People’s Park saved from freeway expansion

Good morning! 

You can blame me for this snow. I put my patio chair and table outside, and strung my summer lights on the bush. As I write this, it looks more like December outside than April. But the good news is I see buds are starting to poke through on the trees. Surely this must be the last sign of winter we will see. And did I mention the tulip festival is only about a month away? 

Old Ottawa East residents are celebrating the news that a proposed freeway will no longer cross over a piece of community greenspace. The plan that was in place for decades was axed due to the minimal positive effect it would have. 

Ottawa Senators fans are also celebrating tonight. Despite losing last night's game, they have still found themselves with a spot in the playoffs. Could this be the year they bring the Stanley Cup home? 

Let’s get to your latest headlines!

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor [email protected]

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WEATHER

Wednesday: 1 🌡️ -8 | 🌤️

Thursday: 6 🌡️ 0 | 🌤️

Friday: 5 🌡️ 2 | 🌧️ 

OTTAWA NUMBERS

🗳️ 96: The number of candidates running for the federal election in the riding of Carleton. The area is currently held by Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre. At least 85 of the candidates have the same official agent – Tomas Szuchewycz – and are linked to the electoral reform group the “Longest Ballot Committee.” It protests Canada’s first-past-the-post system and will be one of the longest ballots in Canadian elections history. [CTV]

👮‍♂️ $44M: The amount of money Ottawa Police are forecasting in budget pressures for 2026. At the Ottawa Police Service Board Finance and Audit Committee Monday, the service said it needs an additional $32.7 million next year just to maintain services, $8.5 million to grow the police force and another $5.3 million to pay for new services. [CTV]

❄️ 10-15 cm: The amount of snow which fell in Ottawa Tuesday. The average daytime high this time of year is 9 C. [CBC]

🏡 6%: The rate that home sales were down in Ottawa last month compared to March 2024. A total of 1,103 units were sold. But listing prices were slightly up. [CTV]

CITY

People’s Park in Old Ottawa East saved from freeway development

It’s a sunny spring day in Old Ottawa East and a group of sunbathers have gathered at what’s known as the People’s Park. Nearby, a man plays fetch with his dog. There is a quiet hum in the air as birds return after a winter away and the water of the Rideau River roars past. Its levels are high due to snow melt. 

This piece of urban oasis has been saved from development. A longstanding plan to build a freeway through the greenspace has been axed. It’s welcome news to the community. 

The cancelled project was part of the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor, conceived of as a four-lane freeway running from Walkley Road to the Queensway. Part of the city’s Official Plan since 1966, it would have run across the river and through the greenspace which borders 170 Lees Ave. The proposed highway would have been the size of roughly 187 football fields. 

Under a proposed change, a future transportation corridor would run from Walkley to Hurdman Station. 

The city says such a change is possible because new data in the 2025 Transportation Master Plan shows a road connection at such a point would not provide any sensible relief. 

“Both Nicholas Street and Highway 417 at Nicholas are already over capacity, and these facilities are not expected to be widened. The travel demand modelling also shows that the northern section would attract about 600 additional vehicles to the area during the AM peak period and would, if built, become congested by 2046,” said city staff in a Road Network Development report published late last month.

It went on to say: “Travel demand from southeast Ottawa will continue to be accommodated on existing corridors including Highway 417, St Laurent Boulevard / Russell Road, Riverside Drive, Bank Street, Main Street, Airport Parkway, O-Train Line 2, the Southeast Transitway, and new frequent transit service connecting southeast Ottawa into the urban transit network.”

That is welcome news to Capital Ward Coun. Shawn Menard, who has been advocating for the plan to be axed since last year. He said such a freeway development would go against the City of Ottawa’s environmental targets. A petition was started which garnered a few thousand signatures. 

“It was proposed before we had LRT in place, before we had major transit stations, and before we had a lot of multi-residential in the city. In the decades since the city has really evolved and we understand the value of 15-minute neighbourhoods,” Menard told the Lookout. “The official plan has changed and the value of greenspace has become more clear every day as we lose it.”

Peoples Park borders Springhurst Park, and Menard said it’s one of the only pieces of greenspace in the community. It’s used by the thousands of nearby residents, including those who reside in Lees Towers, which has one of the highest concentrations of affordable housing in Capital Ward. 

There is also the cost savings involved. City estimates predicted the portion over the River would cost $150 million. 

There is still a long-term vision for the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor

While this part of the plan is no longer happening, the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor is still very much in the works — though don’t expect to see any movement for a few decades. 

The southern portion has been earmarked in an updated Transportation Master Plan, but it's not recommended for funding until at least 2046. That means the lands will be held until that time — good news for the 420 gardeners who use the Kilborn Allotment Gardens. 

“We have another 20 years before we have to worry about the potential of having that road there in whatever form it would be whether it be transit, a combination of transit and active transportation, or emergency vehicles only,” said Alta Vista Ward Coun. Marty Carr. 

Carr predicts only about 30 per cent of the ward would like to see an active transportation corridor of some kind built now. 

“There are some people that want to see it removed entirely, but  I explain that if we remove it entirely, we have the potential of losing those lands to development. People are then more inclined to want to keep it in the transportation master plan and have it held,” she said. 

SPONSORED BY F.R.Y. CANADA

Be a Hero for Our Heroes: Join Us at the First Responders Day Event Ottawa!

Join us on May 1, 2025, at Nepean Sportsplex in Ottawa for First Responders Day—a special event dedicated to the heroes who serve our communities.

We’re proud to welcome Caitlin Morrison, sister of the late Matthew Perry and representative of the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada.

She will share a powerful message about mental health and addiction recovery — a cause close to Matthew’s heart and vital to our first responder community.

In addition to a day filled with exceptional speakers and special guests, you'll also have the opportunity to:

✔ Learn from experts about mental and physical health for trauma-exposed professions
✔ Engage with First Responders and hear their stories
✔ Visit exhibitor booths featuring health, fitness, and wellness solutions
✔ Leave a message on the “Wall of Thanks”

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
Location: Nepean Sportsplex, Ottawa, Ontario
Cost: $25 for Public registration

Register now!

THE AGENDA

🏥 Patients and visitors to the General Hospital are getting fed up with the lack of parking options. One person who has been accessing cancer treatments since 2018 says the whole ordeal can take at least an hour, using energy he doesn’t have. The Ottawa Hospital said it’s “adding staff parking spaces to off-site locations near the General Campus that will be serviced by regular shuttles, freeing up more on-site parking for patients and visitors.” [CTV]

⛄️ There were dozens of collisions Tuesday morning because of the snowfall. Ottawa police reported 52 crashes that required a police response between midnight and 9:30 a.m. The Kichi Zībī Mīkan Parkway experienced gridlock conditions in both directions due to a collision between Carling and Island Park. It resulted in many OC Transpo buses needing to be rerouted. [CTV]

🚎 A "construction deficiency" that occurred months before the fatal Westboro bus crash is resurfacing at the coroner's inquest into the January 2019 tragedy. Temporary orange road markings that had been painted in the summer of 2018 to redirect traffic during lane closures were visible again at the time of the crash. But the inquest has heard no city employees complained about them, and several other bus drivers were on the same route without any issues. [CBC]

🏒 Former NHL goaltender and hockey broadcaster Greg Millen has died at the age of 67. Millen spent 14 years in the NHL from 1978-92. He played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. [CTV]

🍁 Where will the next Prime Minister of Canada live? The short answer: We don’t know. What we do know is that 24 Sussex is not an option — it’s just not liveable. Rideau Cottage where Justin Trudeau stayed is an option, but if Mark Carney wins, there are rumours he will stay in his Rockcliffe Park home. [Ottawa Citizen]

👮‍♂️ Ottawa Police have identified the suspect accused of barricading himself in the East Block of Parliament Hill over the weekend. Tyler Hall-Worthington, 31, has been charged with two counts of breaching probation, one count of public mischief and one count of uttering threats to cause property damage. Police said the man had entered the security screening area just inside the doors, where he “began making threats to the safety of those inside.” [Ottawa Citizen]

Crime news 

👮‍♂️ Mahad Elmi, 20, of Ottawa, has been identified as the victim of Sunday morning’s homicide in Craig Henry. It marked the city’s 10th homicide of the year. Ottawa Police have not released any further details, and said the investigation is ongoing. No suspect is in custody. [Ottawa Citizen]

⬆️ Ottawa is on track to reach or exceed the record number of homicides the city recorded last year, said Police Chief Eric Stubbs. He noted ”it’s not just a guns and gangs conflict that has continued throughout the year,” and said the rising population could also be playing a role. Police are also “ 100 per cent confident” none of the homicides are linked. [Ottawa Citizen]

🚔 Dharmeshkumar Vallabhabhai Kathireeya, 29, has been identified as the victim of last week’s homicide in Clarence-Rockland. Few details are known at this time, but 83-year-old Gilles Martel has been charged with second-degree murder. [CBC]

HOME OF THE WEEK

Have you been searching for an incredible, modern, waterfront property that is move-in ready? A beautiful place to swim, fish and boat? Want to drive your snowmobile up the river to Constance Bay for dinner? 

Then maybe this is the house for you. 

House of The Week is a home selected by the Lookout team and is not a paid advertisement. All ads are labeled as such. If you’re a realtor who wishes to feature your home in our newsletter, please contact our sales team.

SPORTS

The Ottawa Senators are heading to the playoffs — finally!

By Jeff Morris 

The Ottawa Senators had a chance to clinch their first NHL playoff spot in eight years, but the team came out flat in Columbus Tuesday night. After posting back-to-back shutouts in wins over Florida and Columbus at Canadian Tire Centre over the weekend, the Senators lost 5-2 in Columbus. It was their third game against the Blue Jackets in 10 days.

Sens goalie Anton Forsberg was coming off the best game of his career. Saturday, he made 40 saves in a shutout against the Florida Panthers.

In Columbus Tuesday night, Forsberg was scored on seven minutes into the game and the Blue Jackets coasted to a victory.

There was a moment when the Sens grabbed the momentum to make the score 2-1 when Fabian Zetterlund scored his first goal as a Senator off a goal-mouth scramble. The Blue Jackets regained their two-goal lead in the last minute of the second, and then scored a pair in the third.

• Thomas Chabot scored on a rebound to make the final 5-2.

As it turned out, the Montreal Canadiens’ victory over the Detroit Red Wings back-doored the Senators into the playoffs. However, it also put the Habs just three points behind Ottawa for the first wildcard spot.

The Senators host Montreal in a huge game Friday. The Senators have not played well against Montreal this year, and the Canadiens are hungry since they have not yet clinched a playoff spot. They are also one of the hottest teams in the NHL since the Four National Face-Off break.

If Montreal wins in Ottawa on Friday, they will be just one point behind the Sens for the first wildcard spot and a likely series against the Leafs.

It will be the toughest regular season ticket to get at the Canadian Tire Senator since the Hamburglar run of 2015.

Atlético Ottawa earns tie

Atlético Ottawa opened their CPL soccer season up at TD Place Saturday, coming back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 tie. Giorgio Probo and Sean Rea scored first-half goals for Halifax. 

David Rodríguez scored Ottawa’s first goal at the 60-minute mark, and then Aboubacar Sissoko scored the equalizer with just over 10 minutes to play.

Ottawa’s next game is on the West Coast, where they’ll play Vancouver FC next Sunday, April 13 (3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET). 

Tough loss for Black Bears

Ottawa’s pro lacrosse team the Ottawa Black Bears were on the road over the weekend and lost to the Rochester Knighthawks by a score of 12-6.

Jeff Teat had two goals and three assists for Ottawa with Reilly O’Connor scoring a pair of Ottawa goals with two assists. Larson Sundown and Carson Kearnan had the other Black Bears goals.

The Black Bears will return to play at Canadian Tire Centre on Sat., April 12 at 7 p.m. as they host Las Vegas.

MUSIC SHOW LISTINGS

John Muirhead | Red Bird, 1165 Bank St | Apr. 10 | Toronto-based troubadour creating big-hearted indie-folk music.  Tickets $23. 

Lensky | Avant Garde Bar, 135 Besserer St | Apr. 10 | Interdisciplinary artist making a name with his captivating performances and nuanced songwriting. Tickets $12. 

Art of the Duo | Gigspace, 953 Gladstone Ave | Apr. 10 | Esteemed jazz guitarists Tim Bedner and Kevin Barrett present an enchanting set of favourite standards and originals. Tickets $20.

Gilles and the Barnburners | Art House Cafe, 555 Somerset St W | Apr. 11 | Jazz you can groove to, with a particular affinity for hard bop, smokey ballads and a sprinkling of Bossa Nova. Tickets $15.

Cross Dog | House of Targ, 1077 Bank St | Apr. 11 | Using only voice, drums and bass to create their loud, socially-conscious blend of feminist punk, hardcore, and metal. Tickets $20. 

Listings for music shows are provided by OttawaGigs.ca, the best place to discover live music in Ottawa. Check out Ottawagigs.ca for full listings across the city.

GEO GUESSER

Lots of people guessed last week’s wrong. The correct answer was behind the Royal Ottawa Hospital!

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Roslyn Kennery, who previously ran for city council in College Ward and worked in the Mayor's office, is sharing her coming out experience as Transgender. [Ottawa Citizen]

• There’s a new ramen shop in Kanata. And yes, it’s good. [Capital Eats]

• Looking for some camping spots this summer? Here are some recommendations. [Reddit]

• What does our food editor think about the popular Black Walnut? There’s a good, no, great, reason it’s so popular

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