NCC River House opens swimming season ahead of summer

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The NCC River House is now open for the season.

Lifeguards are on duty for swimmers from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily, the National Capital Commission said on social media Monday afternoon.

Supervised swimming is open on a first-come, first-served basis.

A water taxi will run to the River House, at 501 Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, Tuesdays through Fridays from 12 p.m. until 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m to 7 p.m. Greyline Bus Tours’ hop-on, hop-off tour buses will also run to the River House, with buses running every hour from Monday to Thursday.

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Additionally, there are two new bike parking lots and additional bike racks, the NCC says.

The century-old River House, which opened last summer after a $20-million makeover, has a bistro, two wraparound balconies with views of the Ottawa River, boat and kayak docks, and an enclosed area for free river swimming.

People sunbathe and swim in the Ottawa River at the NCC River House on the first weekend of its reopening, in Ottawa, Sunday, July 30, 2023. The heritage building, built between 1914 and 1925, has been fully renovated with an enclosed swimming area.
People sunbathe and swim in the Ottawa River at the NCC River House on the first weekend of its reopening, in Ottawa, Sunday, July 30, 2023. The heritage building, built between 1914 and 1925, has been fully renovated with an enclosed swimming area. Photo by Justin Tang THE CANADIAN PRESS /The Canadian Press

The NCC River House, previously known as the National Capital River Pavilion and the Ottawa River Boathouse, was designed by architect C.P. Meredith and constructed between 1914 and 1925 for the Ottawa New Edinburgh Club (ONEC), according to the NCC.

The boathouse was designated a recognized federal heritage building in 2010 because of its connection to the history of canoeing in Canada, the NCC’s website states.

“Its architecture is a rare example of early boathouse design, and its unique setting on the river gives it special historical significance,” the NCC states.

The revitalization project began in 2019, including the conservation, repainting and reinstatement of the existing wood siding, a standard exterior wall assembly, the conservation of viable heritage windows and the installation of new windows that are compatible with the historic character, while providing the required thermal performance, the NCC said.

A lifeguard keeps an eye on swimmers at the NCC River House on the first weekend of its reopening, in Ottawa, Sunday, July 30, 2023. The heritage building, built between 1914 and 1925, has been fully renovated with an enclosed swimming area.
A lifeguard keeps an eye on swimmers at the NCC River House on the first weekend of its reopening, in Ottawa, Sunday, July 30, 2023. The heritage building, built between 1914 and 1925, has been fully renovated with an enclosed swimming area. Photo by Justin Tang THE CANADIAN PRESS /The Canadian Press

With files from Postmedia staff. 

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