Latest news with #NationalCapitalCommission
CBC
6 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Here are some new Ottawa River attractions to check out this summer
The National Capital Commission has been working to vamp up infrastructure along the Ottawa River. Natalia Goodwin takes a tour of some of the new attractions.
Ottawa Citizen
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Monument to Afghanistan mission design is approved by NCC board
A national monument to Canada's mission in Afghanistan has been approved by the National Capital Commission, setting the stage for construction on Booth Street at LeBreton Flats. Article content The monument, to be located across from the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, was approved by the NCC's board of director at its meeting on June 19. Article content Article content There have been two changes made: Stairs that were initially part of the design have been replaced by a slight ramp to improve accessibility, and the orientation of the monument has been shifted to ensure a straight-line view of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in the distance. Article content Article content 'Obviously, we've got veterans in wheelchairs or with mobility devices, and earlier iterations of the monument had stairs right in front, and those are gone, so now it's a gentle rise that's fully accessible,' Alain Miguelez, vice-president of capital planning and chief planner of the NCC, said to reporters at a media conference. Article content Other design elements include 13 maple leaves to represent the 10 provinces and three territories, four helmets and flak jackets and a circular design after Indigenous concepts of the medicine wheel. Article content 'The design of the monument takes the form of a circular sacred space of safety: a homebase of reflection, memory and contemplation,' Jason Hutchinson, chief of federal design approvals, said at the public NCC board meeting. Article content Article content Two years ago, Pablo Rodriguez, then the minister of Canadian Heritage, and Lawrence MacAulay, then minister of Veterans Affairs, pulled the project from the Quebec-based design team Daoust, which had been selected by a government-appointed jury, and awarded the commission to Alberta-based designers Team Stimson. Article content The federal government said the decision was based on an online survey of veterans and other members of the public who preferred the Stimson design. Article content
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
21 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
This is the design for the new National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan
The National Capital Commission unveiled final designs for the new National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan. It will be built on Booth Street across from the Canadian War Museum. (National Capital Commission/release) Construction is set to begin next spring on the new National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan. The National Capital Commission approved the design for the monument that will be located on Booth Street at LeBreton Flats across from the Canadian War Museum. It will be located near the National Holocaust Monument. 'The National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan will serve as a testament to the commitment and sacrifice of Canadian Armed Forces members, police officers, public servants and civilians who served in Canada's mission in Afghanistan,' the federal government said on its website. 'The Monument will also recognize the strong support offered by Canadians at home to those who served during the mission.' Ottawa monument The National Capital Commission unveiled final designs for the new National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan. The monument on Booth Street across from the Canadian War Museum is expected to be finished in 2028. (National Capital Commission/release) The design of the monument, developed by Team Stinson, draws on elements of healing from a Medicine Wheel, with four portals and an interior area described as a 'sanctuary where the fallen are remembered.' The names of the fallen Canadian soldiers and maple leaves will be inscribed on the walls of three quadrants, while the fourth wall facing the direction of Afghanistan is dedicated to fallen Afghan allies, according to Veterans Affairs Canada. 'In the centre, four bronze flak jackets stand draped on crosses—utilitarian yet poignant reminders of protection. This Monument creates a powerful opportunity to honour and reflect, and to seek balance and healing, for all Canadians." Ottawa monument The National Capital Commission unveiled final designs for the new National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan to be built in Ottawa. (National Capital Commission/release) The federal government says 158 Canadian Armed Forces members, a diplomat, four aid workers, a government contractor and a journalist died while in Afghanistan. NCC officials expect the monument to be completed in the spring/summer of 2028.
Toronto Star
6 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
PM Carney says he has no plans to tackle 24 Sussex question during his mandate
OTTAWA - Almost a decade after 24 Sussex Drive was abandoned as the official residence of the Canadian prime minister, taxpayers are still shelling out tens of thousands of dollars a year to maintain the vacant property, and the new prime minister has signalled he's in no rush to deal with the crumbling building. Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters in May that it's up to the National Capital Commission to decide what to do with 24 Sussex.
