December 9, 2022 Newsletter

Councillor King in the Community

• Congratulations to all the community association volunteers and community leaders in Ward 13 who received Platinum Jubilee pins from Ottawa-Vanier MP Mona Fortier at the Rideau Sports Centre in Overbrook on Dec. 9 in recognition of their amazing service to our neighbourhoods.
  
  
• I was pleased to welcome the African Caribbean Black Wellness Centre to Ward 13 on Dec. 6. The centre is focused on providing culturally sensitive community and social services to the entire Ottawa-Gatineau region.
  
  
• Lots of fun in Lindenlea the evening of Dec. 4 with horse-drawn sleigh rides and a chili dinner. Community donations were also made to Toy Mountain and the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre.

• I was honoured to recognize the extraordinary talent of Ottawa’s top hip hop artists at the inaugural Recognize Awards, produced by Cranium Festival at the Shenkman Arts Centre on Dec. 3.
  
  
• Attended a wonderful vernissage at the Space Gallery, a non-profit art studio on McArthur Avenue for neurodivergent adults, the evening of Dec. 3. Such amazing talent in Ward 13!
  
  
• I purchased some amazing holiday gifts at the Holiday Night Market on Dec. 3 in Manor Park at the community hub on Gaspe Avenue.
  
  
• Great to support OC Transpo’s annual Christmas Food Drive at Loblaw Vanier on Dec. 3. A total of 61,775 pounds of food and $15,397 was collected for the Ottawa Food Bank. These donations will help keep their shelves stocked for the upcoming holiday season.
  
  
• It was a great night supporting the Odawa Native Friendship Centre at its 24th Aboriginal Art Auction held at the Rideau Community Hub on Dec. 2.
  
  
• I provided comment on Dec. 2 at the federal Parliamentary Black Caucus pre-budget consultation concerning community desire in the City of Ottawa for core funding for culturally-sensitive social service and mental health programming.

Rideau-Rockcliffe News, Events and Engagement Opportunities

Update: Phase 2 Renewal of St. Laurent bus rapid-transit station

City staff have provided the following update on the Phase 2 renewal of the upper-level platform at the station. Construction of Stage 1 of the platform was completed on Nov. 25 and open to transit users that same day. Due to the labour strike this summer, Stage 2 work, which includes the platform on the west side of the information building, has not been completed. Work on Stage 2 will commence in April 2023 with completion anticipated before the end of July 2023.

Santa is Coming to Overbrook - Dec. 10

The Overbrook Community Centre, in collaboration with Ottawa Community Housing and the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, will offer a no-cost photo opportunity with Santa Claus. Santa will visit the Overbrook Community Centre, 33 Quill St., on Dec. 10, from 11 am to 2 pm.

Holiday marketplace in Manor Park on Dec. 10

Afrotechture hosts a holiday marketplace at 1805 Gaspé Avenue in Manor Park on Dec. 10, 12 to 6 pm. Shop and discover African-Caribbean-Black Canadian artisans and artisan companies.

When: Dec. 10, 12 to 6 pm

What: Afro-Caribbean-Black artisan pop-up, family-friendly kids corner, food & drinks (eat/take-home), music, charitable book sale (Black authors)

Where: 1805 Gaspé Avenue (Manor Park Area)

Parking: Free (onsite and neighbouring area)

Rideau Sports Centre Tennis Party - Dec. 11

You are invited to the 2022 Rideau Sports Centre’s Tennis Party on Dec. 11 at 6:15 pm in the Tennis Dome. This year’s party will feature an Exhibition Match between two Elite players who are currently playing NCAA Division 1 tennis in the USA. These two incredible athletes will battle on the RSC Centre Court and will demonstrate exceptional skills gathered in their international careers. A reception will be held in the Bridge Restaurant (on site) after the exhibition with delicious appetizers and drinks. This is a fabulous opportunity for all tennis players to get to know each other and celebrate a fantastic year. Tickets are $25 per person and include the exhibition match, appetizers, and one drink. To purchase tickets, please call 613-749-6126 or stop by in person at 1 Donald Street. Details: rideausportscentre.com/events

Respiratory Illness Virtual Town Hall Discussion - Dec. 12

With the increase in respiratory illness in our community, the Kids Come First Health Team is hosting a virtual Town Hall discussion on Monday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 pm. Health-care experts will be available to support parents and caregivers currently caring for children experiencing respiratory illness and those with concerns about future illnesses.

Discussion topics will include:

• Information about respiratory illnesses and the current surge
• Symptoms of respiratory illnesses and other related illnesses
• Tips to assist with caring for a sick child at home
• When to seek emergency care
• Medications
• Preventative strategies
• Reliable Resources

To view the Town Hall please visit: www.youtube.com/@kidscomefirsthealthteam

Please submit all questions before or during the live event at: https://forms.office.com/r/cPRYCMSu6T

Rockcliffe Park Children’s Party, Tree Lighting & Carol Sing Dec. 11 & 14

• Children’s Holiday Party: Dec. 11, 2 to 4 pm, at the Community Hall, 380 Springfield Road. Featuring sleigh rides, outdoor activities, holiday traditions, crafts and treats. No registration required. Free admission. Donations to the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre food bank are appreciated.
• Tree Lighting and Carol Sing: Dec. 14 at 6 pm, behind the Community Hall, 380 Springfield Road. The Elmwood Junior School Choir and the Salvation Army Ottawa Citadel Brass Band will perform. Hot chocolate will be served.

Dec. 15 Road Closure - Taylor Lane from Dufferin Road to Noel Street

Taylor Lane, between Dufferin Road and Noel Street, will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 15, between 7 am and 7 pm. The closure is required to allow Ottawa Crane Rental to install a crane to assist in the removal of trees at 72 Dufferin Road. Local residents in the affected area will be notified.

Rideau-Rockcliffe Roundtables

In the New Year, I will be hosting in-person monthly Rideau-Rockcliffe Roundtables in Ward 13 neighbourhoods during which local residents can discuss City-related matters with me and my staff. To kick these off, I am hosting a ward-wide meet-and-greet at the Rideau-Rockcliffe Entrepreneurship Hub, 815 St. Laurent Boulevard, in the Incubator13 Room 124 on Dec. 15 from 12 to 3 pm. Advance registration is appreciated. Please sign up here. 

Wateridge Village - Winter Wonderland Warm Up Dec. 16

The Wateridge Village Community Association is celebrating the holiday season with a family-friendly get-together on Dec. 16 from 5 to 7 pm at 550 Codd’s Road. This is a great chance for adults to meet and connect with neighbours and support local causes while the children play. The event is open to all Wateridge Village residents. Advance registration is required at this link.

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. 

Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre

• Donations Welcome

Currently, Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre and Food for Thought Café deliver meals to 400 vulnerable community members a week including seniors living in low income communities, community members living in motels and waiting for permanent housing, and those in other health crises. To continue this meal delivery until at least the Holidays we need immediate financial assistance and are making a call for donations. To donate, please go to our website: and click on the DONATE button located in the top right corner. This will take you to our Canada Helps donation page, under “Apply your donation to a fund set up by this charity”, please select “4. Community Support Services-Meal Delivery.

• Emergency Food Bank Service & Health Services

The Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, at 815 St. Laurent Blvd., provides an emergency food bank service. The Resource Centre serves the communities of Overbrook, Forbes, Carson Grove, Manor Park, Lindenlea, Rockcliffe and New Edinburgh. 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. Parking is available behind the Rideau Hub. The goal is to provide health supports, including those related to addictions, on a case-by-case basis.

Le Centre de ressources communautaires Rideau-Rockcliffe est heureux de s'associer avec Recovery Care, qui se déplacera avec leur Santé mobile à notre Centre tous les deux 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞 𝟗𝐡𝟎𝟎 à 𝟏𝟓𝐡𝟎𝟎 à 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐫 𝐝𝐮 𝟐 𝐝é𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐞. Le stationnement est disponible derrière le Rideau Hub. La mission est de fournir un soutien de santé lié aux dépendances et d'autres soutiens de santé au cas par cas.

Winter registration for artistic swimming now open

Registration for Go Capital Artistic Swimming’s winter recreation programs is now open for new and returning swimmers, Click here for details. These programs are for swimmers born between 2010 and 2017. Participants must be comfortable swimming in deep water and 25 metres without assistance. Weekly sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at the Splash, Sawmill and Bob MacQuarrie pools. Register at gocapitalsynchro.ca. Questions? Email [email protected].

Montreal Road Project Updates

Work is scheduled to stop on Montreal Road in the next two weeks (December 5 to December 16), with the following remaining tasks:

• Lafontaine/Granville/Montreal Road intersection – The intersection is scheduled to be opened this Friday, December 9. Remaining work will be completed this week including asphalt ramping and overhead signage – both of which are required to open the intersection.
• Lafontaine to St. Laurent Boulevard – Crews are continuing installation of demarcation tiles and driveway tie-ins over the next week.
• Side street and intersection work – All barrels along Montreal Road will be removed by the end of next week and all side streets will be opened.
• Site Cleanup – Crews have started cleaning up the site for the winter and will continue over the next week or so including removal of all construction equipment, material and debris.

A final weekly update will be sent out once construction is completed for this year.

More details:

[email protected]

ottawa.ca/montrealroad

City of Ottawa News, Events, Meetings and Engagement Opportunities 

Mayor to host annual Christmas celebration at City Hall

The Mayor’s 20th Annual Christmas Celebration has been postponed to Saturday, Dec. 10 from 2 to 5 pm at Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West. Admission is by donation to the Ottawa Food Bank. Click here for details.

Winter Operations - What to expect this winter

Especially in the winter, the City’s Roads and Parking Services staff work very closely with their partners across the corporation to ensure their response to winter weather events meets the needs of the people of our City. By-law & Regulatory Services, OC Transpo and emergency services – just to name a few – are invaluable members of the City’s winter operations team and are key to ensuring a successful winter season. Weather forecasts are monitored regularly; how and when they respond to winter conditions is based on the winter event at-hand and on the Council-approved Maintenance Quality Standards, which define the desirable level of service. The City’s response may change during a Significant Weather Event, which you can learn about here: Ottawa.ca.

Stay tuned to City communication channels to keep tabs on changing conditions and announcements, such as when Winter Weather Parking Bans are enacted or lifted, as well as relevant resources, such as where to park during a Winter Weather Parking Ban and other operational updates.

If you have a service request, please call 3-1-1 directly. Requests can also be sent by e-mail to [email protected]. You will receive a Service Request number. Please keep this so that you can track the status of your request here.

Vacant Unit Tax

Recently, homeowners in the City of Ottawa will have received a letter in the mail regarding the Vacant Unit Tax. There is no data available to track vacant units. Water and hydro use data is protected by privacy laws and cannot be used to determine vacancy. Further, water and hydro  usage data would not indicate if a property is a principal residence that is recording low usage due to travel, work contracts, extensive renovations, military postings, or schooling. In June 2021 staff presented a report to Council with the study of several residential vacant unit tax regimes globally to show how residential vacant unit tax regimes have been implemented. The regimes used one of three different ways to determine vacancy:

• Mandatory Declaration
• Voluntary Vacant Unit Declaration: Property owners would voluntarily declare a vacancy in good faith and be taxed by the City.
• Complaint-Based: Vacant properties would be identified through a complaint or tip from residents

The City of Ottawa included these three options in the residential vacant unit tax survey sent out to residents in spring 2021. The survey responses showed that residents favoured the mandatory declaration annually over the other two approaches. For more information, please refer to the "What We Heard" survey results in the VUT report presented to Council on June 9, 2021.

In all cases, regimes that used the Voluntary Vacant Unit Declaration or complaint-based method have been ineffective in capturing vacant units and reducing vacancies in cities. One such example is Melbourne, Australia, where the voluntary approach was used, leading to the identification of less than 20% of vacant properties. Melbourne eventually put the program on hold. In comparison, those regimes using the mandatory declaration approach have been consistently successful. Vancouver, Toronto, and Hamilton have also adopted a mandatory declaration approach for their vacant unit tax regimes.

For more information, please see Ottawa.ca/VUT.

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 an in-person information session on Dec. 12 from 6 to 8 pm at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive, Main Lobby.

There will be a virtual information session: Question and answer session in Zoom on Dec. 19 at 6 pm. Registration is required.

City Hall Art Gallery

Metamorphosis: 2022 Additions to the City of Ottawa Art Collection

This exhibition features a selection of artworks that were recently added to the City of Ottawa Art Collection through purchase and donation. Entering a new era of optimism, the artists taking part in Metamorphosis use their artistic practices to explore this time of reflection, renewal, and reconnection through diverse perspectives on society and our environment, identity, and memory.

Dec. 8, 2022 to Feb. 3, 2023

Opening: Thursday, Dec. 15, 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Access is limited to the Laurier Avenue entrance during exhibit events.

City Hall Art Gallery, Ottawa City Hall

facebook.com/OttChag

Cultural Funding

The City of Ottawa is now accepting nominations for the 2023-2026 Karsh Award.

Deadline: Jan. 11, 2023, at 4 pm

Every four years, in honour of the enduring legacy of Yousuf and Malak Karsh, the City of Ottawa recognizes a local mid-career or established artist for their outstanding body of work and their significant contribution to the artistic discipline in a photo/lens-based medium. 

Ottawa Public Health News

Kids Come First - Respiratory Illness Town Hall & First Care Clinic

The Kids Come First Health Team consists of more than 60 organizations, nearly 1,100 physicians, and child, youth, family and caregiver partners who deliver services in ways that matter to children, youth, and families. Kids Come First has shared their inaugural edition of the Kids Come First Connection newsletter containing information on care clinics, and is hosting a Respiratory Illness Town Hall Dec. 12, 2022 at 7:30 pm on Youtube. To find out more about the initiative, please visit KidsComeFirst.ca.

To view the Town Hall please visit: www.youtube.com/@kidscomefirsthealthteam

Please submit all questions before or during the live event at:

https://forms.office.com/r/cPRYCMSu6T

The Kids Come First Care Clinic is available for in-person assessment and care of children and youth with acute illnesses, which include a fever, cough, or runny nose. This service is available for those without access to an in-person appointment with a primary care provider. Please note that the clinic is by appointment only. For additional information on the Kids Come First and other assessment centres, please visit Cheo.on.ca/kidscomefirst.

COVID-19 Booster Information: Vaccination is the most effective way you can protect yourself and your loved ones from the most serious effects of COVID-19. Read more about why and when you should get a booster dose: Ontario.ca/COVIDbooster

Monitoring Indicators

• Wastewater virus detection levels of COVID-19 are moderate 
• Wastewater virus detection levels of RSV are very high 
• Wastewater virus detection levels of Influenza are very high 
• COVID-19 per cent positivity is moderate 
• New COVID-19 hospitalizations are moderate  
• New confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks are moderate

Key Takeaways

• We are still seeing high levels of respiratory viruses circulating in our community.
• One item to note: while the wastewater and per cent positivity levels for COVID-19 remain moderate, they are showing an increase after weeks of consistently declining. It’s a reminder that COVID-19 is still circulating and protective measures like mask-wearing and vaccination with boosters are still useful.
• With the holidays fast approaching, let’s all remember...as much as many of us have been looking forward to gathering with friends & family, we must stay home when sick. Show people you care about them by not exposing them to a virus.
• Speaking of the holidays, it takes 2 weeks for a flu vaccine to take effect. So in order to have the best possible protection this holiday season, this week is prime time to get your flu vaccine. Learn how on our website: ca/Flu
• Apropos of nothing, it’s basically always prime time to get your COVID-19 bivalent booster, so long as you’re eligible. Find out if you’re eligible on our website: ca

Emergency Services News

Ottawa Police Service

Make the Right Call

It is very important to report crimes and suspicious behaviour as soon as possible to the Ottawa Police Service, allowing police to strategically deploy resources to areas of chronic concern. If you are in immediate danger, please dial 911. For non-emergencies, please file a report by calling 613-236-1222, ext. 7300. Certain reports can also be made online here.

Speeding and other traffic violations continue to be of major concern in Ward 13. Speeding concerns should be reported directly to the Ottawa Police Service. Reports submitted online go directly to the Traffic Unit, helping identify areas of concern. Call the Police Reporting Unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 7300. Traffic complaints can be reported online 24/7.

Too good to be true? Be Fraud-Aware this Holiday Season - When in Doubt, Check it Out!

As we head into the holiday season, Ottawa Police Service, in partnership with 211, is reminding residents to be cautious of scams preying on your honesty, trust, good nature and sometimes fear. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. When in doubt, check it out - do your research. Never feel pressured to provide information or make a financial contribution right away. Please click here for more information.

City of Ottawa Committee and Council Updates

City Council News - Dec. 7, 2022

• Council approved its 2022-2026 governance review report on Dec. 7, establishing a committee and governance structure for the 2022-2026 Term of Council.
• The adopted structure will include the following committees: Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Audit Committee, Community Services Committee, Debenture Committee, Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee, Environment and Climate Change Committee, Finance and Corporate Services Committee, Planning and Housing Committee, Built Heritage Committee, Transit Commission, Transportation Committee and a Light Rail Sub-committee.
• Click here to learn of the changes from the last Term of Council.
• A Nominating Committee was struck to recommend members of committees and other bodies, and Council will consider the recommendations on Dec. 14.
• Council also tabled the proposed 2023 Budget directions, timeline and consultation process to be discussed on Dec. 14. The report proposes an overall tax increase of between two and 2.5 per cent, made up of various levies. Public consultation would take place in December and January. The draft operating and capital budget would be tabled at a special meeting of City Council on Feb. 1. Each standing committee would meet in February to consider their portions of Draft Budget 2023, and residents, businesses and community groups would be able to take part as public delegations. Council would consider and adopt the final budget on March 1.

Upcoming Meetings

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.