Today, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, Minister responsible for the National Capital Commission (NCC), Mr. Russell Mills, Chair of the NCC Board of Directors and Ms. Marie Lemay, NCC’s Chief Executive Officer announced the renaming of the Ottawa River Parkway as Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway.

“It is fitting that the Capital’s picturesque parkway be named after Sir John A. Macdonald as he was such a dominant figure among the Fathers of Confederation,” said Baird. “This announcement is timely as we celebrate 145 years since his election as Canada’s first Prime Minister, a position he served with great distinction for almost two decades.”

“At the NCC, we have heard from Canadians that we should use our sites, our lands and our assets to tell our Canadian story, our history,” said Ms. Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer at the NCC. “Renaming the Ottawa River Parkway after Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, answers that call and ties our cultural landscape with our history.”

The network of over 90 kilometres of scenic parkways in the Capital Region forms part of the Capital’s identity and offers beautiful landscapes to residents and visitors, while linking key historical sites and tourist attractions.

Public wishing to contact the NCC can do so at 613-239-5000, 1-800-465-1867, 613-239-5090 (TTY) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY).

Media Information:

Jasmine Leduc
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5410 (office)
613-608-3119 (cellular)
jasmine.leduc@ncc-ccn.ca

Jean Wolff
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5703 (office)
613-797-0279 (cellular)
jean.wolff@ncc.ccn.ca