You will be able to take a swim with Parliament Hill as the backdrop this summer. The National Capital Commission has announced swimming docks will be installed on both sides of the Ottawa River. “This summer, let the capital be your cottage,” the NCC said in a media release. A swimming dock will be installed in the Ottawa River behind the Canadian Museum of History, and a dock will be set up attached to the new East Wharf Platform near the Rideau Canal locks. “Further expanding safe, accessible and inviting opportunities for the public to connect with the water,” the NCC said. According to the NCC, the East Wharf Dock, located at the base of Major’s Hill Park, will have an unsupervised deep water swim area, with a minimum depth of four metres. There will be a lap lane, lifejacket rentals and food and beverage service by the dock. At the Canadian Museum of History dock, the unsupervised deep water swim area will have a minimum depth of four metres. There will be a floating island at the dock and a non-motorized watercraft access point. “Enjoy sweeping views of Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River from this expanded waterfront destination in Gatineau,” the NCC said on its website. “If you don’t feel like swimming, take in the scenery from Muskoka chairs.” The two new swimming areas along the Ottawa River are the latest initiatives by the National Capital Commission to open waterways to the public. Nathalie Roy-Patenaude, director of real estate management with the NCC, says years of research and planning have gone into ensuring the appropriate site was chosen. “Our study looks at the quality of the water and also looks at the water itself. There’s studies on the currents, and we talked to our boat operators as well, to understand how the river is navigated to find the best spot in the most secure space to install the docks,” Roy-Patenaude said. “The docks have ladders outside where people can access from the water, we have buoys on the docks, and then we also have delineated swim areas to keep people within the safe swim space.” Last summer, the NCC set up a recreational dock for swimming and relaxing in Dow’s Lake. The dock and swimming area have reopened this summer. The NCC also offers a swimming area at the NCC River House along the Ottawa River. From June 5 to Sept. 7, the swimming area at the NCC River House will be open from 7 a.m. until sunset daily for swimming.
