April 14 Newsletter 2022

April 14, 2022 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

The end of this condensed week marks the start of the Easter long weekend. A reminder to residents that because of the holiday, many City services will experience schedule changes. Looking to next week, there will be a mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Friday, April 22 at the St. Laurent Shopping Centre. Reservations are not required for this clinic. Today, OC Transpo launched the new My Para Transpo online application. This new tool aims to make it easier and more accessible for customers to book a trip. This April, City staff will be putting on the Earth Day Speaker Series, a collection of virtual sessions that residents can attend to learn more about climate change and resiliency initiatives. On Saturday, April 30 from 10am to noon, The Annual Village Spring Clean-up will be taking place in Rockcliffe Park. Come out to meet with neighbours and help clean the Village. 

COVID-19 Mobile Vaccine Clinic on April 22 

There will be a COVID-19 mobile vaccine clinic on Friday, April 22 from 10am to 4pm at St. Laurent Shopping Centre in the empty store beside Linen Chest. Reservations are not required and residents can bring any piece of identification. 

OC Transpo’s new My Para Transpo application makes it easier for customers to book a trip online 

Para Transpo customers now have more self-service options to book and track trips. Today, OC Transpo launched the new My Para Transpo online application.  

With this new application, Para Transpo customers can now: 

• Book a next-day trip 
• Cancel a booked trip 
• Track the location of a vehicle for an imminent trip 
• Manage their customer profile information 

The browser-based application is mobile friendly and can accommodate various device platforms.  

My Para Transpo has been developed in collaboration with Para Transpo customers. Since December 2020, a working group of customers has been testing the application and an early adopters’ group has been piloting the service since July 2021. 

My Para Transpo will continue to improve as new functions are added and technology improves. Future releases will include enhancements requested through customer feedback, including functionality that allows designated support persons and institutions to book or cancel trips on behalf of their clients or loved ones, customer notifications for upcoming trips, and a downloadable mobile application.  

To ensure a seamless transition to My Para Transpo, the existing web forms that have been available to customers for bookings and cancellations will be maintained for an overlap period of 12 weeks. 

To learn more about OC Transpo’s My Para Transpo online application, you can visit octranspo.com. 

Earth Day Speaker Series 

Celebrate Earth Day this April while learning what you can do to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and protect our planet. 

Everything you need to know about electric vehicles 

Tuesday, April 19 (French session) 
Tuesday, April 26 (English session) 
6:30 pm to 8 pm 
 
Typically, electric vehicles cost up to 75 per cent less to drive than gas cars, saving drivers $1,500-$2,000 a year. Rising gas prices mean electric vehicle drivers are saving even more. But what is it like to drive an electric vehicle? How and where do you charge it and how far can it go? What cars are available right now? What about winter? Find out all the answers to these questions and more with Raymond Leury, President of the Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa. 

Register for the French session. 
Register for the English session. 

Say Yes to Less 
How reducing waste helps fight climate change 
Thursday, April 21 
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm 

The more we buy, the more we waste. The more we waste, the more greenhouse gas emissions we create. Let us take you on a journey from extraction, manufacturing and transportation of goods to their end-of-lifecycle management. Together, we will explore better, climate friendly paths – leading from over-consumption to more sustainable lifestyle choices.  

Register now 

Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program and Home Energy Retrofits 
Thursday, April 28 
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm 
 
In November 2021, the City launched the Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program. This pilot program allowed homeowners to access loans directly from the City to cover the cost of home energy improvements. Join us to learn more about the success of the pilot program and hear from some Ottawa homeowners who have been through the application process and are implementing their home energy retrofits. 

Register now 

Rockcliffe Park Village Clean-up 

Save the Date: Saturday 30 April, 10 am to noon   

The Annual Village Spring Clean-up needs you! Come one, come all on Saturday morning, April 30, for a chance to actually get together with your neighbours while you help clean up our Village. Choose an area to clean, grab garbage bags, leaf bags, gloves (all provided) and see what a difference an hour or two can make!  

Refreshments provided. Student volunteer hours forms will be signed. Meet behind the Community Hall, 380 Springfield Rd.  

Rain Date: Sunday May 1, 1 – 3 pm 

REMINDER: Easter weekend schedule changes 

The City of Ottawa would like to remind residents of the following schedule changes and impacts to City services for the Easter holiday from Friday, April 15 to Monday, April 18. 

Client Service Centres 

• The City’s 3-1-1 Contact Centre will be open for urgent matters only. Please visit ottawa.ca/311 for more information. 
• The Client Services Centres at Ottawa City Hall, Ben Franklin Place, 580 Terry Fox Drive, 255 Centrum Boulevard and the City’s Provincial Offences Court at 100 Constellation Drive will be closed. 

Green bin, recycling and garbage collection 

• There will be no curbside green bin, recycling, garbage or bulky item collection on Friday, April 15 and Monday, April 18. Friday’s pick-up will take place on Saturday, April 16. In addition, the collection will be delayed the following week by one day for the remainder of the week. 
• Multi-residential garbage containers will be collected on the regular scheduled day. There will be no multi-residential recycling container and green bin collection on Friday, April 15. Friday’s pick-up will take place on Saturday, April 16. Multi-residential recycling container and green bin collection will also be delayed the following week by one day for the remainder of the week. 
• The Trail Waste Facility will be open on Friday, April 15, Saturday, April 16 and Monday, April 18. 

Parking 

• All City parking regulations and restrictions apply. 

OC Transpo 

• OC Transpo bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule on Friday, April 15 and on a reduced weekday schedule on Monday, April 18.  
• O-Train Line 1 will operate on a Sunday schedule on Friday, April 15 and a regular weekday schedule on Monday, April 18. 
• On Friday, April 15, the whole family can ride all day for $11.00 on a single DayPass! Purchase your Family DayPass at any ticket machine or from your bus operator. A family can be made up of as many as six people, with a maximum of two aged 13 or older.  
  • New this year: children aged seven and under ride for no charge every day! 
• OC Transpo Customer Service (613-560-5000) will be open on Friday, April 15 from 8 am to 9 pm, and on Monday, April 18 from 7 am to 9 pm. 
• OC Transpo’s Rideau Centre Customer Service Centre will be closed on Friday, April 15 and Sunday, April 17, but will be open on Saturday, April 16 from 9:30 am to 4 pm, and on Monday, April 18 from 10 am to 7 pm. 
  • All other OC Transpo Customer Service Centres are currently closed. 
• Heartwood House (OC Transpo Lost and Found) will be closed on Friday, April 15 and Monday, April 18. 

Para Transpo 

• Para Transpo will operate on a holiday service on Friday, April 15, Sunday, April 17 and Monday, April 18.  
  • Regular bookings on Friday, April 15 and Monday, April 18 are automatically cancelled.  
  • Regular bookings on Sunday, April 17 are not automatically cancelled, and customers are reminded to suspend regular bookings if they do not need their trip. 
  • Customers can book trips for these dates one week prior by calling 613-560-5000 or using the online web form. 
• The reservations line will remain open from 7 am to 5 pm, while the trip cancellation line will be open from 6 am to 12:30 am. 
• The Taxi Coupon line will remain open. 

For more information on Easter weekend service, visit octranspo.com or call (613) 560-5000. 

Recreation and cultural services 

• Pools, arenas and recreation and fitness centres will operate on modified schedules. Please check with the facility directly for details.  
• Most art centres and museums will be closed on Friday, April 15 and Monday, April 18, and may have reduced hours for Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17. Please check with the centre or museum directly for details.  
• Shenkman Arts Centre is closed on Friday, April 15 and Monday, April 18 with reduced hours on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17.  
• Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe is closed from Friday, April 15 to Monday, April 18.  
• The City of Ottawa Archives and Gallery 112 will be closed from Friday, April 15, to Monday, April 18.  

Ottawa Public Health 

• Visit the OPH COVID-19 Vaccine page for vaccination clinic hours and availability. 
• Visit the OPH COVID-19 Testing page for testing centre and care clinic hours and availability. 
• The Ottawa Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Line will be closed on Friday, April 15. It will be open on Monday, April 18 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. 
• The Sexual Health Clinic and satellite clinics will be closed. 
• The Site program office and supervised consumption services at 179 Clarence Street will be closed. The Site mobile van will operate from 5 pm to 11:30 pm. 
• The Ottawa Public Health Information Centre and COVID-19 Information Line will be closed. 
• Dental clinics will be closed. 
• The Baby Help Line will be returning calls (open). 

Community and Social Services 

• The Tom Brown respite centre at 141 Bayview Station Road that is currently operating as a 24/7 Physical Distancing Centre with limited Respite Services will be open. 
• The Bernard Grandmaître respite centre at 309 McArthur Avenue will be closed on Friday April 15 and will reopen on Monday April 18.  

Municipal child care services 

• All municipal child care centres will be closed. 

Library Services 

• All Ottawa Public Library branches will be closed on Friday, April 15, Sunday April 17 and Monday, April 18. Virtual services, loans and programs can be accessed on the Ottawa Public Library website. 

Montreal Road Revitalization 

Please be advised that beginning on Sunday, April 24, 2022, Montreal Road will be reduced to a single westbound lane from St. Laurent Boulevard to the Vanier Parkway until approximately mid-September 2022 for watermain, sewer and road work. Some segments of Montreal Road will have two-way traffic predominantly for buses. Due to the lane closures, there are traffic and transit impacts in the area. You can also find more information on ottawa.ca/montrealroad. 

Below is a two-week lookahead (Monday, April 11 to Friday, April 22) for the Montreal Road revitalization project. The work activities planned for the next two weeks will include: 

• Preparations for the Montreal Road detour along Montreal Road and the bus detour route side streets. The work includes setting up road signage, traffic control devices (barrels, cones) and traffic calming measures (flex posts, delineators), constructing temporary bus pads and bus stops, line painting and removals of temporary winter pinned curbs along Montreal Road 
• Underground watermain work is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 19 on Montreal Road between Mona Avenue and Alfred Street. The work will require temporary water shut offs for several hours. Businesses affected by the water shut offs will be notified a minimum of 48 hours in advance.     

Here’s what you can expect from the project this year: 

• Mid-April to late August – underground water and sewer pipes: Underground work will take place along Montreal Road at Lafontaine Avenue and St. Laurent Boulevard. The work at Lafontaine Avenue involves replacement of storm sewer, sanitary sewer and watermain pipe that will last several months.  
• Late May to late September – road and concrete sidewalks: Road work will continue as crews complete the road surface, curbs, cycle tracks and sidewalk between Lafontaine Avenue and St. Laurent Boulevard. The final lift of asphalt will also be completed along the 2 kilometre section of Montreal Road from North River Road to St. Laurent Boulevard. 
• May to late October – landscaping and streetscaping: Crews will be planting trees and shrubs, installing pavers, street furniture and bus shelters along Montreal Road. Plaza work at Emond, Dupuis and Bradley streets will also be completed. 
• June to late November – hydro pole burial: Hydro pole burial will take place on the south side of Montreal Road between Altha Avenue and L’Eglise Street. The work will include burial of the Hydro Ottawa overhead powerline as well as other telecom utilities.