A May 18, 1967 article from the Ottawa Journal.

The Holt Commission of 1915. "Extensive parks and playgrounds were recommened including the acquirement of lands in the Laurentian Hills for a National Park and the development of Dow's Lake and its adjacent lands as a recreational centre was strongly urged." (From: The Greber Report of 1950, page 199/395.)

Trudeaumania at Tulip Fest in late 1960's.

 From the CBC News television archives.

"When I first came to Ottawa looking for a job it was in the springtime, and I was delighted to see all the greenery and the flowers. This is indeed one of great pleasures of working and living in this great city, is that it is truly a beautiful city. And in the spring, at this time of year, the beauty is enhanced by the tulips. When the tulips come it is a sign that summer is coming, and though the weatherman doesn't seem to have heard about it the tulips have, and they are here right on time."

Why does the government of Canada want to demolish the Dominion Observatory campus?

1966.

Dominion Observatory - #1.  Observatory House - #2.  Geophysical Laboratory - # 3.  Seismology Survey Building - #7.  South Azimuth on Maple Drive - was # 4 in the year 1966 and is now #8.  Photo Equatorial - was #5 in 1966 and is now #9. The Zenith Transit Telescope, #9; and buildings #3 and #8 in the 1966 photo were removed.

 The Observatory Campus was originally part of a land deal between the federal government of Canada and the Civic Hospital Corporation. But the powers that be reconsidered that location. However, the Civic does not want irregular parcels of land. And a local councillor in Ottawa cannot guarantee that the Civic will retain the buildings---the Civic demolished the Sir John Carling cafeteria annex fairly recently: "Counc. Riley Brockingon, who represents the newly leased land, has been trying to lock into the lease conditions that would preserve as many existing buildings as possible, such as the domed building that used to hold the Dominion Observatory. He was not invited to the signing, he said." (From: "Reevely-Feds say they''ll pay $11.8 million to clean up new Civic site." Ottawa Citizen, February 23, 2018.)

The entire Central Experimental Farm was designated a National Historic Site by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 1998:

House of Commons Ottawa February 9, 1998 - Statements in the House - MP Marlene Catterall (Ottawa West-Nepean) Liberal:" Mr. Speaker, last week the Secretary of State for Parks and the minister of agriculture designated the Central Experimental Farm as a national historic site. This does not mean that the farm will be frozen in time. It will continue to evolve as it has for 111 years but it will evolve in a way that is consistent with the important contribution it has made to agriculture in Canada and internationally."

"It will be a permanent visible reminder in the nation's capital to all Canadians of the importance of agriculture to our economic and social development. The people of this region are proud of the nation's capital and its national institutions. I know they will want to contribute to and be part of planning the future of the Central Experimental Farm, our newest national historic site."

The Central Experimental Farm, site No. 11, the Sir John Carling location:

• On this site we have at least 24 buildings including Buildings 1 to 9, the Natural Resources Campus (including the Dominion Observatory.)
• Number 20, the K.W. Neatby Building and the Oilseed Research Centre.
• Extensive demolition or relocation of buildings is required to allow for the new build to proceed. (From: "The New Civic Campus: A 21st Century Hospital in the Heart of Canada's Capital, April 2016" page 10/76.)

Boundaries Located on the northeast portion of the the CEF. The parcel is bounded by Carling Avenue, Maple and Birch Drives, Prince of Wales Drive and the Central Experimental Farm Pathway and Queen Juliana Park.

Advantages of site #11.  (1) Meets land criteria if outside of the current boundaries of Sir John Carling site-test fit shows how 60 acres fit and the boundaries of the outlines.

(2) Meets location criteria of being in the centre core. While not as close as CEF-West or CEF-Central site, the access from Highway 417 via Carling Avenue or Parkdale Avenue is still very effective. Location overlooks Queen Juliana Park with potential for direct synergies for wellness amenities and recreational relationships within the neighbourhood and the community.

(3) Meets land access criteria - access from Highway 417 and potential access from Carling Avenue and Prince of Wales Drive.

(4) Meets transportation criteria - access from Highway 417 and Carling Avenue. Will take longer as it is somewhat farther than CEF-Central and CEF - West. Potential access from both Carling Avenue and Prince of Wales Drive. Option integrates well with major road system for patient, visitor and emergency vehicle access. Public transportation runs along this route. Option allows for effective integration of mass transit plan in future (bus, light rail, etc.)

(5) Meets criteria to support future expansion.

(6) Minimal community impact.

(7) Potential to integrate existing mature trees.

(8) Meets infrastructure criteria.

(9) Meets patient access proximity criteria.

(10) No impact on research plot - need affirmation from AAFC.

Disadvantages of site #11.

(1) Irregular boundaries.

(2) Located adjacent to a known fault line (need to confirm that the site will meet the hospital post-disaster building construction requirement.)

(3) Increase in height/depth of parking structure required based on tight density.

(4) Inability to maintain program adjacencies with connected buildings due to site configuration.

(5) Incompatibility with the scale of adjacent buildings.

(6) Traffic will increase on Prince of Wales Drive and the National Capital Commission Driveway.

(7) Will need to review the impact of Prince of Wales Drive being used as the secondary access for service vehicles, etc.

(8) CEF is a National Historic Designation.

(9) This location has the tightest site density.

(10) Potential impact on the community living near Prince of Wales Drive if the traffic volume increases.

(11) During construction neighbourhood may be impacted.

(12) Capital costs would be significantly higher in this location.

House of Commons Ottawa - The removal of the telescope from the Ottawa Dominion Observatory in 1970.

House of Commons Ottawa September 18, 1968 - Cancellation of the Queen Elizabeth Observatory in the Okanagan Boundary, British Columbia - Member of Parliament Bruce Andrew Thomas Howard (Okanagan Boundary) Liberal: "I have now spoken for several minutes on the waters of the earth. I think it is only fitting that I should raise my sights and talk about the stars in the heavens."

"I am sure that all the hon. members of this house will understand that peculiar feeling of dismay that I had when, upon barely arriving in Ottawa as the eager new member for Okanagan Boundary riding, I switched on the television and learned that the largest federal project under development in my riding, the Queen Elizabeth observatory, had been cancelled. My mind went back to the warm summer day two years ago when the then minister of energy, mines and resources officially opened the road to the top of Mount Kobau. There were very high hopes that day. The minister said in his remarks: "Now instead of the four freedoms we have five freedoms-for we have added the right of every Canadian to look through the best telescope in the world and see the stars!"

"Yes, it was to be the best telescope in the world for, even though it was not the largest mirror, it was to be made better so that Canada would be ahead of the world in astronomy. In a report of April of this year by the dominion astrophysics observatory at Victoria it is stated: A comparison of this blank and inspection reports from all recent blanks over 103 inches indicate that it is by far the best large mirror ever made. Now this is all finished."

" Like the smashing of the Arrow we are going to throw the great project on the scrap heap. The scientists that would have been Canadians will now give the benefits of their talents to other countries. It reminds me of that song from the thirties that went "I built a tower to the sky. Now it's done. Buddy, can you spare a dime." We have been told that the failure of the project was because of financial considerations. Surely at some time in the future, a nation such as Canada can find the money to complete such a noble project. But wait: We are going to sell the mirror. The best piece of optical glass ever made is going to be sold on the second hand market. Like impoverished nobility, we are going to pawn the family jewels for some pittance in a second hand store.

Protected land and waterways in Canada's capital.

The drawing is by Magdalene Carson, Reimagine Ottawa.

Airbase lands - Federal, Private.

Arboretum Woods - Federal.

Aviation Parkway North - Federal, City.

Brittania Bay - Federal, City.

Brittania Conservation Area - Federal, City.

By-Pass Woods - Federal.

Carlington Woods - Federal, City, Private.

Central Experimental Farm Woods - Federal.

Champlain Bridge Woods - Federal.

Champlain Bridge Islands - Federal.

Chaudiere Rapids - Federal.

Del Zotto Woods - Federal.

Deschenes Lookout - Federal.

Hampton Park Woods - Federal, City.

Hog's Back Woods - Federal, Private.

Lemieux Island - Federal, Private.

Leopold Woodlot - Federal, Private.

McCarthy Woods and Southern Corridor - Federal.

Montfort Woods - Federal, Private.

Nepean Creek Corridor - Federal, Private.

NRC Woods North - Federal.

Parliament Hill - Federal.

Pinecrest Woods - Federal.

Prince of Wales Woods - Federal, City.

RA Centre Woods - Federal.

Rideau River Islands - Federal

Rideau River Park Woods - Federal.

Riverside Park - Federal.

Rockcliffe Park East - Federal.

Rockcliffe Park West - Federal.

Rockcliffe Shores - Federal.

(Google: urban natural features strategy, City of Ottawa April 11, 2006.)

House of Commons Ottawa March 20, 2017 - MP Pierre Poilievre (Carleton) Conservative - Questions to the government of Canada about the Sir John Carling/Experimental Farm property by Member of Parliament Pierre Poilievre: "With regard to the government's Ottawa Hospital Site Review, which concluded with the NCC recommendation to the Minister of Canadian Heritage on November 24, 2016; (a) when did the Environment Minister decide that she would order this review; (b) when did the Environment Minister ask the Heritage Minister to take over this review; (c) did the government estimate the cost of delaying construction by at least a year, and if so what were the costs; (d) what was the total cost of the review as of November 24, 2016 broken down by (i) employees salaries (ii) contractors (iii) consultants (iv) land use surveys or studies (v) other expenses.

(f) what are the precise boundaries of the property to be leased to the Ottawa Hospital, known as the Sir John Carling Site or site #11 by the National Capital Commission; (g) what price does the government plan to charge the Ottawa Hospital as rent for the Sir John Carling Site, known as site #11 by the National Capital Commission; (h) how much payment in lieu of taxes does the federal government pay the City of Ottawa for the Sir John Carling Site, known as site #11 by the National Capital Commission; and (i) what will be the costs of preparing the site for the Ottawa Hospital to be built, and which level of government will pay for them?

Question No. 810.

House of Commons Ottawa March 20, 2017 - MP Pierre Poilievre (Carleton) Conservative: "With regard to the government's transfer of land to the Ottawa Hospital for the future site of the Civic Campus, known as the Sir John Carling site or site #11 by the National Capital Commission:

MP Pierre Poilievre (Carleton) Conservative:

(a) what analysis did the departments of Public Services and Procurement Canada (former Public Works and Government Services Canada), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the National Capital Commission, and Canadian Heritage conduct at each of the 12 sites; (b) what did the National Capital Commission estimate the total land preparation at each of the sites would be; (what concerns did the National Capital Commission raise regarding potential contamination at each of the 12 sites;

 (d) what are the boundaries of the Sir John Carling site which will be leased to the Ottawa Hospital; (e) are the metal piles that were used for the foundation of the former Sir John Carling Building still present at the site; (f) if the answer to (e) is affirmative, will they have to be removed in order to accomodate the new Ottawa Hospital; (g) if the answer to (e) is negative, what is the government's plan to accomodate the new Ottawa Hospital around the existing piles; (h) what is the estimated cost of preparing the site for the Ottawa Hospital to be built, and which level of government or organization will pay them; (i) what is the estimated cost of preparing the site for the Ottawa Hospital to be built, and which level of government or organization will pay for them; (j) what contamination currently exists at the Sir John Carling Site, and how will it be mitigated or removed prior to the hospital's construction; (k) what is the estimated cost of remediating any contamination, and which level of government or organization will pay for this, and (l) does the government foresee any other factors specific to the Sir John Carling Site that would increase the costs or delay construction of the new hospital, and if so, what are they?" Question No. 811.

House of Commons Ottawa June 21, 2017 - MP Pierre Poilievre (Carleton) Conservative: "With regard to the government's transfer of land to the Ottawa Hospital for the future site of the Civic Campus, known as the Sir John Carling site or site No. 11: (a) what is the current status of the transfer of land to the Ottawa Hospital; (b) on what date does the government anticipate the land transfer will be completed; (c) did the Ottawa Hospital incur any costs as a result of delaying construction by a year (d) if the answer to (c) is affirmative, what are the costs and will the government reimburse the Ottawa Hospital;"

"(e) how many trees are there at site No. 11; (f) what buildings are currently located at site No.11, broken down by

(i) name and address,

(ii) purpose and use,

(iii) whether the building will be demolished or moved to another location,

(The DARA Tennis Club on Maple Drive will be relocated to the top of a parking garage, and a Classified Federal Heritage Building called the South Azimuth is facing demolition because Maple Drive is a future ambulance route-savecfbrockcliffe):

The DARA Tennis Club.

The South Azimuth is part of the Dominion Observatory campus. The entire campus may be flattened because the Civic does not want irregular parcels of land.

(g) what will be the total cost of preparing the site for the Civic Campus to be built;

(h) what will be the additional costs specific to building the Civic Campus at site No. 11, including

(i) the cost of building on a sloped surface (ii) the cost of being located near a fault line, (iii) the cost of removing or transplanting the trees referred to in (e); (v) any other costs due to site No. 11's unique features;

(i) which organization or level of government will pay for the land preparation and additional costs due to site no. 11's unique features noted in (g) and (h). (j) does the government have any estimates on the cost of preparing site No. 11 for a large institutional occupant, and if so, what are the details;

(k) what is the market value of the land at site No. 11; (Note: Public Services and Procurement Canada sent MP Pierre Poilievre a memo stating that the federal Dow's Lake parking lot was worth more than $4 million dollars.) (l) what will be the rental rate or sale price of site No. 11 to the Ottawa Hospital; (m) which organization or level of government will pay for the at least $11.1 million in contamination remediation as estimated by Public Services and Procurement Canada; (n) is there any other contamination that needs to be remediated that is not captured in the $11.1 million dollar figure; (o) if the answer to (n) is affirmative, what is the contamination and what is the expected remediation cost; (p) what design, cultural, esthetic or other architectural elements will the National Capital Commission require the Ottawa Hospital to incorporate into the hospital, and what will be the costs of these elements; (q) will the federal government cover the cost of these elements referred to in (p); 

(r) has the government estimated the additional costs of constructing any building or structure on site No. 11, due to the nearby fault line and if so, what are the costs; (s) what would have been the total costs of preparing the Central Experimental Farm site directly across the street from the current Civic Campus, known as either Site No. 9 or No. 10; (t) are there any known challenges associated with building on site No. 11 and if so, what are they; and (u) does the government foresee any other factors specific to the Sir John Carling Site that would increase costs or delay construction of the new hospital and, if so, what are they?

Question No. 1040.

"Concerned about ballooning costs, Poilievre wants Sir John Carling site revisited.."

August 3, 1998.

 

The view from Commissioners Park.

Commissioners Park and Dow's Lake are major tourist venues in Canada's capital:

The drawing is from Reimagine Ottawa.

 

"Reimagining the Rideau Canal Parkways" January 10, 2022.

1.) The government of Canada parkways in Ottawa have been targeted for more than 50 years:

House of Commons Ottawa May 15, 1970: Mr. D. Gordon Blair (Grenville-Carleton) Liberal: "I would like to direct a question to the Acting Prime Minister. Is the government aware of a statement or statements to the press by the Chairman of the National Capital Commission to the effect that he might close the national capital parkways for a week for the strange purpose of proving their importance in carrying traffic?'

"The second part of my question is whether the Acting Prime Minister can assure the House that the government will not permit the people of this area to be inconvenienced by the disruption that this extraordinary and senseless experiment will cause."

The Hon. George James McIlraith (Solicitor General of Canada)"The statement has caused concern. I am very doubtful that the Chairman of the commission has any such authority under the National Capital Act passed by this Parliament."

2.) The Ottawa and Hull government driveways are protected by the designation National Interest Land Mass. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Minister of Public Works Erik Nielsen created the NILM to prevent federal properties from being used as a land bank by the City of Ottawa.

National Interest Land Mass properties: The Greenbelt (the City wants 13,000 acres of the Greenbelt); the Greenbelt Research Farm on Woodroffe; Lebreton Flats; the Central Experimental Farm on Carling Avenue;

3.) "Federal, scenic parkways and parks in the National Capital Region are dedicated to the memory of Canadian soldiers who died fighting in foreign wars." From: The Greber Report of 1950, page 228 of 395 pages.

4,) "The National Capital Commission is developing a new policy for its scenic parkways that will give priority to accomodating pedestrians and cyclists rather than automobiles. The proposal is aiming for a shift in paradigm, putting the park back into the parkway...The parkways should not be viewed as commuter routes.When completed next year the Capital Urban Lands Master Plan will be the first such plan covering federally owned parkways, riverbanks, employment areas such as Tunney's Pasture and Confederation Heights and the Central Experimental Farm." From: "Proposed NCC policy aims to put the park back into parkway" by Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen, May 20, 2014.

5.) Report of the Federal District Commission, 1949, page 14/75. "The Federal District Commission is justly famous for the utilization of the scenic beauty of the federal capital area. Wherever possible, parks and driveways are and will be located along the banks of the Rideau and Ottawa rivers, the Rideau Canal and Dow's Lake.