Botanical gardens

Good morning! 

A few weeks ago, I was walking through the Canadensis site with my husband when I nearly stepped on a large garter snake slithering through the grass. I let out a rather loud yelp — though, judging by how quickly it disappeared, I’m pretty sure it was more scared of me than I was of it.

Encounters like that are part of what makes this pocket of Ottawa so special. When I’m looking to get out into nature, I often frequent the Experimental Farm and Dominion Arboretum. It’s where I had my wedding pictures taken, where I’ve conducted dozens of phone interviews, and where I go when I need an escape from the noise and overstimulation of the city. 

Tucked into one corner is a site with an old red barn, winding paths and colourful art installations. For years, I assumed it was simply part of everything else around it. It turns out there’s a much bigger vision for the land: Canadensis is the proposed home of what supporters hope will one day become a national botanical garden.

Curious to learn more, I did some digging. The idea stretches all the way back to the 1880s and the early days of the Central Experimental Farm. Despite repeated attempts over the decades to make a botanical garden a reality, plans have stalled for a variety of reasons. Now, a volunteer-run organization is trying once again to get the project planted — literally and figuratively.

That’s our main story today, but before we get to it, I also wanted to share another conversation from this week. Yesterday morning, I had the pleasure of joining CBC municipal affairs reporter Elyse Skura on Ottawa Morning to talk about the latest headlines from the municipal election. You can watch our conversation here.

Now, let’s get to it!

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor

Have a story idea or editorial questions? Contact me at [email protected]

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WEATHER

Friday: 18 🌡️ 10 | ☀️

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Sunday: 19 🌡️ 7 | 🌤️

Monday: 16 🌡️ 8 | ☁️

By Charlie Senack.

It’s a late summer day and the long grass at Canadensis Garden sways between stands of mature maple and oak trees that have stood for decades. Goldenrod — a perennial wildflower in the daisy family — fills parts of the landscape with yellow, while butterflies, bees and other pollinators move between patches of wild vegetation. A large red-tailed hawk flies overhead.

The space on Prince of Wales Dr, across from Carleton University does not look like the expansive, sprawling botanical gardens many other large cities have, but there is a vision.

There are no grand entrance gates or elaborate greenhouses. Instead, grassy paths mowed through the fields lead visitors past temporary art installations, a small native tree nursery and an enormous old oak encircled by a wooden bench.

For almost 140 years, the land around the Dominion Arboretum has been tied in one form or another to the idea of a botanical garden. Now, the volunteers behind Canadensis are hoping they are approaching a turning point in a quest that has endured generations, changing governments, and numerous attempts to build a larger garden.

“We had the words, but what we still lack is a champion,” said Gérald Lajeunesse, chair of the Canadensis Botanical Garden Society. “It has to happen finally.”

The idea is to eventually transform up to 34 acres of federal land beside the Dominion Arboretum, Fletcher Wildlife Garden and Rideau Canal into a major botanical destination showcasing Canadian plants, landscapes, horticulture, art and research.

But Canadensis does not yet have a long-term commitment to the land. Until that’s in place, they can’t champion funding the money needed to get it off the ground.

For now, the society operates the northern 16.6 acres through a year-to-year arrangement with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, said Lajeunesse. That allows Canadensis to maintain the site and offer programming, but makes launching a major capital campaign difficult.

“Everybody who changes in the government — we’ve gone through five deputy ministers — and you’ve got to start all over again,” Lajeunesse said.

“We’re all ready to start and initiate the capital campaign. But before we can do that, we have to assure the people we’re contacting, because that’s what they ask: ‘Do you have the land?’ Yes, we have it on a year-to-year basis. No long-term commitment.”

The roots of the idea stretch back almost to the founding of the Central Experimental Farm itself.

The federal government established the farm in 1886 as the centrepiece of a new network of experimental farms intended to advance Canadian agriculture. According to an Experimental Farms report published in 1899, 65 of the original 465 acres were specifically reserved for an “Arboretum and Botanic Garden,” where plants from Canada and around the world could be tested for their ability to survive the local climate.

The first planting began in 1889 with 200 species of trees and shrubs. By 1894, the collection had grown to roughly 600 species and varieties.

Today, much of that legacy survives in the Dominion Arboretum. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says the broader farm continues to combine agricultural research with public attractions, including the ornamental gardens and Tropical Greenhouse. The Central Experimental Farm was designated a national historic site in 1998.

Lajeunesse said various proposals came and went before the federal government decided in the 1980s that it would not build a new botanical garden itself, leaving any future project to a third party.

The modern volunteer organization that eventually became the Canadensis Botanical Garden Society began its work in 1998. Its master plan envisions transforming 34 acres of Central Experimental Farm land south of the Arboretum into a botanical garden focused on Canadian landscapes, horticulture, education, research and sustainability. The society has projected that a fully developed garden could eventually attract more than 500,000 visitors annually.

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Check if your property is eligible and start your next project before winter!

3,224

That’s how many parking spots the downtown core has lost since 2016, and as public servants return downtown for return-to-office mandates, the parking supply is dwindling. [Ottawa Citizen]

📞 Service has been restored after intermittent 911 outages affected areas of Ontario and Quebec, including Ottawa and Gatineau. Read more ($) [Ottawa Citizen]

⛽ Ottawa gas prices are set to drop 10 cents a litre on Friday. The decrease comes after an eight-cent jump on Thursday morning. Read more. [CTV]

🏠 Ottawa Community Housing has purchased hundreds of existing homes in Nepean to add to its long-term housing supply. The total of 503 new units includes 369 townhomes and two apartment buildings, making it the largest acquisition in the organization’s history. Read more. [CBC]

🩹 Ottawa Public Health is asking families to ensure their children are up to date with routine vaccinations and that their family’s vaccination records are current.  Read more. [City of Ottawa]

🚨 Ottawa police are seeking public assistance in identifying a suspect in an alleged sexual assault in Orléans. The incident was alleged to have occurred near the intersection of Brian Coburn Boulevard and Provence Avenue on Sunday, Sept. 13, at around 9 p.m. Read more ($). [Ottawa Citizen]

📝 Some Carleton University professors are holding technology-free classes, requiring students to bring physical books and take handwritten notes rather than use laptops or AI. Read more. [CTV]

🛑 Several major roads will be closed on Sunday as thousands of runners race through the city for the Canada Army Run. Sussex Drive, Elgin Street, Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Queen Street and Wellington Street will be impacted, as well as others. Read more. [CBC]

🚔 Ottawa police have arrested a suspect in a shooting that occurred near the intersection of Bank Street and Heron Road last Saturday. Police have arrested a 33-year-old man in connection with the shooting, which left a 26-year-old man critically injured. Read more. [CBC]

📚 Perley Health has opened a new intergenerational learning centre meant to bring together babies, toddlers, preschoolers, veterans and seniors through shared spaces, planned activities and education. Read more. [CBC]

🚓 Gatineau police have charged a 19-year-old man in connection with child sexual abuse and exploitation materials and have said they believe there could be additional victims in the Outaouais region. Read more. [CTV]

FOOD AND DRINK

Story by Capital Eats food and drink editor Ralf Joneikies

Spicy Man brings the kind of unapologetic Chinese cooking that lights me up and has me craving the next visit long before I’m halfway through the meal. This is a kitchen team with experience and with every bite, you sense that “timing” is in their bones.

With such a large menu, making choices, even over two visits, was not easy. I did indulge, however, and based on what I had, Spicy Man will be a regular destination. 

To read this story and subscribe instantly to our free food and drink newsletter, click here.

Race to End Homelessness Ottawa | 1471 Blair Road | Sunday, September 27, 9-11 am | Community-driven 10K, 5K, and 1K run/walk to raise funds for local organizations working towards a future where everyone has a home. | Learn more [Sponsored]

Outdoor Quilt Walk | 2477 Huntley Rd., Stittsville | Sept. 18-20 | Walk a 1-km woodland path lined with over 200 quilts and experience an outdoor gallery of colour and creativity | Free

Mystic Market Autumn Equinox – Mabon | Next Door Market & Event Space, Gladstone Avenue | Sept. 19-20 | Enjoy community, magic and an autumnal celebration featuring tarot readers, psychics, healers, artisans, vintage finds, oddities, crystals, herbs and more | Free entry

Ottawa-Gatineau Climate March | Ottawa and Gatineau | Sept. 19, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Join CAFES Ottawa and Fridays For Future Ottawa in a street march to defend the climate, travelling from Jacques-Carter Park along Mackenzie Avenue to Ottawa City Hall | Free

Ottawa Anime-Fest | Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Airport | Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Come out for voice actors, vendors, attractions and more, including a cosplay contest | Tickets $20+

Taste of Wellington | 1292 Wellington St. W. | Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Explore local tastings, live music, a picnic, performances, and follow the Taste Map so you don’t miss a thing | Free

September Puzzle Social | Greensboro Community Centre | Sept. 19 at 1:30 p.m. | Meet other puzzlers, try out different brands and compete in a mini speed puzzle challenge at this unique in-person event | Free

Makers Market | Merivale Mall | Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. | Come out to see the Pop Up Gallery and discover unique creations and local talent, featuring local artists, small businesses and handmade goods | Free

Ottawa Fashion Week | Mac Hall, Bronson Centre | Sept. 19, 5-9 p.m. | Enjoy an evening celebrating Ottawa’s fashion scene, featuring an open runway, a designer showcase and live entertainment | Tickets $50+

Emo Night | The 27 Club | Sept. 19 at 9 p.m. | Get your tickets for emo night (19+) featuring DJ sets and a live band with the best emo, pop-punk, screamo, metalcore and rock | Tickets $20+

Want to see your event here? Submit them to our event calendar.

By Charlie Senack. Originally published April 7, 2026.

When former Knoxdale–Merivale city councillor Keith Egli opted not to seek re-election, he was in the midst of his most challenging term on council.

Before entering municipal politics, Egli spent decades working as a litigation lawyer, representing clients in complex legal disputes and building a reputation for steady, methodical work — a career that, like his time on council, required composure under pressure and careful judgment.

But an inner battle had been brewing.

For about a decade, Egli had been suffering from panic attacks and chronic pain, including in his pelvis. His family noticed he was often angry. Unsure why, the politician sought countless doctors and treatments. Nothing seemed to work.

After serving three terms, Egli already felt it was time for new blood and chose not to seek re-election in 2022. 

He was ready to try something new — but he also began confronting trauma that had long been buried. He sought therapy. He began journaling. And eventually, he decided to go public with his story.

Read the story.

Not one, not two, but 11 Northern Map turtles bask on a rock in the Ottawa River.

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