July 21, 2023 Newsletter

July 22 from 2 to 7 pm at 100 Thornwood Road, Manor Park Community Centre

Manor Park's favourite outdoor community event returns for its 4th year! An adult-focused, family-friendly event that features amazing local breweries, restaurants and makers in Ottawa. Join the Manor Park Community Council this July for truly the best annual outdoor party in Manor Park. Cool down with ice cold craft beers, and satisfy your hunger with one of the local restaurant vendors. Stay the whole afternoon and socialize with friends and neighbours. All event proceeds are invested back into the community through the Manor Park Community Council. ALL WELCOME. FREE ADMISSION.

Films at the Fieldhouse: “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” - July 22

Shakespeare in the Park performances - summer dates

The Company of Fools presents a Hamlet that’s bigger and better than ever. For more information and for the full schedule, please visit fools.ca/hamlet.

Shows taking place in and around Rideau-Rockcliffe:

• July 22 at 7 pm at Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Avenue
• July 26 at 7 pm at Nault Park, 333 St-Denis Street in Vanier
• July 31 at 7 pm at Strathcona Park in Sandy Hill
• August 7, 14 and 21 at 7 pm in Strathcona Park in Sandy Hill

Spend your evening with the Vanier BIA moving and grooving to music presented by local artists this summer! The St. Charles Market will be hosting Akoustik on the following Wednesdays: July 26, August 2, August 16, August 30, and September 13. Bring your loved ones and join the BIA for this free event from 7 to 9 pm at 135 Barrette Street.

Free Dental Screenings at the Rideau Community Hub - July 28 and August 11 & 25

Ottawa Public Health is offering free dental screenings at its Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs across Ottawa, including at the Rideau Community Hub at 815 St. Laurent Boulevard. The next screenings are July 28 and August 11 and 25, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:30 to 4 pm. All ages are welcome. No appointment is needed. First-come, first-served. For details, please click here. 

Refugee Stories in support of Carty House - at the St. Laurent Shopping Centre - Starting August 16

Each semester, DeSerres Art Store, at St. Laurent Shopping Centre, offers Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) high school co-op students a chance to work with a professional artist to learn develop their art skills, as well as relate to the wider community. Carty House, the only transitional home for female refugees in Ottawa, was selected as their community partner for their summer co-op program. Most of us will never have to fee our home country in search of safety. Most of us will never have to rebuild our lives from scratch. These women did. Carty House current and past residents will be sharing their experiences. The students will be using 100-year-old doors to bring their stories to life through art. They are very excited to create, to learn, to share. PASSAGES - Doors to Refugee Stories will be on display in Centre Court at the St. Laurent Shopping Centre beginning Wednesday, August 16. For more information on this project or Carty House, please visit CartyHouse.org.

Invitation to participate in a survey on the sociolinguistic and geographic experiences and practices and geographic experiences and practices of Ontario francophones

A University of Ottawa research team is conducting a study funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) to better understand the sociolinguistic and geographic experiences, practices and representations of Ontario's francophones. Ontario's francophone population is diversifying significantly - notably with the arrival of francophones from other provinces and territories, as well as through immigration - but its distribution across the territory remains relatively uneven. Nevertheless, opportunities to live in French vary widely across the province, given the uneven distribution and access to French-language services. It is in this context that we seek to document the experiences and needs of francophones according to their profile and region of residence.

We are seeking participants who self-identify as being either Francophone, Francophile, or a French-speaking individual (18 years and older) to complete an online survey to document linguistic experiences and practices in relation to various spaces, services and activities (e.g., in public spaces, at work, at school, at home and in your social networks) across the province of Ontario. Participation is entirely voluntary and anonymous; completing the questionnaire can take up to 25-30 minutes (it is possible to take a break as the data is saved). The project has received approval from the University of Ottawa Research Ethics Office. Your participation in this study will help paint a contemporary portrait of Ontario's francophonie in all its social, cultural, linguistic and geographic diversity. The data will enable us to better understand the availability of French-language services and their level of access, as well as the existence of barriers and challenges to living in French in different regions. The results of the study could be used to develop better community policies and practices to meet the needs of francophones across the province of Ontario. For details, please visit the Facebook page. Please click here for the link to online survey.

Road Rehabilitation Works in Rideau-Rockcliffe - Until September

As part of the City of Ottawa’s annual infrastructure maintenance cycle, road resurfacing is taking place in the following locations.

• Clarke Avenue from St. Laurent Boulevard to Claude Street - May 25 to early July
• Donald Street from Vera Street to Alesther Street - May 25 to early September
• Crichton Street from Dufferin Road to Beechwood Avenue and from Charles Street to Keefer Street - Paving is complete. Pavement markings and site cleanup will be completed in the coming weeks.
• Springfield Road from Beechwood Avenue (OR 44) to Maple Lane - Completion is expected by summer 2023.
• McArthur Avenue from Lafontaine Avenue to St. Laurent Boulevard - July 10 to October
• And in nearby Ward 12:
  • Belisle Street from McArthur Avenue north to the dead end - July 31 to late August
  • Eastwood Place from McArthur Avenue west to the dead end - August 10 to late September

The roads will remain open to traffic with lane closures expected. Traffic control personnel will direct traffic. The City has retained contractor R.W. Tomlinson to complete the work.

City of Ottawa News, Events, Meetings and Engagement Opportunities

My Ottawa Monthly Photo Contest

The City of Ottawa wants to recognize the beautiful photos from residents this month with an Instagram contest! Eligible categories include landscapes, cityscapes, architecture and local wildlife and flora. To enter, follow @cityofottawa or @villedottawa and use the hashtags #OttCityForever and #MyOttawa, or #OttVillePourToujours and #MonOttawa to get your photo and Instagram account featured on City billboards and other digital assets. It will also be shared on the City’s French and English Instagram accounts and on ottawa.ca/myottawa. This month’s contest period closes at 11:59 pm on Sunday, July 23. Don’t have an Instagram account? You can email your photo to [email protected]. Click here to learn more.

Mailout to residents from Service line Warranties of Canada

Service Line Warranties of Canada will be mailing letters in the coming weeks to provide City of Ottawa homeowners with details about voluntary and optional protection plans to assist with costs of possible future water and sewer/septic repairs. For more information about the Service Line Warranties program, visit ottawa.ca/slwp and check out the frequently asked questions to see if this program is right for you. More details are also available at this link.

Volunteer for City Committees

The City of Ottawa is currently recruiting public members to serve on the French Language Services Advisory Committee and the Planning Advisory Committee! Make a difference by becoming a volunteer member! The City could benefit greatly from your expertise and knowledge and in return, you would gain insight and knowledge of how the City works. Applications must be submitted by Thursday, August 24 at 4:30 pm. For more information, including the online application form, visit ottawa.ca/committees or contact Eric Pelot at 613-580-2424, ext. 22953, (TTY: 613-580-2401) or by email at [email protected]. 

NCC Survey - Active Use Program on the Parkways 

For details about the 2023 Active Use Program on the Parkways, please click here. Tell the NCC about your experience with this year’s program. For the survey, please click this link.

Heritage Ottawa Wants To Hear From You!

Do you own an older home or are you thinking of buying one? Are you sometimes lost in contradictory free advice on the web? Heritage Ottawa (HO) wants to help. This fall, HO will be offering an Introductory Workshop designed for owners and prospective owners of older homes in Ottawa. A series of more in-depth workshops will follow at a later date. HO is seeking input from current and prospective owners of older homes, as well as restoration architects, contractors and consultants, through the survey linked down below. Your answers will provide invaluable information in helping HO shape the scope and format of the workshops. Your responses will be kept confidential, but you can choose to provide HO with your email address at the end of the survey if you wish to receive further information. Click here for the survey.

Neighbourhood Health & Wellness Hub clinic services at The Rideau Hub

Did you know? Ottawa Public Health hosts a Neighbourhood Health & Wellness Hub clinic at The Rideau Hub, 815 St. Laurent Boulevard. Services are free! 

Come talk to a nurse:
• Vaccinations: school-based and routine vaccines for children and youth, COVID-19
• Dental screenings and dental health promotion for all ages and assistance with children and senior’s program enrollment
• Support with mental health, addictions and substance use health through wellness tips and assistance to book short-term counselling
• Support with breastfeeding and all areas of parenting through a public health nurse
• Community and social services including financial assistance, housing, employment services and referrals

Routine Vaccination for Children:
The Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hub clinics can give routine vaccinations for children and youth from two months of age to 17 years of age who meet any of the criteria below:
• your child is a newcomer to Canada
• your child does not have an Ontario Health Card (OHIP)
• your child does not have a primary health care provider, such as a doctor or nurse practitioner
• your child’s healthcare provider does not provide routine vaccinations.

Routine vaccinations protect people and those around them against diseases like measles and polio, and are required for school and daycare attendance.

For details, please call 613-580-6744 or TTY/ATS : 613-580-9656 or visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca.

• Northern Lights Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill - Thursday to Monday until Sept. 4. Details here.
• Ottawa Chamberfest - July 20 to August 3, featuring 120 concerts by leading international ensemble and solo musical artists. chamberfest.com
• Ottawa Lebanese Festival - July 19 to 23 at Saint Elias Centre. Details: www.ottawalebanesefestival.com
• Carivibe Ottawa Caribbean Carnival - July 21 to 23. Details here.
• Enjoy the Asian Night Market July 21 to 23 on Sparks Street. Entry is free. For details, please visit the Sparks Street BIA. 
• Buskerfest is coming to Sparks Street August 4 to 6 from 11 am to 10 pm and August 7 from 11 am to the grand finale at 5 pm. Details: Sparks Street BIA.
• Halal Ribfest at Lansdowne Park - August 11 to 13. This is North America's largest Halal food event, plus entertainment, shopping and activities. Details here.
• Ottawa Greek Fest - August 11-13, 15, 18-20 at 1315 Prince of Wales Drive. Free admission. Click here for the schedule.
• Capital Ukrainian Festival - August 19 at the Ukrainian Banquet Hall, 1000 Byron Avenue, and August 20 at Lansdowne Park. Details: capitalukrainianfestival.com
• Capital Pride Festival - August 19 to 27. Details: capitalpride.ca/2023-festival
• Capital Pride Pageant - August 19 at 8 pm at Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre. Details and tickets: nac-cna.ca/en/event/34224
• Palestinian Festival Ottawa - August 25 to 27 at Marion Dewar Park near City Hall. 

City Sounds Live Summer Sounds Showcase

Enjoy 20 free outdoor concerts from July 19 to Sept. 22. Details: ottawamic.com/citysoundslive

Performances in and near Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward:

- August 2 from 6 to 8 pm at St. Charles Market - Beechwood at St. Charles. Featuring Tristan Guay, Sophie d'Orléans and Wassim

- Sept. 14 from 6 to 8 pm at The Hub, located on Marier Road at Montreal Road in Vanier. 

Self-Care Gathering for Black Women in Ottawa July 29 and 30

Aids Community of Ottawa (ACO), in partnership with CO-CREATH, Umoja, Ottawa Public Health and Somerset West Community Health Centre, are hosting a collective self-care gathering for Black women and Black gender-diverse community members. The objective is to create culturally-safe spaces for Black women and Black gender-diverse folks to talk freely about hair health, mental health, sexual health, skincare, plant care and HIV self-testing and how all can be seen as forms of self-care. This event will be held on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 from 2 to 7 pm at Sandy Hill Community Centre (250 Rue Somerset Street East). Register here.

ByWard Market Upcoming Events

• Pop Shop All-Stars perform July 22 from 1 to 2 pm - George Street Plaza
• Mango Caribbean Food and Music Fest - July 23 from 12 to 8 pm - York Street
• Katherine Robinson School of Highland Dancing - July 23 from 1 to 3 pm - George Street Plaza. 
• ByWard Night Market - July 29 from 12 to 8 pm - William Street Pedestrian Way

For details, please click here.

Caring and Sharing Exchange - Sharing in Student Success program

Every year during the back-to-school season, the Caring and Sharing Exchange offers assistance to children from Ottawa families in need by providing backpacks filled with all the grade-appropriate school supplies so they can begin school ready to learn and on an equal footing with their peers. In past years, the Exchange was able to assist children from kindergarten to Grade 8 and are thrilled that this year we will also be assisting Grade 9 students and hope to continue to grow each year. With the expansion and dramatic increase in the cost of living, they are expecting distribute over 4,000 backpacks this year. You can help by supporting the Sharing in Student Success program this year. Click here for details. Please click here to donate.

Auditor General 2024 Workplan - Public Input Survey - until July 31

The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) for the City of Ottawa undertakes an annual risk-based assessment to identify audit priorities. The audits selected for inclusion arise through a systematic identification of all areas of significance from an audit perspective and the determination of audit project priorities by assessing criteria relating to risk, important organizational changes, new initiatives, emerging priorities, and other relevant factors. Furthermore, requests from external boards may also be taken into consideration. One of the steps of the OAG’s risk-based assessment process includes consultation with stakeholders. New this year, the Auditor General is seeking public input into the areas that Ottawa residents and business owners believe could benefit from an independent audit. The survey will remain active until July 31, 2023. The survey will take approximately five minutes to complete. Survey results will be shared through the 2024 Audit Workplan, anticipated to be presented to the Audit Committee in December 2023. For more information, please contact the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) at [email protected]. You can view the OAG’s current workplan here. To learn more about the OAG, please visit www.oagottawa.ca.

What's Happening at City Hall & Lansdowne Park

• Enjoy Salsa dancing for free at the Rink of Dreams at City Hall on Wednesday evenings until August 30. Workshops begin at 6:30 pm/ Social dancing to Latin DJs takes place from 8 to 11 pm.
• Latin at Lansdowne: Free outdoor classes on Saturdays at the Aberdeen Plaza until Saturday, August 26. Beginner- or improver-level dance lessons begin at 6 pm, and social dancing is from 8 to 11 pm. Solo and partnered-style dancing workshops.
• Full Moon Yoga on the Great Lawn at Lansdowne - Free! August 1, from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. And August 30 from 8 to 9 pm. For details, please click here.
• Lansdowne Summer Arts Showcase - Free musical performances at Lansdowne Park, every Thursday from 6:30 to 8 pm until August 31. Bring your lawn chair. 
• Movies in the Park at Lansdowne Park - every Thursday until August 31 starting at sundown. 

For details and for information about other activities this summer at City Hall and Lansdowne, please click here.

2023 Ottawa Urban Design Awards – Call for Submissions until Sept. 1

The City of Ottawa is pleased to announce the 2023 Ottawa Urban Design Awards competition. The awards will be presented in five categories: Urban Infill, Public Places & Civic Spaces, Urban Elements, Visions & Master Plans, and Student Projects. In our 10th instalment of the program, the 2023 awards will honour exceptional projects in Ottawa completed between September 1, 2021, and August 31, 2023. Winners of an Award of Excellence will be sent forward as the Ottawa entry to the National Urban Design Awards competition in 2024. The winning teams of all Urban Design Awards will be presented their award at an in-person gala hosted by the City of Ottawa in November 2023. Electronic and hard copy submissions must be received by 4 pm on September 1, 2023. Submission entry forms and program guidelines are available on the City’s website Urban design awards | City of Ottawa. Submissions will be juried in October 2023 by an independent panel of urban design experts. The applicants of winning projects will be notified in late October 2023 by email.  For more information, please contact [email protected]

The Order of Ottawa and Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching - Nomination Period Open

The City is accepting nominations for the 2023 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 Ottawa.ca/orderofottawa. The submission deadline is Friday, Sept. 8 at 11:59 pm. Nominations will be considered every year for five consecutive years from the date of submission.