The National Capital Commission (NCC) has announced the installation of public swimming docks on both sides of the Ottawa River, allowing residents and visitors to take a dip with Parliament Hill as their backdrop this summer. This initiative aims to expand safe, accessible, and inviting opportunities for the public to connect directly with the region’s historic waterways. Embracing the warm season ahead, the NCC enthusiastically invited the public in a media release, stating, “This summer, let the capital be your cottage.”
Under the new plan, one swimming dock will be strategically positioned on the Gatineau side behind the Canadian Museum of History, while another will be attached to the new East Wharf Platform near the Rideau Canal locks on the Ottawa side. The East Wharf Dock, nestled at the base of Major’s Hill Park, will feature an unsupervised deep-water swimming area with a minimum depth of four metres. To enhance the visitor experience, this location will be equipped with a dedicated lap lane, lifejacket rentals, and an on-site food and beverage service.
Directly across the river, the Canadian Museum of History dock will similarly offer an unsupervised deep-water swimming zone with a minimum depth of four metres. This site will feature a unique floating island alongside a dedicated access point for non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks and paddleboards. According to the NCC website, visitors can enjoy sweeping, panoramic views of Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River from this expanded waterfront destination, or simply relax and take in the scenery from onshore Muskoka chairs if they do not feel like swimming.
These two new swimming destinations represent the latest efforts by the National Capital Commission to open urban waterways to the public. The rollout follows the successful launch of a recreational swimming and relaxation dock at Dow’s Lake last year, which has officially reopened for the current season. Additionally, the NCC continues to operate its popular swimming area at the historic NCC River House along the Ottawa River, which will be open daily from 7:00 AM until sunset from June 5 through September 7.
