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Partner Newsletter – Casino Lac-Leamy Plaza

the Casino Lac Leamy Plaza at Lansdowne logoThe Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), in partnership with the City of Ottawa, today announced an investment to enhance Lansdowne’s appeal as a neighborhood gathering space and regional entertainment hub.

A $250,000 capital investment will be made in Lansdowne’s Aberdeen Square event space to provide infrastructure for live performances, more shaded seating areas and other amenities for visitors. An annual fund will also be established to support artists that perform in the square, and on non-event days, there will be opportunities for community performers to have access to the square and its amenities. Adjacent to the square, the surface road “Princess Patricia Way” will be closed to vehicular traffic, and through an expanded partnership with Casino du Lac-Leamy, the square will be re-named “Casino Lac-Leamy Plaza at Lansdowne.”

“This brings a new energy to Lansdowne and our community,” said Mark Goudie, OSEG’s President and CEO. “Casino Lac-Leamy Plaza at Lansdowne will be a multi-purpose area. It will be a pleasant rest stop for cyclists, pedestrians and shoppers; an event space for community and regional performers, and it will deliver a better experience for patrons of the Ottawa Farmers’ Market. It could also become the next Jurassic Park-style gathering place to watch major events on a big screen.”

“We at Casino Lac-Leamy are delighted to expand our partnership with OSEG and the City of Ottawa to enhance activities at Lansdowne,” said Alain Miroux, General Director of Casino Lac-Leamy. “Our ultimate goal is to provide incomparable entertainment experiences to all of our guests from the National Capital Region and I know OSEG has that same commitment to the guest experience.”

“This new partnership is a great opportunity to build on the success of Lansdowne Park by expanding its public space and making room for even more activities, animation and events,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “Through new events like the Christmas Market and long-standing community favourites like the Farmers’ Market, residents and visitors will always find family-friendly programming at Lansdowne, in addition to the festivals, sporting events, restaurants and shops that have attracted them there for years.”

Casino Lac-Leamy Plaza at Lansdowne, located between the historic Aberdeen Pavilion and the Cineplex theatre complex, will feature a covered performance area for bands and solo artists, dance groups, comedians, DJ’s and other cultural performers, with permanent infrastructure for powering sound and lights. The portable stage will ensure that the full floor space of the plaza is available, as needed. The plaza will also feature new seating and covered areas to provide shade on warm summer days.

“This is what our neighborhood has been asking for,” said Shawn Menard, the Ottawa City Councillor for the Lansdowne area (Capital Ward). “The plaza has been a good spot for the Farmers’ Market but without shady areas or seating, it can be difficult for families to spend as much time there as they’d like, so I think we’ll see far greater utilization of the area in the daytime once the work is completed. The performance area will be a welcome addition to the space as will the closure of the roadway between the plaza and the Aberdeen Pavilion.”

Casino Lac-Leamy Plaza at Lansdowne will also host larger special events such as the new Ottawa Christmas Market, outdoor music/food festivals and outdoor viewing parties. Fit-up of Casino Lac-Leamy Plaza is scheduled to begin this fall and be ready for visitors in spring 2020.