Cardozo and Saravanamuttoo: Act now to transform Wellington Street

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Wellington Street is back in the news. A recent weekend protest by the “Freedom Convoy” folks from 2022. A new report by the Downtown Ottawa Revitalization Task Force. A new traffic report from city hall. Wellington is one of the most important streets in Canada. It is home to our Parliament, the centre of our democracy. It was also ground zero for the 2022 illegal occupation of downtown Ottawa.

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That occupation highlighted the urgent need to better secure our national institutions. But as we plan for the spring and summer in Ottawa, this is a good time to think big about Wellington, especially the three blocks in front of Parliament Hill from Elgin to Bank Streets.

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We can transform the street from simply a busy cross-town roadway into a stunning attraction befitting a G7 national capital. It could be a new public space that builds pride in our country. A redesigned Wellington Street could also be a major attraction that anchors the revitalization of downtown Ottawa. It could be a win-win for local and federal officials.

Achieving these outcomes would require a street design based on the following principles:

CREATE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE

To reduce the risk of a serious attack, vehicles need to be taken off Wellington Street — as our southern neighbours have done on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House.

A pedestrianized Wellington would allow us to create an enlarged, accessible people-focused public space that could draw daily visitors. It would also provide Canadians with a safe space for lawful protests and demonstrations, as is entirely appropriate. The lawn in front of Centre Block is reduced in size because of renovation. Having an enlarged space provides more security and better vistas.

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TELL THE STORY OF CANADA

A new Wellington Street could tell the story of Canada in an engaging, interactive and entertaining way.

That begins with social media. We can provide “Instagrammable” venues such as a large Canada sign, similar to the Ottawa sign in the ByWard Market. Telling our story could also include street-level installations recounting the history and highlighting the art of Indigenous Peoples, around the new Indigenous Peoples Space (the former U.S. Embassy). We could also present  information on our Constitution, our history, the provinces and territories. Those stories could be told through multimedia displays, sound-and-light shows and human interpreters. The story of Canada could also be told along a Trans Canada Trail, a national coast-to-coast trail, rerouted onto Wellington.

BRING IN MARKETS AND THE ARTS

Another element that could bring Wellington Street to life is markets, artists and cultural events, especially near Bank Street.

A marketplace could offer Canadian products and include a space for new artists from across the country. Wellington could host a small stage for use by local and visiting musicians, dancers and other performers. Wellington could also be used to amplify existing festivals.

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PREPARE FOR YEAR-ROUND USE

Benches and warming huts, similar to those used on the Rideau Canal Skateway, could be installed, with trees and shading for the warmer weather. Food trucks and a picnic area could make it affordable for visitors to stay longer on site.

ADD TO SECURITY

There have been long standing security concerns with this area, made more evident with the convoy occupation. A re-design should work to eliminate the dangers that could face the central infrastructure of our government and our democracy.

MAKE IT FUTURE-PROOF

Redesigning Wellington Street as a space for people means that the site could also be easily modified or expanded. For example, a tram line along Wellington or Sparks Street and into Gatineau could be accommodated. Street art work could be featured.

NEXT STEPS

Federal-municipal discussions have been ongoing for a while. It is time to see the City of Ottawa transfer ownership of Wellington Street to the federal government. This would be in keeping with the steady shift in ownership over several decades, of all the buildings on Wellington and the north side of Sparks Street, to the federal government, creating a more coherent parliamentary precinct, paid for out of deeper federal pockets. The feds could then launch a design competition and public engagement process for creating a unique urban public space.

Opportunities like this do not come often. It’s time for our federal and municipal leaders to work together to create something truly great in the heart of our nation’s capital.

Andrew Cardozo is an independent senator and a long-time Ottawa resident. Neil Saravanamuttoo is is a community organizer and Director of CitySHAPES.

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