Hill’s Canada Day party might spill into Gatineau
Some Canada Day events will have to leave Parliament Hill to make way for construction two years from now, and one solution being discussed is to spread the events across a greater number of sites throughout the city.
This could mean spreading the revellers around more of Ottawa, into Gatineau, and conceivably even into a rural setting.
The problem is that reconstruction of the Centre Block, besides sending the Senate off to temporary digs across Rideau Street, will take up part of the lawn on Parliament Hill. This is where the stage for major acts is set on most Canada Days.
By 2020, there won’t be as much room for the Canada Day stage and the crowds. So, where to go?
A second issue: other downtown Ottawa sites aren’t as big as the Hill’s lawn.
Canadian Heritage, which hosts the annual show, has been in talks with Tourism Ottawa and with other government departments.
“There are currently a number of other sites that they are looking at (which are) other federally owned sites. We started conversations with them some time ago so we are aware that this has to happen,” said Catherine Callery, the senior director of destination development for Tourism Ottawa.
“We understand that as yet there haven’t been any decisions made.”
“We would like to see a number of sites used” on Canada Day, she said.
So far, Major’s Hill Park and the Canadian Museum of History have been official sites for some Canada Day events and these would continue, Callery said. They might even pick up extra “programming,” as the industry calls Canada Day events.
“They (Canada Day organizers) would be adding sites that make sense from a programming perspective, as far as being able to host crowds and have a stage and that kind of thing,” Callery said.
“That is all positive in our view, actually, especially if there are multiple sites involved, moving people (visitors) around to destinations, getting them to see more.”
Gatineau could “absolutely” host a major site as well, Callery said. (Jacques-Cartier Park has been mentioned by Canadian Heritage as a possible site for events currently held on the Hill, as it is central and large, with a wonderful view of Parliament Hill.)
Other possible sites for more Canada Day events include the front lawn of the Supreme Court of Canada building and the area around the Canadian War Museum, Callery said. She believes having people move around the downtown area is a good way to spend Canada Day.
“Lansdowne is also getting increasingly programmed on Canada Day, so there’s lots of things for people to do ... We are not concerned with any programming issues or loss of programming.”
Callery said Tourism Ottawa is “working with Canadian Heritage on the various sites that they are putting forward as suitable sites.”
She said the outer urban area could also be in the running.
“We would have to talk about transportation issues to get people out there ... I don’t think we would have any issues with that as long as it was easy for people to get out there.
“Rural activities and rural sites would be pretty cool, to be able to showcase some of the beautiful countryside that we have for visitors. So I think all of that would be on the table, for sure.”
Callery stressed that no decisions are final yet. Canadian Heritage was contacted early Tuesday, but a response is yet to come.
The Hill remains a year-round attraction for tourists, Callery said.
“They want to get their photo of the Hill and Centre Block.”
Callery hopes the Parliament Buildings will still be a tourist attraction during construction, with a decorative “scrim” — wrapping printed with a giant photo of the Centre Block — covering the scaffolding.
Reconstruction is expected to take about 10 years.