Free quests in Ottawa

An hour at Britannia Beach

Skip the seawall loop. Sit or walk Britannia Beach until you can point at five hulls, birds, logs, or buildings without checking your phone.

An hour at Britannia Watersport Beach

Britannia Watersport Beach is Ottawa's public water south-west of centre, Ottawa. One hour. Five things on the waterline. No private docks.

An hour at Mooney's Bay Beach

Mooney's Bay Beach is Ottawa's public water south-east of centre, Ottawa. One hour. Five things on the waterline. No private docks.

An hour at Westboro Beach

Skip the seawall loop. Sit or walk Westboro Beach until you can point at five hulls, birds, logs, or buildings without checking your phone.

Read the noticeboard at Carson Community House

At Carson Community House (on Carson's Road, north-east of centre, Ottawa), copy one public notice that is not an ad. That is the whole quest.

Read the noticeboard at Centre communautaire Saint-Jean-Bosco

At Centre communautaire Saint-Jean-Bosco (on Rue Scott, north-east of centre, Ottawa), copy one public notice that is not an ad. That is the whole quest.

Read the noticeboard at Centre récréatif Saint-Joseph

Cities still tape paper to walls. Centre récréatif Saint-Joseph is a working room: one notice, then out.

Read the noticeboard at Fisher Park Community Center

Cities still tape paper to walls. Fisher Park Community Center is a working room: one notice, then out.

Read the noticeboard at Foster Farm Community Centre

At Foster Farm Community Centre (south-west of centre, Ottawa), copy one public notice that is not an ad. That is the whole quest.

Read the noticeboard at Institut Canadien Français d'Ottawa

Cities still tape paper to walls. Institut Canadien Français d'Ottawa is a working room: one notice, then out.

Read the noticeboard at New Edinburgh Community and Arts Centre

Cities still tape paper to walls. New Edinburgh Community and Arts Centre is a working room: one notice, then out.

Read the noticeboard at Winthrop Court Community House

Cities still tape paper to walls. Winthrop Court Community House is a working room: one notice, then out.

Read the plaque at Brigadier Andrew Hamilton Gault

A two-minute stop at Brigadier Andrew Hamilton Gault. One date off the metal. Then back to the sidewalk.

Read the plaque at Homage à la communauté portugaise

A two-minute stop at Homage à la communauté portugaise. One date off the metal. Then back to the sidewalk.

Read the plaque at Hungarian Monument

Hungarian Monument (north-east of centre, Ottawa): read the plaque, copy one date and one name, leave. Not a war-tourism selfie.

Read the plaque at National Aboriginal Veterans Monument

National Aboriginal Veterans Monument (north-east of centre, Ottawa): read the plaque, copy one date and one name, leave. Not a war-tourism selfie.

Read the plaque at Saint Jean de Brebeuf

Saint Jean de Brebeuf (north-east of centre, Ottawa): read the plaque, copy one date and one name, leave. Not a war-tourism selfie.

Read the plaque at Statue de Maurice Richard

A two-minute stop at Statue de Maurice Richard. One date off the metal. Then back to the sidewalk.

Read the plaque at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A two-minute stop at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. One date off the metal. Then back to the sidewalk.

Read the plaque at Westboro cenotaph

A two-minute stop at Westboro cenotaph. One date off the metal. Then back to the sidewalk.

One loop of Annie Pootoogook Park

50 minutes in Annie Pootoogook Park (on Somerset Street East, north-east of centre, Ottawa): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Arlington Woods Park

Walk a single loop of Arlington Woods Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Bateman Park

Bateman Park (on Bateman Drive, south of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Ben Franklin Park East

Ben Franklin Park East (on Knoxdale Road, south of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Ben Franklin Park West

50 minutes in Ben Franklin Park West (on Gibbard Avenue, south of centre, Ottawa): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Borden Farm Park

50 minutes in Borden Farm Park (south-east of centre, Ottawa): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Bruce Pit

Walk a single loop of Bruce Pit. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Cindy Mitchell Park

50 minutes in Cindy Mitchell Park (on Chapel Street, north-east of centre, Ottawa): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Clarke Memorial Centre

50 minutes in Clarke Memorial Centre (east of centre, Ottawa): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Craig Henry Park

Walk a single loop of Craig Henry Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Dominion Arboretum

Dominion Arboretum (east of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Gilbey Park

50 minutes in Gilbey Park (on Gilbey Drive, south-east of centre, Ottawa): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Inverness Park

Walk a single loop of Inverness Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Leslie Park

Walk a single loop of Leslie Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Nepean Creek Park

Nepean Creek Park (south-east of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Pinecrest Recreation Complex and Park

Pinecrest Recreation Complex and Park (on Torquay Avenue, south of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Raoul Wallenberg Park

Raoul Wallenberg Park (on Viewmount Drive, south-east of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Redpine Park

Redpine Park (on Redpine Drive, south-east of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

Playground hour at Clare Gardens

Clare Gardens is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Émile Zola

Give Émile Zola (north-west of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Giver 150 playground

Giver 150 playground is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Greenlawn Playground

Give Greenlawn Playground (south-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Jeux d'eau Desjardins

Give Jeux d'eau Desjardins (on Rue Goyette, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Jeux d'eau Dupuis

Jeux d'eau Dupuis is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Jeux d'eau Laflèche

Give Jeux d'eau Laflèche (on Rue de Lausanne, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Jeux d'eau Larocque

Give Jeux d'eau Larocque (on Rue Fortier, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Jeux d'eau Louis-Roy

Give Jeux d'eau Louis-Roy (on Rue Louis-Roy, west of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Jeux d'eau Shamal

Give Jeux d'eau Shamal (on Rue du Shamal, north-west of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Banner Park

Give Splash Pad - Banner Park (on Banner Road, south-west of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Celebration Park

Splash Pad - Celebration Park is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Centrepointe Park

Give Splash Pad - Centrepointe Park (on Centrepointe Drive, south of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Charing Park

Give Splash Pad - Charing Park (on Chartwell Avenue, south of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Dr. John Hopps Park

Give Splash Pad - Dr. John Hopps Park (on Den Haag Drive, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Kilreen Park

Splash Pad - Kilreen Park is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Laroche Park

Give Splash Pad - Laroche Park (on Bayview Station Road, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Piazza Dante Park

Give Splash Pad - Piazza Dante Park (on Booth Street, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Plouffe Park

Give Splash Pad - Plouffe Park (on Somerset Street West, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - St. Ambroise Park

Splash Pad - St. Ambroise Park is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Thornecliffe Park

Give Splash Pad - Thornecliffe Park (on Provender Avenue, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at The Duck

The Duck is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Rain plan: Algonquin College Library

Rain plan at Algonquin College Library: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: Bibliothèque Aurélien-Doucet

Bibliothèque Aurélien-Doucet (on Boulevard du Mont-Bleu, north of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: Bibliothèque Maison du Citoyen

Bibliothèque Maison du Citoyen (on Rue Laurier, north-east of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: Brian Dickson Law Library

Rain plan at Brian Dickson Law Library: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: Christian Science Reading Room

Rain plan at Christian Science Reading Room: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: Greenberg Families Library

Rain plan at Greenberg Families Library: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: Morisset Library

Morisset Library (on Université Private, north-east of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: Ottawa Public Library - Greenboro Branch

Ottawa Public Library - Greenboro Branch (on Lorry Greenberg Drive, south-east of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: Ottawa Public Library - Main Branch

Rain plan at Ottawa Public Library - Main Branch: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: Ottawa Public Library - Nepean Centrepointe Branch

Ottawa Public Library - Nepean Centrepointe Branch (on Centrepointe Drive, south-east of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: Ottawa Public Library - St-Laurent Branch

Ottawa Public Library - St-Laurent Branch (on Côté Street, north-east of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: Ottawa Trans Library

Ottawa Trans Library (north-east of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Watch the sun drop from Chaudière Falls

Chaudière Falls faces the last light north-east of centre, Ottawa. The quest is standing still until three lights stay on after the sun.

Watch the sun drop from Deschênes Rapids Lookout

Deschênes Rapids Lookout faces the last light near the centre, Ottawa. The quest is standing still until three lights stay on after the sun.

Watch the sun drop from Kìwekì Point Lookout

Be at Kìwekì Point Lookout (north-east of centre, Ottawa) twenty minutes before the disk drops. Stay until it is gone. Leave with one colour that is not orange.

Watch the sun drop from Ottawa Locks

Skip the patio. Stand on public ground at Ottawa Locks for the end of the day, then walk out the way you came.

Watch the sun drop from Pink Lake viewpoint

Be at Pink Lake viewpoint (north-west of centre, Ottawa) twenty minutes before the disk drops. Stay until it is gone. Leave with one colour that is not orange.

Watch the sun drop from Rideau Falls

Rideau Falls faces the last light north-east of centre, Ottawa. The quest is standing still until three lights stay on after the sun.

Watch the sun drop from Rideau Falls

Skip the patio. Stand on public ground at Rideau Falls for the end of the day, then walk out the way you came.

Watch the sun drop from Sparks Street Lookout

Sparks Street Lookout faces the last light north-east of centre, Ottawa. The quest is standing still until three lights stay on after the sun.

Watch the sun drop from The Cliff

The Cliff faces the last light north-east of centre, Ottawa. The quest is standing still until three lights stay on after the sun.

Watch the sun drop from The Deschênes Rapids

Be at The Deschênes Rapids (west of centre, Ottawa) twenty minutes before the disk drops. Stay until it is gone. Leave with one colour that is not orange.

Watch the sun drop from View on the River

Be at View on the River (north-east of centre, Ottawa) twenty minutes before the disk drops. Stay until it is gone. Leave with one colour that is not orange.

Watch the sun drop from Wateridge

Skip the patio. Stand on public ground at Wateridge for the end of the day, then walk out the way you came.