Jeff Leiper pledges new recreation centre and sports dome for Orléans
Ottawa mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper announced Friday that he would build a new recreation centre and a city-owned, year-round sports dome in Orléans if elected on October 26.
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Jeff Leiper announced Friday that he would build a new recreation centre and a year-round, city-owned sports dome in Orléans if elected mayor of Ottawa, CTV News Ottawa reported. The announcement came three days before voting day on October 26.
Leiper said the Orléans South-Navan area is one of the fastest-growing parts of Ottawa. The ward is expected to grow from about 47,500 residents in 2022 to more than 54,000 by the end of this year, he said. Orléans residents should be able to reach recreation facilities close to home, he told CTV, without having to travel across the city.
His plan includes applying for provincial funding to cover up to $10 million for the new recreation centre. Leiper said residents, east-end councillors and francophone partners would help choose the site and decide what goes inside. The sports dome would be city-owned, he said, so sports clubs, schools and families could book time directly with the City to play soccer, football and ultimate frisbee year-round.
Leiper took aim at incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe, saying Orléans is not mentioned in Sutcliffe's plans to build more parks and recreation centres. "Mark Sutcliffe promised families lower fees and delivered higher ones," Leiper said. "He backed a $418.8-million plan for Lansdowne, while families in Orléans and Navan are still waiting for the space they need." The $418.8-million Lansdowne figure is Leiper's own. CTV News Ottawa reports that Leiper voted against Lansdowne 2.0 at council.
Sutcliffe's platform promises to build at least four new community or recreation complexes in Ottawa if he is re-elected, with at least one in every region of the city. CTV News Ottawa reports that the platform names the Barrhaven Civic Centre, a new facility at Confederation Heights, and a new facility in Vanier, but does not name Orléans.
Ottawa's municipal election is on Monday, October 26. Fourteen candidates are running for mayor. You can see Jeff Leiper's full candidate page and compare all candidates at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates#mayor.
Questions this story answers
What did Jeff Leiper announce about Orléans on October 23?
CTV News Ottawa reported that mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper pledged on Friday to build a new recreation centre and a year-round, city-owned sports dome in Orléans if he wins the October 26 election. He said residents should not have to travel far to reach basic recreation facilities, and that the area is one of the fastest-growing parts of Ottawa.
How much would the Orléans recreation centre cost under Leiper's plan?
Leiper's plan, as reported by CTV News Ottawa, includes applying for provincial funding to cover up to $10 million for the new recreation centre. He did not state the full cost. The sports dome would be city-owned and would allow sports clubs, schools and families to book time directly with the City.
How fast is Orléans growing?
Leiper said the Orléans South-Navan ward is expected to grow from about 47,500 residents in 2022 to more than 54,000 by the end of 2026. He used this projected growth to argue that the area needs more recreation infrastructure. These figures are Leiper's own, as reported by CTV News Ottawa.
What did Leiper say about Mark Sutcliffe's recreation plans?
Leiper said Orléans is not mentioned in Sutcliffe's plans to build more parks and recreation centres. He also said Sutcliffe backed a $418.8-million plan for Lansdowne while families in Orléans and Navan were still waiting for space. CTV News Ottawa reported both claims. The $418.8-million Lansdowne figure is Leiper's.
What does Mark Sutcliffe's platform say about recreation centres?
Sutcliffe's platform, as described by CTV News Ottawa, promises to build at least four new community or recreation complexes in Ottawa, with at least one in every region of the city. His platform specifically names the Barrhaven Civic Centre, a new facility at Confederation Heights, and a new facility in Vanier. Ottawa is divided into regions, and Orléans is not named in that list on his website.
Did Leiper vote for the Lansdowne redevelopment?
CTV News Ottawa reports that Leiper voted against Lansdowne 2.0. Leiper used that vote as part of his argument on Friday that Sutcliffe prioritized Lansdowne over recreation facilities in areas like Orléans and Navan.
When is election day in Ottawa?
Ottawa's municipal election is on Monday, October 26, 2026. Voting places are open across the city. You can see Jeff Leiper's full candidate profile and compare him to all 13 other mayoral candidates at voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates.
How many people are running for mayor of Ottawa?
CTV News Ottawa lists 14 candidates for mayor of Ottawa: Queen Divine Priya Amber Bakshi, Zed Chebib, Bernard Couchman, Suraj Harish, Alex Lawson, Jeff Leiper, Geoff Nicholas, Josh Rachlis, Neil Saravanamuttoo, Ali Shayvard, Jacob Solomon, Mark Sutcliffe, Amjad Ali Syed, and Peter Westaway. Voting day is October 26.
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