Centennial Garden
Restoring a Village landmark. Together.
Centennial Garden Restoration - Late August 2026 Update
As summer draws to a close and the Village gets ready for the return to school and the rhythms of fall, construction is moving quickly for the restoration of the Centennial Garden.
For those passing the Village Green, there is already a great deal to see. The route of the new accessible path from Springfield Road is taking shape, while protecting the surrounding trees and the wildlife tree. New granite is now visible within the historic stone circle and, excitingly, the Garden's new boulder is already there.
The Centennial Garden is the stone circle at the heart of the Village Green, designed by renowned Canadian landscape architect and Rockcliffe resident Humphrey Carver and constructed in 1967 to mark Canada's centennial. Over time, its two central boulders came to represent Canada's two territories, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. With Nunavut, Canada gained a third territory in 1999. As part of this restoration, a third boulder has now been added, bringing that symbolism into the Canada of today.
Exel Contracting is moving the work forward at a good pace, in collaboration with CSW Landscape Architects and the City of Ottawa. There is still restoration work ahead, and the Centennial Garden will remain an active construction site as school resumes. We appreciate everyone's patience and care around the fenced area, particularly as children and families return to walking to school.
It is wonderful to see this long-planned restoration. The Foundation continues to work closely with the City, CSW and Exel as construction progresses, with a shared commitment to the Garden's history, the Village, and careful stewardship of both donated and public funds.
We remain grateful to the many neighbours, volunteers, donors and community partners who have helped bring the project to this point. After more than a decade of community effort, it is exciting to see the Centennial Garden being restored.
Background:
June 2025’s community consultations, including Councillor King’s in-person session and the City’s online survey with nearly 300 participants, showed strong support for a restoration that is accessible, resilient, and faithful to the Garden’s original design, while renewing it for generations to come.
Based on this feedback, that July, the City asked CSW Landscape Architects to proceed with detailed design drawings and tender documents. This work was completed in February 2026, and the full tender package was carefully reviewed and approved by both the City of Ottawa and the Rockcliffe Park Foundation.
Following these approvals, qualified contractors were invited to submit bids through a process managed by CSW, including a coordinated site visit with the City. After review by both the City and CSW, a successful bidder was selected in the spring: Exel Contracting Inc.
A highlight of the spring was the community groundbreaking ceremony on May 22, hosted by Councillor Rawlson King’s office at the Village Green. Neighbours, supporters and City representatives came together to mark the beginning of this next chapter for the Centennial Garden after more than a decade of community-led effort, consultation, fundraising and planning.
Construction began this August and is now well underway.
See the Concept Drawings for the Centennial Garden restoration here, prepared by CSW Landscape Architects.
This restoration builds on more than a decade of neighbour-led efforts and collaboration. Designed by Humphrey Carver in 1967 to mark Canada’s centennial, the Centennial Garden was created as a place of calm and community. That kind of space matters. Neighbours walking their dogs. Children on their way to school. Sometimes the littlest ones sitting cross-legged in outdoor class or discovering nature among the plantings. That’s community, and that’s what shared greenspaces like this give us.
The Foundation is grateful for the leadership of the Centennial Garden Revitalization Committee, with:
Honourary Chairs: Adrian Burns, Gordon Cudney, and Peter Nicholson
Chair: Marilyn Collette
The Rockcliffe Park Foundation and the Rockcliffe Park Residents Association (RPRA), alongside City planners, the Councillor’s office, and the Centennial Garden Revitalization Committee, worked together as part of the City’s Centennial Garden Working Group in collaboration and shared excitement for what this restoration will bring to the Village, now and for generations to come.
What’s Coming
The renewed Garden will include (see link below for the concept drawings):
Restored stonework
Improved accessibility and climate resilience
New plantings (in the fall) and benches
An additional boulder recognizing the creation of Nunavut
The Foundation is proud to support this thoughtful, neighbour-led renewal of a much-loved greenspace and historic garden - a restoration that honours the past and invests in the future.
Greenspaces like this don’t just happen. They’re sustained by neighbours who care. Thank you to everyone who’s played a part so far - and to those helping shape what comes next.
This community project is made possible through partnership with the City of Ottawa.
The Foundation provides contractual and financial oversight of the project.
