Green Island, River island at Rideau Falls, Ottawa, Canada
Green Island is a river island in Ottawa, Canada, sitting where the Rideau River meets the Ottawa River and splitting Rideau Falls into two separate falls. The island is bordered by Sussex Drive to the north and the Minto bridges to the south, and it contains government office buildings alongside open walkways.
The island takes its name from Patrick Green, who quarried stone for the Rideau Canal and farmed the land in the 1830s. An early Ottawa city hall was later built on the site, and the building went on to serve several government purposes over the following decades.
The Ottawa Memorial on the island honors about 800 Commonwealth air force members who died in World War II without known graves. Visitors walking across the island can stop at this quiet monument and take a moment to read the names inscribed there.
The island is easy to reach on foot from nearby neighborhoods, with bridges and walkways linking it to both riverbanks. Visiting during daylight gives the best views of the falls on either side and makes it easier to find the outdoor spaces and the memorial.
The former city hall on the island was renamed the John G. Diefenbaker Building in 2003 and now houses the Department of Foreign Affairs. The building changed its role entirely, moving from local municipal government to federal diplomacy, while keeping its original structure.
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