August 8, 2025 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.
A Message from Councillor King
Your Councillor in the Community
I had a great time at the Carson Community House BBQ this evening hosted by Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre.
Rideau-Rockcliffe News, Events and Engagement Opportunities
New sidewalks coming to Overbrook - Construction beginning soon
Construction will soon begin for new sidewalks in Overbrook 105 metres along the north side of Presland Road to Frances Street and on the south side of both Presland Road and Hardy Avenue from Frances to the existing sidewalk on Bernard Street. Construction is anticipated to be completed by this fall. This initiative will complete a missing link in the neighbourhood's pedestrian network, improving walkability to Queen Mary Public School, local parks, the St. Laurent Shopping Centre and bus stops on St. Laurent Boulevard and Lola Street. The new sidewalks will require narrowing the width of the road, which is expected to assist in calming traffic.
Work on the landscaping and streetscaping work at the southeast corner of Montreal Road and North River Road is now underway and will be completed in Fall 2025.
What: Landscaping and streetscaping improvements to the southeast corner of Montreal Road and North River Road, in preparation for the new Public Art Installation “Rideau”.St. Laurent Boulevard Fibre Network Installation - Construction to begin soon
Starting in early August, the City of Ottawa will be undertaking a traffic duct installation project. This work is being done to enhance communication links to existing traffic signals and increase the communication capacity and efficiency to the City’s Traffic Signal System and Traffic Camera System Network. The construction start date will be shared as soon as it becomes available.
What: The construction will consist of traffic duct installation within the west sidewalk/boulevard along St. Laurent Boulevard. Installation works will consist of sidewalk removal and replacement as well as directional drilling to install the new duct.
Why: This work is being done to enhance communication links to existing traffic signals and increase communication capacity and efficiency to the City’s Traffic Signal System and Traffic Camera System Network.
When: The work is expected to begin in early August and be completed by late October 2025.
Where: The work will be conducted within the west sidewalk/boulevard between McArthur Avenue and Ogilvie Road, as well as at the east Transitway Ramp across from the St. Laurent Shopping Centre.
Who: The City of Ottawa has retained the contractor, JWK Utilities & Site Services Ltd., to complete the work.
Traffic impacts: To accommodate the proposed works, various lane reductions, and delays are expected. Sidewalk closures along the west side of St. Laurent Boulevard are also expected. Pedestrians will be directed to use the adjacent sidewalk along the east side.
Driveway access: As the various road reconstruction activities are in progress on your street, on-street parking may be restricted. In the event that access to your driveway will be impacted, you will receive 24-hours’ notice and provided with a Temporary On-Street Parking Permit (orange form) to permit on-street parking within two blocks of your residence.
For more project details, please visit ottawa.ca.
Vanier BIA AKOUSTIK at St. Charles Market - August 13 & 27
Join the Vanier BIA this summer for AKOUSTIK, a FREE outdoor live music event at the St. Charles Market at the corner of Beechwood Avenue and St. Charles Street. Live music, warm evenings, and local talent—this free outdoor concert series brings the rhythm of summer to Vanier from July to September. Enjoy takeout from your favourite local spots with special AKOUSTIC meal deals! For details and updates, please visit vanierbia.com/akoustik.
- Wednesdays 6pm – 8pm • St. Charles Market
- Dates: August 13, 27 • September 3, 10, 17
Beer and Bites at the Vanier Sugar Shack - August 14
The Vanier Museopark is thrilled to invite you to the first edition of the beer & bites relaunch, a festive hoppy hour event where gourmet appetizers meet local craft beers. Next event: Thursday, August 14, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Featured brewery: Collective Arts Location: Vanier Sugar Shack (320 des Pères-Blancs Ave.) Cost: $35 per person (must be 19+ to participate) Free parking available at the Richelieu-Vanier Community Centre (300 des Pères-Blancs Ave.). Enjoy creative food pairings, specially curated to complement unique beers from Collective Arts Brewing – all in the welcoming, rustic atmosphere of the Vanier Sugar Shack. Tickets are available at this link.
O-Train Line 1 service adjustments - August 16, 17 & 31
On August 16, 17, and 31, there will be adjustments to Line 1 service for integration work on the O-Train East extension. The work has been scheduled to occur at the same time as other infrastructure activities, such as inspections in the St-Laurent tunnel, to minimize impacts on customers. Every effort is being made to minimize customer impacts while the O-Train East Extension testing and commissioning continues. Customers are encouraged to use the Travel Planner and Transit app to plan their trips. Customers can also visit octranspo.com for travel planning assistance or call 613-560-5000. For details about the adjustments, please visit octranspo.com.
Pride-inspired movie night in Wateridge Village - August 16
- Pre-movie fun and complimentary treats begin at 7:30 pm
- Movie to follow at dusk
- Film shown in English with French subtitles
Bring a blanket or lawn chair and join us as we come together to celebrate our LGBTQ2+ community. We can’t wait to see you there! Details and updates: www.facebook.com/wateridgeriverains
Heritage Ottawa 2025 Walking Tour Season - August 17 to Oct. 5
Explore the history and heritage of some of Ottawa's most interesting neighbourhoods with Heritage Ottawa's knowledgeable tour guides! For tickets and details: shop.heritageottawa.org/en/heritage-ottawa-walking-tours
- Hog's Back - Beyond the Falls - August 17 at 2 pm. Depart from the Hogs Back refreshment stand.
- Hintonburg: An Early Streetcar Suburb - August 27 at 2 pm. Depart from The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, 20 Fairmont Avenue.
- Art and Nature - Landscapes of Cornelia Oberlander - Sept. 14 at 2 pm. Meet in the north end of Major's Hill Park.
- Island Park Drive - August 21 at 2 pm. Depart from Kitchissippi United Church, 630 Island park Drive.
- New Edinburgh - Sept. 28 at 2 pm. Depart from the Fraser Schoolhouse, 62 John Street (Janet Uren will be your guide.)
- Sandy Hill: History and Housing - October 5 at 2 pm. Depart from Église Sacré-Coeur, 591 Cumberland Street.
Ward 13 author hosts book signings - August 19, 23, 24 & Sept. 20
Matthew Sancton, federal public servant and Ward 13 resident, will be releasing a children’s book on Tuesday, August 19. The Ripple Effect: How Small Actions Can Change the World is a rhyming and beautifully illustrated story that shows kids how even the smallest good deed can create ripples that change the world for the better. The book is dedicated to his niece and nephews and it was developed in collaboration with Alyse Mercey, an Ottawa-based illustrator. A book signing event will be held at Indigo – Innes (2025 Mer-Bleue Rd.) on Sunday, August 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. You can also find Matthew at the Alta Vista Market on August 23 (2345 Alta Vista Dr.) and the Beechwood Market (203 Stanley Ave.) on September 20. A copy is also available at the St. Laurent branch of the Ottawa Public Library (515 Coté St.) and copies will be available for purchase at: Singing Pebble Books (206 Main St.), Books on Beechwood (35 Beechwood Ave.), Octopus Books (116 Third Ave.) and Westboro Books (314 Richmond Rd.), as well as through Amazon, Indigo and a number of online retailers. Further details can be found at: linktr.ee/msancton.
Jeffrey Avenue, Arundel Avenue, Farnham Crescent et al. Integrated Renewal - Survey open until August 30
The City of Ottawa is starting pre-construction work in the Manor Park community, such as pre-construction surveys and utility locates, in advance of the construction on the new sewers, watermains and associated road reconstruction work as part of the Jeffery Avenue, Arundel Avenue, Farnham Crescent et al Integrated Renewal project. Construction equipment and materials will be mobilized to the site shortly thereafter. As the project limits are quite large, you may not see work in your neighbourhood until next year.
** This is not the start of full construction, but rather preparatory work to ensure utilities are properly identified before excavation begins. That said, components of the project, including traffic calming measures and sidewalks, are still under consideration.
What: Construction activity related to the installation of new sewers, watermains and associated road reconstruction.- Arundel Avenue, from Farnham Crescent to St. Laurent Boulevard
- Braemar Street, from Ava Road to Arundel Avenue
- Farnham Crescent, from Arundel Avenue to north-side dead-end
- Finter Street, from St. Laurent Boulevard to west-side dead-end
- Jeffrey Avenue, from St. Laurent Boulevard to Braemar Street
- Kilbarry Crescent, from Sandridge Road to Ava Road
For details, please visit the project webpage at ottawa.ca/ArundelAvenue. Your feedback can be submitted via the City's online form. Councillor King is inviting Manor Park residents to complete a sidewalks survey at this link by August 30.
Doors Open at Rideau Hall - August 30 to Sept. 1
Throughout the weekend of August 30 to Sept. 1, visitors can discover the State rooms of Rideau Hall at their own pace and tour the greenhouses and gardens, which are not open to the public during regular tours. Guides will be on-hand to answer any questions about the history and the role of Canada’s governor general. Rideau Hall is located in Rideau-Rockcliffe at 1 Sussex Drive. Details: www.gg.ca
City of Ottawa News, Events, Meetings and Engagement Opportunities
Black history in Ottawa Streets tours - Saturdays and Wednesdays (August 9, Sept. 3 & 10)
Discover Canada’s Black history with the Black History in Ottawa Streets bus tour, available Wednesdays and Saturdays, 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, May to October. Upcoming tours are August 9, Sept. 3 & 10. Details: Eventbrite
Bike Ottawa launches new Bike Map
Bike Ottawa is pleased to announce the launch of the free Cycling Guide app in Ottawa, offering residents and visitors the best available low-stress, cycling-friendly routes to get where they want to go. A “Made in Canada” solution to the common barrier for people using bikes as transportation – how do I get from A to B safely? This mobile app provides users with the safest routes, all colour-coded for easy understanding, making it perfect for those who want to start using their bike and offering better alternatives for getting around their city. And if you are a visitor unfamiliar with finding safe routes, the Cycling Guide app will also help you. For details, please visit bikeottawa.ca.
A Company of Fools Theatre presents The Comedy of Errors - August 11
The Fools are back on tour!! Join A Company of Fools for their 7-week Shakespearean summer marathon, featuring The Comedy of Errors! Be among the first visitors to their Foolish Mushroom Kingdom and prepare to laugh ‘til you fall out of your lawn chair. Here’s where they'll be playing this coming week near Ward 13:
- August 11 - Strathcona Park
Fall recreation programming dates - view programs online now; registration opens August 12 and 14
Summer may have just started, but we’re already dreaming of fall! Don’t miss out on next season’s programming. Mark your calendars today with these upcoming registration dates.
- View programs online now
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Register online for:
- Fall swimming activities August 12 at 9 pm.
- All fall activities August 14 at 9 pm.
Take a look at what’s on offer and register today at register.ottawa.ca
Rain Ready Ottawa Webinar: Planning & Planting a Rain Garden - August 14
Want to create a beautiful, eco-friendly rain garden but don’t know where to start? Rain Ready Ottawa will be hosting a webinar on August 14 at 7 pm that will guide you through every step — from choosing a location and testing your soil to selecting plants and building your garden. Perfect for beginners, no green thumb required! Secure your spot for this webinar on Eventbrite!
The Cleaning the Capital campaign is a citywide cleanup that occurs in the spring and fall of every year. Residents come together as a community and combine efforts to make our city clean and green. Litter pickup projects must be registered, and participating teams, upon request, receive a cleanup starter kit to assist them with their projects. 2025 marks the 32nd year of the Cleaning the Capital Program! Registration for the Cleaning the Capital Fall campaign begins on August 15, with litter cleanup projects taking place across our city between September 15 and October 15. Participants can choose to clean public spaces such as parks and greenspaces, roadsides, shorelines, or even areas around bus stops. Every cleanup project helps keep our city clean. Cleanup kits, which include nitrile gloves and garbage bags, will be made available for pickup by registrants between September 2 and October 12 at fourteen City of Ottawa facilities across the city. Visit ottawa.ca/clean for more details and to register.
- August 15, 2025: Registration opens
- September 2 - October 12, 2025: Cleanup kits available for pickup at participating City facilities
- September 15, 2025 - October 15, 2025: Fall Cleaning the Capital campaign
- September 30, 2025: Registration closes
- October 31, 2025: Deadline to submit your online cleanup report
Civics Boot Camp 2025: Build the Skills to Shape Your City - Applications due by August 15
Want to change the world—but start with your own community? Synapcity Civics Boot Camp is a program designed to equip you with the tools, confidence, and connections to take meaningful action where you live. Whether you’re an aspiring city-builder, community organizer, or someone ready to step up, this program offers a space to learn, collaborate, and grow. That belief grounds every session—from big-picture thinking to real-world strategy. Over eight weeks (with a break during Fall Reading Week: October 20–25) from Sept. 24 to Nov. 19, you'll explore how to navigate civic systems, mobilize ideas, and co-create stronger, more connected communities. Spots are limited—apply by Friday, August 15, to be part of Civics Boot Camp 2025. Apply Now → Synapcity Boot Camp Application More info → synapcity.ca
Have Your Say: Help Shape Ottawa’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan - Survey open until August 19
The City of Ottawa and community partners developed a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan for 2021 to 2031, that was unanimously adopted by Ottawa City Council on October 27, 2021. The plan was developed in partnership with the community, to learn more visit Community Safety and Well-Being Plan – 2021 to 2031. The Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan addresses local risks to safety and well-being at the community level in seven priority areas. The City of Ottawa is reviewing its Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan and is seeking your input. City staff want to make sure the Plan continues to reflect what matters to people across the city, supports practical changes, and encourages everyone to take part in creating safe, welcoming communities. Your feedback will help refine priorities, identify emerging priorities, and shape meaningful actions. Residents are welcome to complete an online survey, available until August 19, 2025.
To learn more about the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan priorities and stay informed, visit and subscribe to the Engage Ottawa page.
For questions or feedback, please contact: CSWB/[email protected]
Join OC Transpo for a Para Transpo Talk event celebrating summer and accessible transit! Staff will be out at the following locations in August:
- Tuesday, August 19, at Bowesville Station: 10 am to 2 pm and 6 to 9 pm
- Wednesday, August 20, at Hurdman Station: 10 am to 2 pm and 6 to 9 pm
- Thursday, August 21, at Tunney’s Pasture Station: 10 am to 2 pm and 6 to 9 pm
Para Transpo Talk is a series of customer engagement events that are open to all Para Transpo customers, their families, companions and support persons. Everyone is welcome, no matter how often you use Para Transpo. This time, staff will be chatting about accessibility and navigating the O-Train. Have questions about how to make the train a part of your trips? Staff will be available to answer questions and provide interested customers on tours of stations or the O-Train.
Rain Ready Ottawa Webinar: Permeable Pavement: Ask an Expert - August 27
Have questions about permeable pavement? Join landscape expert Lindsey Best for a webinar on August 27 at 7 pm as she answers FAQs about costs, performance, maintenance, and what works best in our Canadian climate. Stick around for a live Q&A! Register at Eventbrite.
Afro-Caribbean Thrive Conference - August 30
Welcome to the Black Immigrants Thrive Conference Career & Business Growth! Join us on August 30 at 10 am at the Rogers Centre for a day filled with networking, learning, and empowerment. This event is all about celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black immigrants in the workforce and business world. Come connect with like-minded individuals, attend workshops on career development and entrepreneurship, and gain valuable insights from successful Black immigrant professionals. Expect good vibes, real talk, powerful workshops, and an amazing community that gets you. Come network, learn, and most importantly — THRIVE. For details and tickets, please visit Eventbrite.
Nominations open for the 14th annual Order of Ottawa and Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching - Submission deadline Sept. 3
The City is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Order of Ottawa and the Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching. You can complete nominations for both awards either online or by downloading a nomination form from the Order of Ottawa award webpage. The submission deadline is Wednesday, September 3 at 11:59 pm. Nominations will be considered every year for five consecutive years from the date of submission. The Order of Ottawa, now in its 14th year, recognizes the professional achievements and outstanding service of exceptional Ottawa residents – those who have made significant contributions through their professional endeavours, to life in the city in any of the following areas: arts and culture, business, philanthropy, health care, education, public service, labour, communications and media, science, sports and entertainment and other fields that benefit Ottawa. The Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching recognizes the contribution of an amateur coach who exemplifies the qualities of leadership and commitment that have been the hallmarks of Brian Kilrea’s career. Mr. Kilrea is a retired hockey head coach, general manager and player, and is best known for his 35-year association with the Ottawa 67’s. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, has played and coached in the NHL, and with more than 1,000 career victories, he is the most successful coach in Canadian junior hockey history. You can find more information about both awards on the Order of Ottawa award webpage.
The City of Ottawa will release the third and final draft of the new Zoning By-law on September 8, 2025. A 28-day public consultation period will follow, ending on October 8, 2025. Residents are invited to learn more about how the new Zoning By-law will shape growth in Ottawa at several upcoming events:
- Virtual Open Houses: September 17 and September 25
- Statutory Open House (in-person): September 23 at the EY Centre
Improving parking access in Ottawa’s busiest destination neighbourhoods
Ottawa is home to many vibrant destination areas, with popular restaurants, pubs, and unique shops and boutiques. To promote increased parking turnover and to better support local businesses, the City of Ottawa is introducing changes to paid on-street parking in select neighbourhoods. These changes are part of a broader effort to improve access to and better manage parking in high demand areas. These changes are data-driven, based on parking occupancy data, and are designed to better support local businesses by improving the availability of parking in neighbourhoods at the busiest times. For details, please visit ottawa.ca.
Love Food Hate Waste
Did you know the average Canadian household throws away $1,300 worth of edible food every year? Reducing food waste at home is easier than you think. The City of Ottawa has partnered with Love Food Hate Waste to help you save money and cut down on food waste. For food saving tips and recipes visit ottawa.ca/FoodWaste.