McCarthy Woods – Updates and New Petition

As many of you may know, between 2025 and 2026, there has been an uproar of community concern about several prized greenspaces owned by the National Capital Commission (NCC) that are at risk for future development.

In 2025, some areas within the McCarthy Woods Nature Corridor were temporarily re-zoned to “Developmental Reserve” in a draft of the new Zoning By-law, at the request of the NCC, with the intention to ready the lands for future development. It was soon reversed back to its protective zoning designation after swift advocacy from Councillor Brockington, the Ottawa South Eco Action Network (OSEAN) and the Hunt Club Community Association (HCCA), however concern remains about the future of this important urban forest – especially as the NCC is fighting back by taking the City to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

CAFES network members OSEAN and the HCCA have since been working tirelessly to advocate for the protection of the McCarthy Woods and increase public education and attention toward this important issue. Read more on the history and significance of McCarthy Woods here, provided by OSEAN.

While densification is undoubtably necessary and Ottawa is in dire need of affordable housing, the NCC should be proposing to redevelop underused built lots or grey areas, not removing mature urban forests.

TAKE ACTION NOW – SIGN THE PETITION!

OSEAN has launched a public petition on Change.org calling for permanent protection of the McCarthy Woods Nature Corridor as a natural heritage forest, conservation area and landmark urban greenspace. The petition has been launched with the support of the HCCA and the Riverside Park Community Association, and with support from CAFES, Ecology Ottawa, Poet’s Pathway, the Ottawa Greenspace Alliance and many other community partners.

The petition asks the National Capital Commission to stop planning for development and instead secure permanent conservation of this rare, connected forest, meadow, wetland and river landscape as a vital natural resource needed to sustain and provide greenspace for the growing City of Ottawa. The petition escalates and focuses community support as part of an increasing campaign to stop the redevelopment of these Lands by the NCC and instead create a permanent natural reserve needed to sustain a healthy and growing city.

As of September 30, the petition has over 1750 signatures! SIGN BELOW!

SIGN THE PETITION

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OSEAN and the HCCA have also developed a secondary petition to the Government of Canada, asking the Federal Government to intervene and hold the NCC accountable to the community and conservation mandate it serves. This is a direct ask to stop the NCC’s current path and pursue long term protection.  Further updates will follow as this petition gains Member of Parliament sponsorship and we launch signatures to present it to the House of Commons this fall.

To further address these community concerns, the Riverside Park Community Association, with support from CAFES, has been in conversation with Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi. MP Naqvi is planning to hold a meeting between his office and representatives from the NCC to seek clarity on the NCC’s intentions. We will keep our network posted on when this meeting might take place.

And more! Two researchers from Algonquin College – Sandra Robles Cruz and Bernadette Charpentier – are working with their students to conduct research on McCarthy to highlight: 1) the importance of the corridor as natural infrastructure (important for storm water and flood control in our area); and 2) the ecological value of the woods and meadows (based on an updated snapshot of the trees and understory, and composition of plants in the meadows). This project is already underway as of summer 2026 with a tree canopy field survey.

There are also plans to for a potential Save McCarthy Woods and Nature Corridor music/arts event on October 17, hosted by the HCCA – stay tuned for that!

Still want to learn more? Visit the following links: