NCC Sir George-Étienne Cartier Park Plan | In Progress

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

NCC extended the swim season at River House until OCTOBER.

https://twitter.com/NCC_CCN/status/1699111390202515897

OCT

O

BER.

Makes sense to me! It's an incredible place for lounging in the sun and hanging out, even when it's a little nippy for swimming. September is usually pretty warm these days, I'd be disappointed if they closed it before Oct. 1st.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Makes sense to me! It's an incredible place for lounging in the sun and hanging out, even when it's a little nippy for swimming. September is usually pretty warm these days, I'd be disappointed if they closed it before Oct. 1st.

Like City beaches that "close" (unsupervised) end of August.

[SL123]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Like City beaches that "close" (unsupervised) end of August.

To be fair tho! I've never seen a liffeguard at city pools/beaches that is not of school age.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Makes sense to me! It's an incredible place for lounging in the sun and hanging out, even when it's a little nippy for swimming. September is usually pretty warm these days, I'd be disappointed if they closed it before Oct. 1st.

Until the water gets hard, it's not too nippy for some people!

[Kelnoz]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

NCC extended the swim season at River House until OCTOBER.

https://twitter.com/NCC_CCN/status/1699111390202515897

OCT

O

BER.

We're losing the canal for skating but at least we'll be able to swim in it...

[J.OT13]

AquaTaxi, provider of water taxis service along the Ottawa River, expects to add a fourth dock at the NCC River House.

Deachman: Water Taxi! Take me down the Rideau Canal to Lansdowne

Parks Canada is starting a pilot project next year on Ottawa's heritage waterway. Meanwhile, a taxi service on the Ottawa River plans to expand. It's about time.

Bruce Deachman
Published Nov 24, 2023 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 3 minute read

[SNIP]

Meanwhile, Luc Côté, who, along with partner Tina Lazzarone, operates Aqua Taxi, a.k.a. Water Taxi Eh, on the Ottawa River, says he expects to add a fourth dock to his ferry service next year, at the newly renovated NCC River House.

Aqua Taxi’s five solar-electric boats ply the river from mid-May to mid-October, docking at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, the Ottawa Locks at the mouth of the Rideau Canal, and Richmond Landing behind Library and Archives Canada on Wellington Street. Passengers can travel between these points for $6.95 a trip. Côté estimates that about 15,000 people used the service this year.

[SNIP]

https://ottawasun.com/news/local-news/de...wcm/f3b67eb1-61b2-4b36-b37f-fde096b83f97

[J.OT13]

Winter view of the River House.


https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/photo-gallerie...photos-of-the-day-january-2024-1.6709271

[rocketphish]

The Sir George-Étienne Cartier Park Draft Plan is now available, with an opportunity to share feedback. It contains some interesting ideas, including new pathway connections and [gasp] the notion of adding a seasonal equipment rental, refreshment stand and washrooms at the Blair Rd boat launch.

https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/our-plans/sir-george-etienne-cartier-park-plan

https://ncc-website-2.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Sir-George-Etienne-Cartier-Park-Plan-90-draft.pdf

[LRTeverywhere]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Lazy journalist and lazy NCC. We don't want to build parking to our completely isolated has no transit attraction because we are against driving. Instead people run across the near highway from the neigbhourhood. In response you can now take for $64 for a family of four a slow boat ride to go for a 30 minute swim. Response: Problem solved. If people don't want to take active transport that is on them.

There is a parking lot and the NCC also built a very nice crossing of the parkway to connect it to said parking lot and the neighborhood.

[vtecyo]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Lazy journalist and lazy NCC. We don't want to build parking to our completely isolated has no transit attraction because we are against driving. Instead people run across the near highway from the neigbhourhood. In response you can now take for $64 for a family of four a slow boat ride to go for a 30 minute swim. Response: Problem solved. If people don't want to take active transport that is on them.

It's right here - with a nice crosswalk: Google streetview link

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Nothing wrong with Sparks that yet more NCC and PWGSC ownership and landlordship can't fix?

I trust the NCC. I don't trust PWGSC.

[J.OT13]

NCC Board Meeting on Thursday. No agenda posted.

[SL123]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I'm always super excited about the NCC Board Meetings until the agenda drops. Maybe I'm putting way too much focus on LeBreton. There's an off chance we get some good new info on the Bridge. And the preservation of 80 Elgin, possibly the best International Style office building in Ottawa, truly is an inspired move by the NCC.

I think NCC meeting were super exciting between 2020 to around 2023, but this year, so far, nothing excites me in their agenda.

[rocketphish]

Have we seen this before?

Re-Envisioning The Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway: A Linear Park Plan
by School of Urban and Regional Planning @ Queen’s University, 2020

https://www.queensu.ca/geographyandplann...EC%20Parkway%20Corridor%20Dec%202020.pdf

[rocketphish]

NCC looks to open a floating sauna in the Ottawa River

By Josh Pringle, CTV News
Updated: August 07, 2025 at 2:36PM EDT | Published: August 07, 2025 at 1:46PM EDT



You will soon be able to relax in a floating sauna along the Ottawa River.

The National Capital Commission (NCC) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to design, build and/or operate a floating sauna that will be located on a barge at the NCC’s River House in Ottawa’s east end.

The proposed floating sauna must accommodate a minimum of 15 people and up to 25 people. It would operate year-round, seven days a week.

The NCC’s request for proposals includes “concepts and inspiration” for Ottawa’s floating sauna, showcasing HAVN in Victoria and Bota Bota in Montreal.

A hot tub and indoor or outdoor shower using water pumped from the Ottawa River could also be part of the proposed floating sauna, according to the documents. The RFP also suggests design considerations for a cold plunge area in the winter.

According to the NCC, patrons will be able to book either community or private sessions, and sessions would be 60 minutes.

The NCC wants to open the floating sauna to the public by Dec. 31.

The documents show the floating sauna will be located on a barge just east of the NCC River House and the swimming area.

Interested companies have until Aug. 21 to submit a proposal, and the NCC is hoping for a five-year lease agreement for the floating sauna starting Dec. 1, 2025. The RFP does note the NCC does not guarantee that federal approvals for the floating sauna will be granted.

Bota Bota in Montreal offers spa, body and facial treatments. According to the Old Port of Montreal website, Bota Bota spa is moored at the Old Port, and is a “unmissable oasis in the heart of the Montreal landscape.”

HAVN is a sauna boat on the edge of Victoria’s inner harbour. The HAVN website says there are three saunas onboard varying in temperature and city to ocean views.

The NCC officially opened the NCC River House in 2023 after a $20 million revitalization project that included a new swimming area, replacing the pedestrian bridge leading to the building and work to preserve the heritage character of the pavilion and allow four-season use of the upper two levels.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/ncc-looks-to-open-a-floating-sauna-in-the-ottawa-river/

[J.OT13]

Open by the end of the year. Wow. NCC visions use to take years and then never happen. They are really motivated to get things done. Bravo!

[Uhuniau]

Now to solve the access problem at River House.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Now to solve the access problem at River House.

Yup. This is just going to make it worse. NCC should start its own public transit company.

[urbanforest]

I somewhat agree. This is a great idea, and I'm glad they're doing this, but part of me wishes they'd do it somewhere else. The Riverhouse is a great thing, but it's already a destination in and of itself—and a difficult one to get to for most people. Why not spread out the investment/waterfront animation and put this at Dow's Lake, or Lebreton, or further along the river to the west?

I suppose the good thing about it being on a barge is that they'll be able to move it easily if/when that makes sense to do.

[zzptichka]

I don't get it. Private company will park their exclusive party boat near the River House and NCC will be paying for it?