December 16, 2022 Newsletter

December 16, 2022 Newsletter from Rawlson King, Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

A Message from Councillor King

This week, I was very pleased to have been appointed as Chair of the Built Heritage Committee for the 2022-2026 Term of Council. The previous week, I had successfully moved a motion to create the new full standing committee that is designed to protect, promote, and preserve our city's built heritage. As Built Heritage Committee Chair, I will also be appointed to the Finance and Corporate Services Committee. I am also gratified that I was appointed to the Environment and Climate Change Committee and the Community Services Committee and that I will also be serving on the boards of Ottawa Public Health and the Ottawa Public Library. I was also selected to again serve as Council Liaison for the City’s Anti-Racism and Ethnocultural Relations Initiatives in an effort to lead the implementation of the City of Ottawa's Anti-Racism Strategy.

Last week, I outlined my continuing objectives to help build safe, affordable, and healthy communities during introductory remarks to Council. I noted during my remarks that I am excited to be back at the Council table once again to pursue the concerns of residents who are seeking more housing, more green space, jobs and economic development, the protection of our built heritage, significant investments in affordable housing, in traffic management, snow removal, road and pathway maintenance, in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, in reliable transit, and parks.  You can see my remarks here.

In order to achieve these investments, I believe we will need to make realistic investments in transit, infrastructure, affordable housing and social services. Consequently, I voted against the budget direction that proposed tax increases that are drastically less than the inflationary pressures which the City faces. You can see my remarks here.

Councillor King in the Community

Rideau-Rockcliffe Roundtables

My staff and I officially launched my new Rideau-Rockcliffe Roundtable series with a ward-wide meet-and-greet at the Rideau-Rockcliffe Entrepreneurship Hub on Dec. 15. Thank you to the Ward 13 residents who attended. In 2023, I will be hosting monthly Rideau-Rockcliffe Roundtables in the Ward 13 communities. Stay tuned for details.

Rockcliffe Park Tree Lighting

I had a wonderful time during the Rockcliffe Park Residents Association’s tree lighting and carol sing at the Community Hall the evening of Dec. 14.

Rockcliffe Park Children’s Holiday Party

It was a perfect winter day for horse-drawn carriage rides in Rockcliffe Park on Dec. 11 during the Rockcliffe Park Residents Association’s Holiday Children’s Party.

Saying Thank You

It was a pleasure to gather with a group of community members the evening of Dec. 10 to raise a glass and say thank you to my friend and former city council colleague, Mathieu Fleury.

Ottawa Arts Court

There was plenty to see at the Ottawa Arts Courts on Dec. 10. There is a very vibrant arts scene here in our city.

Mayor’s Christmas Celebration

Thank you to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe for hosting the Mayor’s 20th Annual Christmas Celebration on Dec. 10 at City Hall in support of the Ottawa Food Bank. Nice to see lots of people out enjoying the season. It was also nice to run into former councillor Mathieu Fleury and his family at the celebration.  

Rideau-Rockcliffe News, Events and Engagement Opportunities

City of Ottawa Winter Operations

Snow clearing is done using a road-priority system, with high-use, emergency and transit routes cleared first. Click here for system details. Please note, timelines are suspended if a Significant Weather Event is declared as operations will be carried out based on the capacity of resources in as continuous a manner as practicable. More details at ottawa.ca/winter.

Winter Weather Parking Ban Now in Effect

A Winter Weather Parking Ban is in effect for Friday, Dec. 16 from 7 pm to Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 am. When vehicles are removed from our streets, the Roads and Parking Services team can clear snow efficiently to create a wide open roadway. During this time, all vehicles must be removed from the roadway - unless you have an eligible parking permit or are accessing parking in our exempted commercial main streets. Though eligible parking permit holders are exempt, we encourage those who can, to remove their vehicles to prevent them from being snowed in. Information on parking options during a winter weather parking ban is available on Ottawa.ca/winterparking.

Residents can stay in the know about our winter weather parking bans by signing up for e-alerts at Ottawa.ca, or by downloading the City of Ottawa app.

Submit a service request

To submit a service request, please call 3-1-1. Requests can also be submitted by email to [email protected]. You will receive a service request number. Please keep it so you can track the status of your application here. To report a winter-related problem on a City sidewalk, trail or road, please click here. Report a problem with a street, sidewalk or trail (in winter) here. 

400 Coventry Road Development Application - Public Consultation Dec. 20

The City has received an application for:

• an Official Plan Amendment (to the Secondary Plan, concerning permitted height for one of the towers)
• zoning by-law amendment (to permit appropriate density and lot coverage for transit-oriented development)
• proposed redevelopment of 400 Coventry Road (the southwest corner with Belfast, backing onto Highway 417), which currently has a one-storey industrial building and attached three-storey office building, with extensive surface parking and materials storage areas.

A virtual public consultation meeting about this proposal is scheduled for Dec. 20 at 6:30 pm on Zoom. Click here to register. The development applications can be reviewed on the City’s DevApps website. 

Overbrook Basketball Program for older youth

The Overbrook Community Centre presents basketball for older youth, ages 18 to 25, on Saturday nights from 8 to 10 pm beginning in January 2023. The centre is located at 33 Quill Street. The program is free. Call 613-742-5147 for details. 

Snow Moles Promote Safe Winter Walking in 2023

Join The Council on Aging of Ottawa’s Pedestrian Safety and Walkability Sub-Committee to celebrate the launch of the Snow Mole Report 2022 – How Safe is Winter Walking in Ottawa? On Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 at 10 am. Register to attend here.

• Learn how volunteer Snow Moles reported on winter safe walking conditions in their neighbourhoods
• Understand the City of Ottawa’s plans for safe winter walking
• Find out how you can Adopt-a-Bench along your winter walking route by clearing off the ice and snow for safe seats
• Hear the COA’s recommendations for improving winter walkability, dealing with snow and ice and other barriers, and how to be involved in the 2023 Snow Mole Campaign

Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre

• Emergency Food Bank & Health Services

The Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, at 815 St. Laurent Blvd., provides an emergency food bank service. For more details, please visit crcrr.org, call 613-745-0073 or email [email protected]. The Centre is partnering with Recovery Care, which brings their Mobile Health van to the Centre every second Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. The goal is to provide health supports, including those related to addictions, on a case-by-case basis.

• Fundraising Campaign

The Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre seeks your help to achieve $65,000 to purchase food for our vulnerable neighbours in Ward 13 this winter. At this moment in time, we are far from our goal and we hope altogether to offer them the food support they deserve and ensure the help they need. Join us and be part of the people who can make a difference. Consider donating a gift to families, seniors and children in need and promote healthier meals for our community.

Make an online monetary donation at crcrr.org

Or via CanadaHelps

Oakhill, Corona and Carsdale Integrated Renewal Project Startup

Project Website: ottawa.ca/oakhillroadrenewal

Scope of work summary:

• On Oakhill Road (Acacia Ave. to Beechwood Ave.) - separate the combined sewer into a new sanitary sewer and new storm sewer, replace the watermain and do full road reconstruction with the possible addition of traffic-calming features.

• On Corona Avenue (Acacia to Beechwood) - separate the combined sewer into a new sanitary sewer and new storm sewer and do full road reconstruction with the possible addition of traffic-calming features. The watermain does not require replacement.

• On Carsdale Avenue (Acacia to Black Maple Private) - replace the watermain and resurface the road.

• On the City lane between Carsdale and Green Avenue - resurface the road.

• Note that trees will be protected, road widths will remain approximately the same, and no sidewalks or curbs will be added.

Schedule summary:

• Design: January 2023 to January 2024
• Tender: Late winter or early spring 2024
• Construction: Summer 2024 to summer 2025

Montreal Road Revitalization Project

The contractor will stop work on Montreal Road by the end of this week. Currently, the site is being cleaned up, including the last two closed intersections at Olmstead North and Mona Avenue, which was scheduled to reopen by Dec. 15. Looking forward to the 2023 construction season, the following remaining work is scheduled to be completed by end of July 2023:

• Final asphalt lift from Marier Avenue to St. Laurent Boulevard
• Commissioning of the cycle track from Begin Street to St. Laurent Boulevard
• Completion of all remaining landscaping, street furniture, pavement marking and signage
• Construction of the south side Montreal Road cycle track from North River Road to Montgomery Street
• Modifications at the Montreal Road/North River Road intersection
• Construction of the multi-use path (MUP) proving a cycling connection from Mark Avenue to the Vanier Parkway
• Installation of the electronic Vanier community sign at the Montreal Road/Vanier Parkway intersection
• Implementation of traffic calming features along the north leg of North River Road

No detours will be required in 2023, and two-way traffic will be maintained during construction

Please note that this is the last weekly update of the year.

Contact the Montreal Road Project Team:

[email protected]

ottawa.ca/montrealroad

Wateridge Village News

Construction Updates

• Codd’s Road, between Hemlock and Mikinak Roads, is fully closed to traffic until the end of February 2023
• Good news! Hemlock Road is now open between Codd's Road and Barrielle Snow.
• Eugene Martineau Park will open to the public in late spring/summer of 2023. The park is closed until then as the equipment and green space have not been certified for public use and should not be accessed. The site will remain fenced. We will be sure to keep you updated on timing of the opening.

Commemoration Program

Canada Lands Company and the Algonquins of Ontario are pleased to present the Wateridge Village/Village des Riverains Commemoration Handbook. Resulting from three years of community outreach, collaborative story collection and research, the Handbook explores the personal stories and human experiences on the Wateridge Village lands. The collection of stories, principles and approaches in this Handbook will continue to shape the commemoration work and future development on the site, ensuring that the stories of the past are meaningfully and sensitively brought into the present. A link to the Handbook can be found here.

Lt. Col. William G. Barker VC Park (Park 8)

A new statue of Lt. Col William G. Barker VC has been completed and will be the centrepiece located in his namesake park within the village. A groundbreaking event is anticipated in the spring 2023.

Open Space

A friendly reminder to please always keep your pet on leash for everyone’s safety. We would also like to remind you that garbage dumping in the open spaces is not allowed. Please discard your garbage appropriately. See the City of Ottawa’s website regarding garbage handling.

Ottawa Public Health News

The holidays can be a difficult time for many. Check in with your loved ones and neighbours. If you or someone you know is having trouble coping – there are resources to help. Learn more about local mental health and substance use resources in Ottawa at: Mental Health and Substance Use Health Resource List.

As we prepare for holiday gatherings, we need to continue to assess our own level of risk and the risk for those around us to make informed decisions. Vaccination is the most effective way you can protect yourself and your loved ones from the most serious effects of respiratory illnesses. The Province announced this week that all Ontarians aged five and over are eligible to book a bivalent booster dose starting Dec. 21. Read more about why and when you should get a booster dose (Ontario.ca/COVIDbooster) and your flu shot (OttawaPublicHealth.ca/Flu)

Individual actions can add up to population-level protection when we use multiple layers of protection. 

Flu and Respiratory Virus season

Ottawa Public Health continues to inform the public of the levels of respiratory viruses in our community – through initiatives like our Risk Reduction webpage, Weekly Snapshot, COVID-19 Dashboard and weekly Flu Report.

Monitoring Indicators

• Wastewater virus detection levels of COVID-19 are high and increasing
• Wastewater virus detection levels of RSV are very high and increasing
• Wastewater virus detection levels of Influenza are very high and increasing
• Per cent positivity of COVID-19 is high and increasing
• Per cent positivity of RSV is moderate and decreasing
• Per cent positivity of Influenza is high and decreasing
• Outbreaks due to COVID-19 are very high and increasing
• Outbreaks due to Influenza are moderate and decreasing
• Outbreaks due to other respiratory viruses are moderate and increasing

City of Ottawa News, Events, Meetings and Engagement Opportunities 

Join the City’s Committees and Boards

The City is recruiting residents with diverse backgrounds to provide their voices and unique perspectives on many of its committees and boards. These volunteer positions are opportunities for residents to make a difference in their community by providing their experiences, expertise, knowledge and professionalism. For more details, the eligibility criteria, application deadlines and to apply, please click here: ottawa.ca/committees For more information or to submit your application, visit the Join a committee or board page. You can also email [email protected] or call 613-580-2424, ext. 28136 for more information.

➤ There will be a virtual question and answer session on Zoom on Dec. 19 at 6 pm. Registration is required.

Vacant Unit Tax

Declaration Period / Extended Deadline / Grace Period for Fee

Beginning in 2023, property owners assessed in the residential tax class will be required to declare annually if their property was vacant for over 184 days in the prior year (2022). Principal residences will not be subject to the tax.

Residential properties that meet the vacant unit definition will be subject to the 1% tax applied to the MPAC assessment value. An estimated 330,000 residential property owners will need to declare their vacancy status annually.

The annual declaration period will open on January 1 and run through mid-March. Residents who have not declared their vacancy status by the end of this period will be charged a $250 late declaration fee. Recognizing that this will be a change management exercise, the late fee will not apply in 2023 and will instead apply beginning in 2024. Residential property owners will then be provided with an extended deadline which will expire at the end of April each year.

With robust communication on residents' obligations, Vancouver received more than 98% of the total required declarations in the first year of implementation.

Click here for more information.

Ottawa Public Library - Anishinābemowin Algonquin language series

The site of the new Central Library at Ādisōke is located on the unceded, traditional territory of the Anishinābe Algonquin Nation. In the Anishinābemowin Algonquin language, Ādisōke refers to the telling of stories. The Ādisōke team invites you to learn a few words in that language. Over the next few weeks, OPL will post vocabulary related to the construction of the facility and pronunciation videos to help you practise. The first word in the new series is mònànikewin (groundbreaking). Construction for Ādisōke began in early 2022 – the ground might have been frozen, but that didn’t stop the team! Click here for details.

Winter Lights Projection on Parliament Hill

The multimedia projection on Parliament Hill combines colourful digital imagery with a captivating soundtrack.

• From 8, 2022 to Jan. 8, 2023
• From Thursday to Monday, 5:30 to 11 pm
• Presented in a 15-minute loop
• Parliament Hill, 111 Wellington Street, Ottawa

Click here for more information.

BeaverTails Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival

The BeaverTails Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival is the world’s largest ice dragon boat race with more than 1,200 athletes from the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand and more. Festivities take place Feb. 3 and 4, 2023 on the Rideau Canal Skateway at Dow’s Lake. On Feb. 11 and 12, Ottawa hosts the inaugural Ice Dragon Boat World Championships at TD Place Arena. A spectacular lineup of free indoor concerts warms things up, from Feb. 3 to 20, at Ottawa’s legendary home of live music, The Rainbow. Click here for details.

Emergency Services News

Ottawa Police Service

• NHL hockey legends vs. law enforcement

Watch NHL legends take on law enforcement members in a charity hockey game to raise funds for Special Olympic athletes here in Ottawa on December 17 at Pinecrest Community Centre. Click here for tickets and details.

• Granny scams

If you’ve been a victim of a granny scam where a “family member” calls asking for urgent financial help, call 2-1-1, and they can walk you through the next steps.

• Festive RIDE Program

Last weekend’s Festive RIDE saw seven RIDE events and 1,150 stopped vehicles. Two drivers were issued three-day licence suspensions for testing within the warn range. 

City of Ottawa Committee and Council Updates

City Council News - Dec. 14, 2022

• Council approved recommendations from its Nominating Committee, establishing committee appointments and membership for the 2022-2026 Term of Council. Click here for the complete list.

Upcoming Meetings

➤ The Ottawa Police Services Board’s monthly public meeting scheduled for Dec. 19, 2022, has been cancelled. The next monthly public meeting of the Ottawa Police Services Board will take place on Jan. 23, 2023 at 4 pm.

➤ Ottawa Public Library Board - Jan. 31 at 5 pm

For a list of upcoming Committee and Council meetings and to access the meeting agendas, please click here. Watch or listen to meetings in progress or access the video or audio of past meetings on YouTube or on the City’s agendas and minutes web portal. Regular City Council meetings are also broadcast live on RogersTV Cable 22 and live streamed on the RogersTV website.