The Main Lawn on the Farm will be destroyed.

Hundreds of trees that are standing north of the William Saunders Building will be clearcut for a hospital parking lot. A National Archives photo from 1940.

The William Saunders Building and Garden are located on 960 Carling Avenue in Ottawa.

"A historic garden at the Central Experimental Farm is about to be replaced by the new Civic hospital's parking lot." by Marcel Beauchamp and Robert Cretien, Ottawa Citizen March 21, 2022. "The William Saunders Garden includes 130-year-old-plus Austrian Black Pine, several mature European Larches, an English Oak, one of the oldest and tallest Golden Honey locusts in Ottawa, a Willow Oak native to the southern US, and 130 year old+ White Pines and Norway Spruces."

Guidelines pertaining to Greenbelt properties, including the Nepean Sportsplex.

•  Limit buildings and parking lots to existing area in accordance with Chapters 5 and 6.
• Recognize this facility (the former Confederation High School) as an edge facility and permit future continued intensive use and re-use of the site, including maintenance of existing sports fields and use of the school's existing site for recreational uses.
• Encourage integration of educational and promotional messages about the Greenbelt and Pinhey Forest at the Nepean Sportsplex. (Canada's Capital Greenbelt Master Plan 2013, page 120/196.)

Allowable Activities and Uses

• Non-intensive or linear recreational uses, such as nature interpretation, walking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing.
• Geo-caching and orienteering events in designated areas.
• Cycling and horseback riding on designated trails.
• Ecological research
• Federal activities that support facility operations without causing permanent ecosystem damage.
• Existing houses
• Existing interpretive or training facilities.
• Existing off-leash dog areas. (Greenbelt Master Plan 2013, page 74/196.)

Prohibited Activities and Uses

• New facility area
• New stormwater management facilities.
• Motorized access along recreational trails.
• Any other uses that would degrade natural features or undermine ecosystems. Seasonal restrictions may occur for some of the listed Allowable Activities and Uses. (Greenbelt Master Plan 2013, page 73/196.)

Organizations that were part of the Greenbelt Advisory Committee

• Gloucester Allotment Gardens
• Ottawa Rural Council
• Farm Tenant
• Farm Tenant/Just Food
• Citizens for Safe Cycling
• La route verte
• Velo Service
• Responsible Dog Owners of Canada
• Crystal Bay Community Association
• Crystal Beach/Lakeview Community Association
• Riverside Community Association
• Country Place Community Association
• Glens Community Association
• Convent Glen Community Association
• Qualicum-Graham Park Community Association
• Navan Community Association
• Friends of Mer Bleue
• Greenbelt Coalition of Canada's Capital
• Transport 2000
• Heritage Canada
•  (For information Google: "Greenbelt Phase 1, Step A. Government of Canada Publication; crystal." pages 35 and 36 of 107.)

House of Commons Ottawa May 25, 2010 MP Marcel Proulx (Hull-Aylmer, Liberal): "...The Liberal members from the National Capital Region, the member for Ottawa South, the member for Ottawa-Vanier and myself as Liberal Members of Parliament, are calling for better protection of the Greenbelt. There are no serious regulations protecting the Greenbelt. Together the City of Ottawa and the NCC could do what they like with it."

A front page article in the Ottawa Citizen, October 8, 1974.

Family members on the Pinhey Forest Trail and cross-country skiing on the Greenbelt:

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The William Saunders Building on 960 Carling Avenue.

 "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. That includes the William Saunders Building and hundreds of trees. 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.

 

Changes to Maple Drive on the Farm.

• 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 are expected to be posted at:

- the Carling/Maple Drive intersection. 

-Maple Drive and the Site entrance.

-Prince of Wales Drive and the Site entrance.

Historic buildings on the Dominion Observatory site may be demolished.

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.

  
  

From CTV News. Recent developments on Maple Drive.

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."

 "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 all looked 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

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."