City Builders

Ottawa has changed dramatically since it was incorporated in 1855, when it was a small lumber town of 16,000 people. This year, the City of Ottawa will reach one million people and the Ottawa-Gatineau Metropolitan region will reach 1.5 million people.

And the pace of change accelerating. What will Ottawa look like as it grows over the next century?  How do we make sure that we can keep pace and adapt to change in a way that makes Ottawa an inclusive, liveable and globally competitive city?

We have an opportunity to prepare for the future with a brand new Official Plan: the strategic document that guides our city’s growth and development. The plan impacts how and where the city will grow around us, now and for years to come. It establishes a policy framework that will inform the shape of the communities where you live, work and play. The scope of the plan may reach as far as the middle of this century and will affect generations to come.

We want Ottawa to grow to be the most liveable mid-sized city in North America. Our Official Plan can help us seize future opportunities and be resilient in the face of unexpected challenges.

For more information, please visit the project page, or subscribe to the mailing list.

The City of Ottawa, Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada are inviting the public to inspire the design of the new Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada joint facility.

The national engagement process for the architectural design of the facility has been labeled the "Inspire555 Series," in a nod to its address. 555 Albert Street is at the western edge of downtown Ottawa, five blocks from Parliament, and on the new LRT line at Pimisi Station. The Inspire555 Series includes design workshops, pop-up events, expert lectures, online activities and engagement (local and national), and knowledge sharing with Indigenous communities – all planned for 2019. The first in-person design workshops on Building Blocks are set for later this month.

Participants will be invited to register for one of two design workshops on how to make best use of the site for the new joint facility:

• Thursday, February 28, 6 to 9 pm, Pellan Room, Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street
• Saturday, March 2, 9 am to 12 pm, Hall A, Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue (free parking available)

Visit Inspire555.ca to pre-register for one of the two workshops.

Our popular series Planning Primer is available online to help residents become more aware of, and more involved in, the land-use planning process.

The core courses, called Primer I and Primer II, describe the legislative and policy basis under which land-use planning decisions are made, the way policy documents are amended and how to make a development application.

While attending the courses in person allows one to benefit from the personal knowledge shared by the presenters and the question and answer periods, these online materials will provide a useful summary for use between courses as well as for those who are unable to attend in person.

Visit the Planning page on Ottawa.ca to read or download the course materials.  

February 21
ByWard Market Public Realm Plan – Public Life Surveys
12 to 6 pm
Various locations in ByWard Market
Ward 12 - Rideau-Vanier
For more info, please contact: Jill Savage

February 21
Open House Bank Street in the Glebe Planning Study
7 to 9 pm
Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Ave
Ward 17 - Capital
For more info, please contact: Peter Giles

February 21
Open House Phase II – Clemow Estate Heritage Conservation District Study
7 to 9 pm
Glebe Community Centre,  175 Third Ave
Ward 17 - Capital
For more info, please contact: MacKenzie Kimm

February 23
ByWard Market Public Realm Plan – Public Life Surveys
12 to 6 pm
Various locations in ByWard Market
Ward 12 - Rideau-Vanier
For more info, please contact: Jill Savage

February 23
Planning Primer II: Development Review and Implementation (Offered in French)
9 am to noon      
City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West
Colonel By Boardroom, Second Floor    
For more info, please contact: Amy Byrne

February 25
Planning Primer II: Development Review and Implementation  (Offered in English)
8:30 am to noon
City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West
Colonel By Boardroom, Second Floor    
For more info, please contact: Amy Byrne

February 27
Planning Primer II: Development Review and Implementation (Offered in English)
6 to 9 pm
City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West
Colonel By Boardroom, Second Floor    
For more info, please contact: Amy Byrne

February 28
Inspire555 – Central Library Building Blocks Workshop
6 to 9 pm
Pellan Room, Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street
For more info, please visit: Inspire555.ca

March 2
Inspire555 – Central Library Building Blocks Workshop
9 am to 12 pm
Hall A, Nepean Sportsplex
1701 Woodroffe Avenue
For more info, please visit: Inspire555.ca