Experimental Farm

Hospital
New Civic Hospital Footprint

Background

The Farm, established in 1886, is both an agricultural research station and a working farm in the heart of Ottawa. It is also a treasured National Historic Site. Its one thousand acres of fields, trees, and pathways provide the inner city with precious recreational space and a green lung that buffers heat and climate change.

However, its size and location make it vulnerable to predation for other uses.

Booth Barn

In 1995, the National Capital Commission (NCC) on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada (AAFC) authorized the demolition of the Booth Barn (built by lumber baron J.R. Booth in 1867). Heritage organizations mounted a campaign that led, in 1996, to the City of Ottawa declaring its intention to give the Booth Barn heritage protection. AAFC filed, and fortunately lost, an objection made to the Conservation Review Board.

Ottawa Hospital

In 2007-2008, the Ottawa Hospital (TOH) began planning to replace the old Civic Campus. Their attempt to build across Carling Avenue on the research fields was met with a firm no from AAFC.

In November, 2014, Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Baird, (also responsible for the NCC), unexpectedly announced the gift of 60 acres of prime research land to the Ottawa Hospital for a new campus. A coalition was quickly established protect the Farm by seeking an alternative site. TOH board remained committed to their preferred site.

In late 2016, at the request of the Minister of Heritage, the NCC reported on its study of 12 potential sites and recommended Tunney’s Pasture. TOH, despite having agreed to include the Tunney’s site in the study, quickly rejected it. A few days later, at a press conference, 17 local, provincial and federal politicians announced the new hospital would be built on the northeast corner of the Farm, on Carling Avenue across from Dow’s Lake. The federal government removed the heritage designation of 42 acres of the Farm and the TOH was given a 99-year lease for $1.00 a year.

This huge hospital will overwhelm surrounding historical and natural environments. In addition, the site requires the removal of hundreds of mature trees, is on a fault line, and is sloped, making for a more complicated and costly build.

On Sept. 27, 2023, City Council approved a Taggart Realty Management proposal for two high-rises at 1081 Carling Ave. Council voted 18 to 7 in favour despite opposition from the community, supporters of the Farm, and federal scientists concerned that shadows cast by the towers would jeopardize decades of agricultural research being conducted in the fields opposite – the same fields that scientists around the world and the community successfully rallied to protect in 2016.

Current Status

The land for the new Civic campus has been cleared and construction of a 2500-car parking garage is underway.

ReImagine Ottawa continues to monitor some aspects of the TOH project:

  • A complaint about lack of due diligence on environmental concerns was lodged with the federal Auditor General’s office.
  • We are in conversation with TOH concerning environmental issues related to the Central Utility Plant.

Threats to longitudinal research are being posed by shadows cast by proposed high-rise developments across from the Farm on Carling and Baseline roads.

What you can do

Write to Nasir Naqvi, MP Ottawa Centre to enquire about the status of his promised bill to protect the Farm from further encroachment.

Resources

City of Ottawa