New Bridge Deserves Name The Snake

Published 01/23/2025 · Updated 01/23/2025

Radio-Canada says it has found the design for the new Alexandra Bridge.

We don’t doubt that and congratulations on a good story.

There’s just one problem and not Radio-Canada’s. It is, what else, with the National Capital Commission.

The NCC says the design is meant to be a representation of the Ottawa River eel. How obscure can you get? Obscure like only the NCC can be. No one will remember the eel: “Nice bridge, Milldrid. Wonder what it stand for?”

The eel, a slippery fellow, is somewhat characteristic of Ottawa. But better, if you are to make a true representation of politics in Ottawa … federal and civic, would be an artistic interpretation of the snake.

This town has more slithery creeps than most per square inch. Why even a few can be found at the NCC. Call the bridge self-portrait.

It was a nice try NCC … just about got it.

Ken Gray