Confederation Park

About Confederation Park

Confederation Park is a 2.6-hectare green space in the heart of downtown Ottawa, bordered by Elgin Street, Laurier Avenue, and the Rideau Canal. Despite its modest size, it punches well above its weight — it's the home of Winterlude's Crystal Garden, a summer venue for the Ottawa Jazz Festival, and one of the most monument-rich parks in the city.

Winterlude Crystal Garden

During Winterlude (late January to mid-February), Confederation Park transforms into the Crystal Garden — a free outdoor exhibition of ice sculptures, ice carving demonstrations, and winter activities.

Highlights include:

• Ice sculpture exhibitions and live carving competitions
• GlaciaLux — ice sculptures illuminated by light and sound after dark
• The Lantern Grove — an immersive, lantern-filled storytelling space
• Sugar Shack Village with fire pit
• Performances and family activities

Crystal Garden is free to enter. Hours during Winterlude are typically Fridays 4–9 PM, Saturdays 10 AM–9 PM, and Sundays 10 AM–6 PM.

The park is steps from the Rideau Canal Skateway and the Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall — making it easy to combine skating with a Crystal Garden visit.

Summer Events

In summer, the park hosts the Ottawa International Jazz Festival (late June, typically 10 days), with free outdoor concerts under the trees. The park's canopy of mature trees makes it a pleasant downtown green space even without an event — the NCC operates a seasonal bistro here.

Monuments and Features

The park has an unusually rich collection of monuments:

• Colonel By Memorial Fountain — A Peterhead granite fountain that originally played in London's Trafalgar Square from 1843 to 1948, then was gifted to Ottawa and dedicated in 1955
• Kwakiutl Totem Pole — A 20-metre pole carved by Kwakiutl artist Henry Hunt, donated by British Columbia in 1971. Six figures represent clan crests: raven, man, grizzly bear, cannibal woman, killer whale, and beaver
• National Aboriginal Veterans Monument — Honouring Indigenous military service, featuring eagle, wolf, bear, and bison figures
• South African War Memorial — A bronze soldier commemorating Canadians who served in the Boer War (1899–1902)

Getting There

• On Foot: Central downtown, a 5-minute walk from Parliament Hill or the Rideau Centre
• By Transit: Near Parliament Station (O-Train Line 1) and multiple OC Transpo bus routes on Elgin Street
• By Bike: Adjacent to the Rideau Canal pathway