Barrhaven gets second Amazon warehouse

Good morning! 

When I moved away from Barrhaven a little over a year ago, I couldn’t wait to see the suburb get smaller as I drove into the big city. My issue with the community of 100,000 people did not have much to do with Barrhaven itself, but it was just how far it was from the city. 

As someone who doesn’t drive, it would take me an hour to an hour and a half to get to the bus anywhere. That just wasn’t realistic for someone who needs to commute on almost a daily basis. The traffic was brutal, and Uber fares were expensive. 

But it’s a very popular community. As new developments pop up, especially throughout Half Moon Bay, over 10,000 new residents are expected to call it home over the next few years. And as I’ve discovered while looking for a house, the prices are cheaper.  

There are some parts of Barrhaven I miss, though. When my partner and I were there a week ago for errands, we couldn't get over how much cleaner the air was. It felt cooler. And it was nice to see trees and parks – so, I must admit we didn't have enough of where I live near Alta Vista. They also have some pretty amazing cafes. I’m a regular at Carmelito or Cafe Cristal, and a new fan of the recently opened coffee shop in Terra Flowers. They make an incredible strawberry matcha latte!

I don’t know if I could move there again because of my current lifestyle, though I am also starting to understand the appeal. Today's main story is about some recent developments in the community, which have evoked mixed reactions. 

Let’s get to it!

Editor’s note: I got my bridges mixed up when looking for a photo to accompany Wednesday's story on the Mackenzie King Bridge work. The photo you saw was of the Laurier Bridge next to it. For some reason, Flickr was confused, too. We regret the error.

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor, [email protected] X: @Charlie_Senack

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WEATHER

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DEVELOPMENT

New Amazon warehouse in Barrhaven could cause traffic impacts, warns residents

A second Amazon warehouse is under construction in Barrhaven, and nearby residents are not pleased. They fear the traffic it will cause in a part of the city lacking upgraded infrastructure. 

The 3.1 million-square-foot fulfillment centre building has started to be built in the area of Bill Leathem Drive and Leikin Drive, which is part of the South Merivale Business Park. It will be constructed on a 75-acre site near Fallowfield Road and Merivale Road. 

Barrhaven-East Coun. Wilson Lo said he’s excited about the opportunities it will bring to the neighbourhood, but also shares the residents’ concerns. 

“I'm supportive of the employment it will bring, the possible community partnerships, and completing the business park that's been vacant for so long. But there are a lot of concerns about the transportation infrastructure, the scale of this project, and the potential noise and traffic that it would bring,” Lo told the Lookout. “My role in this is extremely limited because of how the planning rules are set up. It is limited to impact mitigation.” 

Barrhaven is one of the fastest-growing communities with a population of over 100,000 and is on track to soon reach 110,000 citizens. Farmlands have been transformed into rows of housing developments, and strip malls are in every corner of the suburb, where it was once tricky to purchase socks, former Barrhaven Coun. Jan Harder used to joke. 

Lo said the area hasn’t kept up with upgrading its infrastructure to keep up with population growth, an issue that has been seen in many communities around Ottawa. Part of Barrhaven’s challenge has also been amalgamation with Nepean, which had different rules around planning. 

“I think this area was zoned for industry in the 90s. And at that time, I think the former city of Nepean had intended for it to be more like Colonnade. So the level of traffic would not have been the same or at least spread out through various facilities,” said Lo. 

”Plans could have been faster to ensure our transportation infrastructure here is more adequate, but it's not limited to Barhaven,” he added. “Kanata has a highway, Orleans has a highway and the LRT, but we just have Woodroffe. We are quite behind in transportation infrastructure.”

There are long-term and short-term solutions to mitigate the impact 

Lo would like to make some minor adjustments to help ease traffic when the warehouse opens. That includes spot adjustments to the intersections of Fallowfield and Merivale.  

This development could also increase public transit in the future warehouse area. Lo noted how the existing Amazon warehouse, which is a few kilometres away on Strandherd Drive, has multiple bus routes serving it. While new routes probably wouldn’t be added, existing ones could have their frequency increased during shift changes.   

But there are also long-term solutions. As part of the Transportation Master Plan (TMP), which council is currently debating, Lo ensured the future widening of Prince of Wales was added from Fallowfield Road to Colonnade Road. 

“Even before the last few years of development in Half Moon Bay and Quinn's Point, Prince of Wales is already super busy.  The need for widening was identified in an earlier transportation master plan, but it was removed in 2013. At the time council thought the Vimy Bridge would be enough, but evidently it was not,” said Lo.  

The transportation master plan sets out a road map of projects the city should build over the next 20 years, and it’s no small list. Other priorities include the Baseline and Carling bus rapid transit projects and other road widenings. 

While it is a list the council should follow for the next two years, Lo said he expects it will be revisited in a few years due to ever-increasing population growth. The Barrhaven East Councillor would also like to see Fallowfield Road widened in the future. 

Once opened, this would be Amazon’s third warehouse in Ottawa and the second in Barrhaven. The first location is in Orleans. 

THE OTTAWA NUMBER

2.1%

The year-over-year change in asking rents for a two-bedroom purpose-built rental apartment compared to Q1 last year. [CMHC]

THE AGENDA

🎼 Bluesfest kicked off last night with a nine-day lineup that includes Hozier, Turnstile, Def Leppard, Green Day, Sean Paul, Tom Morello and Shania Twain. Organizers expect 250,000 attendees and are encouraging people to use public or active transportation to access the festival grounds at LeBreton Flats. Read more. [CTV]

🏥 Wait times at all five Ottawa ERs exceeded the provincial average, with wait times at CHEO, the Queensway-Carleton Hospital, and the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus ranking in the top five for longest wait times for first assessment by a doctor, among all Ontario ERs. Read more. [CTV]

💰️ And while you're waiting to see a doctor, parking fees continue to generate millions in revenue for Ottawa hospitals, with the Ottawa Hospital collecting $27 million in parking fees during its 2024-25 fiscal year. A hospital spokesperson says parking revenue pays for things not funded by the province and is used to support capital projects, buy medical equipment, and yes - improve parking infrastructure around the hospital's three campuses. Read more. [CTV]

🏢 Treasury Board is doubling down on the federal government's hybrid work approach that requires most public servants to be in the office for three days a week. When asked if a policy change could be part of new Privy Council clerk Michael Sabia's approach, a Treasury Board spokesperson reaffirmed the government's policy of two days at home, three in the office for eligible public servants. Read more. [Ottawa Citizen]

👮 Ottawa Police Services released a photograph and description of a suspect wanted in connection with the June 2nd distribution of hate materials in Osgood Village. See the photo of the suspect. [OPS]

Freedom Convoy organizer James Bauder is living alone in an RV park while he seeks political asylum in the United States to avoid his upcoming trial in Ottawa. Read more. [Press Progress]

WEEKEND EVENT GUIDE

Cars & Coffee Ottawa (Lansdowne Automotive Concourse) | Lansdowne Live, 1015 Bank St | Jul. 12–13 | Classic cars, collectibles, and entertainment | Free

Natsu Matsuri (Summer Festival) 2025 | Sandy Hill Community Centre, 250 Somerset St E | Jul. 12, 11 am | Japanese culture fest with food, vendors, shows | Free

Hintonburg 5K and 1K 2025 | Parkdale Park, 366 Parkdale Ave | Jul. 13, 8:30 am | Family-friendly 5K and kids race event | Free

Symphonic Waves – Beethoven for Everyone | National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St | Jul. 17, 7 pm | $20 NAC Orchestra concert, open seating | Tickets $20

Sausage & Patty Fest: Mid-Season Sizzle | T’s All Welcoming Pub, 323 Somerset St E | Jul. 18, 5 pm | Craft sausage BBQ and LGBTQ+ camp vibes | Tickets $20

Music and Movies in the Park | Abbott St E, Stittsville | Jul. 18, 5 pm | Live music, food trucks, night market, outdoor film | Free

The Summer Spark Market | Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd | Jul. 19, 10 am | 30 vendors, dog-friendly, free parking | Free

Lock & Paddle 2025 – Ottawa | Rideau Canal: Hartwells Locks | Jul. 19, 1 pm | Flash mob paddle event celebrating Parks Day | Free

The Original Navan Market - July 20th, 2025 | 1279 Colonial Rd | Jul. 20, 9:30 am | Market with 130+ local vendors and food trucks | Free

Hintonburg Night Market | 1088 Somerset St. W | Jul. 24, 7 pm | Night market with handmade goods & food | Free

Vegans Who Snack Food and Art Festival | 366 Parkdale Ave | Jul. 25, 1 pm | 60 vendors, music, vegan eats, outdoors | Free

Antique, Vintage & Thrift Market | 1088 Somerset St. W | Jul. 26, 2 pm | Vintage market with food, art & dry bar | Free

Queer Market at Next Door Ottawa | 955A Gladstone Ave | Jul. 26–27, 7 am | LGBTQIA+ artists, vendors, 2-day celebration | Free

Gloucester Market @ St. Gabriel's | 55 Appleford St | Jul. 26, 11 am | Family market with vendors, raffles, BBQ | Free

Dumpling Fest Ottawa | Multiple restaurants, Ottawa K2P 2E3 | Jul. 30, 5:30 pm | Dumpling tasting plates from top restaurants | Tickets $55–$77

Nostalgia Music Festival | LeBreton Flats, Ottawa | Aug. 20–24 | Tribute bands from the 70s–90s, food, bars | Tickets $63

North American Festival of Wales | Sparks Street, Ottawa | Aug. 27–31 | Welshfest street party, concerts, hymn sings | Free

Vegans Who Snack Food and Art Festival | 366 Parkdale Ave | Jul. 25, 1 pm | Vegan food, art, music, 60+ small vendors | Free

Want to see your event here? You can purchase them through our self-service portal here.

COMMUNITY

Historic Barrhaven school house up for sale 

The old Jockvale School House has stood off Strandherd Drive as a beacon of Barrhaven’s past for over a century. Irish Catholic immigrants constructed an original log building there in 1841 and rebuilt it as the existing brick structure in 1906.  

The City has been its recent owner, but after sitting vacant for the last few years, it’s now up for sale. 

“To effectively revitalize the site, the schoolhouse is going to be listed for sale, with weighted consideration for bidders with intentions for community-oriented use - offers must detail the proposed use of the property,” wrote Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill on Facebook. 

As a requirement for future sales, the exterior must retain its appearance due to heritage designation. However, the inside could have investments and be modified. 

The asking price is $970,000 plus HST. 

On Facebook, Hill noted the schoolhouse is one of the only heritage buildings left in Barrhaven aside from a few old farmhouses. 

Over the years, it has had many purposes. It was built as a single-room schoolhouse that taught children in eight grades. The school closed in 1965 but continued to be used for various activities and events by the community. During the Second World War, it was a distribution center for ration books, and following that, the Barrhaven Lions Club held frequent meetings, celebrations and events. To this day, their friendship arch is proudly on display.  Before establishing the South Nepean Muslim Community (SNMC) mosque, our local Muslim community used the schoolhouse to host local events and as a safe space for prayer and worship.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Mayor Hill’s Park has a sunscreen dispenser in the washroom, which is honestly a great idea! [Reddit]

• This Thai restaurant near Little Italy is a great option if you’re in the mood for Thai food.

• Congratulations to Yves Brunet, who recently won the United Way East Ontario Community Builder Award. [Apt613]

• In need of some cheese this weekend? Our food editor swears by this local shop.

• This under-appreciated Italian restaurant has a chef with a boat-load of experience — and it shows.

COMMENT CORNER

Transit and density

Readers weighed in on the inter-provincial bridge plan and new developments in Ottawa East.

ON THIS DAY

July 11, 1950: The Ottawa Journal reported the Rideau River took three lives in the span of 12 hours. The first incident occurred at Long Island where Winnifred Stutt and her brother John drowned. 

A few hours later, a similar incident at Kingsview Park, Eastview, resulted in the death of former merchant salesman 29-year-old Hubert Dagneault.

The Ottawa Journal wrote: “Dagneault drowned when he failed to make good his dare to swim 100 yards upstream to Cummings Bridge. His brother 23-year old Gerry said the pair were reminicising about their old days in the merchant navy when Dagneault decided to take the plunge. 

• Also on this day in 1950, a reward of $1,000 was offered by the OPP for information on the person who slayed a farmer in Prescott. Omer Merrill Whitmore was found dead in his barn on May 23, with his head badly battered and a belt knotted around his neck.

OTTAWA WORDLE

Think you can guess today’s Ottawa Wordle? Play it here. 

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