July 30 Newsletter 2021

July 30, 2021 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

July has completely flown by and I want to wish residents a happy and safe long weekend. I would also like to remind residents that pop-up clinics are still ongoing and the City wants to provide every opportunity for individuals to get vaccinated. In ward specific news, Council unanimously voted in favour of my motion that the City support the Rockcliffe Park Residents Association’s application to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, to have Rockcliffe Park designated a Historic District of National Significance. This is incredibly exciting and the next step is for the Board to conduct their own research and come to a decision on the application. 

Pop-up clinics scheduled for August 2 to August 8 

Monday, August 2 – 12:15 to 7 pm 

• AMA Community Centre – 1216 Hunt Club Road 

Tuesday, August 3 – 12:15 to 7 pm 

• St Joseph’s Adult High School – 330 Lajoie Street 

Wednesday, August 4 – 12:15 to 7 pm 

• Woodroffe High School – 2410 Georgina Drive 

Thursday, August 5 – 12:15 to 7 pm 

• Woodroffe High School – 2410 Georgina Drive 

Friday, August 6 – 12:15 to 7 pm 

• Woodroffe High School – 2410 Georgina Drive 

Saturday, August 7 – 9:45 am to 4:30 pm 

• Howard Darwin (Merivale) Arena – 1765 Merivale Road 

Sunday, August 8 – 9:45 am to 4:30 pm 

• AMA Community Centre – 1216 Hunt Club Road 

Pop up clinics for post-secondary students 

Students and staff of any adult high school, college or university, including their friends and family aged 12 and over are welcome to attend this clinic for first or second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.  

August 3 to September 6 – 9 am to 9 pm 

• University of Ottawa, Minto Sports Complex - 810 King Edward Avenue 

International students (along with their friends and family) are encouraged to attend the clinic as well. There will be a nurse on site to help international students determine if/what vaccination they require. This clinic is a drop-in clinic – no appointment needed. Please visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/CollegeUniVaccine for more information. 

Rockcliffe Park wins City’s support for national recognition 

On July 21, Council voted in favour of my motion that the City support the Rockcliffe Park Residents Association’s application to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) to have Rockcliffe Park designated a Historic District of National Significance.   
 
Historic Districts are geographically defined areas for commemoration due to characteristics such as a special sense of time and place through buildings, structures and open spaces modified by human use and which are united by past events and use, aesthetics, and planned architecture. If the application by the Association is successful, Rockcliffe Park will be the first designated neighbourhood in Ottawa.  
 
Councillor King’s Motion on the Gypsy Moth (LDD) Infestations 

Due to continued infestation of trees throughout the Ward and City by Lymantria Dispar Dispar, a non-native moth species (commonly known as “gypsy moths”) that causes defoliation of trees, Councillor King successfully introduced the following motion at Environment Committee on June 26 to direct City staff to establish a response plan: 
 
WHEREAS Ottawa’s tree canopy is an important asset in combating climate change and supporting the physical and mental health of residents; and 

WHEREAS Ottawa has experienced Gypsy Moth (LDD) infestations at higher than anticipated rates in 2021, defoliating many mature trees on both public and private property; and 

WHEREAS it is expected that the Gypsy Moth (LDD) infestations will also be significant in the next several years; and 

WHEREAS community participation and education will be a vital part of an effective management strategy; 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that City staff update Standing Committee on Environmental Protection, Water and Waste Management in Q4-2021 on Gypsy Moth (LDD) impacts, and to develop a response plan for Gypsy Moth (LDD) in Ottawa that includes communication of best practices, and mitigation supports to residents and community groups; and include any potential budget pressures that may be associated.  

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that City staff, as part of the Urban Forest Management Plan that is coming to Council in Q1 2022 include an update on current Forestry Initiatives to increase and diversify the urban canopy. 

Apply to join the advisory group that will help shape the City’s Anti-Racism Strategy 

The City is now accepting member applications for the new Anti-Racism Advisory Table, a group that will help inform the City’s first Anti-Racism Strategy 

The advisory table will be made up of anti-racism leaders from racialized communities who will provide subject matter expertise to the City’s Anti-Racism Secretariat. The group’s mandate is to collaborate to raise awareness about systemic and individual experiences of racism, encourage actions to effectively address racism and provide input into the City’s Anti-Racism Strategy. The group will bring forward community perspectives on all aspects of racism, including the six priority areas the strategy will address: employment equity, housing, governance, economic development, health outcomes and youth development – all of which are within the City’s jurisdiction.  

You can apply online to be a member of the advisory table before the deadline of August 10. Appointments for members will be finalized by August 31. 

Members will meet every two months to:  

• Share expertise and knowledge about key issues, risks and opportunities. 
• Inform the table on trends, community concerns and best practices in anti-racism approaches. 
• Identify opportunities to advance the progress, adoption and integration of the Anti-Racism Strategy within City systems, structures and services. 

All Ottawa residents from Indigenous and racialized communities that are 18 years of age and older are eligible to apply. A selection committee of community leaders and City staff will choose members for the table, being mindful of the importance of intersectional representation. Candidates will be selected based on their experience in anti-racism work and their specific knowledge of community issues. 

Ottawa is built on unceded Algonquin Anishinabe territory and honours Algonquin presence and nationhood. The City recognizes and respects the presence and contributions of all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, including urban Indigenous communities in Ottawa. As such, the City is working on a parallel process with Indigenous communities in collaboration with the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition on their identified priorities. 

For more information on the City’s Anti-Racism Advisory Table and eligibility requirements, please refer to the application form. 

The City condemns all forms of racism. Municipal governments play a leading role in identifying and challenging systemic racism. Led by its Anti-Racism Secretariat, the City is committed to advancing a more inclusive and responsive municipal government, to ensure all people are served equitably. 

Reminder:  Upcoming One-day Household Hazardous Waste Depot on August 8th. 

Date: Sunday, August 8, 2021 
Hours of Operations: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Location: 2170 Mer Bleue Road - Innes Snow Dump 

Montreal Road Revitalization 

Please find below a two-week update (July 26 to August 6) for the Montreal Road Revitalization project. The work activities planned for the next two weeks will include: 

• Vanier Parkway/Montreal Road intersection – Surface work continues in the northeast and southeast quadrants of the intersection. The east-west crosswalk on the south side of Montreal Road reopened last Friday.  

• North River Road to Vanier Parkway – Crews continue forming and constructing the concrete sidewalk on the north side of Montreal Road, starting west of the Vanier Parkway working towards North River Road. The sidewalk work will continue on the south side of Montreal Road, from Montgomery Street to Vanier Parkway.   

• Vanier Parkway to Marier Avenue – The northside concrete curb, base asphalt, sidewalk and the asphalt cycle track are complete for this section. Crews have excavated the south side of the road and are progressing with the construction of underground electrical and utility work.    

• Marier Avenue to Lafontaine Avenue – Installation of underground utility work and soil cells continues, as well as construction of the north side curb and sidewalk from Marier Avenue to Bradley Avenue. Construction of the planter and landscape curbs on Bradley Avenue is underway. Sections of concrete sidewalk have been constructed along this segment and grading for the cycle track is continuing. 

• Lafontaine Avenue to de l’Église Street – Underground sewer and catch basin work continues. The north side of Montreal Road between Lafontaine Avenue and Cantin Street has been paved.  Over the next two weeks crews are excavating and constructing the road on the south side of Montreal Road between Altha Avenue and Mona Avenue as well as Ducharme Boulevard and de L’Eglise Street.   

• De l’Église Street to St. Laurent Boulevard – Excavations for new sanitary sewers and the watermain are continuing at de L’Eglise Street with crews working east towards St. Laurent Boulevard.   

• Continued traffic impacts and road closures – Montreal Road is reduced to one westbound lane from Vanier Parkway to St. Laurent Boulevard. All streets are closed between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard, except for Olmstead Street, Marier Avenue, Granville Street/Lafontaine Avenue and Cantin Street.  

• Month-long construction outlook – Underground and aboveground work between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard will continue. Road, electrical and utility work will continue on the south side of Montreal Road between the Vanier Parkway and Olmstead Street. Major work in the southeast quadrant of the Montreal Road/Vanier Parkway intersection will be wrapping up and will continue along Montreal Road, east of the intersection. Concrete sidewalk forming and construction will continue between the Vanier Parkway and North River Road on the north and south side of Montreal Road. Streetlight electrical work and removals will continue on North River Road (north of Montreal Road), followed by construction of the multi-use-path (MUP) on the west side of North River Road.  

• Hydro update – Hydro Ottawa removed their overhead power line between North River Road and Vanier Parkway on the weekend of July 17. Before the hydro poles can be fully removed, the new streetlights must be installed and energized. Complete removal of the poles will happen towards the end of the summer.  

• Colonel By Day (August 2) – There are no construction activities planned on August 2 and the contractor will not be on-site. Regular activities will resume on August 3.