How do we make Ottawa exciting?

Let’s make ideas a reality, Richard Bertrand says.

Now that we’re into the year after Canada 150, it is time to focus on permanent changes to Ottawa that will satisfy residents and attract more tourists, who will enjoy their visit so much they will tell their family and friends to make the capital their next destination.

While some will say to leave the city alone, that they are satisfied as is, others would counter that people want to find more, see more and do more. And there will have to be more since the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings will be shrouded for at least 10 years, starting this fall.

There have been ongoing suggestions over the need to make the downtown core more exciting to visit. In addition, there must be more emphasis on creating rewarding experiences for tourists. Here is a list of ideas that have, in one way or other, been previously suggested, in presentations, discussions, submissions and face-to-face communication with various officials in a position to make a difference:

Open up the borders of the Rideau Canal to allow for quality pop-up bistros, coffee houses, wine bars, rest stations (one suggestion that was rejected a number of years ago looked at relocating the toilets — currently only used on the canal during the winter — for use in the summer as well).

Locate a gazebo/bandshell at Dow’s Lake in the open area near Preston Street for musical performances, puppet shows, etc.

Develop, with the National Arts Centre, musical performances on a barge as it traverses the canal on summer evenings, thus creating opportunities for the orchestra and other musical groups to showcase their talent.

As one group hoped to do several years ago, create a light, fire and music float on weekends and during the midsummer months.

Expand the gardens at Dow’s Lake to include sculptures from artists across Canada.

Develop attractions that encompass the three rivers that meet in the core of the national capital, with resources from the federal government, Ontario and Quebec.

Make the exceptional MOSAICANADA 150 an annual event.

Allow for more exciting use of properties owned and controlled by the NCC, federal government and the regional municipalities, such as the successful Tavern on the Hill, off Sussex.

Get serious about finding a solution to the Sparks Street problem that is rewarding for businesses, residents and tourists.

Cover sections of Sparks to make it popular in winter as well as summer.

Develop shuttle services for residents and tourists to access more sites.

Reconsider the high admission fees to visit our museums. When looking at other capitals around the world many famous sites are much more affordable and, in some cases, free, such as the Tate Museum in London, England.

Establish a National Capital Accelerated Action Authority with credibility to mobilize ideas and work through the quagmire of restrictions and excuses. We are often told little can be done around the Rideau Canal because it is a World Heritage site, where the water is under one federal authority, the borders are controlled by the NCC and the accessible lands and parking are within the City of Ottawa jurisdiction. This is a recipe for little action.

If we want the national capital to truly be considered a great capital, let’s bring new (or old) ideas to reality as well as learn what works in the other leading capitals of the world.

There must be more emphasis on creating rewarding experiences for tourists.