Latest news with #OttawaParks
CTV News
30-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
No alcoholic drinks allowed in federal parks in Ottawa, as city to allow alcohol in some parks this summer
People look out from Kiweki Point (formerly Nepean Point) in Ottawa on the day of its re-opening following a major redevelopment, on Friday, May 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Parkgoers will be allowed to enjoy a cold beer or cooler in select Ottawa parks this summer, but you won't be able to drink an alcoholic beverage in federal parks like Major's Hill Park and Kìwekì Point, along the Rideau Canal and on Parliament Hill. A City of Ottawa committee approved a pilot project to allow alcohol consumption in designated areas of municipal parks this summer, with the parks selected by councillors. Under the plan, alcohol will be allowed in city parks between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., from July 1 to Oct. 31. Alcoholic drinks will be forbidden within five metres of beaches, sports fields and playgrounds. But while the city will allow people to enjoy an alcoholic beverage in municipal parks, you won't be allowed to legally possess alcoholic drinks in federal parks across Ottawa. The National Capital Commission tells CTV News Ottawa the rules for alcohol consumption in NCC managed parks and lands are in accordance with Ontario rules. 'In Québec and in Ontario, alcohol consumption on NCC managed lands is subject to section 36 of the National Capital Commission Traffic and Property Regulations: 'No person shall have liquor in his possession on or in the property of the Commission other than in accordance with the laws of the province in which the Commission property is situated.,'' the NCC said in a statement. The NCC says bistros and patios in several parks sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on-site: Confederation Park, Remic Rapids Park, Patterson Creek Park, Hog's Back Park, as well as the taverns in Major's Hill Park and Bate Island Park. The Liquor Licence Act allows municipalities to designate public places where alcohol consumption is allowed.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Designating parks for legal drinking pilot to be left up to councillors
Legal drinking is set to debut in some Ottawa parks this summer, after a city committee unanimously approved a four-month pilot project Tuesday. With some restrictions on timing and location, drinking will be allowed in parks chosen by the city councillor who represents the area. If it passes at council, the pilot project will run from July 1 to Oct. 31. "As long as people properly dispose of their cans and are not acting in a way that is harmful to other people, I really don't care what they are consuming," Troster said at the committee meeting. "We should be quite clear that this is a bylaw that is largely not being enforced unless there are other factors involved, whether it's harassment, public intoxication, music, yelling — and there are other bylaws and laws for those things." Drinking in Ottawa public parks could be allowed this summer The current bylaw prohibits anyone from possessing alcoholic drinks in parks, except at events with a proper permit. Menard introduced a motion last year to launch a pilot program, citing other cities where alcohol consumption is allowed in designated parks, such as Toronto. Ottawa's pilot project will limit the legal consumption of alcohol to between the hours of 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. It will also forbid drinking within five metres of playgrounds, parking lots, beaches and sports fields. Bylaw not expecting uptick in complaints Roger Chapman, the city's director of bylaw and regulatory services, said he isn't expecting to see a significant increase in bylaw complaints related to drinking in parks after the pilot comes into effect. "It will be more of the responsible consumption of alcohol, where you have families or couples that are visiting parks and picnicking," he said. But both Ottawa Public Health and the Ottawa Police Service voiced concerns with the proposed bylaw. In a letter, Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbs said "permitting alcohol consumption in public parks presents risks that could compromise public safety and strain our resources." A letter from Ottawa Public Health (OPH) discussed the risks of underage drinking, and the link between alcohol consumption and several types of cancer. At Tuesday's meeting, Trevor Arnason, interim medical officer of health at OPH, raised the possibility of broken bottles on beaches. "Of course, with water, you have the potential for drownings if people are intoxicated," he added. Rules on climbing trees dropped The city made other changes to its parks bylaw, which was enacted in 2004. Previous rules that have been stripped from the updated bylaw include a ban on kids climbing trees, and a prohibition on the use of canes on ice rinks, said Dan Chenier, the city's general manager of recreation, cultural and facility services. "We've deliberately taken an approach to try to be more permissive," Chenier said. The bylaw review goes to council for final approval on June 11.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Alcoholic beverages will be allowed in select Ottawa parks this summer
Alcohol could be allowed in some Ottawa parks this summer Parkgoers could be able to enjoy a cold alcoholic beverage in Ottawa's parks this summer, with councillors and residents choosing the parks where beer, wine and coolers can be enjoyed. Councillors on the community services committee approved a pilot project to allow alcohol consumption in designated areas of parks selected by councillors. An amendment, presented by Coun. Ariel Troster Tuesday morning, said the councillor in each ward will work 'in consultation with the (Public Works) general manager and their communities to identify eligible parks and decide on designating them, or not, to permit personal consumption of alcohol.' The current bylaw prohibits alcoholic beverages in a park, except at events with a park rental permit and a special occasion permit. If approved by council, alcoholic beverages will be allowed in select parks between July 1 and Oct. 31. Under the plan, alcohol will not be allowed to be consumed at beaches, sports fields and around playground equipment. The rules for alcohol in parks include: No alcohol consumption before 11 a.m. and after 9 p.m. or hours designated by the general manager. No person shall possess or consume alcohol within a five-metre radius of a playground or playground equipment, wading pools or splash pads or outdoor pools, beaches, parking lots, natural or artificial ice ranks, and at sports fields, sports courts and ball diamonds. Bylaw Services director Roger Chapman says a 'robust' summer student program will have 20 student bylaw officers assigned to parks for proactive enforcement. 'The proactive enforcement in the parks is really driven by complaints,' Chapman told the committee. 'We keep a list of parks where we're getting significant complaints for and that's where we really focus our enforcement.' Chapman says Bylaw Services is not anticipating an increase in complaints about alcohol in parks. The city received 42 calls for open alcohol and drinking in parks in 2024, with 10 tickets issued under the Parks and Facilities Bylaw. Troster says she wants the city to make sure other park users can access the park. 'As long as people properly dispose of their cans and are not acting in a way that is harmful to others, I really don't care what they're consuming,' Troster said. 'I'm happy to see this to come forward as a pilot. I want to ensure my residents I'm not going to choose Dundonald Park as a site for this pilot, although people are, absolutely, consuming alcohol there and I think we should be clear about the fact that this is bylaw that is largely not being enforced unless there are other factors involved.' Both the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and Ottawa Public Health have raised health, safety and security concerns about allowing alcohol consumption in parks.
CTV News
21-05-2025
- CTV News
Dozens of calls about alcohol in Ottawa parks in 2024, Bylaw Services says
Alcohol could be allowed in some Ottawa parks this summer As the City of Ottawa looks at allowing parkgoers to enjoy alcoholic beverages in certain areas of parks this summer, new data shows Bylaw Services officers responded to dozens of calls for open alcohol and drinking in parks last year. An update to the Parks and Facilities Bylaw, to be discussed at the Community Services Committee meeting next Tuesday, recommends allowing alcohol consumption in designated areas of parks selected by councillors. Under the proposed rules, people would only be allowed to drink alcohol in parks between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. and alcohol would be prohibited within five metres of beaches, splash pads, playground equipment and sports fields and ball diamonds. The current bylaw prohibits alcoholic beverages in a park, except at events with a park rental permit and a special occasion permit. Bylaw Services Director Roger Chapman tells CTV News Ottawa the city received 42 calls for open alcohol and drinking in parks in 2024. 'As a result of these calls, 10 tickets were issued under the Parks and Facilities Bylaw,' Chapman said. Four tickets were issued for consuming alcohol in parks in 2022, while five charges were issued drinking alcohol/open liquor in parks in 2023. The fine for open alcohol and drinking in parks is $260 per offence. The Ottawa Police Service and Ottawa Public Health have raised health, safety and security concerns about allowing alcohol consumption in parks. Chief Eric Stubbs told the city that 'adequate bylaw enforcement presence and clear guidelines for managing alcohol consumption' in parks would be required. Staff are recommending allowing alcohol consumption in designated areas of parks, as determined by the ward councillor, in consultation with the general manager of Public Works. The report does provide two potential options for allowing alcohol consumption in parks: Option 1 : Allow the councillor in each ward to work with their communities to decide on designating a park, or not, to permit personal consumption of alcohol. : Allow the councillor in each ward to work with their communities to decide on designating a park, or not, to permit personal consumption of alcohol. Option 2: Implement a phased approach, whereby the Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department general manager would, in consultation with the local ward councillor, select 'up to one park per ward' to authorize personal consumption of alcohol from July 1 to Oct. 31. The proposed rules include:
CBC
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Drinking in Ottawa public parks could be allowed this summer
Social Sharing Ottawa parkgoers could soon enjoy alcohol in public parks, as a report from City of Ottawa staff is recommending consumption be allowed within certain parameters. In a report tabled for the city's Community Services Committee, staff included a proposed update to the parks and facilities bylaw. This proposed version would allow alcohol consumption in designated areas of parks and would establishe parameters for where it will continue to be prohibited. The current bylaw prohibits anyone from possessing alcoholic beverages in park spaces, except for at events with a proper permit. City staff outlined two options for councillors to consider. The first option would identify parks where personal consumption of alcohol is allowed. Councillors would then work with communities in their wards on designating parks or continuing prohibition. This option would establish parameters for limiting consumption of alcohol, such as before before 11 a.m. or after 9 p.m. It would also forbid drinking within five metres of playgrounds, parking lots, beaches, and sports fields. The report said these restrictions are designed to prioritize the safety of children and park users and ensure that areas frequently used by them remain secure, while also maintaining public safety. The second option would test drinking in parks with a pilot that would run from July to October. The Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department would select up to one park per ward with the local councillor to authorize the consumption of alcohol. Afterwards there would be a post-pilot evaluation that would go to council for further direction. Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard introduced a motion last year to launch a pilot program, citing cities like Toronto that allow alcohol consumption in designated parks. Both Ottawa Public Health and Ottawa Police Service voiced concern with the proposed bylaw. In a letter, Police Chief Eric Stubbs said, "permitting alcohol consumption in public parks presents risks that could compromise public safety and strain our resources." A letter from Ottawa Public Health raised concerns linking increased alcohol consumption to several types of cancer, as well as the risks of underage drinking. Councillors will discuss the report from city staff at a Community Services Committee meeting scheduled for May 27. If approved, the proposed bylaw would then go to city council.
