Burritts Rapids

Last year, we finally saw improvements to the old Rideau Correctional Facility, near Burritt’s Rapids, in the form of demolition. The intention for the property is to return it to active farm land.  Across the street from that site sits Crown land that has been the subject of an Algonquin land claim.  Although it has nothing to do with any municipality, be it the City of Ottawa or North Grenville, the Federal and Provincial Governments have been negotiating a settlement with the Algonquins of Ontario on a land claim that essentially covers all of Eastern Ontario.  The claim involves the transfer of 117,500 acres of Crown lands to Algonquin ownership.  Properties in Ottawa are limited to a few small parcels but do include a large piece of land between Donnelly Drive and the Rideau River directly across from the old Correctional Facility.  The likely settlement will not occur for a few more years.  More information on the Algonquin land claim is available at www.ontario.ca/aboriginal/algonquin-land-claim.

In Burritt’s Rapids, you may have also noticed plenty of traffic coming in and out of a long laneway at 4639 Donnelly Drive.  This was due to the construction of the Burritt’s Rapids Solar Energy Project.  The project is a joint venture between 3G Energy and Canadian Solar Solutions.  This 7MW ground-mount solar project sits on 51 acres situated behind the tree line.  This project was acquired by TransCanada in October 2013.

Updated August 2014