Rideau Canal Cultural Landscape Study
Background
Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a national historic site of Canada, and a Canadian heritage river, the Rideau Canal is one of the defining features of the National Capital Region. Residents and visitors alike cherish the beauty and recreational opportunities this waterway brings to the city. There is no question that the Rideau Canal is one of the most iconic symbols of our city. There is also no question that it is a source of recreation, transportation, history and more for both residents and visitors. So, how can the caretakers of both the canal and the land that surrounds it ensure that the Rideau Canal continues to be a valuable resource for generations to come? That’s the question being asked by the City of Ottawa, the National Capital Commission and Parks Canada through the Rideau Canal Cultural Landscape Study.
Project Overview
The National Capital Commission (NCC), Parks Canada and the City of Ottawa have engaged Matrix Heritage to produce a cultural landscape study of the northern section of the Ottawa corridor of the Rideau Canal, from the Ottawa Locks through to Hog’s Back Locks, that outlines its heritage values and character-defining elements.
The Rideau Canal Cultural Landscape Study will be a guiding document for the three partner organizations to inform their respective planning, reporting, project development, and review of internal and external proposals for both the lockstation grounds and the lands along the Rideau Canal.
Study Area
The study area, referred to as the Ottawa Urban Section of the Rideau Canal, stretches from the Ottawa Locks at the Ottawa River in the north, to Hogs Back Lockstation in the south, encompassing approximately 8.0 kilometers. This study focuses on the Rideau Canal itself, areas in its immediate vicinity, and those with a significant influence on the canal, including Carleton University, Echo Drive, and locations offering important viewpoints along the canal.
Public Engagement
The survey closed on December 8th. Thank you to everyone who participated!
We also did pop-up information kiosks at Minto Recreation Complex at 3500 Cambrian Road, Nepean on November 18th from 11am to 3 pm and Lansdowne farmer's market on November 26th.
Public and stakeholder engagement is a valuable component of this exercise. The partner organizations encourage your participation in this engagement process to better understand what makes the Rideau Canal an important place and how its significance and value can best be enhanced and protected for residents, organizations, businesses and visitors now and into the future.
Contact
If you have any questions about this project, please contact heritage@ottawa.ca
As questions are collected, please review the FAQ tab for further information.
You can find information about the responsibilities of each of the partner organizations at the following links:
- National Capital Commission: NCC Mandate
- City of Ottawa: Official Plan
- Parks Canada: Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada