Aug 19th, 2026
News Release: Ottawa Community Housing breaks ground on 159 new affordable homes in Ottawa’s Lowertown neighbourhood
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Ottawa, ON – August 19, 2026 –The Government of Canada is taking action to increase housing supply and accelerate the construction of affordable homes for Canadians.
Today, MP Mona Fortier joined Stéphane Giguère, Chief Executive Officer of Ottawa Community Housing (OCH), to mark the groundbreaking of 200 Beausoleil, an affordable housing development in Ottawa’s Lowertown neighbourhood and one of the first projects advancing under the Government of Canada’s Build Canada Homes initiative.
The Government of Canada is supporting the development through up to $63 million in combined funding, including investments from Build Canada Homes and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
200 Beausoleil Drive
Located at 200 Beausoleil Drive in Lowertown, the development will transform an existing parking structure into a new 20-storey affordable housing building. Featuring a six-storey podium, the building will provide 159 one- and two-bedroom rental homes, including 32 accessible homes. Residents will benefit from convenient access to public transit, community services, parks, and local amenities. Designed using Passive House principles and incorporating solar energy and barrier-free features, the development will promote sustainability, accessibility, and long-term affordability. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion targeted for 2028.
A Strong Partnership
This development was identified as one of the priority projects under the federal Build Canada Homes partnership with the City of Ottawa. Announced by the Prime Minister on April 23, 2026, the partnership aims to accelerate the delivery of new mixed-income and affordable housing across the city. Ottawa Community Housing is leading the development of the Beausoleil development in partnership with federal, municipal and industry partners. Laurin Construction is serving as construction partner, while Diamond Schmitt Architects and KWC Architects are leading the project’s architectural design. Through collaboration among governments, housing providers, and industry and community partners, this development will help increase housing supply and create affordable homes where they are needed most.
Quotes
“Every resident deserves access to a safe, affordable place to call home. This project represents a major investment in Ottawa’s future. Through Build Canada Homes, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and our partnership with Ottawa Community Housing, we are turning an underutilized site into housing that will help seniors, families, and individuals stay connected to the services, transit, and opportunities they rely on. This is the kind of action needed to address Ottawa’s housing challenges.”
— Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester
“The partnership between Build Canada Homes and the City of Ottawa is about finding new ways to get affordable housing built faster and at greater scale. The Beausoleil Project is an early example of what can be achieved when governments and housing providers align around a shared goal, helping bring more homes within reach for the people who need them most.”
— Ana Bailão, President and CEO, Build Canada Homes
“We need to build more homes, and we need to make sure more of those homes are affordable. Today’s groundbreaking is a great example of what that looks like in practice: taking an underused site and turning it into 159 new homes for Ottawa residents. When we build more housing, use our land wisely and work together, we make our city more affordable, more livable and stronger for everyone.”
— His Worship Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of the City of Ottawa
“Every new affordable home makes a difference for individuals and families looking for a place to call home. Breaking ground on this development brings us one step closer to welcoming future residents to a sustainable, inclusive community in the heart of Lowertown.”
— Stéphane Giguère, Chief Executive Officer of Ottawa Community Housing
“Breaking ground on 200 Beausoleil is an exciting milestone, and we’re proud to be part of a project that will have a real impact in the community. At the end of the day, this project is about creating quality homes for people and building something that will serve the neighborhood for many years to come. We’re looking forward to working with Ottawa Community Housing, our craft trade partners, and the entire project team to bring 200 Beausoleil to life.”
— Travis Grimes, President of LAURIN
“Beausoleil is a community-focused development that will bring 159 new affordable homes to the heart of Lowertown. The design brings a sense of playfulness and colour to the streetscape, while creating active, welcoming spaces that support connection and community. We are proud to work alongside Ottawa Community Housing on a development that represents an important investment in affordable housing and the long-term vitality of Lowertown.”
— Arne Suraga, Diamond Schmitt Architects
“We have been working with Ottawa Community Housing to provide affordable housing in Ottawa for more than a decade. We are proud to continue our contributions through 200 Beausoleil, where the design prioritizes accessibility through community-focused design and sustainable construction.”
— Ran Zaig, KWC Architects
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Quick Facts
- The Government of Canada is supporting the project through up to $63 million in combined funding through Build Canada Homes, the Affordable Housing Fund, and Seed funding.
- The development will replace an existing parking structure at 200 Beausoleil Drive in Ottawa’s Lowertown neighbourhood and will deliver 159 affordable rental homes.
- The development will include 149 one-bedroom homes and 10 two-bedroom homes, including 32 accessible homes.
- Ottawa Community Housing is leading the development, Laurin Construction is serving as the construction partner, and Diamond Schmitt Architects and KWC Architects are leading the architectural design.
- The development will be designed using Passive House principles and will incorporate solar energy features and barrier-free accessibility measures.
- The all-electric building will have no on-site fossil fuel combustion and is designed to minimize ongoing heating and cooling energy costs.
- Building amenities will include a Wellness Centre, Games Room, Arts and Activity Room, exterior terrace, and ground-level amenity space.
- 200 Beausoleil is among the first developments advancing under the Build Canada Homes partnership with the City of Ottawa, announced by the Prime Minister on April 23, 2026. The first eight priority projects are expected to deliver more than 1,100 new rental homes as part of a broader commitment to accelerate up to 3,000 homes across Ottawa.
- Build Canada Homes is a new federal Crown corporation, established as a federal Special Operating Agency (SOA) in September 2025, dedicated to building and financing affordable housing at scale.
- Federal funding for Build Canada Homes is conditionally approved, subject to due diligence.
Resources and Links
- 200 BEAUSOLEIL DR – Ottawa Community Housing
- Build Canada Homes
- Prime Minister Carney delivers on commitment to accelerate homebuilding in Ottawa
- Council approves federal partnership for 3,000 new homes
Contacts
For more information (media only), please contact:
Arianna Durgerian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure
Arianna.Durgerian@infc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
613-960-9251 Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
media-medias@infc.gc.ca
Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Media Relations
Build Canada Homes
Media-medias@bch-mc.ca
Bch-mc.ca
Michaela Ianni
Media Relations Specialist
Ottawa Community Housing
media@och.ca
343-961-4035
About Ottawa Community Housing
Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) offers approximately 15,500 homes to about 33,000 tenants, including seniors, families, individuals, and people with disabilities. These homes are located in various communities throughout Ottawa and house a diverse population with different languages, cultures, and ethnicities. OCH is Ottawa’s primary community housing provider, managing two-thirds of the city’s housing portfolio and ranking as the second largest in Ontario. In 2026, OCH earned recognition for the ninth consecutive year as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers.
The Corporation operates at arm’s length from the City of Ottawa, our sole shareholder. OCH collaborates with nearly 100 community and private sector partners to serve and support OCH residents. The OCH portfolio includes a majority (90%) of social housing rentals (deep affordability) and affordable housing (at below-average market rents).
www.och-lco.ca | X | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky
Ottawa Community Housing also operates the ARRIV Properties banner.