Learn about innovative, ambitious projects and unique programs that the City of Ottawa has implemented during one of our exciting study tours! Discover how our Nation’s Capital has tackled its municipal challenges and embraced new opportunities for success.
It is strongly recommended to wear closed-toe shoes. All tours will meet in the lobby of the Colonel By Foyer, Rogers Centre Ottawa.
Tours will run rain or shine unless otherwise noted, so please dress for the weather.
Due to capacity limits, delegates can only choose one (1) study tour when registering. You may sign up for additional tours in person at the conference if space permits.
Please note: Schedules are subject to change.
Thursday May 29
Ottawa’s digital twin: Helping seasonal flood mitigation
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Discover Ottawa’s Digital Twin—a 3D model of the city—a powerful tool for developing new zoning bylaws and implementing Official Plan policies. Learn how the Geospatial Analytics, Technology and Solutions Branch (GATS) transformed their traditional two-dimensional maps into a dynamic and fully immersive 3D environment. This system allows for the handling and analysis of intricate, live data which is gathered through leading-edge technology such as drones, portable 3D scanners, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. During this tour, you will see how the city responds to seasonal flooding using these geospatial support services for emergency planning and recovery.
- Capacity: 100
- Length of the tour: 1.5 hours
- Note: Accessible.
Take me to the river: Exploring the Kichi Sibi infrastructure
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Kichi Sibi (“Great River”), also known as the Ottawa River, has played a pivotal role in the evolution of Ottawa. As a historical trading route, it carries with it a rich cultural heritage that dates back to the Algonquin Anishinabe. This tour will explore the historic municipal infrastructure along a stretch of the Ottawa River, examining its preservation, interpretation, and in some cases, restoration. Attendees will visit the Chief William Commanda Bridge, Lemieux Island and the Hintonburg Pumping Station (to name a few). Participants will also learn about the strategically placed municipal infrastructure that has made it possible for advances in drinking water, transportation, and recreation.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 2.5 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Tour Amazon’s YOW3 Barrhaven fulfillment centre
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join this captivating tour of Amazon Canada’s cutting-edge “Robotics Sortable” facility in the south end community of Barrhaven. Launched in 2022, YOW3 plays a key role in Amazon’s Canadian fulfillment network. This tour will demonstrate how Amazon uses innovative robotics and logistics technologies to provide excellent service to customers. Participants will discover more about Amazon’s economic development impact, work culture, and sustainability efforts.
- Capacity: 15
- Length of the tour: 2.5 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water is recommended.
Exploring the Area X.O complex: Creating the future
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Established to foster innovation, Area X.O. is a cutting-edge testing and demonstration centre managed by Invest Ottawa. Developed through a private-public-academia partnership, Area X.O. boasts advanced telecommunications capabilities, testing environments, and a commitment to sustainable innovation. During their visit, participants will explore how Area X.O empowers the innovation journey and helps shape the future of smart, sustainable technologies. They will see their great testing capabilities, including a dedicated 4G/5G network, advanced robotics and drone facilities, a smart city zone, a 100-acre smart farm, and a state-of-the-art satellite testing site.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 3 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Ottawa Unseen: A Journey Through Accessibility
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Wondering how to design and implement spaces for people with disabilities? Embark on a tour of Ottawa’s Downtown Rideau area with the City of Ottawa Accessibility Office and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), as they showcase the numerous accessibility improvements at street level and throughout Ottawa’s transit network. Participants will also get the chance to discuss the use of navigation technology in commercial spaces, in order to continue building a more inclusive Canada.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 1.5 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Inside Reuse Ottawa: Canada’s largest collaborative circular solution
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Join this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Reuse Ottawa, Canada’s first large-scale shared-pool reuse pilot addressing single-use plastic waste in the food service industry. This immersive experience will take you through the program’s logistics loop, from sanitization all the way to container transportation to its participating locations. Designed for municipal leaders, this tour will showcase the operational, environmental, and financial benefits of advancing reuse systems and offer valuable insights into scaling circular economy solutions.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 2.5 hours (includes travel time)
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water is recommended.
Tour Amazon’s YOW3 Barrhaven fulfillment centre
12 to 2:30 p.m.
Join this captivating tour of Amazon Canada’s cutting-edge “Robotics Sortable” facility in the south end community of Barrhaven. Launched in 2022, YOW3 plays a key role in Amazon’s Canadian fulfillment network. This tour will demonstrate how Amazon uses innovative robotics and logistics technologies to provide excellent service to customers. Participants will discover more about Amazon’s economic development impact, work culture, and sustainability efforts.
- Capacity: 15
- Length of the tour: 2.5 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water is recommended.
Exploring the Area X.O complex: Creating the future
12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Established to foster innovation, Area X.O. is a cutting-edge testing and demonstration centre managed by Invest Ottawa. Developed through a private-public-academia partnership, Area X.O. boasts advanced telecommunications capabilities, testing environments, and a commitment to sustainable innovation. During their visit, participants will explore how Area X.O empowers the innovation journey and helps shape the future of smart, sustainable technologies. They will see their great testing capabilities, including a dedicated 4G/5G network, advanced robotics and drone facilities, a smart city zone, a 100-acre smart farm, and a state-of-the-art satellite testing site.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 3 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
“Step By (Ward) step”: Implementing the Public Realm Plan
1 to 2:30 p.m.
Join us for a walking tour where you will discover the current collective and economic issues, along with possible solutions, for the historic ByWard Market. Delve into how the city allocates its resources to bring the ByWard Market Public Realm Plan (2021) projects to fruition in time for the market’s 200th anniversary in 2027. Participants will engage in a discussion about the considerations for advancing programs in one of the most intensely urban environments, the perspective of place (past, present, and future), and the tangible benefits of investing in the public realm from a financial, social, and safety standpoint.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 1.5 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Ottawa’s flood preparedness and climate change response tour
1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
In recent years, the Ottawa River has experienced historic flooding, greatly impacting communities and critical infrastructure, including the city’s own water purification plants. This tour will provide an in-depth look at the precautionary measures taken to manage and address the growing flood risks in Ottawa. It will feature a presentation followed by a visit to the Britannia Water Purification Plant and the surrounding neighbourhood. Topics will include flood level monitoring, risk reduction policy tools, flood control structures, and the importance of partnerships with departments and agencies.
- Capacity: 20
- Length of the tour: 2.5 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Meet and greet with Canada’s first Nightlife Commissioner, Mathieu Grondin
1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Like other cities around the world, Ottawa recognizes the importance of promoting and expanding its nightlife economy. That is why the city recently invested in the development of its inaugural Nightlife Economy Action Plan, which included creating a Nightlife Commissioner’s Office and hiring Canada’s first Nightlife Commissioner, Mathieu Grondin. Throughout the tour, the commissioner will share his insights on implementing a fresh perspective for Ottawa, one that capitalizes on its incredible assets and experiences. He will also discuss the importance of effective governance and the role of key players in shaping a more dynamic, diverse, inclusive, sustainable, and secure nightlife scene. Municipalities of any size can use Ottawa’s approach to create their own unique nightlife economies.
- Capacity: 100
- Length of the tour: 1 hour
- Note: Accessible.
Visit Ottawa’s Alternative Neighbourhood Crisis Response (ANCHOR)
2 to 3:30 p.m.
Ottawa’s new Alternative Neighbourhood Crisis Response (ANCHOR) aims to provide a community-led, culturally sensitive, and equity-centred mobile response service to people experiencing a mental health or substance-use crisis. Tour participants will explore how ANCHOR strives to enhance safety and well-being by offering tailored specialized support, fostering trust, reducing stigma, and promoting effective long-term recovery.
- Capacity: 100
- Length of the tour: 1 hour
- Note: Accessible.
Learning about Ottawa’s new zoning by-law
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The zoning regulations in a city have immense power over shaping urban development, influencing both housing availability and affordability. This tour will enable participants to better understand Ottawa’s Official Plan policies as well as how the proposed city zoning by-law will affect it.
- Capacity: 100
- Length of the tour: 1 hour
- Note: Accessible.
Friday May 30
Behind the scenes: Ottawa’s Canada Day celebrations
1 to 4 p.m.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the City of Ottawa works with various partners to plan and manage the biggest Canada Day celebration in the country. Visit the RCMP’s National Capital Region Command Centre (NCRCC), where government representatives collaborate to ensure safety and security throughout the event. Participants will also take part in a tabletop discussion led by the City’s Office of Emergency Management to learn how the city prepares for a wide range of potential scenarios.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 3 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water is recommended.
Ottawa’s digital twin: Helping seasonal flood mitigation
1 to 2:30 p.m.
Discover Ottawa’s Digital Twin—a 3D model of the city—a powerful tool for developing new zoning bylaws and implementing Official Plan policies. Learn how the Geospatial Analytics, Technology and Solutions Branch (GATS) transformed their traditional two-dimensional maps into a dynamic and fully immersive 3D environment. This system allows for the handling and analysis of intricate, live data which is gathered through leading-edge technology such as drones, portable 3D scanners, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. During this tour, you will see how the city responds to seasonal flooding using these geospatial support services for emergency planning and recovery.
- Capacity: 100
- Length of the tour: 1.5 hours (includes travel time)
- Note: Accessible.
Ottawa’s rural community partnership tour
1 to 4 p.m.
Located just north of Kanata in rural Ottawa, the South March Highlands Conservation Forest contains 450 hectares of beautiful and diverse habitats and is a popular area for recreational activities, including hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and mountain biking. Attendees will join city staff and community partners on a guided walking tour of the new Coconut Tree Trail, which was specifically designed for cyclists with disabilities. The trip will conclude in Carp Village, one of Ottawa’s twenty-six rural villages, with a brief visit of its current redevelopment projects.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 3 hours
- Note: Not accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothing for tick prevention. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Visit the Bayview Yards, Invest Ottawa’s innovation hub
1 to 3 p.m.
Driven by a vision of unlocking Ottawa’s full potential as a future-ready city, Invest Ottawa is the leading economic development agency for knowledge-based industries in Canada’s capital. Tour participants will make their way to the Bayview Yards, which serves as a bustling business incubator, supporting Ottawa’s technology entrepreneurs and companies launch, grow, and thrive.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 2 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water is recommended.
Ottawa’s climate resiliency retrofits tour
1:30 to 4 p.m.
Join the City of Ottawa’s staff as they showcase their ongoing efforts to improve stormwater management in the west end. To enhance its climate resiliency, the city implemented several changes, such as subsidizing residential upgrades, creating low-impact development (LID) strategies, and building a large stormwater management pond. The tour will include stops at the Carlingwood Library’s permeable parking lot, the new Pinecrest Creek Stormwater management pond, and the Hemmingwood Way bioretention cells. Throughout the visit, participants will learn about the design, construction, and monitoring of these facilities, as well as how Ottawa is exploring the use of LID systems in the future.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 2.5 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Visit Zibi & Odenak: Unique net-zero communities—Presented by Dream
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Zibi is a 13.7-hectare (34-acre) waterfront community meticulously crafted by Dream Unlimited and Dream Impact Trust. It stands against unparalleled views of Parliament Hill, the Ottawa River and Chaudière Falls, connecting the cities of Gatineau and Ottawa. Follow Zibi’s expert development team on a curated walking tour that highlights the zero-carbon district energy plant, award-winning parks, newly built residential units, restored heritage buildings, and an impressive 1 million square feet of commercial space. Zibi is one of the most sustainable communities in the world, and the first One Planet Living endorsed by Global Leader in Canada.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 2 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Wateridge Village: Canada Lands’ newest diverse housing community
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Welcome to Wateridge Village, a 310-acre community nestled just minutes from downtown Ottawa. With a rich history, the site has been shaped by the Algonquin people, the Canadian military, the Francophonie, and many others. Now, Canada Lands Company has acquired it to build much-needed housing. Discover this highly desirable neighbourhood, currently under construction and already boasting 1,850 residences, including a mix of market-rate and affordable housing. When completed, the community will have at least 5,300 homes, nine parks, three schools, employment areas, and a vibrant commercial/retail hub.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 2 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Experience Ottawa’s transit system and the zero-emission fleet
2 to 5 p.m.
Embark on a journey through Ottawa’s O-Train system and discover its newest expansions, Lines 2 and 4. Participants will ride the train from Bayview to Limebank and the airport, exploring the stations and gaining insights into the O-Train’s key features. They will also have the chance to learn about OC Transpo’s Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) program, which will include a visit to the ZEB maintenance facility and charging infrastructure, as well as a tour of the latest zero-emission bus models.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 3 hours
- Note: This panel discussion will be held on-site at the conference centre.
Lansdowne Park 2.0 Redevelopment Project
2 to 4 p.m.
Ottawa’s Lansdowne Park is a world class attraction that seamlessly combines sports facilities, shopping, dining, courtyards, heritage buildings, and public green spaces. Tour attendees will explore this vibrant entertainment hub, gaining insight into its history and the city’s vision for its future. These plans include a brand-new event centre, enhanced stadium seating and the addition of two mixed-use skyscrapers with a retail podium.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 2 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
The Ottawa Police’s Neighbourhood Operations Centre tour
2 to 3:30 p.m.
Join participants as they visit the Ottawa Police Service’s new Neighbourhood Operations Centre at CF Rideau Centre. This state-of-the-art facility serves as a community hub for addressing both criminal and social disorder challenges in the ByWard Market and Rideau Street area. Gain insight into their innovative approach, which pairs specially trained police officers with mental health experts, ensuring a comprehensive and compassionate response to individuals facing crises.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 1.5 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Learning about Ottawa’s new zoning by-law
2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The zoning regulations in a city have immense power over shaping urban development, influencing both housing availability and affordability. This tour will enable participants to better understand Ottawa’s Official Plan policies as well as how the proposed city zoning by-law will affect it.
- Capacity: 100
- Length of the tour: 1 hour
- Note: Accessible.
Meet and greet with Canada’s first Nightlife Commissioner, Mathieu Grondin
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Like other cities around the world, Ottawa recognizes the importance of promoting and expanding its nightlife economy. That is why the city recently invested in the development of its inaugural Nightlife Economy Action Plan, which included creating a Nightlife Commissioner’s Office and hiring Canada’s first Nightlife Commissioner, Mathieu Grondin. Throughout the tour, the commissioner will share his insights on implementing a fresh perspective for Ottawa, one that capitalizes on its incredible assets and experiences. He will also discuss the importance of effective governance and the role of key players in shaping a more dynamic, diverse, inclusive, sustainable, and secure nightlife scene. Municipalities of any size can use Ottawa’s approach to create their own unique nightlife economies.
- Capacity: 100
- Length of the tour: 1 hour
- Note: Accessible.
Saturday May 31
“Step By (Ward) step”: Implementing the Public Realm Plan
1 to 2:30 p.m.
Join us for a walking tour where you will discover the current collective and economic issues, along with possible solutions, for the historic ByWard Market. Delve into how the city allocates its resources to bring the ByWard Market Public Realm Plan (2021) projects to fruition in time for the market’s 200th anniversary in 2027. Participants will engage in a discussion about the considerations for advancing programs in one of the most intensely urban environments, the perspective of place (past, present, and future), and the tangible benefits of investing in the public realm from a financial, social, and safety standpoint.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 1.5 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Visit VIA Rail’s most accessible train station
1 to 3 p.m.
Discover VIA Rail’s most accessible station in its Canadian network. The Ottawa terminal boasts cutting-edge accessibility features, including autonomous wayfinding and hearing loops at the ticket counters. The tour also offers a glimpse into VIA Rail’s latest Venture trainset, one of the world’s most accessible trains. Attendees will begin and end their visit on the Confederation Line, Ottawa’s light-rail transit system, experiencing the seamless transportation connectivity first-hand.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 2 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water is recommended.
Tour Amazon’s YOW3 Barrhaven fulfillment centre
1 to 3:30 p.m.
Join this captivating tour of Amazon Canada’s cutting-edge “Robotics Sortable” facility in the south end community of Barrhaven. Launched in 2022, YOW3 plays a key role in Amazon’s Canadian fulfillment network. This tour will demonstrate how Amazon uses innovative robotics and logistics technologies to provide excellent service to customers. Participants will discover more about Amazon’s economic development impact, work culture, and sustainability efforts.
- Capacity: 15
- Length of the tour: 2.5 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water is recommended.
Exploring the preservation of the Rideau River shoreline
1 to 4 p.m.
Join the City of Ottawa staff on a guided tour of significant sites along the beautiful Rideau River. Throughout the walk, participants will discover the joint initiatives taken by the city and its various agencies and community groups to preserve the shorelines. They will learn how these efforts have bolstered the local economy, promoted public health, and protected communities from climate change. Attendees will then wander through Dickinson Square, a historic hub of Manotick Village. There, they will stop to visit Beryl Gaffney Park where Ottawa’s first LEED Gold-certified building, the Rideau Valley Conservation Centre, is located.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 3 hours
- Note: Not accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Wateridge Village: Canada Lands’ newest diverse housing community
2 to 4 p.m.
Welcome to Wateridge Village, a 310-acre community nestled just minutes from downtown Ottawa. With a rich history, the site has been shaped by the Algonquin people, the Canadian military, the Francophonie, and many others. Now, Canada Lands Company has acquired it to build much-needed housing. Discover this highly desirable neighbourhood, currently under construction and already boasting 1,850 residences, including a mix of market-rate and affordable housing. When completed, the community will have at least 5,300 homes, nine parks, three schools, employment areas, and a vibrant commercial/retail hub.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 2 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Tour Amazon’s YOW3 Barrhaven fulfillment centre
2:30 to 5 p.m.
Join this captivating tour of Amazon Canada’s cutting-edge “Robotics Sortable” facility in the south end community of Barrhaven. Launched in 2022, YOW3 plays a key role in Amazon’s Canadian fulfillment network. This tour will demonstrate how Amazon uses innovative robotics and logistics technologies to provide excellent service to customers. Participants will discover more about Amazon’s economic development impact, work culture, and sustainability efforts.
- Capacity: 15
- Length of the tour: 2.5 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water is recommended.
Sunday June 1
Lansdowne Park 2.0 redevelopment project walking tour
1 to 3 p.m.
Ottawa’s Lansdowne Park is a world class attraction that seamlessly combines sports facilities, shopping, dining, courtyards, heritage buildings, and public green spaces. Tour attendees will explore this vibrant entertainment hub, gaining insight into its history and the city’s vision for its future. These plans include a brand-new event centre, enhanced stadium seating and the addition of two mixed-use skyscrapers with a retail podium.
- Capacity: 40
- Length of the tour: 2 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.
Visit Zibi & Odenak: Unique net-zero communities—Presented by Dream
1 to 3 p.m.
Zibi is a 13.7-hectare (34-acre) waterfront community meticulously crafted by Dream Unlimited and Dream Impact Trust. It stands against unparalleled views of Parliament Hill, the Ottawa River and Chaudière Falls, connecting the cities of Gatineau and Ottawa. Follow Zibi’s expert development team on a curated walking tour that highlights the zero-carbon district energy plant, award-winning parks, newly built residential units, restored heritage buildings, and an impressive 1 million square feet of commercial space. Zibi is one of the most sustainable communities in the world, and the first One Planet Living endorsed by Global Leader in Canada.
- Capacity: 240
- Length of the tour: 2 hours
- Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.