HomeFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NCCN-05-09-17-PR
September 23, 2005
Canada’s Capital Region — Representatives from national capitals met in Ottawa this week to discuss issues and challenges that are common to capitals, no matter where they are in the world. In the Ottawa Statement, the Alliance members pledged to recruit more world capitals and make information and expertise from their exchanges at international meetings available as a resource to other world capitals.
“The National Capital Commission is proud to play a leading role in the international Capitals Alliance network and to have showcased our nation’s capital to our visitors from around the world,” said Marcel Beaudry, Chairman of the NCC and host of the Fourth Capitals Alliance meeting in Ottawa. “Although each of the world capitals of the Alliance is managed by organizations that have different mandates, there are many similarities that unite us and allow us to learn from each other. As planners of national capitals, we have the unique role of planning a major urban centre as well as a city that includes the seat of national government and represents the cultural expression of the country and its citizens.”
Delegates from Brasilia, Brazil; Canberra, Australia; Moscow, Russia; Tshwane (formerly Pretoria), South Africa; Washington, DC, United States of America; and the host, Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region, Canada, gathered in Ottawa to exchange ideas and discuss challenges they face when managing national capitals. Invited speakers from London, United Kingdom, and Paris, France, will also share their experience and knowledge on planning capital regions with participants.
2005 Capitals Alliance Meeting Highlights
- The importance of partnerships and relationships in planning a capital city: Canberra and Washington discussed how Capitals must focus on new and innovative ways of bringing resources and players together to ensure the successful development of capital cities, from public/private partnerships to joint public-agency initiatives.
- The importance of public involvement in planning: As Washington and Ottawa pointed out, the public should be viewed as a partner in the planning process and should be involved at the initial stages as well as throughout the planning process. All levels of government should be consulted and involved in order to achieve success.
- The importance of green capitals and healthy living: As delegates visited Canada’s Capital Region, they discovered how Ottawa-Gatineau’s vast system of pathways, parkways, urban parks, Gatineau Park and the Greenbelt contribute to the quality of life of our residents and create a vibrant Capital for all Canadians.
- The challenges of managing rapidly growing cities: Brasilia in particular described how it has recently expanded its infrastructure, including building new roads around the outskirts of the Capital to accommodate the incredible growth of the city.
- The key success factors to building a world-class capital include flexibility, partnerships and collaboration, leadership, political commitment, dialogue and a strong long-term vision.
The main purpose of the Capitals Alliance network is to:
- Create linkages and encourage the sharing of visions and ideals for national capitals in the 21st century;
- Provide a forum for the exchange of information, expertise and ideas on national capitals; and
- Promote the story of the past, the present and the future of Alliance capitals.
Next Capitals Alliance Conference in Canberra, Australia in 2007 The delegation from Canberra, Australia announced that it will host the next Capitals Alliance meeting in January 2007.
Meeting to be broadcast on CPAC
Canadians across the country can view the complete Capitals Alliance Conference on CPAC at the following times:
- Wednesday, September 21: from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. Repeat: 9:30 pm to 11 pm;
- Thursday, September 22: from 4:30 pm to 5:45 pm;
- Saturday, September 24: from 12 pm to 6 pm;
- Sunday, September 25: from 10 am to 1 pm.
Please note that the broadcast schedule may change without notice. Viewers should consult the CPAC website at www.cpac.ca for the full schedule.
For more information about the Fourth Capitals Alliance Meeting, please contact the NCC at (613) 239-5555 or 1 800 704-8227.