The National Capital Commission (NCC) is adding two more swimming docks to the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa-Gatineau, one near the Ottawa Locks and the other on the opposite shore behind the Canadian Museum of History.
NCC opening new swimming areas this summer near Ottawa Locks, Canadian Museum of History
CBC News · Posted: Jun 03, 2026 11:39 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
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The National Capital Commission is planning to open a swimming dock behind the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., seen here in a rendering. (National Capital Commission)
The National Capital Commission (NCC) is adding two more swimming docks to the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa-Gatineau, one near the Ottawa Locks and the other on the opposite shore behind the Canadian Museum of History.
The NCC told CBC News it hopes to open the East Wharf on the Ottawa side of the river in mid-June, and the second dock on the Gatineau, Que., side in early July.
Information on hours, supervision and water testing was not included in Wednesday’s announcement.
A rendering of one of the NCC’s new swimming areas. The East Wharf is expected to open below Major’s Hill Park near the Ottawa Locks in mid-June. (National Capital Commission)
The new NCC docks will join those at the River House near Rockcliffe Park, which opened in 2023, and the Dow’s Lake dock on the Rideau Canal that made its debut last year.
The NCC has long operated beaches in the region.
The federal Crown corporation has been focusing on bringing more activities to the Ottawa, Gatineau and Rideau river shorelines, saying they had been underused for years.
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