From wildlife rescues to trail patrols, NCC conservation officers are on the front lines every day. They play a key role in environmental stewardship and public safety across the Capital Region’s vast network of parks and green spaces.

In this episode, we go behind the scenes with members of the team, who keep over 1,000 square kilometres of NCC lands safe for everyone. Learn what a day in the field looks like, how conservation officers respond to emergencies, and what it takes to protect both nature and visitors in places like Gatineau Park and the Greenbelt.

Tune in to find out more.

Watch this episode on YouTube⁠.

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• Capital Stories – Into the Wild
• Histoires de la capitale – Au cœur de la nature

Stretching along both sides of the Ottawa River, the core area is the symbolic and geographic heart of the NationalCapital Region. It is home to Parliament Hill, national museums, cultural landmarks, and vibrant public spaces.

In this episode, we explore how the NCC will guide the evolution of central federal lands over the next 20 years. From bold design moves to sustainability and accessibility, this long-term vision reimagines how people will live, work and experience the Capital’s most iconic spaces.

Tune in to find out what’s changing, what’s possible, and how public input is helping to shape the future of Ottawa-Gatineau.

Watch this episode on ⁠YouTube⁠.

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• Capital Stories – Shaping the Heart of the Nation’s Capital
• Histoires de la capitale – Façonner le cœur de la capitale du pays

Rideau Hall isn’t just home to Canada’s governors general. It’s also home to towering evergreens, ceremonial trees planted by world leaders, and greenhouses that quietly support the country’s most important events.

In this episode, we explore the only official residence open to the public, where the NCC’s horticulture team keeps 32 hectares thriving through Ottawa’s four seasons. From rare orchids to vegetable gardens, we dig into the challenges of maintaining this living landmark and discover what’s next for its aging greenhouses.

Tune in to find out how the grounds stay vibrantyear-round and what surprises grow behind the scenes.

Watch this episode on ⁠YouTube⁠.

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• Capital Stories – Inside Rideau Hall’s Greenhouses

• Histoires de la capitale – Dans les serres de Rideau Hall

For decades, the NCC has worked to reconnect the Capital with its waterways. Today, that vision is coming to life through vibrant new public spaces along the Ottawa River, Rideau Canal and beyond.

In this episode, we explore how shoreline animation is transforming the way people experience the region’s waterfronts. From bistros and rentals to beaches and docks, these projects create welcoming and accessible destinations for everyone to enjoy.

Tune in to find out how the NCC is investing in shoreline infrastructure, expanding public access and turning toward the water in the National Capital Region.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

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• Capital Stories – Bringing the Capital’s Shorelines to Life
• Histoires de la capitale – Animer les berges de la capitale

Once a backwater lumber town, Ottawa is now one of the greenest capitals in the world. As the federal planner, the NCC is at the forefront of projects that embrace the waterfront. Initiatives such as the NCC River House, Kìwekì Point and the rehabilitation of the Westboro Beach pavilion are recent examples of this turn toward the water.  

In this episode, NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum and his guests discuss how waterways have played—and continue to play—an essential role in the history of the National Capital Region.

Transcripts

(This episode is in French only. The English transcript is available)

The NCC is the proud steward of the Gatineau Park, the largest green space in the National Capital Region, covering 361 square kilometres, and the second-most visited park in Canada.

In this episode, NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum and his guests

Transcripts

Watch this episode on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. 

The NCC is the proud steward of the Greenbelt, a 20,000-hectare horseshoe-shaped green space south of Ottawa’s urban core.  

The Greenbelt was created in the 1950s to protect the rural land bordering the Capital from urban sprawl. Today, it protects natural areas like forests, wetlands, streams and sand dunes. It also sustains biodiversity and brings many benefits to the community.  

In this episode, NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum and his guest meet at Mer Bleue to talk about the challenges and the importance of the Greenbelt. 

Transcripts:

For 125 years, the NCC’s story has been one of continuity and evolution, shaped by the endeavours of visionary leaders past and present. In this episode of Capital Stories, NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum and guests Heather Thomson and Barry Padolsky dive into key historical moments that helped create the capital we know today: the Todd Plan, the Holt Report and the work of Jacques Gréber. 

What defines an inspiring capital? Is it the grandeur of its architecture, the beauty of its landscapes, the allure of its public spaces or something else entirely? Listen to find out! 

Transcripts 

Watch this episode on YouTube. 

In Capital Stories, National Capital Commission (NCC) CEO Tobi Nussbaum and guests dive deep into the ins and outs of our nation’s capital. Listen in as they explore Ottawa-Gatineau’s evolution from a quaint lumber town to the bustling, dynamic capital city we know today.

Through conversations with historians, urban planners, architects, and others, this podcast series talks about all things past, present and future in Canada’s beautiful national capital. 

Tune in to hear the stories that make our capital truly captivating.