris. The 26-year-old from Gatineau, Que., will line up against a trio of top-10 competitors in the discipline: Americans Brittany Brown and Anavia Battle – who are second and fifth-ranked in the world, respectively – plus sixth-overall ranked Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain. Leduc owns the Canadian record in the 200m, running to a time of 22.36 seconds in May of 2024. Her 2025 season's best is 22.80. The women's 200m is slated to start at 4:08 p.m. ET. Here are some of the other key events to watch for when the event begins in the French capital on Friday at 3 p.m. ET on and CBC Gem: Women's high jump The three top-ranked women's high jumpers in the world will battle in Paris. Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the reigning world and Olympic champion and three-time Diamond League champion, will face a tough test from two Australians – Nikola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson, ranked second and third in the world, respectively. Mahuchikh has a season best mark of 2.02m while Olyslagers isn't far behind at 2.01. The event will begin on Friday at 3:06 p.m. ET Men's 110m hurdles 2024 Olympic champion and world No. 1-ranked hurdler Grant Holloway headlines the field in this event. The American has the second-fastest time ever recorded in the 110m hurdles and he's the favourite in the final of this event, which begins at 3:43 p.m. ET.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
The Government of Canada is investing in flood mapping and adaptation projects
GATINEAU, QC, June 18, 2025 /CNW/ - Canadians are experiencing record-breaking climate events—from wildfires and extreme heat waves to floods and extreme cold. Flood events are among the costliest impacts of climate change, causing significant damage to communities and infrastructure. It is now more important than ever to provide Canadians with high-quality data and insight as we adapt to the impacts of our changing climate. To that end, the Government of Canada today announced an investment of $6.8 million for 20 projects across the country through the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program, as part of Canada's National Adaptation Strategy. Environment and Climate Change Canada is investing $3.3 million in nine projects focused on advancing flood mapping science nationally and bringing together Canadian research institutions and departmental scientists. This science and research will gather the information needed to better understand the areas in Canada that are at the highest risk for damaging floods. Building this critical groundwork will result in more reliable tools for a resilient and thriving Canadian economy and for Canadians to protect themselves. Natural Resources Canada is investing $2.8 million in eight projects to develop and improve regional flood modelling approaches to advance flood hazard information coverage throughout Canada. Natural Resources Canada is investing an additional $750,000 to support three projects focused on the exchange between Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and other scientific practices related to flood hazard mapping. These projects will lead to a smarter, stronger, and more resilient future for Canadian-built infrastructure and communities. Each of the projects align with the National Adaptation Strategy's framework to reduce the risk of climate-related disasters, improve health outcomes, protect nature and biodiversity, build and maintain resilient infrastructure, and support a strong economy and workers. Quotes "Flooding is already the most costly natural disaster in Canada, and climate change is expected to make flooding more frequent and more severe in the future. By investing in cutting-edge flood mapping and bringing together experts from across sectors, we're helping communities better understand their risks and build a safer, more resilient future for Canadians and their families." – The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change "Flooding poses a significant threat to Canadian families, infrastructure, and the economy. We are collaborating closely with provinces, territories, and researchers to support flood hazard mapping that helps safeguard crucial infrastructure, minimize disruptions to local economies, and improve public safety." – The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Quick facts In 2021, the Government of Canada launched the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program with an initial investment of $63.8 million. In 2023, the Government of Canada expanded the Program through the National Adaptation Strategy, announcing $164.2 million over five years to advance flood hazard mapping, make this information available, and help Canadians better plan and prepare for future floods. The primary purposes of flood mapping are land-use planning, emergency management, and environmental and resource management. Environment and Climate Change Canada, in collaboration with provinces and territories, monitors Canada's water levels and flows, making water quantity data and information available to all Canadians. Natural Resources Canada develops and manages geospatial data (including topographic maps), the Canadian Hydrospatial Network (representing surface water across Canada), flood maps, and elevation data, which are made available to Canadians and used for planning, research, and emergency preparedness. Related products Backgrounder: The Government of Canada invests in flood mapping and adaptation projects Associated links Current Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program Projects Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program Floods: Get Prepared Canada's National Adaptation Strategy: Building Resilient Communities and a Strong Economy Water Survey of Canada Canadian Centre for Climate Services Environment and Climate Change Canada's X page Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page Environment and Natural Resources in Canada's Facebook page Environment and Climate Change Canada's LinkedIn page Environment and Climate Change Canada's Instagram page SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada View original content: Errore nel recupero dei dati Effettua l'accesso per consultare il tuo portafoglio Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Lyft launches ride-sharing service in Quebec
Quebecers in the provincial capital and Montreal can now hail a ride with Lyft, as of June 17, 2025. (Lyft) Montreal and Quebec City residents looking for another way to get around without having to worry about parking now have another option: Lyft. The ride-sharing company, which competes primarily with Uber, announced that it is offering its services as of Tuesday in the two major cities, and will be available in other select areas, including Laval, Longueuil and Gatineau, in the coming months. Lyft is already operational in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and the other top 10 major Canadian cities. Lyft rides now available Lyft rides are now available in Quebec City and Montreal. (Lyft) 'Getting around Quebec just got a lot easier,' said Lyft executive vice president Audrey Liu. 'Whether it's a trip to the market, a visit with family, or discovering a hidden gem in the city, Lyft is available to help you get there.' According to Bloomberg Second Measure, which analyzes transaction data, Lyft was well behind Uber in market share with 24 per cent to 76 per cent, as of 2024.
