Peter Karwacki: Give Credit Where Credit is Due..NCC Innovation

A Rockcliffe former councillor, Nussbaum at the NCC, said

the image of “the capital that fun forgot” no longer rings [not entirely anyway] true

He said this while citing the commission’s work to animate the region’s shorelines, paths and parkways, alongside the work of other organizations in the city.

If Toby was still our councillor I probably would not be running against him.

The changes and innovation at the NCC have been very good in my opinion.

More Summer Fun on the Rideau

By inflating a man made weir/ u, communities can transform shallow, rocky rivers like the Rideau into deep ponds suitable for swimming, rowing, and fishing during dry summer months.

Inflatable weirs (also known as rubber dams) are flexible, air- or water-filled membranes anchored to riverbeds to raise water levels for recreation. They are widely used in urban and natural environments to create deep flat-water reservoirs for swimming and boating, or to power adjustable rapids for whitewater kayaking and surfing.

Unlike fixed concrete weirs, inflatable dams can be completely deflated during heavy rain to allow floodwaters and debris to pass safely. They also allow easier sediment management and can be lowered to safely pass migratory fish.

The Pumphouse: Just around the corner from the Canadian War Museum in downtown Ottawa, is highly utilized by the
Ottawa River Runners for slalom and whitewater kayaking. They worked countless volunteer hours to make this a reality against a backdrop of institutional inertia.

• Flat-Water Pools: By inflating the dam, communities can transform shallow, rocky rivers into deep ponds suitable for swimming, rowing, and fishing during dry summer months.
• Adjustable Whitewater: Specially engineered inflatable spillway gates allow engineers to adjust the height of the weir in minutes, altering river flows to create standing waves for surfers and play-features for whitewater kayakers.
• Environmental & Flood Safety: Unlike fixed concrete weirs, inflatable dams can be completely deflated during heavy rain to allow floodwaters and debris to pass safely. They also allow easier sediment management and can be lowered to safely pass migratory fish.
For those located in the Ottawa region, while large-scale inflatable weirs are primarily municipal, you can experience natural and dam-regulated whitewater and floating recreation nearby:
• The Pumphouse
• Madawaska River & Ottawa River: Located just west of Ottawa/Gatineau, resorts like Wilderness Tours (located in Foresters Falls) and the Madawaska Kanu Centre offer extensive commercial inflatable water parks, guided white-water rafting, and kayak training.
Implementing an inflatable weir or recreation project on the Rideau River along the Overbrook shoreline presents a unique mix of high community potential and strict seasonal, environmental, and structural constraints.

Because this specific stretch of the Rideau river runs past Riverain Park, the Rideau Sports Centre, and dense residential pockets, any transformation must balance park use with intense spring environmental factors.

The Overbrook Rideau River Footprint
The primary zone for potential recreation spans from the Hurdman/417 bridge area down past the Adàwe Crossing to Beechwood Avenue.

1. Inflatable Weir Feasibility: Challenges & Opportunities

Installing a municipal inflatable weir in this specific section is theoretically possible but complicated due to the following factors:
• The Summer Shallows (The Opportunity): Local paddlers note that the river near the 417 bridge and the Rideau Sports Centre gets incredibly shallow and rocky during July and August. A temporary summer inflation could raise the water level by 1 to 1.5 metres, creating a reliable, deep urban flat-water loop perfect for stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, and recreational kayaking between Hurdman and New Edinburgh.

• The Spring Ice Blasting Conflict (The Massive Challenge): Every late February, the City of Ottawa conducts aggressive annual ice-breaking and dynamite blasting operations starting from the Rideau Falls Dam Complex up through Overbrook to Billings Bridge. This prevents catastrophic spring flooding in Overbrook and New Edinburgh.
• Any rubber weir bladder anchored to the riverbed would risk severe structural damage from the shifting ice sheets, amphibious excavators, and explosive charges unless it was thoroughly deflated and armored flat against the riverbed before winter freeze-up.

2. Immediate, Non-Structural Recreation Possibilities

Without installing heavy permanent or semi-permanent infrastructure like dams, several high-impact recreational activations are highly possible and frequently discussed for Overbrook's waterfront:
• Expanded Public Launch Infrastructure: While the Rideau Sports Centre offers private access and rentals, constructing a dedicated, accessible public dock or beach-style launch at Riverain Park would dramatically open up the river for local paddlers.
• Seasonal Inflatable Water Parks: Instead of a structural weir in the riverbed, the city or a private partner could anchor a seasonal, floating inflatable playground (similar to the commercial park at Wilderness Tours) right off the shores of Riverain Park during low-flow summer months.
• Eco-Tourism & Heritage Trails: The shorelines of Overbrook feature rich natural environments and historical paths (celebrated locally by initiatives like the Poets' Pathway).
Enhancing the shoreline paths with viewing decks, urban fishing platforms (targeting the river's native sportfish), and educational signage regarding the Rideau Waterway UNESCO World Heritage Site status is easily achievable.