New NCC visitor services and apps engage visitors before, during and after their stay in the Capital
This summer, visitors to the Capital Region are experiencing new ways of connecting and discovering the many Capital sites and landmarks. The National Capital Commission (NCC) is changing the way it offers information to visitors, reaching them where they are before, during and after their stay. The new approach uses technology to its full potential and offers a number of new services.
New visitor services delivery approach
Capital Tours mobile apps
This new multi-media enriched app offers tours around the grounds of Parliament Hill. The Parliament Hill tour enables visitors to get the scoop on the events, people and history that have shaped both this iconic Canadian site and this country. Visitors are invited to enjoy this free, media-rich, GPS-enabled tour experience and to choose their own route, or follow the recommended path, which features up to 26 stops and four themes — including a tour developed for families.
There will be more Capital tours to come.
Capital Information Kiosk
The Capital Information Kiosk at the World Exchange Plaza (111 Albert Street) offers visitors a first-class experience:
- After hours self-service;
- Friendly bilingual staff offering itinerary planning and information for visitors regarding Canada’s Capital Region;
- Sale of museum passports, Gatineau Park and Greenbelt Maps;
- Internet accommodation reservation station;
- A full program for brochure distribution.
Roving Interpreters
The NCC has expanded its outdoor roving interpretation service that brings information officers directly to Capital visitors. The information officers, located along Confederation Boulevard and in high-level visitor areas, are equipped with electronic tablets to provide information, orientation and interpretation services (May to September).
Decoding Art QR-codes
The second phase of the NCC’s popular Decoding Art QR-codes (quick response barcodes) program is available at various monuments. By scanning those codes with their smartphone, visitors get multimedia content in English or French. There are interpretation clips designed for both adults and children audiences. This spring, the stories of the Royal Canadian Navy monument and three Canadian heroes from the Valiants Memorial were launched. This summer, the story of the public art piece Balancing will be told.
Orientation tools
Information and orientation tools (info map columns and map models) are provided along Confederation Boulevard.
Interpretation panels
Interpretation panels about key Capital sites, views and vistas are installed along Confederation Boulevard.
These visitor services are in addition to the existing Info-Tent and Discover the Hill programs managed by the NCC on Parliament Hill.
Over the past few years, the NCC has launched a number of pilot projects to integrate digital platforms into its visitor services. The NCC continues to offer on-site information services during large events such as Canada Day and Winterlude, and personalized service through the NCC Contact Centre via telephone and email. All these will complement the many visitor information services already offered by federal, provincial, municipal and private partners.
For information about the NCC’s visitor services, the public can contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 1-800-465-1867, 613-239-5090 (TTY) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY).
Media Information:
Charles Cardinal
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5227 (office)
613-851-6924 (cellular)
charles.cardinal@ncc-ccn.ca
Denise LeBlanc
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5750 (office)
613-851-9465 (cellular)
denise.leblanc@ncc-ccn.ca
