Study tours

10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Designed to accelerate innovation, Area X.O is a state-of-the-art test and demonstration facility operated by Invest Ottawa in collaboration with industry, academia, and government. Backed by over $51M in government and corporate investment, Area X.O combines world-class communications infrastructure, comprehensive testing ecosystems, and a strong focus on sustainable innovation to support entrepreneurs and businesses in achieving groundbreaking technological advancements. Area X.O offers unparalleled testing capabilities with a private 4G/5G network, advanced robotics and drone facilities, and a smart city zone with 16 km of urban-configured roadways. Complementing this is a 100-acre smart farm for sustainable agriculture technology and a new satellite test site, optimized for high-risk drone testing.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 3 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The IKEA vision is to create better everyday lives for everyone, and those lives are truly better when they’re lived sustainably. For IKEA, it’s about balancing economic growth and meaningful social impact with environmental protection and renewal. Its overall mission is to meet the needs of people today without compromising the needs of future generations. The “Bringing Sustainability Home” store tour is an opportunity to experience how IKEA inspires and enables individuals to live a more sustainable lifestyle at home. Learn how they take on that responsibility as a business and join them on a journey to create positive change.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 3 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water is recommended.

10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Learn about the City of Ottawa’s Digital Twin – a 3D model of Ottawa – a powerful new tool to support the development of a New Zoning Bylaw and the implementation of new Official Plan policies. Learn how the Geospatial Analytics, Technology and Solutions Branch (GATS) transformed their traditional 2D mapping into a robust, fully immersive, and interactive 3D visual environment. GATS will showcase their enhanced Acquisition Program, now integrated with cutting-edge Reality Capture systems. This advanced program enables the management and processing of complex, real-time, high-volume datasets with unparalleled accuracy leveraging state-of-the-art technologies, including drones, mobile 3D scanners, artificial intelligence, and machine learning software. Also learn how the City of Ottawa responds to seasonal flooding (spring freshet) on area rivers and uses geospatial support services for emergency planning, response, and recovery.

• Capacity: 100
• Length of the tour: 1.5 hours
• Note: Accessible.

10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Explore the historic municipal infrastructure of the Ottawa River and see how it has been maintained, interpreted, and rehabilitated. Few factors have influenced the development of Ottawa more than its namesake river, the Ottawa River, or the Kichi Sibi (“Great River”). Tour stops include the Chief William Commanda Bridge, Lemieux Island Water Purification Plant, and the Hintonburg Pumping Station. This tour will highlight examples of the adaptive reuse of municipal infrastructure in a way that maintains its heritage value and contributes to broader city-building goals.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 2.5 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Join this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Reuse Ottawa, Canada’s first large-scale shared-pool reuse pilot tackling single-use plastic waste in the food service industry. This immersive experience will take you through the program’s logistics loop—from sanitization and container transportation to participating grocery and food service locations—highlighting the innovative systems and partnerships driving this initiative. Designed for municipal leaders, this tour showcases the operational, environmental, and economic benefits of advancing reuse systems and offers valuable insights into scaling circular economy solutions as well as how public-private partnerships can effectively address local waste challenges while fostering economic growth and community engagement.

• Capacity: 20
• Length of the tour: 3 hours (includes travel time)
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water is recommended.

12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Designed to accelerate innovation, Area X.O is a state-of-the-art test and demonstration facility operated by Invest Ottawa in collaboration with industry, academia, and government. Backed by over $51M in government and corporate investment, Area X.O combines world-class communications infrastructure, comprehensive testing ecosystems, and a strong focus on sustainable innovation to support entrepreneurs and businesses in achieving groundbreaking technological advancements. Area X.O offers unparalleled testing capabilities with a private 4G/5G network, advanced robotics and drone facilities, and a smart city zone with 16 km of urban-configured roadways. Complementing this is a 100-acre smart farm for sustainable agriculture technology and a new satellite test site, optimized for high-risk drone testing.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 3 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Ottawa River saw historic flooding in 2017 and 2019, impacting communities along the river and critical infrastructure including the City’s Water Purification Plants. Learn about the suite of measures in place to assess, mitigate, prepare for, and respond to rising riverine flood risks in Ottawa. This includes a combination of flood level monitoring, policy tools to reduce risks in flood vulnerable areas, flood control structures like berms, and public education. Partnerships are key, including several City departments, regional agencies such as conservation authorities and the Ottawa River Regulating Committee, non-profit organizations, and local communities. The tour will include a presentation and on-site visits in and around the Britannia Water Purification Plant and neighbouring community.

• Capacity: 20
• Length of the tour: 3 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

1 to 2:30 p.m.
In 2021, the City of Ottawa's Council unanimously approved the ByWard Market Public Realm Plan - a bold vision and action plan that serves as a blueprint towards improving the public realm experience and economic outcomes in the ByWard Market. On this walking tour, proceeded by a brief, context setting presentation, experience firsthand what some of the existing challenges and opportunities are within the ByWard Market and learn how the City is leveraging its right of ways and existing assets to strategically implement some Public Realm Plan projects in time to celebrate the ByWard Market's 200th anniversary in 2027. Participants will engage in a discussion regarding the considerations for advancing projects in the city's most intensely urban environment, the perspective of place (past, present, and future), and the tangible benefits of investing in the public realm from an economic, social, and safety perspective.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 1.5 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Cities with a robust nightlife economy enjoy a competitive advantage when it comes to talent attraction, destination development and tourism and quality of life. The City of Ottawa has invested in the development of its first Nightlife Economy Action Plan, established a Nightlife Commissioner Office, and hired Canada’s first Nightlife Commissioner, Mathieu Grondin. Hear directly from Mathieu about how he is implementing a new vision for Ottawa after dark that capitalizes on incredible nightlife assets and experiences and considers the importance of effective nightlife management to grow a more vibrant, diverse, inclusive, viable and safe nightlife. Learn from Ottawa’s experience and international nightlife best practices to establish a nightlife economy strategy in your municipality … big or small, urban, suburban, or rural!

• Capacity: 100
• Length of the tour: 1 hour
• Note: Accessible.

12 to 1 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.

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Informed by Official Plan policies, zoning by-laws are a powerful tool to shape urban development, influencing challenges such as housing availability and affordability, and impacting the health of communities. Learn how the draft City of Ottawa Zoning By-law will respond to the city's evolving needs and implement the policies of the new Official Plan.

• Capacity: 100
• Length of the tour: 1 hour
• Note: Accessible.

1 to 3 p.m.
Invest Ottawa is the lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries in Canada’s Capital, facilitating economic growth and job creation in Ottawa. Guided by a vision to help realize Ottawa’s full potential as a globally recognized, innovative, inclusive, and future-ready city, Invest Ottawa delivers venture development, global expansion and talent programs and services that catalyze the growth and success of entrepreneurs and firms, throughout the city and from its innovation hub, Bayview Yards. Located west of LeBreton Flats, Bayview Yards serves as a 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.

1 to 4 p.m.
This tour showcases how the City of Ottawa works with a broad range of partners to help plan for and manage the biggest July 1 celebration in the country. Visit the RCMP’s National Capital Region Command Centre (NCRCC) where representatives from multiple levels of government work together to ensure safety and security at Canada Day events. Participate in a tabletop discussion led by the City’s Office of Emergency Management to see how the City and its partners prepare for a range of potential Canada Day scenarios.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 3 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water is recommended.

1 to 5 p.m.
Located just north of Kanata, the South March Highlands Conservation Forest contains 450 hectares of beautiful and diverse habitats, ranging from woodlands and wetlands to rocky outcrops of the Canadian Shield. This area is popular for various recreational activities. Join City staff and community partners on a guided walking tour of the new Coconut Tree trail that has been specifically adapted for bike riders with disabilities. Learn how the City of Ottawa partners with local non-profit community groups, including the Ottawa Mountain Bike Association, to protect and utilize the city’s natural areas. The tour will conclude in Carp Village, one of Ottawa’s twenty-six rural villages, with a brief tour of the village core and its redevelopment projects.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 4 hours
• Note: Not accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothing for tick prevention. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

1 to 2:30 p.m.
Learn about the City of Ottawa’s Digital Twin – a 3D model of Ottawa – a powerful new tool to support the development of a New Zoning Bylaw and the implementation of new Official Plan policies. Learn how the Geospatial Analytics, Technology and Solutions Branch (GATS) transformed their traditional 2D mapping into a robust, fully immersive, and interactive 3D visual environment. GATS will showcase their enhanced Acquisition Program, now integrated with cutting-edge Reality Capture systems. This advanced program enables the management and processing of complex, real-time, high-volume datasets with unparalleled accuracy leveraging state-of-the-art technologies, including drones, mobile 3D scanners, artificial intelligence, and machine learning software. Also learn how the City of Ottawa responds to seasonal flooding (spring freshet) on area rivers and uses geospatial support services for emergency planning, response, and recovery.

• Capacity: 100
• Length of the tour: 1.5 hours (includes travel time)
• Note: Accessible.

1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Join City of Ottawa staff to explore how stormwater management retrofits are progressing in Ottawa’s west end. To mitigate the runoff impacts of historical development and build climate resiliency, the City has implemented a number of retrofits including low impact development (LID) measures and a large stormwater management pond within the Pinecrest Creek/Westboro study area. Visit the Carlingwood Library Permeable parking lot, a first for a City of Ottawa facility. See the new Pinecrest Creek Stormwater Management Pond, built within an existing neighbourhood to improve water quality, and reduce flooding and erosion. Visit the Hemmingwood Way bioretention cells to learn how these are managing runoff within the right of way. Throughout the tour, you will learn about the design, construction, and monitoring of these facilities, and how the City is looking to integrate LID systems in the future. Plus, you will hear about City efforts to incentivize residential retrofits in the area through its Rain Ready Ottawa program.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 3 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

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.

1:30 to 4 p.m.
Tour Wateridge Village, a 310-acre community located on the former Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe, just minutes from downtown Ottawa. Steeped in rich history, the site has evolved over generations, having been shaped by the Algonquin peoples, the Canadian Military, the Francophonie, and many others. Wateridge Village is master planned by Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation that acquires, transforms and reintegrates surplus lands from the federal government enabling much needed housing. This sought-after community is half-way through development and currently includes 1,850 homes (both market and affordable). Upon completion, it will consist of at least 5,300 homes, nine parks, three schools, employment lands and a community core with commercial/retail amenities.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 2.5 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

2 to 3:30 p.m.
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 to respond to both criminal and social disorder challenges in the ByWard Market and Rideau Street area. Learn more about the integrated service response model being used to attend to people in crisis, where specially trained officers are paired with mental health professionals.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 1.5 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

2 to 5 p.m.
Take a tour on the O-Train and experience the newest extension of Ottawa’s O-Train transit system, Lines 2 and 4. This new extension, which expands the rail network further south, offers new and modernized stations as well as airport connectivity. You will have a chance to ride the train, visit stations, learn about key system features, and ask questions along the route from Bayview to Limebank and Airport Stations. This tour also offers the opportunity to learn about OC Transpo’s Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) program, with an in-depth look at the new ZEB maintenance facility and charging infrastructure, as well as the latest zero-emission bus models in the bus fleet.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 3 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

2 to 4:30 p.m.
Lansdowne Park is a world-class attraction blending sporting venues, retail, restaurants, courtyards, heritage buildings, and public open space. Tour this entertainment district, situated in the heart of Ottawa. Learn about the evolution of Lansdowne Park and the City's redevelopment plans for the site, which include a new Event Centre, new Stadium Stands, and two new mixed-use towers and retail podium.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 2.5 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Informed by Official Plan policies, zoning by-laws are a powerful tool to shape urban development, influencing challenges such as housing availability and affordability, and impacting the health of communities. Learn how the draft City of Ottawa Zoning By-law will respond to the city's evolving needs and implement the policies of the new Official Plan.

• Capacity: 100
• Length of the tour: 1 hour
• Note: Accessible.

2:30 to 4 p.m.
As we continue to build a more accessible Canada and following the introduction of accessibility legislation across the country, many municipalities are considering how to design and implement accessible spaces for residents living with disabilities. Join the City of Ottawa Accessibility Office and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) for a tour of the Downtown Rideau area that highlights the accessibility improvements that have been made at street level and across the design of Ottawa’s transit network as well as a discussion of navigation technology in commercial spaces.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 1.5 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Cities with a robust nightlife economy enjoy a competitive advantage when it comes to talent attraction, destination development and tourism and quality of life. The City of Ottawa has invested in the development of its first Nightlife Economy Action Plan, established a Nightlife Commissioner Office, and hired Canada’s first Nightlife Commissioner, Mathieu Grondin. Hear directly from Mathieu about how he is implementing a new vision for Ottawa after dark that capitalizes on incredible nightlife assets and experiences and considers the importance of effective nightlife management to grow a more vibrant, diverse, inclusive, viable and safe nightlife. Learn from Ottawa’s experience and international nightlife best practices to establish a nightlife economy strategy in your municipality … big or small, urban, suburban, or rural!

• Capacity: 100
• Length of the tour: 1 hour
• Note: Accessible.

1 to 5 p.m.
Join City of Ottawa staff on a walking tour of significant sites along the beautiful Rideau River. Learn more about the collaborative efforts between the City and various agencies and community groups to preserve the shorelines, as well as how these projects support the local economy, protect public health and protect communities from climate change. Participants will visit Dickinson Square and explore the historical the heart of the vibrant Village of Manotick, one of twenty-six rural villages located within the City of Ottawa boundary. The tour will also stop at Beryl Gaffney Park, home of the Rideau Valley Conservation Centre, the first LEED Gold certified building in Ottawa.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 4 hours
• Note: Not accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

1 to 5 p.m.
Join Ducks Unlimited Canada’s team of wetland experts on an immersive walking tour showcasing both small and large wetland restoration projects. Learn how wetlands are power players on the landscape, improving natural cover, filtering sediment and recharging groundwater. They also help mitigate the impacts of flooding and enhance local water management, while providing sustainable green spaces and beautiful wildlife habitat for everyone to enjoy. See how wetland restoration provides a cost-effective, nature-based solution for boosting your community’s environmental health and resiliency.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 4 hours
• Note: Not accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

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.

2 to 4:30 p.m.
Tour Wateridge Village, a 310-acre community located on the former Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe, just minutes from downtown Ottawa. Steeped in rich history, the site has evolved over generations, having been shaped by the Algonquin peoples, the Canadian Military, the Francophonie, and many others. Wateridge Village is master planned by Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation that acquires, transforms and reintegrates surplus lands from the federal government enabling much needed housing. This sought-after community is half-way through development and currently includes 1,850 homes (both market and affordable). Upon completion, it will consist of at least 5,300 homes, nine parks, three schools, employment lands and a community core with commercial/retail amenities.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 2.5 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

1 to 3:30 p.m.
Lansdowne Park is a world-class attraction blending sporting venues, retail, restaurants, courtyards, heritage buildings, and public open space. Tour this entertainment district, situated in the heart of Ottawa. Learn about the evolution of Lansdowne Park and the City's redevelopment plans for the site, which include a new Event Centre, new Stadium Stands, and two new mixed-use towers and retail podium.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 2.5 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

1 to 2:30 p.m.
In 2021, the City of Ottawa's Council unanimously approved the ByWard Market Public Realm Plan - a bold vision and action plan that serves as a blueprint towards improving the public realm experience and economic outcomes in the ByWard Market. On this walking tour, proceeded by a brief, context setting presentation, experience firsthand what some of the existing challenges and opportunities are within the ByWard Market and learn how the City is leveraging its right of ways and existing assets to strategically implement some Public Realm Plan projects in time to celebrate the ByWard Market's 200th anniversary in 2027. Participants will engage in a discussion regarding the considerations for advancing projects in the city's most intensely urban environment, the perspective of place (past, present, and future), and the tangible benefits of investing in the public realm from an economic, social, and safety perspective.

• Capacity: 40
• Length of the tour: 1.5 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.

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: 40
• Length of the tour: 2 hours
• Note: Accessible. Please ensure to wear comfortable shoes. Water and sunscreen are recommended.