News release
July 21, 2026
The National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased to welcome residents and visitors back to the Ottawa River Pathway behind Parliament Hill following the completion of a series of major rehabilitation and renewal projects that will help this iconic public space withstand the impacts of climate change.
Since 2022, the NCC and its federal partners have been undertaking significant work along this important corridor, including stabilizing the escarpment behind the Supreme Court of Canada and removing the tunnel section of the pathway. These investments were essential to protecting public safety, strengthening climate resilience and ensuring long-term access to one of the Capital’s most valued active transportation routes.
The reopening of the pathway restores a vital connection within the Capital Pathway network while providing direct access to the East Wharf dock, one of the Capital’s newest and most popular waterfront destinations.
With the transformation of the former Cliff heating and cooling plant through Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Energy Services Acquisition Program, Ottawa River Pathway users can now easily access the reimagined Cliff Energy Centre. The recent completion of the nearby 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument, which commemorates the historic discrimination experienced by 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada, including during the LGBT Purge, has further enhanced the area.
By reconnecting users to the Ottawa River shoreline and the East Wharf’s recreational amenities, the pathway enhances access to a network that spans more than 200 kilometres—from Gatineau Park through Ottawa–Gatineau and into the Greenbelt—linking many of the Capital’s most important natural, cultural and civic destinations.