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Because the federal government owns some of the land involved, the National Capital Commission has been working with the Chaudière Hydro Limited Partnership, which is wholly owned by Energy Ottawa, to improve pedestrian access to Chaudière Falls.

The company has agreed to the construction of a pedestrian access bridge across the new generating plant’s access channel, providing direct access to a viewing plaza near the falls. Pedestrian access will also be provided across the top of the new powerhouse, which will be built below grade.

“This is going to be the first opportunity in many decades the public is going to have to actually approach directly Chaudière Falls, which are one of the most dramatic falls historically in North America,” said NCC official Fred Gaspar.

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Visitors will be able to get up close and personal with the falls on a viewing platform located near two existing heritage buildings, which could be used for programming that is yet to be determined. The design also includes several other outlooks for better observing the falls and the Ottawa River.

Not everybody is keen on the project, however. The falls are sacred to the Algonquin people, and many support the vision of William Commanda, a revered elder who died in 2011. He wanted Chaudière and Albert islands turned into an eco-park and the falls returned to their natural state.

That’s also the goal of more than 540 people who have signed a petition on change.org urging Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson to “free the falls” by removing the Chaudière Ring Dam.