Kìwekì Point—Big River Landscape

Kìwekì Point is an urban park on a scenic promontory overlooking the Kichi Zibi/Ottawa River, adjacent to the National Gallery of Canada and connected to Major’s Hill Park via Pìdàban Bridge. Originally opened as Nepean Point in the late 19^th century, this park has inspired countless visitors with its sweeping views of the national capital core. Renamed Kìwekì, which means “returning to one’s homeland” in Anishinabe Mowin, the redeveloped park is part of a series of redevelopments happening along the Kichi Zibi/Ottawa River.

The Kìwekì Point project re-envisioned a dramatic public realm landscape on a clifftop promontory overlooking the Kichi Zibi/ Ottawa River with striking views of Ottawa/Gatineau’s skyline and the Parliament Buildings. The project was won through a 2017 International Design Competition led by JRS, working in collaboration with Patkau Architects, Blackwell and ERA. JRS was then subsequently engaged by the National Capital Commission (NCC) to lead a multidisciplinary team through the design and construction of the project. ERA, along with Lisa Prosper, developed the interpretation plan for the site. The project involved extensive consultation with stakeholders and the Algonquin Anishinabeg, which informed the design process.

The design includes an architectural feature called Whispering Point, and myriad walkways through a meadow landscape which provide two levels of unobstructed views of the Capital Region. It also features native plants and trees, sculptural elements, and a new pedestrian bridge that connects to Major’s Hill Park and beyond. Sustainable and resilient design strategies have been woven through all aspects of the design, including an innovative Ha-Ha feature, meadow planting, and silva cells that perform integral ecological and stormwater management duties. The park also provides universal accessibility and offers a compelling interpretation of the site.

Working closely with stakeholders, ERA facilitated the development of an interpretation framework that assisted Algonquin Anishinabeg communities in shaping the interpretative elements. The interpretation on site uses the river to tell stories through nature and art, supporting the landscape features of the site.  As visitors journey through the park, they learn about the region’s history from the perspective of the river, and encounter “beings” — such as the Thunderbird, the bear, and the otter — along their journey, who add their own interpretations. The landscape design and interpretation at Kìwekì Point work together to communicate the evolving relationship between the Kichi Zibi/Ottawa River and all living beings, and to create a range of multi-sensory experiences for visitors.

Kìwekì Point–Big River Landscape was awarded the “Jury’s Award of Excellence” in 2025 by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA), an award given to one project annually that “best demonstrates the CSLA’s vision of advancing the art, science, and practice of landscape architecture.”