The City of Ottawa operates and maintains roughly 4,300 hectares of parkland at over 1,300 sites, including 2,000 play structure components.

Orléans West – Innes is blessed to be surrounded by some of the best greenspace in the city. The NCC protected Greenbelt, the Ottawa River, The Hornet’s Nest Recreation Area, Forest Valley Trails, Ski Heritage East Paths, Bilberry Creek, Green’s Creek, the list goes on and on! 

Throughout my time at City Hall, I have been a strong and consistent advocate for greater investment in our community. That advocacy has always gone beyond the basics of roads and sidewalks. While core transportation infrastructure matters, building a truly livable community also means investing in the spaces where people gather, play, relax, and connect with nature.

Modern, functional parks and greenspaces play a vital role in quality of life. They support physical health, mental well-being, and social connection for residents of all ages. As an established and mature community, it is impossible not to look at the parks being built in newer neighbourhoods and want the same modern play structures, splash pads, fitness equipment, and welcoming public spaces closer to home. I have consistently pushed for these kinds of investments so that long established neighbourhoods are not left behind and continue to evolve alongside the rest of the city. We have already seen meaningful progress, with nearly all of our splash pads now modernized and new park features being added year after year across the community. These upgrades have made our parks more inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable for residents of all ages. At the same time, there is still more work ahead, and I remain committed to fighting for these investments so that every corner of our neighbourhood benefits from safe, modern, and vibrant public spaces.

Parks are more than just playing equipment though, where our community truly excels is in its tree canopy. While our neighbourhoods may be older, that has also meant decades of growth and the development of strong, established trees and urban forests. This natural infrastructure provides shade, improves air quality, supports biodiversity, and makes our streets and parks more enjoyable places to be. At the same time, recent severe storms have shown how vulnerable even healthy tree canopies can be, and how important it is to plan not just for maintenance but for long term growth and resilience.

That is why I have worked closely with Forestry staff to protect, expand, and strengthen tree coverage throughout our community. Through this work, thousands of new trees have been planted in parks, along streets, and in natural areas. I have also made community involvement a priority by organizing multiple neighbourhood tree planting days. In 2025 and 2026 alone, residents came together at major planting events to plant more than 2,000 trees, strengthening our urban forest for future generations.

This ongoing commitment to parks, greenspaces, and trees reflects my belief that a healthy, welcoming community is built not only with concrete and asphalt, but with green spaces that make everyday life better for the people who call it home.

0
Hectares of parkland
0
Sites
0
Playstructure components

New Infrastructure Projects in our Community

Major $18.4M Gym Expansion at Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex – Orléans

In 2022, when the ward boundaries changed, and I took over the recreation centre, few projects have generated as much consistent feedback from residents as the need for additional gym space at Bob MacQuarrie. Parents, coaches, athletes, seniors, and community groups have all shared the same message: our community needs more accessible indoor recreation space. With no City-owned gymnasium in our ward, advancing this project has remained one of my top priorities.

In the years since, I have worked to move this project from a community ask, to a funded reality. It was only recently that I was able to secure the funding for a feasibility study. Since then, I have been working with City staff and our Federal Member of Parliament to build the support needed to make this project happen. Government rarely moves quickly, particularly when multiple levels are involved, but the latest federal commitment marked a major turning point. As part of the 2026 Federal Budget, the Government of Canada officially committed its portion of funding for the new gymnasium through the Build Communities Strong Fund.

This expansion will add a modern multi-sport gymnasium to the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex-Orléans, creating new space for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, community programming, and local events. It will provide much-needed additional capacity at one of the most important community hubs in Orléans, while helping our infrastructure keep pace with our rapid growth.

For decades, this recreation complex has been at the heart of our community. Soon, it will be able to serve even more residents and families. I have to thank everyone who took the time to speak with me, who shared their experiences, and helped me make the case for this important investment. While there is still work ahead, it is incredibly rewarding to see years of advocacy and effort bringing this project closer to construction.

Major Cycling Infrastructure Upgrades for Orléans and Jeanne d’Arc Boulevards

For many years, residents have consistently identified Orléans Boulevard as a key gap in our community’s active transportation network. Cyclists, families, commuters, and community advocates have all shared the same message: Orléans needs a safe, connected, and accessible cycling corridor that allows people to travel through our community without having to share space with vehicle traffic. Advancing this project has been one of my priorities for nearly a decade, and I am pleased to see it moving forward in a meaningful way.

Since I was first elected, I have worked to move this project from a long-standing community request to a viable infrastructure investment. In 2025, I was finally able to have the Orléans Boulevard corridor formally included in the City’s Transportation Master Plan, an important milestone that brought the project closer to reality. As staff began detailed design work, engineers realised that building the lanes would require narrowing vehicle lanes in certain sections. In late 2025, the Provincial Government passed legislation prohibiting municipalities from narrowing vehicle lanes for cycling infrastructure. Suddenly, the entire project was thrown into question. City Transportation Staff had to completely rethink how, or even if, this project could happen. In the time since, I’ve been working behind the scenes with City Staff and meeting directly with representatives from both the Provincial and Federal governments to find some way forward.

That work has now resulted in a significant partnership between the City of Ottawa and the Government of Canada that will help make this project possible. Through this new investment, the City can proceed with a dedicated cycling network along Orléans Boulevard that is physically separated from both vehicles and pedestrians, creating a safer and more comfortable option for people of all ages and abilities.

The project also extends beyond just Orléans Boulevard. The federal partnership will also support cycling infrastructure along Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard North, creating important connections between the new roundabout at Fortune Drive, the future Jeanne d’Arc and Convent Glen LRT Stations, and Orléans Boulevard. Together, these investments will form a more connected active transportation network and improve access to key destinations throughout the community.

Major infrastructure:

– The Stefan Wenek Skate Park

– The full renovation of the Blackburn Arena

– Carrière Park play equipment

– Champagne Park

New park facilities like:

– The Blackburn Hamlet Splash Pad for 2021

– Disc golf mini course at St. Joseph Boulevard

– A new bench on Carrière

– River Pathway Park Outlook

– Mini cycle track at Gerald Poulin Park

– Accessible permanent fitness equipment at the Roger Montpetit Park

– Skate chalet at Barrington Outdoor Rink

– Skate chalet at Jeanne d’Arc Park Outdoor Rink

Splash pads:

– Joe Jamieson Splash Pad

– Roy Park Splashpad

– Pierre Rocque Playground

– Chapel Hill Park Splashpad

– Jeanne d’Arc Park Outdoor Rink

Expanding our Community’s Tree Canopy

I have also worked with staff and community partners to increase the tree canopy in our community, especially after the widespread damage from the derecho. Over the past several years, we have seen 6000 trees planted in our community, including 2000 planted at the former convent on St. Joseph Boulevard in partnership with Trees for Life.

If you are interested in having a City tree planted on or near your property, you may be interested in the following programs: