Wesley Clover Parks’ Continued Impact
WESLEY CLOVER PARKS — A four-season community hub for outdoor recreation • wesleycloverparks.com
The 2026 horse show season at Wesley Clover Parks came to a close on September 27th, completing the 12th year of the Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments. From May through September, thousands of exhibitors competed at The Parks across 16 competitions.
A highlight of the summer was the RBC Ottawa International CSI4* CSI2* in August, which welcomed many of the sport’s top athletes to Ottawa for four days of international show jumping. In front of a packed crowd, Adrienne Sternlicht of the United States successfully defended her RBC Grand Prix title, this time aboard Faquitol-S. The victory continued an impressive run for Sternlicht in Ottawa after she swept both the CSI2* and CSI5* Grand Prix titles at Wesley Clover Parks in 2025.
The equestrian experience at Wesley Clover Parks extends well beyond the competition ring. The Ian Millar School of Horsemanship welcomed another string of young riders through its popular summer riding camps, while introductory programs including Discover Horses and Riding Foundations continued to provide accessible entry points into the sport. These programs are designed to develop essential horsemanship skills, safety awareness and rider confidence, giving participants a strong foundation for continued progression into lessons and other equestrian opportunities.
International eventing returned to Wesley Clover Parks for a second year in September with Eventing at The Parks CCI2*-S CCI1*. The event once made Wesley Clover Parks the only venue in Canada to host international competition in all three Olympic equestrian disciplines: show jumping, dressage and eventing. As the number of established eventing venues continues to decline, ongoing investment in the sport at Wesley Clover Parks supports opportunities for athletes, officials and the broader eventing community in Eastern Canada.
Another major summer highlight was the fifth annual Spurs & Sparkles gala presented by RBC, held August 12 in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. A sold-out crowd of 500 guests gathered at Wesley Clover Parks and raised a record-breaking $201,250 to support the top priorities at Queensway Carleton Hospital. The evening once again featured the crowd-favourite Get Up & Gallop competition, with Team FACES Magazine taking the win.
Wesley Clover Parks continued its support of the local community on October 4 as host of CHEO’s RBC Race for the Kids. Funds raised through the event directly support CHEO, helping ensure children and youth have access to the care they need.
The Wesley Clover Parks Campground recorded continued growth in occupancy and revenue in 2026, with Thanksgiving marking the conclusion of another strong camping season.
Looking ahead to winter, the 11th annual Magic of Lights Ottawa will once again transform the grounds for the holiday season. Since the event’s debut, Magic of Lights and Wesley Clover Parks have donated more than $350,000 to local charities, including the CHEO Foundation.
To learn more about our events, visit wesleycloverparks.com.
