A Message from Councillor King

Beginning August 27, the City of Ottawa’s Municipal Election Blackout Period will temporarily limit how Members of Council seeking re-election may communicate using City resources. The rules are intended to maintain a clear separation between City business and election activity. As a result, during the Blackout Period, which continues until Election Day on Oct. 26, regular updates from my office through this newsletter, our website and social media channels will pause.

My Ward 13 office will remain open and available to assist residents with day-to-day constituency matters and municipal services. My staff and I will also continue working with residents, community organizations and City departments on active ward and municipal files throughout the Blackout Period.

Much of this work reflects the way neighbourhood issues are connected. Housing, transportation, infrastructure, public health, community safety, parks, the environment and neighbourhood character all shape the quality of life in Rideau-Rockcliffe. As Ottawa grows, it remains important that investments in infrastructure, transit, public spaces and community services keep pace with the needs of both new and existing residents.

Current work includes:

• Transportation and road safety: Ongoing work on sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, cycling connections, accessibility, traffic calming, bus stops and transit infrastructure, including improved connections for growing communities such as Wateridge Village and projects identified through Ottawa’s Transportation Master Plan. 
• Transit reliability: This fall, the City is also introducing new express bus routes, additional transit service and reliability improvements, increased O-Train service and new travel-planning tools through its Mobility Hub.
• Infrastructure renewal: Major projects involving roads, watermains, sewers, bridges, pumping stations and other essential infrastructure. Integrated renewal projects also provide opportunities to improve sidewalks, accessibility, cycling facilities, traffic calming and streetscapes as underground infrastructure is replaced.
• Beechwood Avenue: The Beechwood Avenue Public Realm project is examining pedestrian safety, cycling infrastructure, transit integration, accessibility, streetscaping and the overall public realm along this important traditional main street and transportation corridor.
• Housing and tenant protections: Work continues on affordable, supportive, accessible and mixed-income housing, renewal of Ottawa’s existing social housing stock, homelessness initiatives and implementation of Ottawa’s new renoviction by-law, which takes effect January 1, 2027.
• Community safety and well-being: ANCHOR expanded into Overbrook earlier this summer, providing an alternative community-based response to some mental-health and substance-use crises. The Ottawa Police Service is also implementing its new District Model, with Rideau-Rockcliffe served through the Central and East districts.
• Parks, recreation and community facilities: Recent and ongoing investments include the St. Laurent Complex rehabilitation, construction of the Wateridge Village Fieldhouse, park renewal projects, accessibility improvements and new recreational amenities across the ward.
• Planning, heritage, public health, environment and equity: Ongoing work includes managing growth in a way that respects neighbourhood context, protecting heritage and natural assets, strengthening climate resilience and public health, and advancing the City’s equity and anti-racism commitments.

Although our regular communications will pause, the work of serving Rideau-Rockcliffe will continue throughout the Blackout Period.

Before August 27, the Ward 13 website will be updated with information about upcoming City and community events, programs, consultations and opportunities through November. Past editions of the weekly newsletter will remain available at rideau-rockcliffe.ca/newsletters.

Citywide information about services, programs and projects will continue to be available through the City of Ottawa newsroom, while future consultation opportunities will be posted on the City’s public engagement page. My office will also continue sharing local updates with community associations and organizations throughout Rideau-Rockcliffe.

Residents may continue to contact my Ward 13 office at [email protected] or 613-580-2483 for assistance.