Champlain Park Chosen as Pilot Site for Alcohol Consumption Trial

June 30, 2025

Starting July 1, residents will be allowed to consume alcohol between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. in Champlain Park as part of a city-wide pilot project approved by Ottawa City Council earlier this month. The decision follows a Council vote to temporarily lift the alcohol ban in select city parks through October 31, giving individual councillors the discretion to nominate parks within their wards.

In a move aimed at reflecting real usage patterns and gauging community response, Champlain Park has been selected as the pilot site for Kitchissipi Ward. The park was chosen following a public feedback process and consideration of other potential sites, including Laroche and Parkdale parks.

“Champlain Park strikes me as a low-stakes way to see how this will work,” said the area councillor. “I’m quite certain that nearby residents are already enjoying alcoholic beverages responsibly in the park today. The difference now is that an activity that’s already largely accepted will no longer be technically prohibited,” says Jeff Leiper, Councillor, Kitchissipi Ward.

Community input played a key role in the decision. While feedback was mixed, the councillor noted there was significant support for lifting the ban in Champlain Park,

According to the policy approved by Council, alcohol consumption will remain prohibited near play structures, sports fields, wading pools, and other designated amenity areas. Formal events and bookings will still require a permit from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

The councillor emphasized that the move is not expected to increase drinking in the park but rather to align city bylaws with the reality of current use. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me that we have a bylaw on the books that’s not enforced,” they said.

While some residents have expressed concerns about possible misuse or the park becoming a destination for drinking, the councillor said those scenarios seem unlikely. “I’ve tried to imagine a scenario in which people make drinking the focus of an excursion to Champlain Park and simply can’t,” he said, adding that if problems arise, the pilot can be shut down immediately.

The pilot will run through October 31, with Council expected to review its impact in the fall before considering any permanent changes or expansion to other parks. There is currently no provision to extend the program beyond this year.

Residents seeking more information about the policy, including the specific rules and background report, can find details in the original City staff recommendation, which outlines both the parameters and intent of the initiative.

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