April 8 Newsletter 2022

April 8, 2022 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

This week, levels of COVID-19 found in Ottawa’s wastewaster hit an all-time high. While many restrictions have recently been lifted, I want to remind residents to be mindful of the current situation while also noting the simple ways to protect oneself and others such as wearing a mask and getting vaccinated. Additionally, this week those aged 60 and older became eligible to book a fourth booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine if five months have passed since their third dose.  

With Easter coming up soon, residents can expect schedule changes to accommodate the holiday. For retail and commercial property owners affected by the convoy occupation, the application deadline for the Convoy Occupation Tax Deferral Program is April 22. Details on the program can be found in this newsletter. As springtime continues to settle in, the Cleaning the Capital Program has gotten underway. If you are looking for a way to participate in this year’s program, the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre and Social Harvest have teamed up to host a Cleaning the Capital event on April 22 at Ken Steele Park. Finally, this Easter you can have the real Easter Bunny come for a visit with Hoppy Easter Home Delivery presented by the Manor Park Community Council. Spots sell out fast, so check out the last item in this newsletter. 

Fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine now available to residents 60 and older 

Starting, April 7, individuals aged 60 and older are eligible to book a fourth dose (booster) appointment if the recommended interval of five months (140 days) has passed since their third dose. First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their household members aged 18 and over are also eligible. 

The goal of this expanded eligibility is to provide individuals at higher-risk of illness from COVID-19 with an extra layer of protection. This follows recent guidance from the National Advisory Council on Immunization, and aligns with the provincial announcement on expanded fourth dose eligibility. 

Older adults are at greater risk of severe disease, complications, and hospitalizations from COVID-19. With the current surge of COVID-19 in Ottawa and across the province, Ottawa Public Health highly recommends all eligible adults receive a fourth dose as soon as possible. 

Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria can book their fourth dose through the COVID-19 vaccination portal, by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 or by checking local pharmacies to find locations that provide fourth doses near you. Residents are encouraged to make an appointment as drop-in availability will be limited at community vaccine clinics. Some primary care physicians are also providing booster doses.  

It’s not too late if you still need your first, second, or third dose. Ottawa Public Health encourages all residents to get vaccinated as soon as they can, and to receive further doses as soon as they are eligible to ensure maximum protection against COVID-19. 

Ottawa Public Health has offered fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since December 2021 to high-risk populations including older adults in long-term care homes, retirement homes, and other congregate care settings. These fourth doses have helped to prevent serious disease, complications, hospitalizations and death during the Omicron wave.  

To reduce transmission of COVID-19, Ottawa Public Health continues to highly recommend individuals wear a mask indoors especially when physical distancing may not be possible or proves to be challenging in crowded areas. If you become unwell or have any symptoms, stay home. Do not go to work or school when you are sick and have a plan in the event you or someone in your household need to isolate. 

Update and Resources from Ottawa Public Health 

Weekly Snapshot of the COVID-19 situation in Ottawa  

COVID-19 levels in our community remain very high. OPH highly recommends that people continue to wear masks and that we all be mindful of how many close contacts we have. It is also more important than ever for residents to get vaccinated with all the doses for which they are eligible.  

Every week, OPH will share a snapshot of the COVID-19 situation in Ottawa via its social channels. If you are not already doing so, please also follow on OPH’s Facebook and Twitter channels, and share those posts with your followers. They contain important information to help all of us get through this latest resurgence.  

New Youth Mental Health E-Learning Hub  

In partnership with OPH, CHEO’s YouthNet has officially launched the new Youth Mental Health E-Learning Hub. This creative bilingual website was designed by Ottawa youth for youth (ages 13 to 24) and to participate in a self-guided learning journey about mental health, explore community resources available to them, and connect with each other. Teachers and educators can also benefit from this e-learning hub for their lesson plans and to facilitate important conversations with their students about mental health.   

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 

Library Services 

Convoy Occupation Tax Deferral Program deadline is April 22 

The April 22 application deadline for the Convoy Occupation Tax Deferral Program is not far off for those retail and commercial property owners impacted by the convoy occupation that occurred in January and February. The program provides some relief to eligible properties by deferring their interim and final property tax deadlines to September 15, 2022. 

The application is now online at ottawa.ca/taxes. Applicants need to provide the following information on the application: 

  • Roll number 
  • Property address 
  • Dates financial hardship began and ended 
  • A brief description of financial hardship 
  • Attachments and supporting documents for hardship 

The deferral is open to properties that are assessed as commercial, shopping, parking lot and vacant land, and industrial tax classes within the designated affected area. The affected area is bordered by Cathcart Avenue and Ottawa River to the north, King Edward Avenue to the east, Catherine Street to the south, and Bay Street to the west. 

Property owners must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

  • The property owner must have experienced financial hardship directly related to the 2022 convoy occupation – defined as more than a 30 percent reduction in business activity or temporary closure. 
  • Property taxes for 2021 and prior years must have been paid up to date before the 2022 interim installment due date of March 17, 2022. 

Property owners who qualify and receive the deferral must pass financial relief on to their commercial or retail tenants or face having their deferral revoked, with all taxes, penalties, and interest becoming due immediately based on the original due dates. 

Cleaning the Capital with the Rideau-Rockcliffe Resource Centre and Social Harvest 

On Friday, April 22 participate in the Cleaning the Capital Program with the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre and Social Harvest. Join them from 3:30pm to 5:00pm at Ken Steele Park for spring cleaning and community involvement!  

Rain date: April 29, 3:30pm to 5:00pm 

Register here. 

The Manor Park Community Council Presents, Hoppy Easter Home Delivery 

What could be a better way to welcome spring than with an at home visit from The Easter Bunny! 

Your at home visit will include: 

  • An outdoor visit and photo with THE Easter Bunny! 
  • A special Easter 'basket' filled with chocolate eggs and goodies! 

We'll snap your yearly Easter Bunny photo with a professional digital SLR camera - and send it straight to your email inbox! 

The Easter Bunny will be hopping down a street near you, so reserve your visit today! 

Visit and delivery date: Saturday, April 16, 2022 

Between 10 AM - 5 PM 

*Delivering in areas in and outside of Manor Park and across Ottawa 

Set up your own photo display or add your own props for even more Instagram-able fun! 

Visits sold out in 2021 - so book early for an Easter to remember! 

PRE-ORDER HERE until Tuesday April 12 

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