Open NCC checklist | Ottawa Citizen

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The popular ‘Open NCC’ program is on for a second year, offering a behind-the-scenes peek into activities and projects happening in the National Capital Region.

The program’s available Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Visit the website for more information

Here are some suggestions:

Open NCC Hub

A good starting poijnt would be the Open NCC hub at Major’s Hill Park.

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NCC experts will be on hand to discuss projects, consultations and opportunities taking place at the NCC.

“This is your chance to get a sneak peek at many of our biggest plans for the Capital, including the Kìwekì Point redevelopment, the future of Confederation Boulevard, and the renewal of the core area,” the NCC says.

There are a number of tours offered, requiring registration

Check out the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats.

See the progress made so far (including the crow sculpture, entitled When the Rubber Meets the Road by Gérald Beaulieu) and meet NCC experts to learn about the rich history of this site and plans for the future.

The one-kilometre walking tour (wheelchair-accessible) takes about one hour. This activity is suitable for all ages.

The French-language tour starts at 10 a.m., while the English-language tours are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

There’s a maximum of 20 participants for each tour so register here to get on the list. LeBreton walking tour registration

Mer Bleue Bog

Always a favourite, the Mer Bleue Bog is an internationally significant wetland, with unique flora and fauna.

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Conservation officers and biologists will be on hand for a meet-and-greet and a special presentation on the bog, “a true gem of the National Capital Region.”

Walking tours, about 45 minutes long, start at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. The trail is a mostly flat wooden boardwalk, with a hill at the end of the trail, which may not be suitable for all mobility devices.

Drop in at the kiosk between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tour the renovated River House

You’ll get to know how the project came to be and learn more about the future Sir George-Étienne Cartier Park.

Our tenants, Ottawa Riverkeeper and the Ottawa New Edinburgh Club (ONEC), will also be on site to share information about turtle nesting, talk about the history and future of the River House, and explain what the organizations do to protect the Ottawa River and animate its shorelines.

The Ottawa Riverkeeper group will open their Learning Lab space to the public with educational displays, materials, and hands-on activities.

Drop in at any time between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

At the NCC River House, 501 Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway.

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Check out an archeology site

Join archeologists at a dig near Leamy Lake looking for artifacts to learn more about the history of the region before the arrival of Europeans.

This is a partnership with the Anishinàbe Odjìbikan, the archaeological field school of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation.

In the main parking lot, there will be an artifacts presentation and Anishinabe Algonquin demonstrations featuring singing and drumming, interactive pictograph painting on canvas, storytelling, and crafting of birchbark baskets.

The archeological digs are not wheelchair-accessible, as the site is at a 10- to 15-minute walk on a narrow and uneven path.

While the digs are geared toward adults and children aged 10 and up, there is also a simulated archaeological dig for families with children under 10 years old.

Hours

Drop in at any time between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Meeting point
At the main parking lot, located at 80 Fournier Boulevard, Gatineau.

Bring your own water bottle and bug repellent, and wear a hat, long pants, gloves and closed-toe shoes with good treads.

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