OTTAWA CITIZEN, By Matthew Pearson

Renowned architect Douglas Cardinal has filed an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board over the city’s approval of Windmill Developments’ rezoning application for Albert and Chaudière islands, which he says are sacred to the Algonquin people.

Cardinal, who designed the Canadian Museum of History, said he worked with late Algonquin Chief William Commanda for more than 30 years on a vision for a national indigenous centre on Victoria Island. Victoria is adjacent to the other Ottawa River islands but not included in Windmill’s plans.

“Everybody has an embassy here in Ottawa, but there’s no place for first nations in our capital and there should be,” Cardinal said in an interview. The idea was also endorsed by Jean Pigott when she headed the National Capital Commission in the 1980s, he added.

The islands — and particularly the spectacular Chaudière Falls — should be a public asset, Cardinal says.

“It shouldn’t be a bunch of private condos or anything else. It should be for all the public, all the people of Canada, to come and see those falls (to) which all the First Nations used to come,” he said.

“There’s some 65 nations of which those islands are very precious and important to.”

Windmill’s development would, for the first time in a century, give the public a close look at the falls, which have long been behind locked gates and industrial buildings. The falls were once the second most-popular tourist site in Ontario, after Niagara Falls.

Windmill has plans to build a viewing platform at their edge with patios and restaurants in nearby stone heritage buildings.

The company’s ambitious plans for the 37-acre site, which also includes riverfront land in Gatineau, foresees apartments, condos and townhouses, numerous parks, a hotel, stores, restaurants and loft-style offices.

Mayor Jim Watson has called the proposed redevelopment a “once in a generation” opportunity to bring to life a part of that part of the Ottawa River.

Council approved the rezoning at its Oct. 8 meeting, days after dozens of public delegations at a planning committee meeting asked the city to preserve the lands as open space.

Over a period of four hours, more than 45 people — many of aboriginal descent — invoked Commanda’s vision of a Circle of All Nations for the islands in asking councillors to keep the lands undeveloped.

Cardinal says the land in question is unceded Algonquin territory, and notes there is a question about title.

But Windmill’s Jonathan Westeinde disputes there is any such question, saying seven per cent of the land his company is proposing to redevelop is under long-term Crown lease to Domtar and the rest is privately owned by Domtar. An agreement to purchase is in place if Windmill secures the approvals it’s seeking, he said.

Westeinde also said the OMB appeal appears to be based on factors that aren’t within the board’s jurisdiction, such as a lack of consultation by Windmill and a desire by some to free the falls.

“There’s not planning arguments being put forth,” he said.

While Windmill has no say over what happens at the falls, access to which is currently controlled by Hydro Ottawa, Westeinde says the company has consulted widely on its plan and had several meetings with Cardinal.

“We can certainly demonstrate we’ve made a great amount of effort to try to reach out to all parties,” he said.

Windmill has had active discussions with both the Algonquins of Ontario and the Algonquins of Kitigan Zibi. They’re not necessarily in complete agreement, but neither is appealing the rezonings, Westeinde said.

Richard Jackman, M. Lindsay Lambert, Larry McDermott and Romola Thumbadoo have also filed appeals to the OMB.

A hearing date has not been set.