Queen Juliana Park, Ottawa, Canada.

The photo is by Derek F., 2012.

The photo is by Audie, 2012.

Two Ottawa City Councillors tried to save Queen Juliana Park. Jeff Leiper and Katherine Hobbs .

City of Ottawa Planning Committee June 24, 2014. Proposed Motion No. PLC 77/4 submitted by Councillor K. Hobbs. WHEREAS the Preston-Carling Secondary Plan proposes a Carling O-Train (future LRT) Station.

AND WHEREAS the provision of expanded and enhanced greenspace is a key pillar in creating a sustaining, attractive and liveable neighbourhood.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Planning and Growth Management Department, when reviewing development applications for the properties currently owned by Public Works and Government Services Canada municipally known as 870 Carling Avenue and locally known as "Queen Juliana Park" that staff seek to maximize usable, programmable greenspace to create a district park and ensure safe and convenient pathways for cyclists and pedestrians to access and move through the space from the study area and the greater Civic Hospital area. (Google: Planning Committee ottwatch June 24, 2014.)

A road may be constructed through QJP to link the Sherwood/Carling intersection and Prince of Wales Drive. "Queen Juliana Park is owned by the federal government and is zoned to accept a variety of uses, despite the decades old greenspace located there now. The possibility of a road linking the Sherwood/Carling intersection and Prince of Wales Drive has been mentioned in past CDP meetings." (Google: "Bayswater Ave. focus of design plan worries" Toronto.com-Ottawa West News, December 05, 2013, Steph Willems.) "The draft plan showed Sherwood Drive being used as a neighbourhood collector with a possible link to Prince of Wales across Queen Juliana Park." (From: Preston Carling Community Design Plan; article by Steph Willems, "Preston-Carling CDP process ramps up"-Toronto.com-Ottawa West News, September 12, 2013.)

An Open Letter from Supporters of the Friends of the Chateau Laurer.

Sent the week of September 7, 2019. "A heritage site is a natural or human-made area or structure recognized as being of outstanding importance and therefore as deserving of special protection. The Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa is such a place.

The Chateau Laurier was constructed between 1907 and 1912 at the nexus of the Ottawa River, the Rideau Canal, opposite the then railway station (now the Senate) and beside Parliament Hill. The Chateau is therefore 'the linchpin of a historic capital city' in the well-chosen words of journalist Stephen Maher. According to Heritage Ottawa, it 'is the second most important building in Ottawa after the Parliament Buildings.' 

In 1907, Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier brokered a deal between the Grand Trunk Railway (now Canadian National Railway) and the City of Ottawa to use a piece of Major's Hill Park to construct an elegant hotel. The playful, romantic style of the Chateau's turrets and gables beautifully complemented the Gothic Revival style of the Parliament Buildings next door. The success of the Chateau's original architects in enhancing and maintaining the architectural motif of Parliament Hill led in turn to the equally impressive design of the Supreme Court building by Ernest Cormier so that the Parliamentary district as a whole makes for a sweeping and impressive vista. For over a hundred years, through a variety of renovations and additions to the Chateau and nearby public buildings, successive governments have protected the architectural integrity of this built environment. Until now.

In 2013, the Larco Investments, owned by the Lalji family of Vancouver, bought the Chateau and proposed in 2016 a multi-story, boxy addition to replace the parking garage. This design is totally at variance with the iconic style of the Chateau and its surroundings. Peter Coffman, the past president of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada, writes, 'The planned addition is basically a box; all straight lines, right angles and mathmatical precision. It does not echo the older building forms, nor does it join in its romantic spirit. An inappropriate and jarring addition to an iconic building is bad enogh but the views from Major's Hill Park, the Rideau Canal, and the Ottawa River will be impaired as well.' Coffman concludes, 'the addition will draw a curtain across an integral part of one of the country's most spectacular and revered architectural tableaux.'

The design, suitable at best for a big box store in a strip mall, has been overwhelmingly rejected in thousands of submissions to the Ottawa City Council. Yet despite this, by a narrow vote (with Ottawa city councillors unanimously opposed but outvoted by suburban representatives), in July 2019 the Council supported the Larco addition. A spokesperson for Larco dismissed the opposition as a "noisy minority." Let us add our voices to that noise.

Most of us have had the pleasure of working in Ottawa, some on Parliament Hill and others as prominent members of the heritage community. We come from all parts of Canada and have supported different parties and served in different administrations. All of us who have worked near Parliament Hill at some point in our careers have enjoyed the history attached to the Chateau and have been inspired by the view that it commands. Whether it is walking from Gatineau to Ottawa over the Alexandra bridge, clearing your head by strolling in Major's Hill Park after a hard day of decision-making, or taking visitors through the Rideau Canal locks, all of us have looked at the magnificent vistas anchored by the Chateau Laurier and been awed by the vision of our predecessors. The proposed addition to the Chateau is not a local planning decision, it is a heritage issue of national importance. As David Collenette, a former Member of Parliament writes: "the Parliamentary precinct may be in the City of Ottawa but it belongs to all Canadians."

Below is a list of potential actions to prevent this potential heritage tragedy. Any one of them could do the job and Heritage Ottawa is leading the charge on the agenda. As national supporters of the Friends of the Chateau Laurier, we will do whatever we can do to support this effort.

• To the owners of Larco: No one disputes your right to demolish a parking garage and improve your property, but you must do so with a design that is compatible with the iconic building you have purchased.
• To the Ottawa City Committee of Adjustment: Larco requires a "minor" variance to lift the heritage overlay that applies to the Chateau Laurier site. The application of Larco is far from "minor" as it destroys the French Revival style of the hotel and the heritage character of the setting. You know that rarely, if ever, has there been such opposition to a developer's proposal. Listen to the people and turn down Larco's proposal.
• To the Government of Ontario: Since the Chateau Laurier fulfills all the requirements, designate the property as a Provincial Heritage site, and issue a stop work order to Larco.
• To the Chair and Board of the National Capital Commission: In 2008 the NCC prepared the Chateau Laurier Urban Design Guidance which has obviously been ignored in Larco's design. The NCC owns Major's Hill Park, and, as the Chateau abuts the park, any addition must consider night time illumination, landscaping and public access. Use your authority in these areas to demand that Larco take into account the Chateau's historic setting and work with the company to achieve a design that does this.
• To Parks Canada: You have the responsibility of managing the Rideau Canal National Historic site and maintaining its visual integrity. The proposed addition to the north side of the Chateau will forever compromise the panoramic views from the Canal. You should immediately enter into negotiations with Larco to ensure that any addition maintains a vibrant visual perspective.
• To the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO: The Rideau Canal has been designated by you as a World Heritage site. Write the governments of Canada, Ontario and Ottawa expressing concern about the impact of the proposed addition on the setting of the Canal, and, if not changed, raise the possibility of a review of the International Heritage Designation of the site.
• To the Federal Minister responsible for Canada's National Historic Sites: In 1980 the Chateau Laurier was designated as a National Historic site. But unless Parks Canada actually owns the site this means little, as the designation brings with it no legislative protection. Canada is the only G8 member that does not provide a legislative framework and sufficient resources to protect our heritage. This must change so the Chateau Laurier debacle can never occur again. Legislation must be prepared to go to Parliament in the first session following the upcoming election.
• To the Leaders of Canada's Federal Political Parties: With a federal election in the offing, the Chateau Laurier dispute has revealed great gaps in Canada's protection of its heritage sites. We urge you to make a commitment to solve the Chateau Laurier dispute by using the federal institutions and regulations at your disposal and to commit to further by using heritage legislation to prevent similar problems from occuring in the future.
• To the People of Canada: Heritage Ottawa needs your help in continuing the fight to protect the heritage of the Chateau Laurier and its surroundings. Please donate so it can continue its vital work.
• To the Government of Canada: If all else fails, use the Expropriation Act to purchase the garage structure adjacent to the Chateau Laurier, build underground parking and deed the land to the National Capital Commission as an extension to Major's Hill Park. For most of the twentieth century the Chateau Laurier was owned by CN Hotels and thus the Government of Canada. It was sold to private interests in 1988 without proper protection to preserve its heritage standing, except the designation as a National Historic site in 1980. As we have learned, this designation is for show only, as it is not backed up by legislation. If there is any upside to the Chateau Laurier dispute, it is that it has revealed a major gap in our heritage protection. This must be fixed and, as the process for doing so moves forward, the power of expropriation should be held in reserve to use if necessary,

Since the Parliament Buildings were constructed in 1866, Canadians have been blessed with beautiful vistas and iconic buildings woven together in a coherent whole in the Parliamentary district of the national capital. This is an irreplaceable heritage, and it must be passed down intact to future generations. We call on those in a position to influence or decide the issue of how best to improve the Chateau Laurier hotel, to respect that patrimony by making heritage preservation the precondition of any plan or design. Our predecessors did so, and we must be the stewards of that precious gift.

Sincerely,

Thomas S. Axworthy, Toronto, Ontario.

Also signed by:

Russell Anthony, Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, former Member of Parliament, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Constance Backhouse, Ottawa, Ontario.

Bill Blaikie, former Member of Parliament, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

John English, former Member of Parliament, Toronto, Ontario.

Winter Fedyk, Regina, Saskatchewan.

Marie-Helene Fox, Montreal, Quebec.

Norman Hillmer, Ottawa, Ontario.

Hoberly Hove, Kamloops, British Columbia.

George Haynal, Toronto, Ontario.

Patricia Lavoie, Montreal, Quebec.

Owen Lippert, Toronto, Ontario.

Richard Logan,Ottawa, Ontario.

Paul Manning, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Charles McMillian, Toronto, Ontario.

Brian Milton, Fairfax, California.

Rod Murphy, former Member of Parliament, Thompson, Manitoba.

Curtis Nordman, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Denise Ommanney, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Tony Penikett, former Premier of Yukon, Vancouver, British Columbia. 

(The information above is from "Letter from UNESCO regarding inappropriate developments.)

The Supporters of the Friends of the Chateau Laurier suggested that the land where the parking garage was located be returned to Major's Hill Park: "Deed the land to the National Capital Commission as an extension to Major's Hill Park."
 The Chateau Laurier, the adjacent park and 1960's parking garage are and were located on Parliament Hill: House of Commons Ottawa, July 6, 1908. The Hon. Robert Laird Borden (Leader of the Opposition)-"This is national property."

The National Capital Commission has the power to veto the Chateau Laurier addition.

House of Commons Ottawa. July 6, 1908. The Hon. William Pugsley (Minister of Public Works) regarding the design of the Grand Trunk Railway hotel. "The hotel shall be constructed within two years from the date of the said grant, (with) construction to be in accordance with plans approved by the government of Canada."  (The National Capital Commission cannot approve or reject the design of the Chateau Laurier addition because "The hotel is privately owned." But the Grand Trunk was a private company until 1918; and the federal Department of Public Works had control over the architectural plans of the Grand Trunk/Chateau Laurier hotel in 1908.)

"The NCC's mission statement reflects it's mandate---to use the Capital to communicate Canada to Canadians; to make the Capital a meeting place for Canadians; and to safeguard and preserve national treasures in the Capital." (1993-94 NCC Annual Report-Executive Summary-Page 9/36.)

"Too many modern cities have paid the price of uncontrolled and disharmonious development. That is why Canada's Parliament appointed the NCC to guard against inappropriate design use and land use in the Canadian Capital. The Commission has been authorized to examine all applications for design approval, land use changes, realty transactions and demolitions affecting federal property in the region, rejecting those that are inappropriate or suggesting changes to make others appropriate." (1994-1995 Annual Report of the National Capital Commission, page 19/50.)

Letter of concern from UNESCO to the Government of Canada. 4 November, 2019. The Chateau Laurier proposed expansion. (Ottawa.) Background:

"In May 2019 the World Heritage Centre, in accordance with paragraph 174 of Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, contacted the State Party regarding information received on a proposed addition to the Chateau Laurier Hotel, a building which, together with the Canadian Parliament Buildings, frames the Ottawa Locks where the Rideau Canal meets the Ottawa River. Of concern was that the proposal included elements that could negatively impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property. In June of 2019 the State Party provided comment."

"The Chateau Laurier hotel is a privately-owned building. The proposal is for the construction of a seven-storey, 147 room addition to the rear of the building, overlooking Major's Hill Park. The proposal partially overlooks the Rideau Canal at Ottawa Locks, and is planned in a contemporary style, connecting to limited areas on the Chateau Laurier's east and west wings. The development retains the Chateau Laurier in its entirety and will be built on the site of the former parking garage. The Chateau Laurier and the parking garage building existed at the time of the Rideau Canal's inscription on the World Heritage List on 2007. The proposed seven-storey addition is located in an area immediately adjacent to the Ottawa Locks, a highly significant and iconic component of the property. The Ottawa Parliament Buildings and Chateau Laurier contribute significantly to the setting for the Ottawa Locks and one of the most significant landscape views of the World Heritage property."

"Parks Canada has, in the role of adjacent landowner, provided comments and input since 2015 on the proposal and application. As the Chateau Laurier hotel is within the viewshed of the Ottawa Locks, feedback has been focused on compatibility of the proposed hotel addition with the historic setting of, and the visual impact to, the Ottawa Locks."

"Evolutions to the proposed design reduced the height and increased the setback of the addition from the historic Chateau Laurier to support the prominance of the heritage building in the landscape; to minimise the visual impact of the approach up the locks from the Ottawa River; and to open up the view into the hotel's original rear courtyard and out to the Ottawa Locks and Parliament Hill."

"On 27 June 2018, on recommendation from the City's Planning Committee, the City Council conditionally approved the application to alter the Chateau Laurier building, advising that more work was required to make the addition more visually compatible with the existing hotel. On 13 June 2019, the City's Planning Committee approved the Site Plan control application. On 10 and 11 July 2019, the City Council upheld the heritage permit approval." Discussion: "The construction of a proposed addition to the north side of the Chateau Laurier building adjacent to the Rideau Canal World Heritage property holds the potential to negatively affect the OUV (Outstanding Universal Value) of the property. It is therefore essential that utmost care be taken in assessing potential impacts before any irrevocable decisions are made."

"The viewscape framed by the Canadian Parliament Buildings and the Chateau Laurier hotel overlooks the Ottawa Locks, which is the largest set of locks within the entire Rideau Canal World Heritage property. This viewscape has been recognized for its importance by the Canadian government in its "Landscape Character Assessment and Planning and Management Recommendations (2013)." The recommendation list the Ottawa Locks and associated heritage buildings, and views to the Parliament Buildings and Chateau Laurier, as quintissential to the Rideau Canal experience."

"At the time of nomination, the City of Ottawa 20/20 official plan called for Cultural Heritage Impact Studies to ensure that the "visual quality of the waterway as well as natural and cultural features are evaluated."

The Patterson's Creek Pavilion, Ottawa. An appropriate design and size for a building beside the Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Councillor Gower is now the acting chair of Ottawa City Council's Planning Committee.

 

The merger between the Chateau Laurier Hotel and Major's Hill Park.

 Members of Parliament never wanted Major's Hill Park to be the back yard for a hotel. House of Commons Ottawa. July 6, 1908: George Halsey Perley, Conservative. "The right hon. gentleman said that the people of Ottawa had decided that they wanted the hotel there. I do not understand that the people of Ottawa had anything to say about the situation at all...This hotel is going to get the benefit of the whole of Major's Hill Park...the park really will be the back garden for the hotel...I think it was a very wrong and improper thing for the government, without consulting parliament, to have made an agreement with the Grand Trunk Pacific Company."

House of Commons Ottawa July 6, 1908: Haughton Lennox, Conservative."The people's rights could be interfered with if there is not a fence placed between the hotel property and the park. I have enough experience with this government to believe that there may be easements granted to that company which would be inconsistent with the rights and interests of the public."

After the Daly Building was demolished in 1991/1992, nearby businesses objected to the land being preserved as an open space; they did not want so-called vagrants on the property.

The park and the hotel are located on Parliament Hill and they are part of the Confederation Square National Historic Site of Canada. House of Commons Ottawa. December 21, 1963. House of Commons Ottawa. July 6, 1908: The Hon. Robert Laird Borden (Leader of the Official Opposition): "...This proposal to thrust a hotel onto the grounds of parliament is so incongruous and unnecessary that I cannot understand how the government ever came to accede to it. I have already said it and I repeat it, that it would be just as well for the government to have authorized the building of a hotel on one of the front lawns of this building...This is national property."

I am standing between the Chateau Laurier and the former Museum of Photography. The Parliament Buildings can be seen in the distance.

Views of the original hotel will be negatively impacted by new construction: "When determining the heirachy of view protection policies, it is important to note that there are additional secondary symbols within the Central Capital Landscape whose views are to be protected, preserved and enhanced. This includes national symbols on both sides of the Ottawa River such as the National Gallery, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Museum of History, the Supreme Court and Chateau Laurier." (New Tools for View Controls in Canada's Capital-2016-page 37/76.)

The division between a hospital and a farm.

Agriculture Canada plans are in the first paragraphs...

1.  The roads and pathways. Internal Roadways." The internal road streetscapes are generally appropriate in scale and treatment to their landscape setting...No internal road widenings should be permitted...Many internal roads have curbs but their narrow width and the simplicity of the curbing supports a rural character. Roads that are not already curbed should not be curbed." (CEF National Historic Site Management Plan-18-20.)

"The National Capital Commission Scenic Driveway is a tree covered route flanked with bike trails. All of the roads serving the site with the exception of Prince of Wales Drive are expected to be widened to account for a greater density of traffic." ( Regenerating the Experimental Farm, 2016, page 30/74.) "I believe that Prince of Wales could become a four-lane road leaving Isabella Preston's trees closer to salt and traffic." (Friends of the CEF newsletter, page 3, Spring of 2018.)

The National Capital Commission Scenic Driveway will be widened.

 2.  The hedge collection between Maple and Birch: Guidelines: "Hedges, and especially new and old hedge collections are important landscape resources on the Farm. The hedge collection should be considered as part of the recommended study on trees." (CEF National Historic Site Management Plan.)

Agriculture Canada employees were forced to dig up a hedge collection that was near the evicted DARA Tennis Club. "AAFC is moving the historic hedge collection." ( The Sir John Carling site, Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital.) 

3.  Sir John Carling Building cafeteria annex.-Agriculture Canada employees wanted to convert the cafeteria annex into a visitor's centre and a museum. "Redevelopment of the Carling building site to become a visitor's centre and to house the national seed and insect collections."  (CEF National Historic Site Management Plan-18-20.)

The medical centre is demolishing the cafeteria annex."A process has been initiated to demolish the Annex." ( Google: "Neighbours pore over details of future Civic Hospital Plan" by Kate Porter, CBC News, May 31, 2021. Go to: "... people must pore over documents made public on city's website." "Cultural Heritage Impact Statement, page 3/186.)

4. Parking Guidelines: "Generally parking area on the site should be dispersed into small discreet pockets wherever possible and sited to the side or rear of the front facade of buildings." (CEF National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan, 18-20.)

The Civic hospital needs massive parking lots.

5.  Infrastructure: "No buildings will be built on the central experimental farm except for buildings for the Department of Agriculture." A statement by the Hon. George McIlraith, Minister of Public Works, in the House of Commons, June 16, 1958. During World War 11, temporary buildings #5 and # 8 were constructed adjacent to Dow's Lake and Queen Juliana Park respectively. Once they were demolished, the land was supposed to be an open space.

A few years ago the Dow's Lake parking lot and Queen Juliana Park were given to a medical centre. "When construction begins in 2024, the site will be bustling with between 1,500 and 2,000 building and construction workers every day." (The New Civic Development for the Ottawa Hospital-Checkpoint-May 2021, page 6/12.)

6. The Farm was the National Capital's Central Park." The Experimental Farm forms a central park within a residential area of the City of Ottawa." (The Greber Report of 1950, page 167/395.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Concerns. The medical centre needs more property for expansion in the future--- will the CFIA Lab, Neatby Building and greenhouses be leveled? Will the DND properties on Navy Private be transferred to the Civic? The RCN Curling Club has to relocate because DND raised their rent 1,000 percent. "The panel understands that the full build of the hospital is dependent on a future needs assessment...The Panel is concerned with the scale of the proposed development and finds that the project is of a completely different scale from the surrounding neighbourhood." (City of Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel, March 1, 2018. 930 Carling Avenue and 520 Preston Street|Formal Review.)

 "Friends of the Farm raises concerns about future hospital impact on gardens, arboretum."  ("Ottawa West News" Melissa Murray, March 13, 2017.)

Zoning changes. National Capital Commission's Plan for Canada's Capital - pertaining to the CEF: "Lands east of Prince of Wales Drive are Urban Green Space; the Rideau Canal and nearby CEF shore lands are Waterway and Shore Lands; the Canada Agricultural Museum lands are National Cultural Institution; Lands near Carling are Federal Node." (Google: "CEF National Historic Site Management Plan-7-20.)

The loss of trees. "Based on the results of the tree inventory a total of 680 trees will be removed." (New Civic Development for the Ottawa Hospital, Environmental Impact Statement and Tree Conservation Report, page 21/73. A map showing the exact location of the doomed trees can be found on page 44/73.)

Corporate executives want to transform Carling Avenue into a Hospital Row similar to University Avenue in Toronto. The 1,000 acre National Historic Site and Commissioner's Park are impeding that effort.

Potential light pollution. The Royal Ottawa Hospital is located on 1145 Carling Avenue, less than a mile from the Agriculture Canada property. For a year their sign was "an artificial moon glowing through the windows of nearby houses, disrupting sleep and fraying nerves...Some Carlington residents say the sign is too big and too bright. "I just think its bizarre they put it up. It's not Vegas." "The Royal Ottawa Hospital is a mental health facility, not a hospital with emergency services." "We spent a year asking them nicely and they spent a year ignoring us." (Royal Ottawa's sign sparks anger-pressreader-February 11, 2008.)

A petition that was sent to the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.

 Petition 388: Protection of the Central Experimental Farm as a research facility and a national historic site of Canada.

Date received: January 28, 2016.

Petitioner: Coalition to Protect the Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site of Canada.

Summary: "The petition asks for information about the transfer of 60 acres of the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa from the control of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to the National Capital Commission. The Central Experimental Farm is a national historic site of Canada where various environmental scientific experiments are conducted. For example, the Farm conducts experiments on the impact of climate change on agriculture, and studies crop yields and soil biodiversity. The petition asserts that the proposed severance of some of the most significant acreage will have negative impacts on the Farm in its role as both research facility and national historic site."

"The petition asks, among other things, why the transfer has not been subjected to an environmental assessment, what other sites were considered, and why no public hearings have been held on the transfer. The petition also asks to make available to the general public the basis of the decisions that led to the transfer."

Issues: Agriculture, environmental assessment, governance, science and technology.

Federal departments and agency responsible for reply: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; Parks Canada.

Status: Completed.

(Google: "Office of the Auditor General, Report 5, 2016 Fall Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.")

The Coalition to Protect the Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site of Canada.

Natalie Bull, National Trust for Canada.

David Jeanes, President, Heritage Ottawa.

Erwin A.J. Dreessen, PhD Co-chair, Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital.

Professor Peter Smith, FSB, FRSE, Institute of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen.

G. Clarke Topp, PAg, Soil Physicist, Environmental Scientist.

Con Campbell, CM,SOM,PhD,FAIC, FCSS, FASA, FSSSA, Soil and Environmental Service.

Paul Hallett, Professor of Soil Physics, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen.

David W. Hopkins, BSc Dsc CBio FSB Professor of Soil Science, Dean of Agriculture, Food & Science Environment, The Royal Agricultural University Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

Nikita Lopoukhine MSc, Canadian Geographical Society Fellow, Emeritus Chair, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, Ex Chair of the Society for Ecological Restoration, Board member of Wildlands Network, National Trustee of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

Sidney Rosa Vieira, CPD Solos Recusos Ambientais, Instituto Agronomico, Campinas SP Brazil.

Lynne Fortin, Consultant in Architectural Conservation, Carleton University Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism.

Hazel Christy, MBA, MCIP, President of the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

Robert Allsopp. Fellow, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects.

Robert Norman, President, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects.

Freeman Cook, Environmental Scientist, Brisbane, Australia.

Peter Anderson, PhD Candidate, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario.

Mike Beare, MSC, PhD, FN ZSSS, Science Group Leader, New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Jennifer Dungait, BSC, MSC, PhD, FlSoilSCI, Principal Research Scientist and Honorary Associate Professor, Rothansted Research, North Wyke, UK.

Chris van Kessel, Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California.

Ken Van Rees, R PF, Head, Department of Soil Science, Director, Centre for Northern Agroforestry and Afforestration, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

J. David Miller, PhD JA 1 HA, Carleton University.

Myrna J. Simpson, PhD, Professor of Environmental Chemistry, University of Toronto, Scarborough, Ontario.

Julie Harris, Mus.St. Contentworks, Heritage Keeper for the Central Experimental Farm, Heritage Ottawa.

Dr. Christina Cameron, Universite de Montreal, and Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage.

Shirley Blumberg, CM, Fellow of RAIC.

Dr. Dan Pennock, Professor Emeritus, Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, and Fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science.

Robert Brinker, Carlington Community Association, Ottawa.

Serge Buy, CEO, Agricultural Institute of Canada.

Warren A. Dick, Professor, Soil Science, the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

Mari Wesche, Professor (ret'd), University of Ottawa, National Capital Region Group Leader, Citizens Climate Lobby Canada.

Graham Saul, Ecology Ottawa.

Maja Krzic, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columba, Vancouver, BC, and President Elect, Canadian Society of Soil Science.

Cathy Orlando, Citizens Climate Lobby National Manager for Canada.

Dr. Les Lavkulich, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC and Fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science.

Barry Padolsky, B.Arch., M.SC. Urban Design OAA, FRAIC, RCA, CAHP.

Deirdre Laframboise, BES, MES, Executive Director of the Canadian Climate Forum.

Dr. Tom Pedersen, Chair of the Board, Canadian Climate Forum.

Sarah Rice, Chair, Ottawa Food Policy Council.

The Coalition to Protect the Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site of Canada mailed letters to the following individuals and organizations:

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

CC:

Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science.

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

The Honourable Eric Hoskins, MD. Minister of Health and Long Term Care, Province of Ontario.

Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations.

The Nobel Peace Prize, Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Former Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Al Gore.

Dr. Mark Kristmanson, CEO, National Capital Commission.

Dr. Jack Kitts, CEO, Ottawa Hospital.

Mayor Jim Watson, City of Ottawa.

Councillor Jeff Leiper, Kitchissippi Ward, City of Ottawa.

Councillor Riley Brockington, River Ward, City of Ottawa.

The Honourable Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Infrastructure, Province of Ontario.

Katie Gibbs, Evidence for Democracy.

Friends of the Farm.

Julie Dompierre, Executive Secretary, Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, for distribution to members of the board, please.

(All of the above information and a copy of the November 23, 2015 Coalition letter can be found on the Heritage Ottawa website: Google:" Heritage Ottawa Letter-Saving the Central Experimental Farm and Enabling Hospital Renewal. January 29, 2016, News.")

Street signs on the Farm.

The photo is by Flickr.

The Museum of Nature doors, Ottawa.

 50 + Beautiful Doors From Across Canada, MSN News, Reader's Digest Canada, June 15, 2021.

The Museum of Nature, photo is by Paula Brown.

My sister, my niece and I are in front of the same doors during the summer of 1984.

The Farm is an inappropriate location for condominiums and a medical centre.

1.)  The Farm is a National Historic Site of Canada and a National Interest Land Mass."Land forming part of the NILM will be retained by the NCC on behalf of the government in perpetuity." (Google: 1988-09-15-tb-re-ncc.)

2.)  The adjacent, 22- acre Commissioners Park is part of the Greenbelt. House of Commons Ottawa September 16, 2009: Member of Parliament Steven Blaney (Bellechase-Les Etchemins-Levis, Quebec) Conservative. "...Other properties found in the Greenbelt are Commissioners Park, where there is a display of over 100,000 tulips." "Greenbelt land should have clearly defined boundaries protected by federal statutes, preventing commercial and residential development and other incompatible activities." (From: Greenbelt Coalition of Canada's Capital Region-Position Paper for the NCC's Greenbelt Master Plan Review, September 2010, Legal protection, Part 4.5.)

3.)  The adjacent Dominion Observatory campus is part of the Parliamentary Precinct. "...(Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier's) advocation reinforced the idea that this Observatory was to be considered an arm of the parliamentary precinct." (From: "Journal of the study of Architecture in Canada""Astonomer Mary Grey and the Architecture of Canada's Dominion Observatory." Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, page 10/67.)  House of Commons Ottawa November 2, 1967: The Hon. Stanley Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre) New Democratic Party: "Buildings on or near the Parliamentary Precinct cannot be any taller than the Peace Tower."

4.)  The Dow's Lake area is protected by a United Nations agency called UNESCO, and there are buffer zones:

5.)  The Arboretum Woods and Experimental Farm Woods may be divested: "Where land in a Natural Environment Area, Urban Natural Feature, or Major Open Space designation is in the hands of a public body or agency such as the National Capital Commission or a Conservation Authority, and where this property is not required to achieve their interests as expressed in their plans, and where this public body seeks to have the City acquire these lands, the City will proceed in accordance with policies (c) and (d) above. [Ontario Municipal Board decision, March 30,2006, under appeal.] (Google: urban natural features strategy, City of Ottawa, April 11, 2006.)

The future of the Arboretum, Experimental Farm, Vincent Massey Park and Hog's Back Park is uncertain--- The Hon. Anne Cools, a Canadian Senator: "Honourable Senators, this inquiry is about the destiny of our capital city's parklands to serve Canadian mothers, fathers and children's needs to interact with nature, Ottawa's greenspaces and the historic Rideau Canal. The Rideau Canal, its waterfront parklands, greenspaces, historic locks, bridges and stonework are part of the heritage and beauty of our capital city."

"...The public has great affection for Moffatt Farm and the other parklands, like Vincent Massey Park and Hog's Back Park which are similarly zoned and similarly at risk. The public fears that many other public parklands, like the Experimental Farm and the Arboretum are on the NCC's list for sale." (Google: "Proposal to Sell Moffatt Farm-Inquiry-Debate Adjourned. Senate Debate April 23, 2002.")

6.)  Plans are underway to change highways and pathways on the Experimental Farm: "The National Capital Commission Scenic Driveway is a tree-covered route flanked with bike trails. All of the roads serving the site with the exception of Prince of Wales Drive are expected to be widened to account for a greater density of traffic." (From: Regenerating the Experimental Farm,2016, page 30/74.) Scenic highways in the National Capital Region are untouchable--- they cannot be depaved, widened or sold to the Province of Ontario, city of Ottawa, a medical facility or a foreign government. And Maple Drive next to the Observatory cannot be converted to an ambulance route-savecfbrockcliffe. "Federal, scenic highways in the National Capital Region are dedicated to the memory of Canadian soldiers who died fighting in foreign wars. They will be owned by the citizens of Canada in perpetuity." (The Greber Report of 1950, page 228/395.)

7.)  Queen Juliana Park on 870 Carling Avenue in Ottawa was a gift to the people of Canada, from the federal Department of Public Works. Petition: City of Ottawa Planning Committee-Stop the rezoning of Parks to Condos, Queen Juliana in Little Italy. change.org.

Canada's Parliamentary Precinct cannot be subdivided or privatized.

 The Parliamentary Precinct includes: The Parliament Buildings; Library of Parliament; Supreme Court of Canada; Senate of Canada (former Union Station); Library and Archives Canada on Wellington Street;  properties on Wellington Street opposite Parliament Hill; the northern half of the Sparks Street Mall; the Dominion Observatory on Carling Avenue and the Lebreton Flats.

The Dominion Observatory Campus, Carling Avenue: "The popularity of the Observatory occurred when it opened in 1905, due to the support of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Laurier's advocation reinforced the idea that this Observatory was to be considered an arm of the parliamentary precinct... At the time, it was recognized as a national achievement, where the nation's time would be kept, and of what would be a symbol of Canada's progress in astronomical science." ("Journal of the Study of Architecture in Canada", "Astronomer Mary Grey and the Architecture of Canada's Dominion Observatory" Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Sharon Odell, Page 10/67.)

The Lebreton Flats are the Western Annex of the Parliamentary Precinct: House of Commons Ottawa February 23, 1965. The Hon. Mr. Cardin (Minister of Public Works.) Liberal."...Some time ago a decision was reached to construct the Department of National Defence headquarters building in the Lebreton flats area. At that time it was also decided that other government buildings should be located in the same area, forming a government complex of office buildings in the area from Parliament Hill west to lebreton flats."

Properties across from Parliament Hill on Wellington Street, and the northern half of the Sparks Street Mall; House of Commons Ottawa July 20, 1973. The Hon. Jean-Eudes Dube (Minister of Public Works.) "Mr. Speaker, for a number of years now it has been recognized that Parliament faces a severe space problem creating a limitation of its effective operation. As Parliament has become, through its committees and in other ways, even more involved in all aspects of the nation's life, it has become much more a year round operation and space available has fallen behind its needs as they have developed in the modern era."

"Moreover, concern has been expressed about the danger of visual encroachment on the beauty of the present parliamentary precinct which is one of the great symbols of Canada. We must ensure that nearby developments do not adversely affect it and furthermore, we have an opportunity, I believe to enhance the present precinct by enlarging and thereby completing it, in a fitting manner." 

"...We have all been aware that to properly house the expanded requirements of Parliament for the generations ahead in a way that would both complement and preserve the existing architectural beauty of the Parliament Buildings we must enlarge the present parliamentary grounds."

"I wish therefore to announce, Mr. Speaker, that I have today, on behalf of the government, filed a notice of intent to expropriate all the land and buildings in the area bounded by Wellington Street, Elgin Street, Sparks Street and Bank Street. The purpose of this expropriation as I have indicated is to protect the environment of Parliament from any development which could adversely affect it and simutaneously provide the land for an appropriate expansion of parliamentary facilities and other government requirements. The property of the United States Embassy has been excluded from this expropriation but discussions are well advanced for its acquisition."

"...I should like to add a few words, Mr. Speaker,with respect to the existing properties and especially the Sparks Street Mall. It is the government's intention that until Parliament's needs have been defined, there will be no disturbances whatsoever of the existing properties. This will be especially true of the commercial operations on Sparks Street. Some of the office accomodation in the upper levels may be used for government purposes from time to time" (more)

"The present character of the Mall will be preserved and enhanced." (more...)

The Chateau Laurier Hotel and Major's Hill Park were part of Parliament Hill: House of Commons Ottawa July 6, 1908: The Hon. Robert Laird Borden (Conservative). "...The park is a portion of the national domain, and a portion of the grounds of Parliament." (Construction of a Grand Trunk Railway hotel on Major's Hill Park.)

House of Commons Ottawa December 21, 1963. Legal title to Parliament Hill.

Laws protect the Parliamentary Precinct--- the landscapes and buildings are National Historic Sites of Canada; many land masses, highways, the Greenbelt and Gatineau Park were designated National Interest Land Mass properties in 1988 and Senate Bill S-203 protects National Historic Sites:

Senate Bill S-203.

Dow's Lake may not be part of the Parliamentary Precinct, but prime ministers, federal politicians and urban planner Jacques Greber wanted the Dow's Lake area preserved as a national park and a playground: House of Commons Ottawa March 2, 1939. Mr. Heaps, Co-operative Commonwealth Federation."...I know that the federal government has laid out a number of parks here, and open spaces used for playgrounds. To get a fairly accurate understanding we should know what use is being made of these open spaces to find out if Ottawa is receiving a square deal from the federal government."

The Hon. Charles Avery Dunning (Minister of Finance and Receiver General.)"...Take for example certain properties of the federal district commission surrounding Dow's lake. What was their actual value before the federal district built them up and turned them into the beautiful park which now exists?"

Urban planner Jacques Greber wanted the Central Experimental Farm to be "Ottawa's Central Park": "The Experimental Farm forms a central park within a residential area of the City of Ottawa." (The Greber Report of 1950, page 167/395 and a photograph of the site is included in the chapter.)

A letter from Member of Parliament Elizabeth May to the Hon. Catherine McKenna, Federal Minister of the Environment.

Experimental Farm trees.

A 1973 Ottawa Journal article. 

New Civic Development for the Ottawa Hospital-Environmental Impact Statement and Tree Conservation Report-May 2021.

4.5.1.2. Trees: "Based on the results of the tree inventory, a total of 680 trees will be removed." (Page 21/73.)

Most of the doomed trees are adjacent to the Dow's Lake parking lot; along both sides of the O-Train between Carling and Prince of Wales... (The map is on Page 44/73.) 

The people of Ottawa are mere bystanders.

 

The Civic does not want "irregular borders" and Maple Drive is a designated ambulance route. Before long the Observatory Campus will meet the same fate as the nearby Natural Resources campus. In addition, the rectangular William Saunders Building is now vacant and is located to the left of Zone 4, future University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

The Natural Resources Canada buildings on Booth and the Observatory Campus are part of the NRC portfolio. The photo was taken during the summer of 2020:

Queen Juliana Park - Do not even try to compare Queen Juliana Park to the so-called "park" that will be built on top of a Civic Hospital building. The current green space is owned by Canadians, is totally accessible (there are no fences or "No Trespassing" and "Private Property" signs) and I fail to see how 1,000 participants at the Run for Juvenile Diabetes and Italian Week celebrations can utilize the rooftop garden.

Queen Juliana Park, 870 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Canada.

Federal Directory of Real Property-Property 24426-G.C. Land-Vacant (Former Building #8 site.)

Organization: Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Use: Parks and Recreation.

Interest: Crown Owned.

Address: 870 Carling Avenue.

Municipality: Ottawa.

Land Area (ha.) 5.5883.

Buildings: 0.

Floor Area (sq. m.): 0.

House of Commons Ottawa November 4, 1974. The Hon.Walter David Baker (Deputy House Leader of the Official Opposition; Progressive Conservative Party Deputy House Leader)Progressive Conservative. Mr. Baker (Grenville-Carleton): "Mr. Speaker, on October 7 I directed a question to the Minister of State for Urban Affairs (Mr. Danson) regarding...a theory he advanced in the course of "Question Period" that the government would have to consider the adoption of a trade-off in respect of green spaces in Canadian cities."

"At that time this indicated that the minister was at least considering the intrusion of development into green spaces. Subsequently the minister, in the course of his answer, indicated that at least in so far as the two places I had mentioned in National Capital Area, namely the Experimental Farm and the Ottawa greenbelt, he regarded these as areas of special sensitivity, and shared my views and the views of many others of the House in respect of the necessity to preserve them."

"I want to say that where we are dealing with the National Capital Area, which is certainly an area of special sensitivity, or with any other urban area in this country, we must regard, and government policy must look at green space in urban areas as a very precious commodity. It is becoming more preciuos each day as there is a tendency in our society...to pack more and more people onto fewer and fewer acres of land."

"Municipal development is becoming vertical rather than horizontal. Indeed we must consider the impact that this type of development will have on open space, a particularily agricultural land. The greenbelt and the Experimental Farm in the National Capital Area are precious for the reasons I have mentioned."

The Hon. Pierre De Bane (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of State for Urban Affairs)Liberal: Mr. De Bane: "Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the hon. member that the National Capital Commission is fully aware of the matter which he has raised, namely that we must preserve the green spaces of this area.I can assure the hon. member that there is no question of replacing the green spaces aleady in the national capital region with buildings."

Carling Village -"Ground floor retail and residential components are new proposed uses". (From: Page 34, New Civic Development for the Ottawa Hospital, Transportation Impact Assessment and Mobility Study, 2021.) "Dow's Lake is located at the base of Preston Street and nearby Little Italy. The area is home to some of the tallest building proposals in the city, some reaching over 40 storeys." (Preston Carling Area Secondary Plan.)

A City of Ottawa zoning change will facilitate the construction of Carling Village: "12 acres of Civic Hospital land on the Farm has been rezoned General Urban Area to permit the construction of residential housing.-Application #D01 ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT: 520 Preston Street, 930 Carling Avenue-Official Plan Amendment-No Appeal-Adopted July 16,2018. "Description-The purpose of the amendment is to facilitate the use of the selected site for a new Hospital. The amendment would remove approximately 5 ha. (12 acres) of land designated as Agricultural Research Area within the current Central Experimental Farm boundary and designate these lands as General Urban Area." General Urban Area-Section 3.6.1- What that means in the City of Ottawa:

"The GUA designation permits the development of a full range and choice of housing types to meet the needs of all ages, incomes and life circumstances, in combination with conveniently located employment, retail, leisure, entertainment and institutional uses...New taller buildings may be considered for sites that front an Arterial Road and are in an area already characterized by taller buildings or sites that are zoned to permit taller buildings. (Note: Carling Avenue is an Arterial Road.) The General Urban Area permits uses that may generate traffic, noise, or other impacts that have the potential to create conflicts with the surrounding residential community."

Proposed Study Area Intersections. 1.) Carling/Parkdale. 2.) Carling/Civic Hospital. 3.) Carling and Melrose. 4.) Carling/Irvine-Maple. 5.) Carling/Sherwood. 6.) Carling/Champagene. 7.) Carling and the Trillium Pathway. 8.) Carling/Preston. 9.) Carling/Rochester. 10.) Carling/Booth. 11.) Carling and Bronson. .

12.) Parkdale/Westmount/HWY 417. 13.) Parkdale/HWY 417 EB. 14.) Parkdale/Sherwood. 15.) Parkdale and Ruskin. 16.) Sherwood/Bayswater. 17.) Prince of Wales/ Driveway. 18.) Prince of Wales and Navy. 19.) Prince of Wales/ Preston. 20.) Rochester/ Raymond HWY 417.  21.) Rochester and Orangeville HWY 417. 22.) Bronson/ Catherine HWY 417. 23.) Bronson/HWY 417. 24.) Bronson/ Imperial-Plymouth. 25.) Bronson/Madawaska-Fifth. (From: Page 33, 2021-05-10-New Civic Development for the Ottawa Hospital, Transportation Impact Assessment and Mobility Study.)

Other Area Developments.

1.)  90 Champagne- The proposed development is a 14-storey residential building. A total of 336 units are proposed. The Transportation Brief projects an increase in two-way traffic volumes of approximately 25 veh/h during peak hours.

2.)  93-105 Norman- The proposed development is a residential building with an approximately 117 units proposed. The Transportation Brief projects an increase in two-way traffic volumes of approximately 70-80 veh/h during peak hours.

3.)  101-105 Champagne-The proposed development is a 25-storey residential building with at grade commercial. 

4.)  17 Aberdeen/300 Preston-The proposed development is a 30-storey residential building. A total of 254 units are proposed. The Transportation Brief projects an increase in two-way traffic volumes of approximately 40 to 50 veh/h during peak hours.

5.)  552 Booth-The proposed development consists of approximately 1,000 dwelling units in the buildings and 142,200 square feet of retail and office. The Transportation Brief projects an increase in two-way traffic volumes of approximately 175 veh/h during peak hours.

6.)  450 Rochester-The proposed development consists of a 9 and 5-storey residential buildings.

7.)  70 Beech-The proposed development is a 6-storey residential building with at grade commercial. A total of 40 units are proposed.

8.)  530 Rochester- The proposed development is a 20 storey residential building. A total of 117 units are proposed.

9.)  500 Preston-The proposed development is a 30-storey residential building with at grade commercial. A total of 224 units are proposed.

10.)  855 Carling-The proposed development consists of approximately 400 apartment dwelling units in four buildings (19, 15 and two four-storey) The Transportation Brief projects an increase in two way traffic volumes of approximately 90 to 105 veh/h during peak hours.

11.) 845 Carling-The proposed development consists of approximately 1,123 dwelling units in 3 buildings (55, 48 and 18 storeys) and a large public plaza. The Transportation Brief projects an increase in two-way traffic volumes of approximately 150 to 175 veh/h during peak hours.

12.) 505 Preston-The proposed development is a 45 storey mixed-use building. A total of 262 units are proposed. The Transportation Brief projects an increase in tw-way traffic of 60/70 veh/h during peak hours.

(From: Pages 31 and 32; 2021-05-10, New Civic Development for the Ottawa Hospital, Traffic Impact Assessment and Mobility Study.)

House of Commons Ottawa November 4, 1974. The Hon. Walter David Baker (Grenville-Carleton): "...There really is no open or green space available to those who live in high-rise housing, row housing,in condominiums or in densely populated areas.That green and open space which normally is provided by one's backyard or by the neighbourhood park, must be provided in those urban areas by greenbelt areas such as the Experimental Farm or by other areas in other cities."

Proposed pathways, sidewalks and cycle tracks. The Queen Juliana Park Pathway-The current asphalt pathway begins at Carling/Sherwood and proceeds south, parallel to the embankment to Prince of Wales. This connection will be maintained through a secondary on-site path that begins at Carling/Sherwood, then south to Road A1 where there will be a crossing at a stop-controlled intersection. Upon crossing, the user will be on the Road B on-site pathway leading to Prince of Wales. (From: Page 66/1044, New Civic Development for the Ottawa Hospital, Traffic Impact and Mobility Study.)

The Trillium Pathway south of Carling to Prince of Wales will be discontinued by future parkade structure.

 Residents of the National Capital Region, especially children, should have access to vast expanses of public land - "Ottawa Public Gardens include Commissioner Park, Dow's Lake-4 acres of land." Greber Report of 1950, Page 160/395. (Note: Commissioners Park now encompasses 22 acres and is part of the NCC Greenbelt.)

"The Experimental Farm forms a central park within a residential area of the city of Ottawa, and its avenues constitute a part of the driveways of the Federal District Commission." (Greber Report of 1950, Page 167/395.)