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CTV News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Legal alcohol drinking coming to some Ottawa parks this summer, including Great Lawn at Lansdowne and Minto Park
You will be allowed to enjoy an alcoholic beverage on the Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park, in Minto Park in Centretown and at Champlain Park this summer, but legal drinking will not be permitted in many suburban neighbourhoods. Starting July 1, alcohol consumption will be allowed in designated areas of Ottawa parks. Under the plan, councillors will work with the general manager of Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services and their constituents to select parks for alcohol consumption. The alcohol in parks pilot project will have the following rules: 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 rinks, and at sports fields, sports courts and ball diamonds. Signs will be installed in selected parks before July 1 with information on: Details about when and where alcohol can be consumed Public health messaging A reminder to take empty alcohol containers home reached out to Ottawa councillors on Friday to ask if they will designate a park in their ward for legal alcohol consumption. Twelve councillors have said their wards will not be participating in the alcohol in parks pilot project. Here is a look at where alcohol consumption will be allowed in parks this summer. Great Lawn at Lansdowne Capital Ward Coun. Shawn Menard says the Great Lawn at Lansdowne is the 'main' park in his ward for legal alcohol consumption under the pilot project. Menard says he would also like to include the Brewer Park open sports fields for the pilot project. Minto Park, McNabb Park Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster says two parks have been selected for legal alcohol consumption in parks – Minto Park on Elgin Street and McNabb Park at Bronson Avenue and Gladstone Avenue. Champlain Park Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper said in a letter to constituents that Champlain Park will be recommended for the pilot project. 'Champlain Park strikes me as a low-stakes way to see how this will work. I'll say that I'm reasonably confident that permitting the consumption of alcohol in the park is unlikely to increase its occurrence. I'm quite certain that nearby residents are already enjoying alcoholic beverages responsibly in the park today,' Leiper said. 'I'm not particularly concerned that the park will become a destination for drinking. I've tried to imagine a scenario in which people make drinking the focus of an excursion to Champlain Park and simply can't.' Queenswood Ridge Park Orléans East-Cumberland Coun. Matthew Luloff says Queenswood Ridge Park has been selected for the alcohol in parks pilot project. No alcohol in parks Twelve councillors told CTV News Ottawa Friday morning they would not be recommending a park for the alcohol in parks pilot project. The wards are Barrhaven West, Kanata North, Stittsville, Bay, Beacon Hill-Cyrville, Gloucester-Southgate, River, Alta Vista, Knoxdale-Merivale, Barrhaven East, Kanata South and Orléans South-Navan. 'River Ward will not be participating in the pilot. I will yield to my colleagues who wanted the pilot and will learn from it before any local park is proposed,' River Coun. Riley Brockington said in an email. Stittsville Coun. Glen Gower said there was 'not much interest' from residents for a park to be selected for the pilot project. Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Jessica Bradley said she would wait to see how it goes with the pilot project this summer before making any future decisions. Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill said, 'based on the recommendation/advice from my community associations and residents, I opted not to participate in the pilot.' Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Sean Devine told CTV News Ottawa, 'For the time being, and until we see what comes of this pilot project, I've decided not to add any parks in Ward 9 to the project. There's been absolutely no requests from Ward 9 residents in support of seeing local parks added.'
CBC
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Legal drinking is coming to Ottawa parks this summer. Here are the details
Social Sharing Ottawa city council has passed bylaw changes that will allow alcohol consumption in parks this summer. But it isn't a free pass to drink anywhere and everywhere, all the time. The shift is only a pilot program, and it comes with conditions. Here's a rundown. How did we get here? Up to now, alcohol consumption has been banned in all city parks without a permit. But the provincial government changed regulations in 2019 to allow municipalities to designate public places where drinking is allowed. Toronto did so starting in 2023, through a pilot program that showed few problems and got generally positive reviews. Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard asked city staff to consider implementing a similar pilot program in Ottawa, and earlier this year they came back with a report laying out the options. After a few tweaks at committee, the idea got unanimous support at council on Wednesday. When can I drink? Forget early morning mimosas at your picnic breakfast. The window on park drinking opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. The general manager of recreation, cultural and facility services can further limit those hours. And the pilot only runs for four months, from July 1 through Oct. 31. Where can I drink? That remains to be seen. Each city councillor will have the power to select parks in their wards, in consultation with the general manager and their residents. But there are certain restrictions that apply across the board. According to the text of the bylaw, drinking will not be allowed near beaches, playgrounds, splash pads, pools, skateboard parks, parking lots, ice rinks, sports fields or sanctioned sledding hills. Which parks are the candidates? City councillors have been floating a few ideas for parks they might choose in each ward. Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stephanie Plante said she's already suggested Riverain and Strathcona parks to city staff. Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper asked his constituents to email him with recommendations, but said he's initially thinking of Champlain Park and Laroche Park. Some councillors are considering declining to select any parks. Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill said he hasn't committed yet, but is probably not going to participate in the pilot. Orléans West-Innes Coun. Laura Dudas has a similar approach, barring an outpouring of demand from her constituents. "For myself and for my community I will not be proposing any particular park names," she said. "I will wait to see if my residents would like me to do so on their behalf."
Hamilton Spectator
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Opening earlier and closing later': Burlington extends season for its outdoor pools
Some Burlington outdoor pools will be open longer this season. In a memo to city councillors, Burlington aquatics manager Stephanie Jarvis announced this season's scheduled opening dates for outdoor pools at Nelson, Mountainside and LaSalle parks. 'This year, the city is extending the outdoor pool season by opening earlier and closing later,' Jarvis stated in the memo. City communications staff said the first pool will open May 24 and the last scheduled closure is Sept. 21. They said the outdoor pools have typically opened by mid-June and closed after Labour Day weekend. 'Extending the season is feasible, as staffing costs will be absorbed within our overall Recreation Services budget and partially offset with the additional admission revenues,' a city spokesperson stated in an email. Mountainside outdoor pool closed before the end of August last year due to a mechanical problem. The Mount Forest Drive pool had previously been shut down nearly two years for a $6.3-million revitalization, before reopening June 30, 2023. A city spokesperson said the mechanical problem 'was resolved during the off-season' and covered under the contractor's warranty at no cost to the city. According to the staff memo, a variety of programs including lap swims, fun swims, leisure swims and lessons will be offered at different times at the three outdoor pools. Throughout July and August, community event nights will be held at Mountainside and Nelson pools. More information is available on the City of Burlington website's swimming and aquatics page.
