Rural recreation

The use of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and off-road vehicles (ORVs) on public roads and other municipal property is regulated by the ATV, ORV and Snowmobile By-law. Riders should also be aware of and comply with provincial regulations including:

• The Highway Traffic Act
  • Ontario Regulation 316/03: Operation of Off-Road Vehicles on Highways
• The Motorized Snow Vehicles Act
• The Off-Road Vehicles Act

ATVs, ORVs and snowmobiles are only permitted on their designated trails during specific times of the year. Riders may need a permit from the local clubs to ride on these trails. Please contact the local snowmobile club or ATV club for more details.

Trails and forest access roads are often shared by other users including hunters, hikers, cyclists, dogwalkers and equestrians, as well as skiers and snowshoers in winter. They may also be used by wildlife! Respect other users, including wildlife.

Riding ATV/ORVs in Municipal Natural Areas

The only Municipal Natural Area within the City of Ottawa that permits ATV/ORV riding is the Marlborough Forest. This use is only permitted from September through December, when the gates are open, and riders must stay on the designated forest access roads . Riding in the Marlborough Forest is prohibited outside of the permitted/posted time period. ATV riding is also prohibited on trails that are not part of the forest access road network. Bypassing the gates is strictly prohibited.

“Mud bogging” and other off-trail riding is prohibited as it causes significant damage to wildlife habitats and natural vegetation.

For complete information, please refer to the ATV, ORV and Snowmobile By-law (By-law No. 2019-421).  To find out more safety tips, please visit Off-Road Safety.  

If you have questions or comments about the ATV trail network in Osgoode Ward, please contact the City of Ottawa at RuralAffairs@ottawa.ca.

Booking of arenas, parks, sports fields and ball diamonds

City Wide Allocations can provide you with information regarding the rental rates and booking of arenas, sports fields, ball diamonds and park permits. Bookings are done on a first-come-first-served basis.

Staff are available Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm by phone at 613-580-2595, or by e-mail at sports@ottawa.ca.

Please note: Some rural sports fields and ball diamonds are administered by local community associations and are not booked through City Wide Allocations. Please refer to the rural facility contacts chart for information on who to contact depending on the location.

Rental of rural halls and buildings

Most city-run recreation centres provide rental information and details about their facility. More information and rates can be found on the Parks and Recreation facility rental page.

However, some rural community associations receive funding to maintain and run programs in city-owned buildings or halls within their communities. Please refer to the rural facility contacts chart for information on who to contact depending on your facility requirements.

Accessibility

The City of Ottawa ensures that all major recreation complexes, administrative buildings, community centres, libraries and long-term care facilities are accessible. For more information, contact the City of Ottawa Accessibility Office.

Rural special event resources

If you’re planning a special event in your community, see all the resources below.

Planning an outdoor special event

The City’s Event Central division has developed an application process designed to help groups identify their needs and approvals required to ensure your outdoor special event runs smoothly.

Municipal alcohol policy

If you are planning an event that involves serving alcohol on municipal property, please refer to the City of Ottawa’s municipal alcohol policy.

The policy outlines the appropriate measures that must be taken by the sponsor hosting an event where alcohol is being served on city premises. The Your Planning Guide to Hosting an Event directs City staff and community partners through the booking process for these events.

Smart Serve® alcohol serving course

The Smart Serve® Ontario program has a responsible service training certificate program for anyone in the province who serves or works with alcohol. Certification courses can be completed online, or through a video training kit (also available in French) which is suitable for individual or group training.

Food premise regulations – farmers markets and community events

On June 15, 2006, the Ontario Ministry of Health stated that farmers markets, service clubs, religious organizations and fraternal organizations or any event open to the public can be exempt from the “rigid requirements of Regulation 562 (Food Premises)”.

Events such as potluck dinners, church suppers, community picnics and bake sales “will be protected by the overly-aggressive inspections from public health officials”. Public health inspectors will advise community groups on food safety.

Requirements for exempt groups

“When high-risk food is served at a special event that does not originate from a food premise that is inspected under the Food Premise Regulation, these organizations are now required to post a notice stating whether or not the facilities have been inspected by the local public health unit”.

Organizers are also required to keep a log of providers of high-risk foods to be given to the local public health inspector upon request. Foods generally considered high-risk are:

• Those that contain raw eggs (i.e. custards, salads)
• Dairy products (i.e. cakes made with whipped cream, cheese or synthetic cream fillings)
• Meat, poultry and fish (i.e. fresh or processed meat, sausages)

Farmers markets are still required to follow the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA).

For more information, contact the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Certified food handler training

The Food Handler Certification program is an excellent opportunity for food handlers to learn how to prepare food safely.

Many of the following rural facilities are subject to individual operating agreements with the City. Please note that booking and rental procedures, fees and services may vary. For other, arena and sports fields booking information not listed below please contact City Wide Allocations. If you need to update your contact information, please send an e-mail to ruralaffairs@ottawa.ca.

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The Parks, Recreation and Culture branch offers opportunities for public skating and swimming at the following rural locations. Drop-in schedules for skating and swimming are on the facility pages.

Rural public swimming (indoor pools)

• CARDELREC Recreation Complex Goulbourn
  • 1500 Shea Road
• Ray Friel Recreation Complex
  • ​​​​​​​1585 Tenth Line

Rural public skating schedules (arenas)

• ​​​​​​​CARDELREC Recreation Complex Goulbourn

  • 1500 Shea Road
• Fred Barrett Arena (Leitrim)
  • 3280 Leitrim Road
• Manotick Community Centre and Mike O’Neil Arena​​​​​​​
• • 5572 Doctor Leach Drive
• Metcalfe Community Centre and Larry Robinson Arena
  • 2785 8th Line
• Navan Memorial Centre
  • 1295 Colonial Road
• Richmond Arena
  • 6095 Perth Street
• Osgoode Community Centre and Stuart Holmes Arena​​​​​​​
  • 5660 Osgoode Main Street
• W. Erskine Johnston Arena (Carp)
  • 3832 Carp Road
• R.J. Kennedy Arena (Cumberland)
  • 115 Dunning Road
• Ray Friel Recreation Complex
  • 1585 Tenth Line
• West Carleton Community Complex (Kinburn)
  • 5670 Carp Road

Community outdoor rink program

The City of Ottawa Parks and Recreation branch values the role that the community plays in the outdoor rink program. We encourage service partnerships with community associations, non-profit organizations, service clubs, volunteer groups and sports leagues. The City supports community groups that want to operate an outdoor rink with funding, tools and access to lighting and water. Rink sponsors are responsible for maintaining the ice surface and supervision of the program.

For more Information: Please contact the Seasonal Recreation Office at 613-580-2590 or e-mail seasonalrecreation@ottawa.ca.

Recreation, Culture and Facility Services

The City of Ottawa’s Recreation, Culture and Facility Services branch offers a wide range of recreation programs and services to keep residents active and engaged in their communities.

A complete listing of recreation programs can be found in the citywide Recreation Guide.

Accessibility design standards

Learn more.

Events

See our online listing of rural events organized by not-for-profit groups within the City of Ottawa. 

For more information on planning your special event, refer to the Rural Facilities and Event Planning page. 

Funding opportunities

The Recreation, Culture and Facility Services branch welcomes applications for community partnership major and minor capital program grants.

Rural community recreation associations and organizations

Rural Ottawa has a strong network of community associations for residents which include recreation opportunities and special events. 

For more recreation and community resources within the City of Ottawa, refer to the Recreation and Culture Community Organizations page.

• Beckett’s Landing Community Association
• Burritt's Rapids Community Hall Corporation
• Carleton Golf and Yacht Community Association
• Carlsbad Springs Community Association
• Carsonby Recreation Association – Peggy Eastman; 613-489-2601
• Constance and Buckham’s Bay Community Association
• Corkery Community Association
• Country Club Village Community Association – Kim Pranschke
• Cumberland Community Association
• Dunrobin Community Association
• Dwyer Hill RV Park Homeowners Association – Andre Martin; 613-257-1894
• Emerald Links Estates Community Association
• Fallowfield Community Association – Lorne Plunkett; 613-591-6227
• First Line Community Association – Wayne van de Graaff; 613-692-0788
• Fitzroy Harbour Community Association
• Four Corners Community Association – Heather Snipper; 613-253-1227
• Galetta Community Association
• Greater Ashton Community Association
• Greely Community Association
• Heron Lake Community Association – David Western; 613-838-5428
• Huntley Community Association
• Kars Community Recreation Association
• Kenmore Community Association – Rob McKenny; 613-821-4913
• Kinburn Community Association
• Manotick Culture, Parks and Recreation
• Manotick Village and Community Association
• March Rural Community Association 
• Marionville Citizens’ Committee – François Marion; 613-774-6312
• Marlborough Recreation Association – Darin Stephenson 613-601-3046
• Metcalfe Community Recreation Association - Shari Rowan
• Metcalfe and District Citizen's Association - Dal Broadhead 
• Munster Community Association
• Navan Community Association
• Nicolls Island Community Association – Ian Hawtrey; 613-692-4528
• North Gower Recreation Association – Sara Charron; 613-489-3975
• North Gower and District Community Association 
• North West Goulbourn Community Association – Colin Heard; 613-836-1326
• Osgoode Village Community Association
• Ramsayville Community Association – Mark Scharfe; 613-822-0482
• Richmond Village Association
• Sarsfield Community Association
• Vars Community Association
• Vernon Community Association

If you would like to add your rural community/recreation association to this page, or update your information, please send an e-mail to ruralaffairs@ottawa.ca.