Canada’s Capital Region has a rich history of planning for the scenic shorelines along the Ottawa River. Nineteenth and 20th century planners believed that, by creating a ribbon of green parkways along the river, residents and visitors in Canada’s Capital Region would enjoy greater access to the health benefits of the natural landscapes and scenic beauty of the waterfront.

The NCC continues to examine and plan for the evolution of its riverfront parks. As a prelude to embarking on the next planning exercise for the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, this event engages experts in a discussion of planning for waterfront parks and promenades, cultural and heritage planning, and the history of the NCC’s own parkway planning.

When

Thursday, October 22
From 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Speakers

  • Arto Keklikian, Senior Transportation Planner, Capital Planning, National Capital Commission. 
    • The presentation on the NCC parkways will briefly summarize the history and evolution of the NCC parkways, and describe how recent NCC planning efforts to remake linear riverfront parks threaded by parkways are intended to open the riverfront, improve public access and strengthen connections to the communities.
  • Isabelle Laterreur, urban planner, La boîte d’urbanisme. 
    • Beginning with an understanding of spatial organization and location issues, the development of planning concepts requires sensitivity in the reading of the landscape and experience of place in designing projects that reflect the people who live there. Isabelle Laterreur will share her knowledge and discuss her approach in terms of integrating heritage and cultural values in planning.
  • Elizabeth Macdonald, PhD, Professor of Urban Design, Department of City and Regional Planning and Department of Landscape Architecture, University of California, Berkeley. 
    • Professor Macdonald is a specialist in urban design with a focus on public space design, including urban waterfront promenades and sustainable design. Professor Macdonald is a registered architect and principal of Jacobs Macdonald: Cityworks, an urban design practice formed in collaboration with her partner Allan Jacobs. She works nationally and internationally on urban design and planning projects, and is the recipient of numerous design awards.

You can watch the webcast.