Reimagining Carling

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Good morning! 

I was recently on the Queensway when I glanced over toward Carling Avenue and realized just how dramatically the skyline has changed in only a few short years. Towers now rise where the once-infamous Talisman hotel and its tiki bar used to sit, and cranes continue to reshape the corridor almost block by block.

Across social media, photos have been circulating showing bulldozers tearing down much of the Westgate Shopping Centre property, where new residential towers and a grocery store are planned. Further west, more highrises are proposed near Lincoln Fields, Bayshore and Carlingwood as developers eye large swaths of aging commercial land for intensification. What was once largely a car-oriented suburban corridor is slowly beginning to transform into something far more urban.

But while developers continue to move ahead with ambitious plans, the city’s own vision for Carling appears far less certain. Projects like the long-discussed bus rapid transit corridor and bike lanes remain delayed, even as thousands of new housing units are proposed along the avenue.

And now, one of the most ambitious plans of all may be in jeopardy. Last year, RioCan unveiled concepts for a brand-new mixed-use community at Lincoln Fields. Despite all its excitement, they are now looking more seriously at commercial development instead.

So what exactly is the future of Carling Avenue — and is Ottawa prepared for the transformation already underway? We did our best to find those answers. 

Let’s get to it!

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor

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WEATHER

Wednesday: 12 🌡️6 | 🌧️

Thursday: 14 🌡️ 6 | ☁️

Friday: 18 🌡️ 9 | ☁️

By Charlie Senack

When Theresa Kavanagh was first elected Bay Ward councillor in 2018, she had dreams for what Carling Avenue could become. A tree-lined street where people walked, rode their bikes, took public transit and lived. A definition of a 15-minute neighbourhood where you could take active transportation to get where you were going in a fast, reliable way. 

It’s a far cry from what Carling’s purpose has always been. 

Once a rural road which helped you get into the city, it was lined with motels and tourist cabins. After the Second World War, small family homes began popping up in the Carlington area, and later, shopping destinations followed: Westgate, Carlingwood, and, further west, Bayshore. 

But over the decades, shopping patterns changed, and so did Carling. The halls of Westgate became bare as the store closed up shop, leading to the city’s oldest mall closing last fall and currently under demolition. Small strip malls have also been coming down, making way for towering high rises to keep up with rapid intensification. 

Perhaps the catalyst for Carling's future was the Lincoln Fields development, which has undergone multiple iterations since the mall came down in 2021. The latest concept plans showed upwards of 11 high-rises being built, ranging from 9 to 40 storeys, with a large park in the middle. 

Kavanagh said she was excited to see life come to what has essentially been a large parking lot. Still, its future is now uncertain after the property developers pivoted their plans.  

Turn up the volume with La Vida Loca, a vibrant celebration of the Latin pop hits that defined the ’90s and 2000s at the National Arts Centre. The NAC Orchestra brings the music of Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Santana, Enrique Iglesias, and more to life with live vocals, driving percussion, and symphonic arrangements inspired by the energy of a live Latin pop show. Learn more.

From dance-floor anthems to feel-good favourites, La Vida Loca blends the power of a full orchestra with the excitement of a live Latin concert experience. Expect recognizable hits, lively atmosphere, and a fun night out built around music that’s hard to sit still to.

May 21–23, 2026
National Arts Centre, Ottawa
Tickets

92

That’s how many parking tickets were issued to vehicles that were parked in “Special Event — No Stopping Zones” in Little Italy and Dow’s Lake during the first weekend of the Canadian Tulip Festival. An additional 17 tickets were issued to vehicles parking in excess of the time limits on streets near the festival. Read more. [CTV]

🚍 Rick Leary, the new general manager of OC Transpo, has unveiled his plan to improve transit service in Ottawa. The first order of business is to restore service on O-Train Line 1, which he says will resume with two-car service by mid-June. Read more. [CTV]

🗳️ Mayoral candidates continue to emerge for the upcoming municipal election, but Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has yet to file pipers. Three other candidates are already ramping up announcements and platforms. Read more. [CBC]

🚓 Goran Beric, an Ottawa police officer who was found guilty of assault and assault with a weapon, has lost his appeal of order to resign. He was convicted of criminal offences in 2023 following a trial and sentenced to 30 months of probation and 200 hours of community service. Read more ($) [Ottawa Citizen]

💸 Due to the government’s plans to reduce the size of the federal public service, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) says it will extend employment for up to 800 temporary employees to help process the payments and paperwork. Read more. [CTV]

🚔 Ottawa’s auditor general says there are several gaps in project management oversight and budgeting at the Ottawa Police Service, resulting in “variances in project management rigour.” Read more. [CTV]

🪧 There are new large speed signs being installed around Ottawa in school zones that previously had speed cameras. Read more. [CBC]

🚨 Ottawa Police are seeking witnesses to a collision near the Fallowfield Via Rail station on monday evening that left a 29-year-old woman with life-threatening injuries. Read more. [Ottawa Police Service]

✈️ Two CF-18 Hornets will be flying over Ottawa’s south end on Wednesday when the Royal Canadian Air Force participates in an RCMP-led live-fly exercise over Ottawa. Read more. [CTV]

Across Canada, restaurants are struggling to find enough staff, not because they aren’t hiring, but because there aren’t enough people to fill the roles. You see it in shorter hours, added strain on staff, longer waits and tough decisions about staying open. 

Behind every great meal are many hands, and when some are missing, everyone feels it.  

Take a minute to watch and see what’s at stake. 

Tucked on a quiet cul-de-sac, this custom 3,860 sf Tudor-style home blends timeless elegance with modern comfort. A grand staircase welcomes you into refined living and dining spaces, a private office, a chef’s kitchen that opens to a cozy family room and sunroom. Featuring 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, and a private third-level suite, it’s perfect for families or guests. The finished lower level adds exceptional living space with spa features.

Outside, enjoy a stunning backyard oasis with a saltwater pool, hot tub, and cabana, surrounded by nature. Close to top schools, shopping, and trails—this is luxury living at its finest.

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From now until May 17, catch the 10-time Tony Award-winning musical Moulin Rouge! on stage at the National Arts Centre.

The Gladstone Theatre welcomes viewers to Fun Home, presented by Tototoo Theatre, from May 14-23. The musical is an adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel.

For families, children and individuals alike, the NAC presents Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, a production telling this Kwanlten First Nation story of The Wild Woman of the Woods, presented on May 16.

At the Ottawa Art Gallery, catch The Creativity of Plants, a digital exhibition that brings together 31 artists from 21 countries in an exploration of the plant world. Exhibition closes May 24.

Check out In Praise of Misbehaviour, a solo art show by Catherine Gutsche that celebrates misbehaviour as a form of beauty through paintings, now on display at the Art House Cafe.

Join the OAG for a beginner-friendly evening on artistic taste, buying art, and collecting with confidence for Collecting 101 on May 19.

This week at the Mayfair Theatre, catch Mile End Kicks, The Christophers, The Blade (Hong Kong), The Room (2003), Calle Málaga, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), Killhouse (Ukraine), Exit 8 (Japan), and Lorne. On May 16, the theatre is also hosting Moonwake: Afterlight, a curated short film festival, and Saturday Night Sinema, which offers secret late-late cinema with surprise screenings.

The Bytowne Cinema is screening Palestine 36, Holy Days, a 35-mm screening of Lady Vengeance (2005), a slumber party screening of Dirty Dancing (1987), Drawn In: Ghost in the Shell (Japan, 1995), The Wizard of the Kremlin, I Swear, TIFF winner Blue Heron, The Last One for the Road (Italy), Detour: Collateral (2004), and a restoration of 1997’s Nowhere.

The Retreads celebrate their album release at House of Targ on 13 May. The Ottawa punk supergroup — featuring members of The Trapt, Furnaceface, and Flag of Truce — launches their new record. Tickets $15.

Ariel Posen brings his Bannatyne Tour to Club SAW on 14 May. The guitar virtuoso delivers rootsy blues-rock and expressive slide work with Wendlo in support. Tickets $25.

Heliara launches her EP at LIVE! on Elgin on 15 May. The singer-songwriter celebrates Everything's a Love Song with heartfelt indie pop-rock that blends vulnerability and empowerment. Tickets $10.

Brass Camel rock Rainbow Bistro on 16 May. Vancouver's genre-defying quartet fuse deep-pocket funk, face-melting prog, and massive-harmony art rock with Ottawa's Out By Lucy in support. Tickets $20.

Irish Millie plays the Cameron on 17 May. The fiddle prodigy already has seven Canadian Folk Music Award nominations to her name, mixing East Coast, bluegrass, and contemporary folk. Tickets $30.

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

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

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While some dishes missed, the classics delivered.

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