The William Saunders Building on 960 Carling Avenue in Ottawa.

 "DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE - The William Saunders Building is prominently situated on the Main Lawn of the Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site of Canada. This two-storey Collegiate Gothic building is articulated by a projecting central entrance tower, matching end wings and a crenellated roofline. The tower, with its Tudor-arched entrance and oriel window rises above the roofline. The walls are faced in monochromatic brick highlighted with stone details, such as belt courses above the basement, the moulded window hoods and surrounds, a coat of arms and carved stonework around the entrance." (Information is from Canada's Historic Places.)

The Ottawa Hospital is taking over all the federal land between Maple and Prince of Wales Drives. By the year 2028 TOH will have to expand vertically and horizontally. Now the DARA Tennis Club and the Old Hedge Collection are gone---they were located south of Birch Drive along Maple.

 

Most of Birch Drive on the Experimental Farm will be gone.

• Section of Birch Drive closed on July 11, 2022 on the new hospital site.
• Birch Drive closure at Maple Drive and bulldozer.
• 'Construction Site' sign. Birch Drive closure near the William Saunders Building. (friendsofthefarm newsletter, Fall of 2022, Volume 34, page 3/12.)

Permanent changes to Maple Drive "It is imperative that supplemental trees be planted to preserve the beauty and recreational nature of Maple Drive for the numerous pedestrians, cyclists and visitors passing the historic buildings, ornamental shrubs and greenhouses." (From: "Civic Hospital Development Plan by Botanica Residents Committee" Ward 15, Kitchissippi, Ottawa August 12, 2021.)

On November 26, 2024 CTV News gave an update on what is happening to Maple Drive, and provided photos. The article is called "Land near Dow's Lake being cleared in advance of new Civic Campus construction."

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 "Emergency Vehicles Only" signs will be posted at:

- the Carling/Maple Drive intersection. 

-Maple Drive and the Site entrance.

-Prince of Wales Drive and the Site entrance.

The historic buildings will be demolished:

The Dominion Observatory and South Azimuth were stripped of the designation Classified Federal Heritage Building. And the Geophysical Laboratory, Machine Shop Building and Seismology Survey are no longer Recognized Federal Heritage Buildings. (Google: Directory of Federal Real Property website and go to Agriculture Canada property number 08625.) The vacant William Saunders Building is located on the Central Green of the Farm, and the the hospital is taking over the extensive grounds. I believe that the William Saunders building will be flattened:

The Central Green is north of the Saunders Building.

Historic buildings in Ottawa.

 House of Commons Ottawa November 23, 1967 The Hon. George McIlraith (Minister of Public Works): "The Lebreton Flats were envisioned as a western extension of the Parliamentary Precinct. Buildings on or near the Precinct cannot be any taller than the Peace Tower."

Foreign architects are redesigning Wellington Street across from Parliament Hill. The statue of Terry Fox has already been removed and Canada's Maple Leaf Flag is not visible in planning documents. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau wanted to protect the historic buildings: House of Commons Ottawa July 20, 1973 The Hon. Jean-Charles Dube (Minister of Public Works) "Concern has been expressed about the danger of visual encroachment on the beauty of the parliamentary precinct, which is one of the great symbols of Canada. 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 property of the United States Embassy has been excluded from this expropriation but discussions are well advanced for its acquisition. The present character of the Sparks Street Mall will be preserved and enhanced."

The Parliamentary Precinct 

• the Parliament Buildings and the Hill
• Library of Parliament
• Supreme Court of Canada
• Senate of Canada
• Library and Archives Canada
• Federal buildings on Wellington Street across from the Hill
• Lebreton Flats are the "Western Annex".
• the northern half of the Sparks Street Mall
• the Dominion Observatory campus at Maple Drive and Carling Avenue.

  

  My Dad and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau at Union Station in Ottawa in 1968.

  
  
  
  

The destruction of Maple Drive on the Experimental Farm.

The DARA Tennis Club in Ottawa Before.

 

After. A November 26, 2024 photo from CTV News. The article is called "Land near Dow's Lake being cleared in advance of  new Civic Campus construction." 'The main hospital will be built between Maple and Prince of Wales Drives."

 "On this site we have at least 24 buildings, including Buildings 1 to 9, the Natural Resources Campus..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.)

The Old Hedge Collection was located near the DARA Tennis Club, and it does not exist anymore.

The Dominion Observatory Campus on Carling in 1966. My classmates and I visited the site in 1965 and we each had an opportunity to look through the telescope. The buildings are unprotected. 

Foreign ownership of Canada.

  The citizens of Canada will own 900 square miles of land in the National Capital Region, in perpetuity. That includes Gatineau Park and 100 Rue Gamelin in Gatineau.

Privy Council of Canada Document No. 6721. "The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated 25th October 1945 from the Minister of Public Works, stating 'That under the authority of Order in Council P.C. 5635 of August 15, 1945, an area comprising some 900 square miles, more or less, adjoining the City has been defined as the National Capital district and it has been decided to re-engage Mr. Greber to make a study of that area with a view of preparing plans for a suitable long-term development of such area as a National War Memorial." (Greber Report, page 15/395.)

"Federal, scenic highways and parks 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." (Greber Report of 1950, page 228/395.) National Capital scenic highways:

• Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway may be de paved.
• Queen Elizabeth Driveway may be converted to a park.
• Gatineau Parkway
• Colonel By Drive
•  Sir George-Etienne Cartier Parkway
• Queensway
• Lady Grey Drive
• Airport Parkway
• Island Park

more

The Greenbelt that surrounds Ottawa is part of the 900 square mile National War Memorial. Properties include:

• the Pinhey Forest
• Commissioners Park near Dow's Lake
• Agriculture Canada research farms on 960 Carling Avenue and 1740 Woodroffe Avenue.
• Mer Bleue Conservation Area
• CANMET The Canadian Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology.
• Green's Creek Conservation Area
• Hornets Nest soccer field
• Pineview Golf Course
• Bruce Pit
• Conroy Pit
• the Connaught National Army Cadet Training Centre in Shirley's Bay.
• Canadian Space Agency (The David Florida Laboratory will be decommissioned in 2025.)
• Shirley's Bay
• Airport land
• Wesley Clover Park
• Schools
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Hylands Golf Club
• Lime Kiln Trail
• the 19th Tee Driving Range
• Stony Swamp Conservation Area.

Greenbelt Master Plan Review-Phase 1-Step C-Land Use Concept---January of 2012-Page 16 of 124 pages.

• Potential removal of Greenbelt designation from the Nepean Sportsplex
• Potential removal of Greenbelt designation from the Eagleson Park and Ride

House of Commons Ottawa March 24, 1976 MP Don Mazankowski (Vegreville): "Mr. Speaker, may I direct my question to the Prime Minister. It has to do with foreign ownership of land in Canada. Can the Prime Minister advise the House what progress is being made with the establishment of measures to deal with the ownership of land by foreigners in Canada."