Ontario Construction News staff writer

The federal government has awarded a $79-million contract to Capital Crossing Constructors for the next phase of the Alexandra Bridge replacement project, marking a major milestone in one of the National Capital Region’s largest infrastructure undertakings.

Public Services and Procurement Canada announced the contract award last week to the consortium, which includes Webuild Civil Works Inc., Samsung C&T Ontario 1 Inc. and Green Infrastructure Partners Inc.

Under a progressive design-build model, the government and the consortium will work together to refine project requirements, scheduling, pricing and risk management before construction begins.

The consortium will advance the approved design for the new bridge, known as the Motion concept, which received Federal Land Use and Design Approval from the National Capital Commission in January 2026.

Inspired by the flow of the Ottawa River, the design features three curved arches and was developed following consultations with the public, Indigenous communities and stakeholders. Officials say the bridge is intended to balance modern transportation needs with heritage preservation and high-quality urban design.

“For more than a century, the Alexandra Bridge has been a defining link between Gatineau and Ottawa, connecting people to work, family, services and cultural institutions on both sides of the river,” Hull–Aylmer MP Greg Fergus said in a statement.

“As someone who represents a community that lives alongside this iconic structure, I know how important it is to preserve this connection for future generations. Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone toward delivering a modern, safe and accessible bridge that reflects the needs of a growing National Capital Region while respecting the heritage and character of this important site.”

The federal government said it will work with the design-builder to prioritize the use of Canadian steel, aluminum and other domestic materials where possible as part of its Buy Canadian policy. Officials also said efforts will be made to maximize economic opportunities for Canadian and local companies and communities throughout the design, deconstruction and construction phases of the project.

The new bridge is expected to improve connections between Ontario and Quebec, enhance safety and reliability for commuters and support economic growth across the National Capital Region.

The existing Alexandra Bridge, which is more than 120 years old, has reached the end of its service life. Construction of the replacement bridge is expected to begin in 2028.

Public Services and Procurement Canada said it will continue to provide public updates and engage with communities and stakeholders as the project progresses.

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High-density residential developments are moving forward in Ottawa after the city’s Planning and Housing Committee approved zoning amendments that could bring nearly 500 new homes to Woodpark and Kanata North.

If finalized by City Council tomorrow (June 10), the decisions will clear the way for a 24-storey residential tower near a major transit station and the next phase of a master-planned suburban subdivision.

In the Woodpark community, the committee approved a zoning amendment to permit a 24-storey residential building northwest of Carling and Edgeworth avenues. The project is designed to add 262 new units to the area.

According to a committee release, the development will sit “less than 200 metres from Lincoln Fields Station” and features “a new public pathway connecting to the National Capital Commission’s pathway network and to Lincoln Fields Station.”

In Kanata North, a second approved amendment will allow for the continued expansion of the Arcadia subdivision, located at 8370 Campeau Dr. near Terry Fox Drive.

As reported by CTV News Ottawa, the 8.26-hectare project is being spearheaded by Minto Communities, which initially filed the development application in December 2021. The site is positioned less than 400 metres from a future O-Train station and is projected to add 232 new homes to the area, which the city stated will improve “housing choice and supply.”

Minto requested rezoning to permit the residential development alongside relief from minimum setback and lot area standards.

“The proposed residential subdivision consists of 58 lots for detached dwellings, 25 townhouse blocks, three open space blocks, five new public streets, two pathway blocks, and one stormwater dry pond block,” the planning application stated.

The application noted that the 232 residential units will include 58 single-detached dwellings, 100 townhouse dwellings, and 74 back-to-back townhouse dwellings. Higher-density units will be placed closest to Campeau Drive.

The two neighbourhood approvals combined account for 494 potential new homes. According to city data tracking, the Planning and Housing Committee has enabled the development of an estimated 1,320 units since the start of 2026.

Between January 2023 and the end of 2025, Ottawa City Council has provided planning approvals for more than 69,600 new homes. This marks roughly 46 per cent of the city’s broader provincial target to support the construction of 151,000 market homes by 2031.

While prioritizing new land-use approvals, the committee also adjusted its financial strategy for federal housing money, approving a change that gives the municipality more flexibility in how it allocates $44 million in federal housing funds expected in 2027.

The money represents the final installment of a $176.3-million commitment to Ottawa through the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). The city has received approximately $132 million under the program so far.

The final payment is scheduled to be issued early next year, “based in part on City efforts to stimulate housing development in a challenging housing market,” according to the city.

Council’s current HAF spending framework directs 90 per cent of the funding allocation directly into projects listed on Ottawa’s Affordable Housing Pipeline. City officials noted that the newly approved financial flexibility will let staff “take advantage of emerging opportunities and new partnerships to advance the construction of more affordable homes.”

To date, the city says HAF funding is supporting 1,500 new affordable units, with non-profit partners having completed more than 800 homes since 2024.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

The City of Ottawa’s finance and corporate services committee has approved the next steps for a new west-end paramedic deployment facility, while endorsing sweeping financial measures to plug a $1.23-billion infrastructure funding gap.

During its meeting Tuesday (June 2), the committee recommended a three-stage competitive procurement process for the new Ottawa Paramedic Service headquarters at 4061 Strandherd Dr. in Barrhaven.

While a final budget and opening date are yet to be determined, the city has previously approved $4 million for early-stage design and engineering.

The project will be delivered through a Design, Build, Finance, and Maintain (DBFM) public-private partnership, spreading capital costs over 30 years. The municipality expects the provincial Land Ambulance Service Grant to cover half of the eligible capital and operating costs.

The current paramedic headquarters on Don Reid Drive, built in 2005, is operating significantly over capacity due to population growth and expanded service demands.

The paramedic facility was just one of several major construction and infrastructure items addressed by the committee:

Ādisōke project needs $18.5M top-up

The committee approved an $18.5-million request for additional funding to maintain project oversight and top up the construction contingency for Ādisōke, the new joint facility for the Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada. While the building is approximately 85 per cent complete, contractors have communicated further construction delays. The additional costs will be shared between the city and its federal and municipal partners.

Plugging a $1.23-billion capital gap

Councillors approved a new 10-year Tax Long Range Financial Plan to address a $1.23-billion funding shortfall for the renewal and maintenance of tax-supported municipal infrastructure. To bridge the gap, the city plans to double its annual capital contribution increase from $6 million to $12 million. Beginning in 2029, the city will also increase its annual debt issuance to an average of $96.5 million — a $36.5-million hike over current levels. The plan also relies on a one-time $32-million draw from the capital reserve.

Green transit revenues

The committee approved joining the federal Clean Fuel Regulations Program, allowing the city to generate and sell compliance credits from its Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) program. With plans to replace 350 diesel buses with electric models by 2027, the city estimates the credits could generate $1.3 million in 2026, scaling up to roughly $4.3 million annually upon full deployment.

Affordable housing tax relief

To support the community housing sector, the committee updated the Municipal Housing Facility By-law. The changes will allow a projected maximum of 4,500 existing non-profit affordable units, and potentially 500 new units annually, to qualify for a minimum 20-year municipal and education property tax exemption. Providers must reinvest the property tax savings into expanding portfolios, funding capital repairs, or offering deeper rent affordability.

City council will vote on the committee’s recommendations on Wednesday, June 10.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Applications are now open for the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP), an $8.8-billion federal-provincial initiative that provides infrastructure funding to municipalities that slash development charges.

The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) is strongly urging the City of Ottawa to apply before the June 19 deadline, noting that development charges (DCs) in the city have increased by more than 30 per cent inside the greenbelt and more than 25 per cent outside the greenbelt over the past two and a half years.

“This is exactly the kind of leadership and partnership needed to address Ontario’s housing supply crisis,” GOHBA executive director Jason Burggraaf said in a June 2 statement. “For years, GOHBA has advocated that the government at all levels needs to tackle rising infrastructure costs. This announcement recognizes that reality and provides municipalities with a practical path to reduce those costs while continuing to invest in critical infrastructure.”

Under the DCRP, the federal and provincial governments will cost-match funding for housing-enabling infrastructure projects over 10 years. To qualify, municipalities must reduce DCs for all residential types by 30 to 50 per cent or greater and maintain those reductions for at least three years. The combined federal-provincial contribution funds 90 per cent of the reduction, with the municipality funding the remaining 10 per cent.

Cutting DCs in half in Ottawa would return them to 2016 rates, immediately improving project viability, making housing more affordable and helping to deliver more homes faster, according to GOHBA.

“We strongly urge the City of Ottawa to move immediately to get funding from the new agreement, cut its DCs, and build the infrastructure that will support new housing supply,” Burggraaf said. “We look forward to working with the City of Ottawa to ensure this opportunity translates into more homes, more housing choice and improved affordability for Ottawa residents.”

The funding stems from the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build, announced in March 2026. The program aims to accelerate infrastructure projects to lower the cost of new homes. Of Ontario’s 444 municipalities, more than 200 currently levy development charges.

“The Development Charge Reduction Program will make a life-changing difference for families in municipalities across Ontario by lowering the cost of new homes by tens of thousands of dollars,” said Rob Flack, Ontario’s minister of municipal affairs and housing. “Along with the HST relief announced in Ontario’s 2026 budget, this program will make homes across the province more affordable.”

Flack encouraged municipal leaders to work with the province to reduce DCs to “get more shovels in the ground and keep the dream of homeownership alive in Ontario.”

Applications, which opened June 1, will be assessed based on the percentage of the committed DC rate reduction, the number of homes projected to be built as a result of the relief, and the municipality’s financial contribution. Priority will be given to housing-enabling projects based on the number of homes they support.

The program has drawn widespread support from construction industry leaders across the province.

Scott Anderson, CEO of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA), said in a statement that builders look forward to working with municipalities to build more affordable homes.

“The sooner municipalities can begin reducing development charges across all home types and make new projects viable, the sooner builders get more homes built,” he said.

David Wilkes, president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), called the initiative historic.

“Lowering development charges will help address the economic viability challenges that has stalled housing development across the GTA in recent years,” Wilkes said in the news release. “Through this initiative, municipalities and industry working in partnership can accelerate shovel-ready communities while ensuring that the building and development industry continues to provide well-paying jobs and is an engine of economic growth.”

Dani Gabriele, chair of the West End Home Builders Association, noted that the industry is finally seeing coordinated government action that can genuinely restart housing supply.

“The combination of HST relief and meaningful infrastructure and development charge support has the potential to improve project viability, support affordability, and help get shovels back in the ground,” she said, adding that local governments must work alongside the province and Ottawa to create conditions that support housing construction.

Patrick McManus, executive director of the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association, highlighted the necessity of infrastructure investments to manage growth.

“Support for both large-scale housing infrastructure projects and targeted funding for small and rural municipalities will help move these projects forward while creating and sustaining skilled trades jobs across Ontario,” McManus said in the statement.

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

Ottawa city council has approved a plan to redirect funding from a deferred streetscape project to a series of initiatives in the downtown core and ByWard Market.

The funding reallocation remains subject to approval by the Province of Ontario in accordance with the terms of the Ontario-Ottawa Agreement.

Money will be reallocated from the William Street pedestrian and streetscape project, which was originally supported through the Ontario-Ottawa Agreement. However, city staff said the project has been postponed beyond the timelines established under the agreement, prompting the municipality to identify alternative priority projects.

There two key objectives: enhancing safety and security in the downtown and ByWard Market and creating new attractions and public spaces to encourage year-round activity.

Safety-related initiatives approved by council are improvements to Rideau Station and the Rideau Street corridor, upgrades to the Rideau–Sussex underpass, and funding for security staffing support for organizations serving individuals with complex needs. The staffing supports are intended to assist with de-escalation, incident prevention and coordination with outreach and emergency response partners.

Council also endorsed funding for mental health and substance use services in the ByWard Market, Ottawa Public Health’s Needle and Drug Equipment Collection Program, and outreach efforts to connect unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness with safer spaces and support services.

To increase activity and attract more residents and visitors, council approved a range of placemaking and cultural initiatives including “Best of ByWard” four-season placemaking program, which will transform underutilized plazas and sections of ByWard Market Square into flexible public gathering spaces designed to support events and activities throughout the year.

Additional projects include:

• a district-wide navigation, access and parking strategy
• a brand and place identity plan

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

A massive residential project at the busy intersection of Baseline Road and Clyde Avenue has sat as an incomplete concrete skeleton for nearly three years, the casualty of a major Quebec company’s financial collapse.

Originally breaking ground in 2022, the two-tower project at 1357 Baseline Rd. was initially planned as a retirement residence. However, work ground to a halt late that year when the project’s original co-developer, Montreal-based Groupe Sélection, filed for creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA).

At the time, the project was a 50-50 joint venture between commercial real estate trust SmartCentres and Groupe Sélection, which was one of Canada’s largest private operators of senior living facilities.

According to CCAA filings managed by monitor PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Groupe Sélection was forced into creditor protection in November 2022 after being caught in a perfect economic storm. The company had built a portfolio of over $5 billion in assets during an era of historically low interest rates. When central banks began aggressively hiking rates in 2022 to combat inflation, the developer’s borrowing and refinancing costs skyrocketed.

Simultaneously, the COVID-19 pandemic took a severe toll on the senior living sector, driving up operational and health costs while depressing occupancy rates and slowing pre-leasing for new developments. This squeezed Groupe Sélection’s cash flow precisely when their debt servicing costs were climbing.

The final blow came when a syndicate of major Canadian banks, owed hundreds of millions of dollars, lost confidence in the company’s management and rejected their proposed restructuring plan. The lenders forced a creditor-driven restructuring through the Quebec courts, leading to the liquidation of Groupe Sélection’s assets and immediately unraveling joint ventures across the country — including the Ottawa towers.

Following a complex legal process, SmartCentres — which also owns the adjacent Laurentian Plaza strip mall — took full ownership of the property. According to the trust’s recent financial disclosures, SmartCentres completed the project’s foundational concrete structure to protect the asset before pausing construction.

The developer has since pivoted the project’s scope from a retirement complex to a 402-unit residential apartment building. But getting shovels back in the ground has proven difficult. To resume construction, SmartCentres is securing a new partner and financing, and must navigate a site-plan renewal process with the City of Ottawa to legally accommodate the change in the building’s use.

The lack of progress has frustrated local residents, who see the unfinished structures as a glaring blemish amid an ongoing housing shortage.

“I find it kind of sad. Every time we go by we say, ‘Is anything happening?’ Nothing’s been happening,” one local resident told CTV News Ottawa in a recent broadcast about the site. Another resident characterized the site as an “eyesore,” telling the network that “more could be done and it’s taken too long to do it.”

The stalled towers remain a frequent topic of constituent complaints for River Ward Coun. Riley Brockington.

“These buildings have been empty for way too long. They are now an eyesore within the community,” Brockington told CTV News. “We want to see this project completed. We support SmartCentres advancing with these residential towers. Let’s get it done.”

With the concrete structure left exposed to the harsh Ottawa elements for three winters, some residents have raised questions about the building’s structural integrity. Brockington reassured the community that the site is secure.

“My understanding is the building is sound,” the councillor said. “It is monitored 24 hours a day. There are cameras, and it is visually inspected on a normal frequency.”

While Brockington indicated in recent correspondence with SmartCentres that the municipal site-plan process should be completed this year, there is currently no firm target date for when heavy machinery will return or when the units will finally be ready for occupancy.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Thousands of Canadians took steps toward safer workplaces during May, helping Steps for Life raise more than $1 million for the fourth consecutive year.

The milestone was celebrated during a special wrap-up episode of Steps That Matter, the official podcast of Threads of Life, with hosts Eugene Gutierrez, Executive Director and Heather Lyle, National Manager, are joined by Sarah Wheelan, Communications Coordinator, to discuss big milestones and stories from the 2026 Steps for Life fundraising walks that happened earlier this month.

Wheelan also shared her personal milestone, running 20 kilometres to celebrate 20 years of participating in Steps for Life, and honouring her late brother, Lewis.

To watch the full episode, click here:

Across Canada, participants gathered in communities large and small, creating what organizers describe as a “sea of yellow” as walkers donned the event’s signature safety-coloured shirts. More than a visual symbol, the shirts represent a shared commitment to supporting families impacted by workplace fatalities, life-altering injuries and occupational diseases.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Ottawa-based TCU Development Corporation is partnering with Fiera Real Estate to construct a 21-storey, purpose-built rental tower in the city’s rapidly growing Cyrville neighbourhood.

The partnership, announced in late April, will see the development of SOUL, a 271-unit apartment complex slated for construction in May. The project marks the inaugural investment for Fiera Real Estate’s Canadian Built Opportunities Fund (CBOF).

While recent project announcements focused solely on the 21-storey tower, municipal planning documents indicate the building is actually the first phase of a larger, multi-tower master plan for the consolidated site at 1137 and 1151 Ogilvie Rd., and 1111 Cummings Ave.

According to a site plan approval report signed by the City of Ottawa in March 2026, this initial phase features a four-storey podium, ground-floor commercial space, and a temporary privately owned public space (POPS). A future Phase 2 will introduce a second tower and complete the finalized public park area. A previous zoning bylaw amendment, passed in 2025, approved heights of up to 30 storeys for the property assembly.

“Strong partnerships and aligned teams are what drive successful projects and this one reflects that from day one,” Mike Corneau, co-founder and CEO of TCU Development Corporation, said in a corporate release. “Partnering with Fiera Real Estate is a strong signal of both the quality of SOUL and the long-term fundamentals we see in Ottawa. This project is distinctly Canadian, from capital to expertise to trades and we’re ready to deliver.”

The development is designed to address a need for modern accommodations in an area where much of the existing apartment stock is aging, according to the Real Estate News Exchange (RENX). The site sits a block from the St. Laurent Shopping Centre, providing future tenants with close proximity to transit networks and employment hubs.

For the local construction sector, the project brings a commitment to domestic, organized labour. Pierre Pelletier, senior managing director and head of development and debt at Fiera Real Estate, noted the importance of union involvement in the build.

“SOUL represents an ideal inaugural investment for the Canadian Built Opportunities Fund — a well-located, purpose-built rental development delivered by an experienced local partner and built by Canadian union tradespeople,” Pelletier said in the release. “It demonstrates how institutional capital can generate long-term value for our investors while creating meaningful opportunities in the communities where we invest.”

The property is the former home of the Mandarin Ogilvie restaurant, which closed in 2024 after a 36-year run, according to the Ottawa Business Journal.

Occupancy for the building is expected to begin in approximately two years.

TCU Development Corporation, founded in 2010, focuses on Class A purpose-built rental housing and has developed a significant multifamily portfolio in Ottawa. Fiera Real Estate, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiera Capital, manages over $11.9 billion of commercial real estate globally.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Colonnade BridgePort and the Fiera Real Estate CORE Fund have broken ground on the first phase of Junction Central, a new mixed-use residential community in Ottawa.

The two-tower development at 25 Pickering Pl. is on a 4.9-acre site adjacent to the city’s central VIA Rail station, the Tremblay LRT station, and Highway 417, according to the Real Estate News Exchange (RENX).

The property, formerly home to commercial cleaning product manufacturer Dustbane, was acquired by the developers in April 2020 and required significant remediation before construction could begin.

“We knew it had contamination and needed to be remediated,” Hugh Gorman, chief executive officer of Colonnade BridgePort, told RENX. “It was one of those things where we felt like we had a great piece of land and we were just going to have to work it.”

This project marks the third multi-residential development partnership in Ottawa between Colonnade BridgePort and Toronto-based Fiera Real Estate, following the Westboro Connection and Hintonburg Connection projects. In this venture, Fiera holds a 75 per cent stake in the land and a 70 per cent stake in the two-building Phase I development, with Colonnade BridgePort holding the remainder.

The initial phase of Junction Central comprises two buildings — the 14-storey Linq and the 28-storey Connex — which will deliver a combined 498 rental units ranging from studios to three-bedroom suites. The complex will also include nearly 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

The developers are targeting LEED Silver certification and are equipping the property with functional amenities tailored to a mid-to-high market range. These include a rooftop terrace with a dog run, fitness facilities, co-working spaces, and electric vehicle parking.

Subdivision servicing is currently underway on the site, with initial occupancy anticipated for late 2027 or early 2028.

As for the balance of the 4.9-acre property, the partners are reportedly looking to sell the site’s excess land to operators specializing in hotels or seniors housing, citing strong local demand for those asset classes.

Fiera Real Estate, a subsidiary of Fiera Capital Corporation, is the same institutional partner currently teaming up with TCU Development Corporation on the 21-storey SOUL rental project in Ottawa’s Cyrville neighbourhood.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Construction and design professionals looking to deepen their knowledge of architectural wood have a unique hands-on educational opportunity coming up in Ottawa  next month.

The Ottawa chapter of Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) is hosting an in-person continuing education seminar, “Specifying Wood with Confidence,” on Wednesday, June 3.

The event, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will be held at Heritage Grade Woodwork at 2280 Stevenage Dr.

Designed to help the industry confidently specify wood in architectural applications, the collaborative session brings together experts from Heritage Grade, Upper Canada Forest Products (UFP), and the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada (AWMAC).

The seminar will cover essential topics to strengthen material specification expertise, including:

• Wood species, cuts, and grading
• Veneers and sheet products
• Specification best practices

The session will also feature an in-depth segment on the restoration and rehabilitation of historic woodwork. This portion will draw on the latest AWMAC North American Architectural Woodwork Standards (NAAWS) Guide, specifically addressing Section 3 (Lumber), Section 4 (Sheet Products), and Section 12 (Historic Restoration).

Featured speakers for the event include Laurie Suikki, AWMAC Ontario chapter manager; Mark Paddison, retired program director of Humber College Cabinetmaking; and Sam Pollock, lead at Heritage Grade Woodwork.

Following the educational session, attendees will receive an exclusive guided tour of Heritage Grade’s workshop. The event also includes networking opportunities with industry peers and a complimentary boxed lunch provided by Chef Ric’s.

Attendees can drive directly to the workshop or take advantage of optional transportation via a limousine service. Those interested in coordinating the shuttle service can contact Maria Cristina Villalba, CSC Ottawa events officer, at ma************@****sh.com.

Registration is $60 for CSC members and $85 for non-members, plus applicable fees. Space is highly limited, with a maximum capacity of 24 attendees.

Those interested in attending must register by May 31. For more information or to secure a spot, professionals can visit the event’s page on Eventbrite.

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