Maps and Publications

Charting the Future of Canada's Capital in the 21st Century: Step 1, Foundation Paper (1.86 MB)

Charting the Future of Canada's Capital in the 21st Century: an Invitation to Dialogue (6.64 MB)

Plan for Canada’s Capital (1999) (2.49 MB)

Plan for Canada’s Capital (1988) (8.56 MB)

Urban Growth in the NCR: 1810 - Present (81.08 KB)

Federal Lands in Canada's Capital Region - Map (1.84 MB)

Core Area of Canada’s Capital Region (Canadian Geographic/Géographica) - Map (5.71 MB)

Evolution of the National Capital Region - Map (78.1 KB)

Canada’s Capital Region (Canadian Geographic/Géographica) - Map (2.38 MB)

Relief Map of Canada’s Capital Region (14.37 MB)

Through Horizon 2067, we will chart the future of Canada’s Capital Region to 2067, the 200^th anniversary of Confederation.

Our Mission

Our mission is to review the lead planning document used by the National Capital Commission and the federal government to guide the development of Canada’s Capital Region over the next 50 years. The Plan will be completed in 2013: to get there, the review process is divided into 5 steps:

1. The Capital's Challenges Research and Analysis
2. The Vision: A Capital for the 21st Century
3. The Plan: Capital Concept and Principles
4. The Plan: Policies and the National Interest Land Mass
5. The Plan: Consolidation and Approval

The Building Blocks

The new Horizon 2067 plan will update the current Plan for Canada’s Capital (1999). The 1999 plan launched several projects that contributed to the Capital’s image as the seat of Canadian government.

1999 — The Plan for Canada’s Capital: A New Century of Vision, Planning and Development

Major achievements from the implementation of the 1999 Plan for Canada’s Capital include the following:

• the completion of Confederation Boulevard, the Capital’s ceremonial and discovery route
• the acquisition of more land in Gatineau Park
• the reconstruction and widening of the Champlain Bridge, with the addition of a third lane which is reversible in the direction of peak traffic
• the clean-up of LeBreton Flats at the site of the Canadian War Museum; development of LeBreton Flats Park and launch of a residential development project
• the redevelopment of Boulevard des Allumettières and Maisonneuve Boulevard and the installation of new public art
• the Greenbelt: the acquisition of new lands to support the Mer Bleue Bog conservation site (recognized under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands)

Confederation Boulevard: ceremonial route connecting both shores of the Ottawa River and the downtown areas of Ottawa (in Ontario) and Gatineau (in Quebec) — Confederation Boulevard in downtown Ottawa

1988 — Plan for Canada’s Capital: A Federal Land Use Plan

Vision: The 1988 plan focused on developing Canada’s Capital as a national symbol and a meeting place for Canadians. The Capital became a means to communicate Canada to Canadian and foreign visitors, and a place to be preserved for future generations.

The implementation of this plan helped to define an image of Canada’s Capital, in terms of its national significance and symbolic nature. The plan included the following elements:

• celebrations and national outreach
• restoration and beautification projects
• work to preserve heritage buildings
• major work on the rehabilitation of transportation and recreational pathway networks
• enhancement of symbolically important lands as sites for national museums
• interpretation programs and services for visitors to the Capital
• identification of the site at LeBreton Flats for a national museum

National celebrations on Parliament Hill — Canada Day

Enhancement of symbolically important lands as sites for national museums — Museum of Civilization

1950 — Plan for the National Capital: General Report (Gréber Plan)

In the wake of the Second World War, this plan guided the transformation of Ottawa and Hull (now Gatineau) into an attractive, modern capital that inspires pride among Canadians.

This plan played a significant role in the history of the Capital. Many of the major projects it proposed were carried out between 1958 and 1988. They included the following:

• creation of the National Capital Greenbelt
• expansion of Gatineau Park
• decentralization of federal government offices
• extension of the scenic parkway system
• relocation of railway tracks from downtown
• shoreline development and building of recreational pathways

Decentralization of federal government offices — Terrasses de la Chaudière

Expansion of Gatineau Park — Winter activities

Expansion of the scenic parkways: opening of Ottawa River Parkway — Ottawa River Parkway

Urban renewal: railway lines and heavy industry moved outside the downtown core — historic photo of the Rideau Canal and surrounding area.

Capital Plans, 1903 to 1949

Several plans have guided the development of Canada’s Capital Region during the first half of the 20th century.

• Preliminary Report for the Ottawa Improvement Commission, Todd, 1903
• Report of the Federal Plan Commission on a General Plan for the Cities of Ottawa and Hull, Holt, 1915
• The Cauchon Report — Federal District Plan, 1922

Mapping Change in the Capital

• Urban Growth in Canada’s Capital Region (1810 to today)
• Planning Canada’s Capital Region (1899 to today)
• The Urban Capital: An overview (An interactive look at some of the key spatial features described in the 1999 plan.)
• Federal Lands in Canada’s Capital Region
• Relief Map of Canada’s Capital Region
• Core Area of Canada’s Capital Region (Canadian Geographic/Géographica)
• Canada’s Capital Region (Canadian Geographic/Géographica)