HomeSpeaking Notes for Marcel Beaudry,
Chairman of the National Capital Commission
on the occasion of the
2004 PUBLIC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
The Westin Ottawa, 6:30 pm
Good evening ladies and gentleman and welcome to the National Capital Commission’s fourth Public Annual General Meeting. I am delighted that you have accepted our invitation to join us here this evening.
As many of you know, the National Capital Commission has a mission to create a Capital for Canadians that is beautiful, alive and symbolically meaningful. This vision has shaped more than a century of careful, persistent planning, building, programming and promotion of Canada’s Capital Region.
The task continues; the NCC is hard at work to ensure that the successes of the future equal those of the past. In order to achieve this goal, we will continue to work with federal and municipal partners as well as with the public. We are committed to building the Capital with your input so that we can give all Canadians the Capital that they truly deserve.
Before starting, I would like to take a moment to express my sincerest gratitude to all NCC employees. It is important to recognize that all of the achievements I will mention this evening could not have happened without them. The degree of commitment and passion with which this team of 450 people work on a daily basis is unprecedented and very inspiring.
I am extremely proud to be part of an organization such as ours, made up of so many creative, hard-working, loyal, dedicated and professional people. Thank you all for your continued support, commitment and perseverance.
I would now like to provide you with an overview of some of our key achievements for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
I will begin with the sector responsible for PROMOTING AND ANIMATING THE CAPITAL REGION.
Canada is a place of many regions and diverse peoples. Through programming in Canada’s Capital Region, through broadcasts and marketing efforts that reach out across the country and through visitor services delivered to millions of visitors every year, the NCC seeks to communicate Canada to Canadians and to inspire them with pride in the natural and cultural treasures that are safeguarded in this extraordinary place.
Once again this year, we successfully delivered all our flagship programs, specifically, Canada Day, the Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill, Canada and the World Pavilion, Fall Rhapsody, Christmas Lights Across Canada and of course, Winterlude.
Every winter, Canadians gather in the region to celebrate Canada’s distinctive northern culture during Winterlude. There were over 650,000 visits to the event in 2004, which resulted in a regional economic impact of some $82.5 million. More importantly, the festival highlights Canadian traditions. In 2004, for example, we teamed up with the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club to present Hockey Day in the Capital.
The Rideau Canal Skateway attracted 1.7 million visits last season. With cold temperatures prevailing last winter, the Skateway, in its 34 th season, established a new record of 46 consecutive skating days and with superb ice conditions, beating the previous 43-day record established in 2000-2001.
This past summer, we had the opportunity to collaborate with the Embassy of France and Ontario’s Ministry of Culture on a unique program called Sussex Cinéma – a special outdoor French film series which was projected in Clarendon Lanes – one of the Sussex Heritage Courtyards. This project not only showcased film talent and animated the Sussex Heritage Courtyards but it also promoted bilingualism in the Capital on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Champlain and the establishment of French presence in North America.
Over the years, the NCC has been honoured with many awards for its various programming efforts. Once again this year, we received five Pinnacle Awards at the annual conference of the International Festivals and Events Association including a Gold for Best Full-Length National TV Program for the Winterlude program entitled La capitale de cristal which aired on the réseau TQS.
Broadcasting partnerships are also key to making sure that Canadians learn about their Capital, and the past year saw several new relationships set in place.
As such, the NCC is proud to have called upon Mr. Bernard Pivot to host his internationally renowned television program, «Les trophées de la langue française » in Canada’s Capital Region. As you may know, Bernard Picot is one of the most important public figures in the French television world. Hosting this prestigious television program falls perfectly within our mandate and the selection of Ottawa for the filming of the program and the Dictation reaffirms that Canada’s Capital is among the most internationally recognized capital cities.
The NCC, as a national organization operating in a regional context, must constantly balance national interests and local needs. In achieving the right balance, we recognize the importance of openness in maintaining good relationships with local authorities and residents. To that end, we continued our efforts in the last year to engage with the public and to work with municipalities at the highest levels.
This past May, we held our third annual meeting with local interest groups for an exchange of information and ideas. 20 groups participated in the meeting and made presentations to the Board of Directors on various subjects. The tone of the meeting was extremely positive and it was clear to me that these groups have a genuine interest and willingness to work with us to explore and exchange ideas.
In October we held the 10 th public meeting about LeBreton Flats since the redevelopment project began three years ago. This does not include the many meetings and workshops that we held with various interest groups and municipal staff to discuss more specific topics.
Approximately 30 public consultations and workshops were also conducted during the year on other major projects such as the Gatineau Park Master Plan update, Mud Lake and the Sussex Heritage Courtyards. A forum on pathway safety was particularly well received by interest groups.
We have continued to put considerable efforts into becoming more open and accessible to the citizens of Canada’s Capital Region. We ensure the adequate promotion of our public consultations; we have also conducted several advance media briefings in order to provide the public with more detailed information and to enrich discussions. For example, as a result of this approach we hosted some 500 people to the two sessions held for the Gatineau Park Master Plan Review.
The internet has also proven to be an important communication tool between the NCC and its public. In the last year, we have seen a 13 percent increase in unique visitor sessions on the NCC websites for an approximate total of 950,000 unique visitor sessions. Furthermore, several online consultations were held for a number of projects such as LeBreton Flats and the Gatineau Park Master Plan Review.
The Speakers’ Bureau sent NCC spokespersons into the community on 38 different occasions to address local associations and interest groups on a variety of topics. I also had the pleasure of speaking at the Canadian Capital Cities Conference in Quebec City this past June. Every year, delegates from across Canada gather to participate in this forum that encourages the sharing of visions and ideals for our Canadian Capitals.
I also had the opportunity to speak to planners from world capitals at a gathering called “Capitals Alliance” in Brasilia, Brazil. Our Capital will be hosting the 2005 meeting. I will be speaking more to this shortly.
I will now move on to the sector responsible for PLANNING CANADA’S CAPITAL REGION.
An important part of our role is the physical development and use of federal lands in Canada’s Capital Region on behalf of all Canadians. Major developments have been made in the Planning sector in the past year.
You may already be familiar with two of our Master Plans for the Greenbelt and Gatineau Park. We are currently working on a third plan of the same nature for Urban Lands. The Urban Lands Master Plan will look at planning policies and strategies for parklands, parkways, recreational trails, heritage buildings, bridges and roads all of which are both highly visible and extremely valuable in symbolic terms.
A working committee comprised of interest groups and federal and municipal staff will begin to meet in the new year. Extensive public consultations will also be held throughout the various stages of the process. By the end of 2006–2007, the NCC will have completed all elements of the Urban Lands Master Plan.
The Core Area Sector Plan which is a detailed plan for the centre of the Capital is now in its third and final phase. The last series of public consultations on this plan will be held early in the new year.
As you know, the Sparks Street Mall has been the subject of extensive planning in the last few years. Our vision of the Sparks Street Mall is of a great place to live and a unique outdoor space to visit. According to the Sparks Street Vocation Study, new arts, culture and entertainment components as well as mixed-use developments would serve to diversify the appeal of the Street.
The newly opened CBC/SRC headquarters is leading the way in this regard. The presence of this major media corporation will not only enhance the mall’s regional exposure but it will also add new activity to the Street with live broadcasts and concerts as well as activities and events held on the Street itself.
Furthermore, in keeping with our long-term plan to revitalize this historic street, a new office, residential and retail complex is presently under construction at 131 Queen Street. The project is preserving and restoring five century-old facades on Sparks Street and several features of the 1930s Hardy Arcade, recognized for its heritage value. Construction is expected to be completed by August 2006. It is with the collaboration of the private sector that we are able to achieve a project of this magnitude.
Over the last three years, an exercise has been underway to review the 1990 Gatineau Park Master Plan. The proposed vision for the Park in the 2005-2015 Master Plan will focus on the conservation of natural and cultural environments while still allowing users to enjoy the recreational activities available in the Park.
In October, we invited the public to the second and last phase of consultations on the review of the Plan. As I mentioned earlier, some 500 people attended the two sessions, which in my mind is a very clear demonstration of the important role that Gatineau Park plays in the National Capital Region.
The public was able to submit comments on the final draft of the Plan until yesterday. There seems to be general acceptance of the overall orientation of the Plan, however, some groups have expressed concern about various recreational activities in the Park. At this stage, all the comments, briefs and opinions received will be compiled and analyzed in order to finalize the content of the Plan. The Plan is expected to be approved in April and once finalized, will be the guiding document for Gatineau Park for the next 10 years.
Rest assured that the dialogue will continue between the NCC and the many interest and user groups that enjoy Gatineau Park. It is in the best interest of all to work together in order to ensure the preservation and enjoyment of this priceless natural resource.
On another note, I would like to mention that following a request from the New Woodlands Preservation League, the NCC hired independent researchers to further examine the role of Roderick Percy Sparks in the creation of Gatineau Park. This study was conducted by professors from the Université du Québec en Outaouais in cooperation with the New Woodlands Preservation League and our own heritage specialists.
As a result of the study, we are pleased to announce this evening that we will be naming the exhibit hall, located in the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre after Roderick Percy Sparks’ in honour of his important contribution to the establishment of Gatineau Park.
The NCC is the only planning authority in Canada’s Capital Region that has jurisdiction in both Ontario and Quebec and a mandated interest in uniting the area in a single region.
In 2003–2004, the NCC has continued to meet with municipal and provincial partners to address future transportation needs, specifically, the building of two new inter-provincial bridges; the construction of a ring road in Ontario to take heavy traffic out of the core; and the introduction of light-rail transit to bring commuters into the central Capital.
The third and final sector of responsibility is REAL ASSET MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.
The NCC is the single-largest property-owner in Canada’s Capital Region, with direct control – on behalf of all Canadians – of some 10 percent of all land in the area and holdings that include bridges, roads, buildings, parks and much, much more.
LeBreton Flats is certainly one of the largest undertakings in the history of the NCC. The vision for LeBreton Flats is to create an urban community in the central core of the Capital where people can live, work and play.
About 40 per cent of LeBreton Flats, along the Ottawa River, will remain in federal ownership and will include the site of the new Canadian War Museum, riverfront parkland, a festival site, recreational pathways and future sites for other national institutions and commemorations. A new mixed-use community will also be introduced on the site.
Most recently, we have completed a national proposal call process for the first phase of development on the Flats. 125 firms requested the Expressions of Interest and Qualifications Package; 6 firms submitted a proposal from which 3 were shortlisted. Claridge Homes then submitted a conceptual design proposal and an offer to purchase.
The conceptual design proposal submitted by Claridge Homes was presented at a public meeting on October 20 th, 2004, as part of the NCC’s public consultation and evaluation process. Over 200 people attended this meeting. It is very important to note that the public’s input was a significant contribution to the overall evaluation process.
A technical committee consisting of NCC staff, a member delegated by the community for affordable housing and a professional in property development from Canada Lands evaluated the proposal against the established criteria.
The technical committee then forwarded their evaluation as well as a detailed report containing public comments to the NCC’s Advisory Comm ittee on Planning, Design and Realty. The dozen members that make up this advisory committee have received numerous awards over the years for their exceptional work and are experts from across Canada in urban design, architecture, real estate and environmental and urban planning. The Advisory Committee reviewed the proponent’s project report and subsequently heard a presentation by the proponent.
The entire competitive process was overseen by a Fairness Auditor, the Right Honourable Antonio Lamer, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Both the Advisory Committee and the Board concluded that the NCC has received a high quality proposal which has met all the criteria set out during this exhaustive process. Therefore, I am pleased to announce that the Board unanimously recommends to the Treasury Board and the Governor in Council that the 4.4-hectare site be sold to Claridge Homes for the purpose of building a mixed-use community, including 25% affordable housing.
This development will give a great boost to renewing all of LeBreton Flats. There will be several more phases of housing, office and retail space built on the Flats, with housing for a minimum of 5,000 residents.
The public’s comments have proven to be invaluable and I am confident that most of them can be addressed in the next phases of the project. I want to reassure you that what was presented at the public meeting is a concept; it was not a final design. The detailed design will be defined in the next stages of the project.
Peter McCourt, will be providing you with an overview of the LeBreton Flats project shortly.
In addition to safeguarding our natural treasures, we also play a key role in ensuring that the archaeological treasures of the Capital Region are both protected during development and carefully preserved and communicated as elements of the region's cultural heritage.
In 2002, for example, 44 objects dating from between the year 500 and 1200 A.C. were discovered in Jacques Cartier Park. These artifacts will eventually be deposited at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Another recent example is the more than 100,000 artifacts discovered on LeBreton Flats. These artifacts will ultimately be transferred to the City of Ottawa.
The Core Area Sector Plan set out, as one of its key projects, the creation of a landscaped boulevard that would connect Gatineau Park to the core of the Capital. Saint-Laurent and Maisonneuve Boulevards are important gateways to the cities of Gatineau and Ottawa, and to the core of Canada’s Capital Region, as well as to Confederation Boulevard. The first phase of construction will be completed in the Spring of 2005.
As the steward of federal lands in Canada’s Capital Region, the NCC is committed to preserving and protecting natural treasures. A recent example of this is the acquisition of an additional 84 hectares of land in the Mer Bleue Bog, one of the most beautiful and unique natural bogs in this region and in the entire country.
In the last five years, the NCC has acquired more than 400 hectares of land in the Mer Bleue sector alone. We are proud to continue to add to the federal ownership of the Greenbelt and ensure the protection of this internationally recognized wetland.
The 170 kilometre network of recreational pathways is certainly one of the unique features of Canada’s Capital Region. Last year, the NCC began the process of updating its strategic plan for those pathways in order to improve pathway conditions. It is estimated that more than 500,000 users make approximately 17.5 million visits to the Pathway each season.
The NCC has made a long-term investment in its pathway system and is very much committed to perform ongoing pathway rehabilitation and life-cycle management in addition to build new pathways in the region. Building new pathways certainly includes the development of large segments and also includes the creation of smaller segments which serve to connect various trails. A fully connected system results in more users on the trails and in enhanced safety.
The record of safety on our pathways is historically good. However, since the Ardeth Wood tragedy in 2003, it has become a critical component on our pathways. We have since developed and implemented a Safety Action Plan which includes for example:
- New wayfinding signs;
- Increased pathway patrol;
- The loan of cellular phones; and,
- A new cycling website, just to name a few.
This was achieved after consulting and benefiting from the support of some 50 interest groups.
An area in which the NCC has developed extensive expertise over the years is the management of our urban forests. We take pride in our Green Capital and are committed to supporting and protecting this valuable asset. Gérald Lajeunesse will share some of this expertise with you shortly.
A LOOK AHEAD
These are some of the key projects the NCC was involved in during the past year. Now let us look at the year to come.
As part of our vision to revitalize Sparks Street, we recently launched a search for a private-sector partner to build another mixed-use complex on Sparks Street. This mixed-use development will include about 100 residential units as well as street-level businesses, and it may also include arts and entertainment uses.
You may have noticed recent changes in traffic patterns around Sussex Drive and Rideau Street. As part of the development of the 700 Sussex Drive site, the work is being undertaken through a partnership between the developer, the City and the NCC to complete the Confederation Boulevard loop in this area. It is anticipated that the Phase 1 construction will be completed by October 2005.
An all new Sound and Light Show will be featured on Parliament Hill in 2005. “Canada l’esprit d’un pays, the spirit of a country” will use spectacular lighting effects, giant images and a rich tapestry of words, music and sounds to tell the story of Canada. The new show will be presented every evening throughout the summer from July 5 th to September 11 th, 2005. This program is a great asset to our local tourism industry with approximately 85% participants from outside the Region.
The NCC behalf of Canadian Heritage, recently conducted a national competition for a new commemoration in Canada’s Capital – the Valiants Memorial. The commemoration will feature people from critical periods of conflict and show the influence of military achievements on Canada’s evolution and will be unveiled in 2006.
As part of our continued work to create a great capital region on behalf of Canadians, I am very pleased to tell you about Snowbowl – a new, dynamic outdoor winter amphitheatre on the Rideau Canal, in the heart of Canada’s Capital Region. It represents the perfect complement to the NCC’s existing winter family activities and provides an opportunity to work with partners to attract residents and tourists to Canada’s Capital Region. It is thanks to a partnership in the order of $200,000 with the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism and Recreation that we are able to offer Snowbowl.
In September 2005, the NCC will host the annual meeting of the Capitals Alliance. The Capitals Alliance is an international exchange and discussion forum for the capital cities of federal states, mainly involving the agencies responsible for the design and planning of capital cities.
To conclude this evening, I would like to thank all the participants at this year’s Public Annual General Meeting.
Many thanks as well to the Board of Directors and to the members of our national Advisory Committees for their excellent work, for their continued support and collaboration and for their contribution in guiding NCC decisions that enhance the Capital for both residents and visitors.
I would also like to express my ongoing gratitude for the continued cooperation of our federal, municipal and private partners in helping us deliver our mandate. We have worked together to make this, a great Capital and a great Region, and we will continue to do so in years to come.
Last but not least, I would like to acknowledge the importance of our local public. The contributions of the residents of our region are invaluable to our many projects. You help us in fulfilling our national mandate to build a capital in which all Canadians can feel welcome and proud.
Thank you.