Larry O’Brien

Please click here to view my interview with Max Keeping that ran on CTV yesterday.

Colleen and I enjoyed a fantastic vacation in Sunny Isles Florida but I have to say it is great to be back. When you are away, you get a better perspective on just how good we have it here in Ottawa.

Ottawa is a safe and secure place to raise our families and build careers and even in these very uncertain economic times, we have reason to be thankful for living in this fabulous city.

The cost of success is constant vigilance and the next few months will be very busy times. There is much hard work to complete on important files such as Lansdowne Park, securing funding to build our new transit system and municipal governance reform.

I am looking forward to pushing ahead on my agenda to ensure Ottawa remains the best place in Canada to live, to work and to play.

It was my pleasure this morning to welcome Sir Richard Branson to Ottawa as they launched his new station Virgin Radio 106.9.

He is a larger-than-life personality who obviously enjoys the most out of life. I wished him luck on his Ottawa venture and I welcome his unique marketing flair to our Capital.

He had a busy day planned. After the press conference this morning, Sir Richard was heading over to Lansdowne Park to kick some soccer balls. Speaking of soccer, I had the opportunity to have dinner with the Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber and MLS President Mark Abbott last night.

They are here to scout out our city for a potential MLS team and met with Eugene Melnyk and his executive team to talk about the possibilities. Yesterday evening we had dinner at the Westin Hotel where the Executive Chef Nelson Borges, who happens to be a big soccer fan, put together special gift baskets in their rooms featuring a chocolate soccer ball on a soccer field cake. The General Manager of the Westin John Jarvis also gave them a warm welcome to Ottawa.

Executive Chef Nelson Borges was obviously voting with his baking skills and made it clear he was a big soccer fan. Well done - you certainly made them feel very welcome in Ottawa. This morning we met again and they presented the City with a formal proposal that City staff will review thoroughly in order to make a recommendation to Council.

Soccer is a global sport and it also appears to be very popular in Ottawa. Where do you stand on this issue? I would love to hear your comments about soccer. Is it a good idea?  Do you or your children play? Would you buy tickets to see professional soccer in Ottawa?  Make your thoughts know right here on my blog.

Council has choices to make and your ideas are most welcome.  Join us in the debate!

Please see below a press release I put out today regarding the proposal to bring MLS to Ottawa.

For immediate release:
January 27, 2009

Mayor welcomes the interest of MLS and Senators Sports Entertainment to bring professional soccer to Ottawa

OTTAWA- Today Mayor Larry O’Brien met with Ottawa Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk, representatives of Senators Sports Entertainment, Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber, MLS President Mark Abbott, City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick and Deputy City Manager Nancy Schepers to review details of a proposal to bring professional soccer to the Nation’s Capital.

The City Manager has received a formal proposal from the group that includes a new soccer specific stadium, a hotel, a retail component, entertainment and community sports facilities. The MLS proposal is slated to come before Committee and Council with an evaluation and recommendation from City staff in early spring.

“The fact that Senators Sports Entertainment, Eugene Melnyk and MLS are looking at Ottawa as a potential venue for professional soccer is a huge positive for our City,” said Mayor O’Brien. “We now have two world-class proposals that see the private sector and professional sports wanting to help grow and improve the Nation’s Capital.”

The MLS bid comes at the same time as the City of Ottawa is considering another major development proposal, Lansdowne Live, by a group consisting of Jeff Hunt, Roger Greenberg, John Ruddy and Bill Shenkman who have submitted plans that would bring a Canadian Football League team to Ottawa and see a revitalization of Lansdowne Park.

As directed by Council, staff are still undertaking a review of the Lansdowne Live proposal and will report back to Council on their findings.

“We are very fortunate to have two good opportunities to build legacy projects in the City of Ottawa,” said Mayor O’Brien. “Now we have a responsibility to evaluate both proposals and make the best decision for the citizens of Ottawa.”

As I watched the inauguration ceremony today there was a sense of hope, a sense of optimism.

As President Obama said, 60 years ago his father would not be served in restaurants, but today his son became the 44th President of the United States of America. This shows that we have made great progress and I believe many of us share the hope that we will continue to move forward.

Today, January 20,2009, is an important day full of consequence for the world. It is a day that we will all remember for the balance of our lives. As an old friend once said to me: “One day the door will open and the future will walk in.” The future came through the door at noon today in Washington. Good luck President Obama. 

There is also some sadness in the day as I must say goodbye to Ambassador David Wilkins and his wife Susan.

The Ambassador was an exceptional Diplomat who served his country and Canada well with his open folksy charm and quick wit. From the south, he never quite warmed up to our climate.  One day he mentioned that he understood and was quite prepared to enjoy a white Christmas, but he did not expect a white Easter.

Over the past four years Ambassador Wilkins and his wife Susan have become good friends and both Colleen and I will miss them and wish them all the best.