August 12 Newsletter 2022

August 12, 2022 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

Please note that my newsletter will not be published from August 26 until after October 24 when the 2022 Municipal Election has been completed. This is in respect to the blackout period that is put in affect according to the City of Ottawa's Election Related Resources Policy. Members of Council who are seeking re-election may not publish electronic newsletters during this period. For City related news and information during the blackout period residents are encouraged to visit the City's website.

On August 12, I was very pleased to have attended an arts fundraiser at St-Laurent Centre to benefit the Community Laundry Co-op which is in Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward.  The free event created opportunities topurchase art created by amazingly talented and creative co-op students from our local high schools! All proceeds will be used to support the CLC’s mission to provide access to low-cost self-serve laundry for low-income families, as well as social supports such as counselling and referral services.  Please consider donating to this wonderful charity.  You can support the Community Laundry Co-op here: https://communitylaundrycoop.ca/donate/

Your opinion matters! Your Library, your needs, your branches! 

Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is conducting a public consultation until September 15, 2022 to confirm that its draft Facilities Framework reflects the needs of the community. The Framework will serve as a roadmap to ensure more equitable coverage to Library branch services across Ottawa. The Facilities Framework will allow OPL to identify gaps in terms of access to Library branches and to determine how to address these gaps.  

To this end, a survey is available online and in branch, in English and French, to gather input from the public. This survey invites Ottawa residents to share their thoughts and views on access to physical library services. Your input will help finalize the Framework and make decisions regarding future OPL facilities.  

The survey and all related information and documents are available on theLibrary’s public engagement web page. A hard copy of the draft framework is available in branches, in English and French, for consultation. A video is also available online to explain the key points of the draft framework.  

Additionally, a virtual, bilingual open house will take place on Tuesday, August 23 from 7 pm to 8 pm to give residents an opportunity to ask questions specific to the framework to help understand the document, the approach, and the intended use. Participants can register to this event on Eventbrite.  

The Library’s draft Facilities Framework was received and tabled by the OPL Board (“the Board”). June 14, 2022. The guiding principles were approved by the OPL Board in 2021.  

The Board will receive the outcome of the public engagement and the final Facilities Framework for discussion at its meeting of October 11, 2022.  

Questions can be directed to [email protected].  

Reminder: Highway 417 to close between Metcalfe and Carling

Residents are reminded that starting August 11, a section of Highway 417, between Metcalfe and Carling/Kirkwood, is scheduled to fully close in both directions starting at 8 pm on Thursday, August 11 and slated to reopen at 6 am on Monday, August 15, resulting in significant traffic impacts.

Lane reductions and ramp closures are scheduled to start at 7 pm on Thursday, with the full closure of Highway 417 scheduled to be in place by 8 pm. The closures are required to replace the bridge over Booth Street.

The following on-ramps will also close:

• O’Connor westbound
• Lyon westbound (ongoing)
• Bronson westbound (ongoing)
• Rochester westbound
• Parkdale westbound
• Maitland eastbound
• Carling/Kirkwood eastbound
• Parkdale eastbound

In addition, several municipal road closures are required for this construction:

• Booth Street is closed between Daniel McCann Street and Arlington Street. It is scheduled to reopen on Thursday, August 25.
• Raymond Street is closed between Lebreton Street North and Rochester Street. The segment between Lebreton Street North and Booth Street is scheduled to reopen on Thursday, August 25. The segment between Booth Street and Rochester Street is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, October 30.
• Raymond Street westbound will be closed at Bronson Avenue from 6 pm on Thursday, August 11 to 6 am on Monday, August 15.
• Rochester Street will be closed between Gladstone Avenue and Aberdeen Street from 6 pm on Thursday, August 11 to 6 am on Monday, August 15.

The following detours will be in effect during the closure:

Westbound detour for Highway 417 closure

• Westbound motorists must exit the highway at Metcalfe
• Continue westbound on Catherine Street
• Turn left on Bronson
• Turn right on Carling Avenue
• Take Highway 417 westbound on-ramp from Carling Avenue

Eastbound detour for Highway 417 closure

• Eastbound motorists must exit the highway at Carling/Kirkwood Avenue
• Continue eastbound on Carling Avenue
• Turn left on Bronson Avenue
• Turn right on Chamberlain Avenue
• Continue onto Isabella Street
• Take Highway 417 eastbound on-ramp at Metcalfe Street

Smart Aging Volunteer Opportunities

Have you heard about the Smart Agers? They are smart, engaged, and prepared to face future challenges and opportunities that are part of the aging process. And they’ve been having fun while learning from and sharing with their peers.

We’d like to offer you an exciting opportunity, before the start of the new season of the Smart Aging Program, to get involved, make a difference, learn new information, and connect with your peers. You’ll be glad you joined us! 

The Council on Aging for Ottawa is currently seeking skilled, energetic, and knowledgeable volunteers to help with the coordination and delivery of its Smart Aging Program. There are many ways to get involved, depending on your availability and level of interest. Dip a toe in or dive right in!

If you have a desire to give back to the community and work with Ottawa’s older adults, then the following opportunities might just be for you!

COA is looking for volunteers in the following roles:

·    Planning Committee Members who will take an active role in growing this dynamic program in a variety of ways: determining new topics, exploring new population groups to be served, fundraising, grant writing, business planning, evaluation, communications, volunteer recruitment and training.

·    Workshop Developers with a background and interest in creating educational materials

·    Course Directors have experience organizing and MC’ing events (for online and in-person programs)

·    Workshop Facilitators who have an interest in and ability to engage with an audience in an empathetic way (for online and in-person programs)

·    Tech Support with a solid knowledge of Zoom (for online and in-person programs)

Please click on the individual titles above to find out if any of these opportunities would be a good fit for you.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please email our Director of Education, Stéphanie Cadieux, at [email protected].


Montreal Road Revitalization

The following work is planned over the next two weeks (August 8 to August 19):

• Hydro Ottawa pole topping — Hydro Ottawa is scheduled to remove their overhead cables between de L’Eglise to Lajoie from Monday, August 15 to Friday, August 19. This will be a significant undertaking requiring numerous crews that include removal of the top 1/3 of the pole.  On Monday August 15 and potentially Tuesday, August 16, Lacasse will have to be closed at Montreal Road while Hydro Ottawa crews remove the overhead cable. All traffic, including buses, will be detoured to Lajoie Street for the duration of the work (see graphic below). Complete removal of the hydro poles will be undertaken later this year once all telecom overhead wires are replaced by underground cables.
  
  
• Vanier Parkway asphalt overlay — The asphalt overlay on the Vanier Parkway will be completed on the Morning of August 11 (weather pending).  The work includes milling the existing asphalt on Vanier Parkway (from McArthur Avenue to approximately 150 metres north of Montreal Road ) and placing a new layer of asphalt. The work has to be undertaken at night to limit traffic impacts.  
  
  
• Montreal Road/Granville Street intersection underground sewer pipe — The majority of the underground pipe work at the Montreal Road/Granville intersection is complete. Remaining underground work at the intersection includes commissioning of the new watermain and service connections on Granville Street which will be completed over the next week. Road and sidewalk construction will follow.
  
  
• L’Eglise to St. Laurent Boulevard removals — Work started on the north side of Montreal Road earlier this week with one lane of traffic available on the south side of Montreal Road.  This set up will be in place over the next 1.5 months as crews construct new curbs, sidewalk and a road structure on the north side of Montreal Road
  
  
• Landscaping, streetscaping and Dupuis Plaza work — Landscape and street furniture installation is continuing, including the installation of bike racks, benches and garbage receptacles. Shrub planting in the numerous low-lying concrete planters is also continuing. Surface grading and concrete work on Dupuis Plaza has resumed.