Kìwekì Point reopens as 'a place that invites reflection, connection and renewal'

The National Capital Commission (NCC) officially reopened Kìwekì Point on Friday, finalizing a downtown Ottawa redevelopment a decade in the making.

Planning for what used to be known as Nepean Point beside the National Gallery of Canada began in 2014 and, after a design was chosen, the demolition of the old lookout began in 2019.

That plan included a new pedestrian bridge connecting the lookout to Major's Hill Park to the south. 

In 2022, the lookout and pedestrian bridge were given Algonquin names: The lookout was renamed Kìwekì Point (pronounced key-WHECK-ee), and the bridge was dubbed Pìdàban Passage (pronounced pee-DAH-ben).

Kìwekì is an Algonquin word meaning "returning to one's homeland," and Pìdàban is the word for "dawn."

The $45-million renovation offered a way to highlight Algonquin voices, showcase elements of Algonquin culture and language, and give people visiting the site a chance to learn more about the Algonquin Nation, the NCC wrote in a news release at the time.

"Together we've created something truly special. A place that invites reflection, connection and renewal," said Norm Odjik, director general of the Algonquin Anishinābeg Nation Tribal Council, at Friday's unveiling.

Ottawa sits on unceded Algonquin territory. Kìwekì Point overlooks the Kichi Sibi — or the Ottawa River as it later became known — an important Indigenous travel and trading route connecting to the nearby Rideau and Gatineau rivers.