Swimmers, kayakers and beachgoers can rejoice as the new development at Westboro Beach has officially opened to the public.
The waterfront area in Ottawa’s west-end has been under renovation since 2022, but the National Capital Commission (NCC) announced earlier this year that the site is ready-to-go just in time for the hot summer weather.
So, what’s changed?
Wilderness Tours, which runs whitewater rafting tours on the Ottawa River, has assumed management of the lower pavilion, which features a new boardwalk, patio, and bike trail connecting each level.
“We’re there to provide great snacks, treats, sandwiches and drinks down at the beach level, as well as beach chairs, umbrellas, paddle boards, and floaties,” said Joel Kowalski, the company’s vice-president for river operations. “We’ll also be running a lazy river tour down the current of the Ottawa River because our specialty is, of course, river tours.”
Kowalski said the firm also plans to offer a voyageur canoe tour that would be based out of Westboro Beach.
Meanwhile, the upper pavilion will feature a four-season restaurant operated by the same owners of The Grand Pizzeria in the Byward Market, which is expected to open this fall.
“The Grand at Westboro Beach… is going to have the same basic menu [as the Byward Market restaurant], but we may tweak it based on the new space,” said John Borsten, who also operates the Zak’s diner restaurants and the Metropolitain Brasserie downtown, among other establishments.
“They’ve got solar panels on the roof and there’s no gas here, so we’re cooking all electric. The pizza oven is wood and, as we do in the market, we make all our own dough and sauce.”
Borsten said there’s no firm opening date for the new restaurant, but he’s hoping to be up-and-running by the end of August.
The new zero-carbon pavilion also features children’s play areas, a jungle gym, beach volleyball courts, as well as public bathrooms, changerooms and an outdoor shower available for public use.
According to Kowaliski, the new facilities have already seen an uptick in usage since its opening on June 1.
“In the first few days that we’ve been hosting people and serving people, we’ve seen a lot of people on the beach and the parking lot has been busy,” he said in an interview with the Ottawa Compass. “The last couple days of hot weather were perfect for the beach, so I expect it will be a busy summer.”
The budget for the redevelopment was $21 million, including a $13.5 contribution from the City.
Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi, who represents Ottawa Centre, said the pavilion’s re-opening marked an “incredibly proud day” for the area.
“Thanks to the National Capital Commission’s significant revitalization efforts, this shoreline space is returned to the public with enhanced accessibility and new amenities, perfect for year-round enjoyment,” Naqvi said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing our community embrace this transformed beach, creating lasting memories and continuing to cherish our vital green spaces.”
Westboro Beach is one of four waterfront areas that is regularly tested for water quality. Earlier this year, Ottawa Public Health announced they would test each site’s bacterial standards on a weekly basis this summer, which marks a departure from the daily testing that had been conducted in recent years.
Testing at Westboro Beach has not yet started for the 2025 season.
