June 24 Newsletter 2022

June 24, 2022 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

With the official arrival of summer this week, I want to wish all residents of Rideau-Rockcliffe ward a fun and safe summer. A reminder that this Sunday, June 26, OC Transpo summer service will take effect. The Canada Day Holiday weekend is also coming up quickly, and there are a number of closures and service changes to take note of. The Ottawa Police Services Board has launched its community engagement process to help inform the search for the next Chief of the Ottawa Police Service. Residents can fill out a survey or attend a virtual facilitated session on July 8. 

The MarketMobile and Ottawa Good Food Box are partnering with KhalsaAid to offer free, fresh food markets in response to the power outage in May. The next markets will take place on June 30. More details can be found in this newsletter. On July 2, join the Manor Park Community Council for their event, Sunset Soirée. Enjoy food, drink, and family fun at this licensed outdoor event. Finally, a Company of Fools will be performing Shakespeare’s The Tempest in parks across Ottawa this summer. There are even some dates in ward 13. Look no further for a fun way to spend an evening this summer! 

OC Transpo summer service begins Sunday, June 26  

OC Transpo summer service begins Sunday, June 26, with service adjustments and seasonal changes to reflect summer ridership. Some Transitway closures and detours for Stage 2 O-Train construction will begin Thursday June 23. Customers can visit octranspo.com, use the Travel Planner or call 613-560-5000 to see if summer service changes and construction detours will affect their trips.  

Working in conjunction with OC Transpo, I can confirm that transit improvements for Wateridge Village will be implemented with the summer service change, beginning on Monday, June 27, 2022, and will include improved bus service on Route 27.  

Additional Midday Service: 

An additional three return trips are being added to the schedule, operating at approximately 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00 on weekdays. Limited service is initially proposed by OC Transpo, until ridership supports additional trips. Currently Route 27 provides only peak period service.  

Routing Adjustment: 

Route 27 would be re-routed through the Wateridge area to travel in a one-way loop north on Wanaki, west on Mikinak, and south on Codd’s.  With this change, existing service would be removed from Mikinak west of Codd’s, du Vedette, Hemlock, and Codd’s north of Mikinak. The new routing (shown in blue), as well as the area that would be within a five-minute walk (400 m, shown in orange) is displayed below.  To accommodate the route change, bus stops identified during the development review process on Wanaki and Codd’s would be installed. Staff will also review the potential to add a mid-block stop along Mikinak to accommodate this interim routing. The revised routing brings a net increase in the number of residents within a 400 m walk of transit service but does also put 12 homes on the far west of Avro Circle beyond a 400 m walk. 

The proposed routing below also accommodates a planned closure of Codd’s between Hemlock and Mikinak expected to take place from August to November this year.  

Proposed Route 27 Routing Adjustment and Resulting Walkshed 

These revisions provide the foundation for future expansion in the community for more frequent services as appropriate when more people return to on-site work or learning, and as more of the Wateridge community is constructed and occupied.  In the future, it is proposed to move service from Mikinak to Hemlock once the area is more developed and local construction is completed. As well, OC Transpo is entertaining interest from area residents, the Wateridge Village Community Association and Veterans’ House to adjust service to connect to Blair Station and the Gloucester Shopping Centre in the future, instead of the current connection to St-Laurent Station, which staff will take into consideration for future adjustments.

Transitway closure between Tunney’s Pasture and Dominion Stations   

The Transitway will permanently close between Tunney’s Pasture and Dominion Stations to allow for construction of the Stage 2 O-Train extensions to Algonquin and Moodie Stations.  

• Buses will travel on Scott Street.  
• At Westboro Station customers will use temporary bus platforms on Scott Street. The station roadway and building will be closed.  
• Routes 62 and 75 will provide service to a pair of stops on Scott Street at Island Park Drive. No other detoured bus routes will serve these stops. 
• At Dominion Station, customers will use new temporary bus platforms on the realigned temporary Transitway.  

The closures and bus detours will be implemented in phases starting Thursday, June 23, until Sunday, June 26. There will be temporary bus stop and station access adjustments at Tunney's Pasture Station to accommodate the transition to the new detour routing. Customers travelling during the transition period should check octranspo.com for details on bus stop changes and detours.  

Transitway closure between Iris Station and Baseline Station  

The Transitway will permanently close between Iris Station and Baseline Station on Sunday, June 26, to allow for construction of the Stage 2 O-Train extension to Algonquin Station. Buses will be detoured via Woodroffe Avenue and Iris Street. At Iris Station, there will be temporary adjustments to the location of bus stops, but all bus routes will continue to serve the station. There will be no changes at Baseline Station.   

At Dominion, Westboro, Tunney’s Pasture and Iris stations, signage will help direct customers to the interim access points and bus stops, and OC Transpo staff will be on site over the first number of days to assist. For the latest detour information, visit octranspo.com/alerts.   

Service adjustments   

• Route 27 – Three additional round trips will be added in the midday, and the route will be adjusted to travel via Wanaki, Mikinak, and Codd’s Roads to better serve customers in recently developed areas of the Wateridge neighbourhood, including Veterans’ House.  
• Route 40 – Service during off-peak hours will operate along Johnston Road instead of Tapiola Crescent. Weekday peak-period service will continue to operate on Tapiola Crescent.  
• Route 93 – Service will travel along Bradwell Way between Findlay Creek Drive and Kelly Farm Drive and will no longer use the White Alder Avenue loop.   

Seasonal adjustments  

• Routes 25, 82 and 87 will see trip frequency adjustments during certain time periods to reflect summer ridership.  
• Summer weekend service returns with trips to recreation destinations:  
  • Route 25 to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum  
  • Route 139 to Petrie Island (begins Saturday, June 18)  
  • Route 185 to the Central Experimental Farm and Canada Agriculture and Food Museum  

Visit octranspo.com or call 613-560-5000 for more information about OC Transpo construction detours and summer service and schedules. You can also connect with OC Transpo through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Canada Day schedule changes 

The City of Ottawa would like to remind residents of the following schedule changes and impacts to City services for the Canada Day holiday on Friday, July 1.  

Client Service Centres 

• The City’s 3-1-1 Contact Centre will be open for urgent matters only. Please visit ottawa.ca/311 for more information. 
• The Client Services Centres at Ottawa City Hall, Ben Franklin Place, 580 Terry Fox Drive, 255 Centrum Boulevard and the City’s Provincial Offences Court at 100 Constellation Drive will be closed. 
• The Business Licensing Centre at 735 Industrial Avenue will be closed. 

Green bin, recycling and garbage collection 

• There will be no curbside green bin, recycling, garbage or bulky item collection on Friday, July 1. Friday’s collection will take place on Saturday, July 2. 
• Multi-residential recycling container and green bin collection will also be delayed the following week by one day for the remainder of the week. Multi-residential garbage containers will be collected on the regular scheduled day.  
• The Trail Waste Facility will be open on Friday, July 1.  

Parking 

• All City parking regulations and restrictions apply. 
• New event-related parking and stopping restrictions will be posted downtown and in other areas of the City where events are scheduled to occur. These parking restrictions will be in effect until the signage is removed.  Please check for signage before parking your vehicle. Failure to adhere to these restrictions may result in a ticked and tow. 

Transit service 

• Public transit is the best way to get around on Canada Day, especially since OC Transpo offers no-charge service all day on O-Train Line 1, buses and Para Transpo. Use OC Transpo’s Travel Planner to plan your trip.  
• OC Transpo bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule, with additional buses available to provide more capacity on busy routes throughout the day where needed, and later evening service on many routes. 
• O-Train Line 1 will operate on a special Canada Day schedule and run from 6 am on Friday, July 1, to 2 am on Saturday, July 2, with increased evening frequency.  
• Line 2 replacement buses will operate on a special Canada Day schedule with service extended to 1 am on Saturday, July 2.  
• After the fireworks at LeBreton Flats, transit service to many parts of Ottawa will be available from Pimisi Station on Booth Street.  
  • If you’re travelling east or south, take O-Train Line 1 to Hurdman, St-Laurent or Blair stations and connect to one of many bus routes to continue your trip home. 
  • For those travelling west, take a bus on Albert Street at Booth Street that will take you to Ottawa West, Nepean, Barrhaven, Kanata or Stittsville.  
• O-Train service after the fireworks will also be available from Lyon, Parliament, and Rideau stations. 
• OC Transpo Customer Service (613-560-5000) will be open from 7 am to 9 pm. 
• OC Transpo’s Rideau Centre Customer Service Centre will be open from 10 am to 6 pm. You can book an appointment in advance using OC Transpo’s new Virtual Line.   
  • All other OC Transpo Customer Service Centres are currently closed. 
• OC Transpo Lost and Found (Heartwood House) will be closed on Friday, July 1.  
• For Para Transpo Services: 
  • Para Transpo will operate on a holiday service on Friday, July 1, with extended service until 2:30 am (2 am for rural trips). Reservations will be accepted for up to 2 am (1 am for rural trips). 
  • Regular bookings on Friday, July 1, are automatically cancelled.  
  • Customers can book trips for Canada Day starting on Friday, June 24, by calling 613-560-5000 or using My Para Transpo.  
  • Customers travelling on Para Transpo to LeBreton Flats on Canada Day will be picked up and dropped off at a pre-designated location at LeBreton Flats, Pimisi Station or Place Des Festivals (Gatineau). 
  • The Taxi Coupon phone line will be closed. 
  • Reservations can be made and cancelled online at 613-560-5000. 
  • The reservations phone line will be open from 7 am to 5 pm, while the trip information and cancellation line will be open from 6 am to 3 am.  
• For more information on Canada Day service, visit octranspo.com or call (613) 560-5000. You can also connect with OC Transpo through Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.  

Recreation and cultural services 

• Wading pools, indoor pools, outdoor pools, arenas as well as recreation and fitness centres will operate on modified schedules. Please check ottawa.ca for details.   
• Splash Pads are open.  
• Beaches at Mooney’s Bay, Britannia and Petrie Island are open and supervised between 11 am and 7 pm.   
• Most art centres and museums will be closed on Friday, July 1. Please check with the centre or museum directly for details.   
• Shenkman Arts Centre and Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe are closed on Friday, July 1.    
• The City of Ottawa Archives and Gallery 112 will be closed on Friday, July 1. 

Ottawa Public Health 

• All COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be closed on Friday, July 1. Visit the OPH COVID-19 Vaccine page for alternative vaccination clinic hours and availability.  
• Visit the OPH COVID-19 Testing page for testing centre and care clinic hours and availability. 
• The Ottawa Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Line will be closed on Friday, July 1. 
• The Sexual Health Clinic and satellite clinics will be closed. 
• The Site program office and supervised consumption services at 179 Clarence Street will be closed. The Site mobile van will operate from 5 pm to 11:30 pm. 
• The Ottawa Public Health Information Centre and COVID-19 Information Line will be closed on Friday, July 1. 
• Dental clinics will be closed. 

Community and Social Services 

• The Tom Brown respite centre at 141 Bayview Station Road will be closed on Friday, July 1. 
• The Bernard Grandmaître respite centre at 309 McArthur Avenue will be closed on Friday, July 1.   

Municipal child care services 

• All municipal child care centres will be closed. 

Library Services 

• All Ottawa Public Library branches will be closed on Friday, July 1. Virtual services, loans and programs can be accessed on the Ottawa Public Library website. 

Ottawa Police Services Board launches community engagement on Chief of Police recruitment 

The Ottawa Police Services Board has launched its community engagement process to help inform the search for the next Chief of the Ottawa Police Service. 

The community engagement process is being led by Ottawa-based firm, Hefid.Solutions, in collaboration with the executive search firm, Odgers Berndtson, previously hired by the Board to assist in the recruitment. 

Hefid.Solutions has designed an engagement strategy intended to give all Ottawa residents an opportunity to be heard on what they would like to see in the future leader of the police service. The engagement strategy includes multiple options for providing feedback including an online survey, group engagement sessions, and one-on-one interviews. 

We want to hear from you 

To complete the survey, you can use the following links: 

• English 
• French 

The survey will remain open until July 13, 2022. 

You can also participate by virtually attending a bilingual, French and English, facilitated session on July 8, 2022, at 5:30 pm through Zoom. To register to attend this facilitated session, please visit https://opsnextchief.eventbrite.ca. 

Hefid.Solutions will also be holding a series of targeted, one-on-one interviews and group sessions with various representatives in the community to further solicit feedback and ensure input from a range of stakeholder interests. 

For more information about this community engagement opportunity, please visit https://letshearyou.ca/projects. 

How your feedback will be used 

Hefid.Solutions will be compiling all of the community feedback into a report that will be presented to the Board at its July 25 monthly meeting. The feedback will be used by the Board and Odgers Berndtson to inform the development of the job posting, as well the interview process for potential candidates. 

The Board is very much looking forward to hearing from residents on what they would like to see in the next Chief of the Ottawa Police Service! 

The Ottawa Police Services Board is the civilian body responsible for governing the Ottawa Police Service.  It is responsible for the provision of adequate and effective police services to the City of Ottawa’s residents.   

FREE Fresh Food Markets 

The MarketMobile and Ottawa Good Food Box are fortunate enough to be partnering with KhalsaAid and the Ottawa Community Housing Foundation to offer free, fresh food markets at four locations in Overbrook! The markets are offered in response to the prolonged power outages and the next ones will take place on Thursday, June 30 from 12:30pm to 2:30pm at Presland Road and Lola Street, and 3:00pm to 5:00pm at Naughton Street and Queen Mary Street. 

Staycation or Vacation: Make it memorable with programs, games, and reading challenges for teens  

Summer is here, and Ottawa Public Library is putting on a Teen Staycation program that will make even the haziest and laziest days of summer something to enjoy and remember for teens aged 13 to 18.  

For seven weeks this summer, from July 4 until August 15, teens can participate in a variety of activities, some in-person, others live online. On offer is an eclectic line-up of interactive events, workshops, presentations, and themed meetups that range from arts and crafts, to gaming, to dance, visual storytelling, mindfulness, and even financial literacy. Ottawa Public Library (OPL) invites teens to take part in Staycation programs anytime this summer, whether they are having a true staycation at home, going out of town, or looking for something fun to do between their shifts at work.  

Registration for each program is open on the OPL Staycation webpage or at their local branch. Sign up now for programs such as Virtual Reality Gaming, Summertime Anime Club, and a Street Dance Workshop with Emilie Phaneuf. Outside of scheduled programs, OPL’s YouTube page has a great mix of   DIY projects to keep the creative juices flowing. Teen Staycation (or vacation) is sure to enrich your summer itinerary and keep you learning, creating, and sharing.  

Bingo might not be in your list of hobbies, but OPL has turned the game of Bingo into a reading challenge that mixes reading with other library activities like borrowing a video game or watching a movie on Hoopla, Curio, or Kanopy (free access to streaming services is available on the OPL website)! And, like any good game of Bingo, there is a chance for prizes if you complete a line!  

Drop into any of OPL’s 33 branches for more about Teen Staycation, register for a specific program, pick up a Staycation Bingo card, and get started on some great summer reads.  

For a full list of summer activities provided by Ottawa Public Library, visit the OPL website. 

Sunset Soiree 

July 2 2022 
3:00 - 8:00 PM 
1805 Gaspe Ave (Manor Park) 

FOOD, DRINK & FAMILY FUN. 
LICENSED OUTDOOR EVENT. 

Manor Park Community Council’s newest community event! Enjoy an evening of food and beverage, from some of your favourite local restaurants and breweries. This event is licensed, and welcomes guests of all ages. Vendors & makers, community organizations & displays will line the event space, and welcome guests to learn more about what's going on in their community. This fully inclusive event also welcomes residents from all over Ottawa, and places a focus on outdoor fun. Family friendly activities and outdoor games, glitter tattoos, music and more - will make this an exciting evening one you won't want to miss. 

Fully licensed, accessible and family friendly. Admission is free. Spend your evening outdoors getting to know new friends and neighbours, right here in Manor Park. Food & drink are for purchase. Non-alcoholic beverages available on site.  

Featuring beer from Good Prospect Brewing Co., Orleans Brewing Co., Whiprsnapr Brewing Co, 

Food from Baccanalle, Snack O Shack, Dhruvees 

See MANORPARK.CA for more details.  

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1418395445273011 

a Company of Fools Presents: The Tempest  
June 20th - August 13th 2022 

After two long years, a Company of Fools returns with its Torchlight Shakespeare in the park Summer Tour. This summer a Company of Fools presents The Tempest, touring to over 40 local parks throughout Ottawa and beyond. 

A stellar cast of Fools both new and old, with a few puppets thrown in for good measure, plays 13 different roles to tell one of Shakespeare’s most magical stories. The ideal summer evening experience for the entire family, bring your picnics, your lawn chairs, and even your dog! 

WHEN: June 20th-August 13th 2022. 

TIME: Monday-Saturday at 7pm. 

WHERE: Over 40 parks across Ottawa, including stops in Oxford Mills, MacDonald’s Corners, Metcalfe, and Manotick! Full schedule available at Fools.ca  

COST: Pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of $20 per person. 

“Now I will believe that there are unicorns...” 
-The Tempest, Act 3 Scene 3 

ABOUT THE TEMPEST 

Join us in 1920’s New Orleans, where magic and music come alive in the bayou. Set in The Big Easy, our re-imagining of The Tempest features curious crocodiles, tricksy spirits, handmade instruments, and a jazz inspired musical score. 

Exiled to a deserted island twelve years ago, Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, plots his revenge on the man who usurped his throne: his own brother, Antonio. As a ship bearing Antonio draws closer to the island, Prospero uses all his wit and mystical powers to ensure he can enact his plan of reclaiming his power and establishing his daughter, Miranda, as princess in a rival kingdom. 

But in order to do so Prospero must confront his true enemy - himself. Grappling with freedom and forgiveness, will Prospero be able to see what truly matters before it’s too late? 

Montreal Road Revitalization 

Work activities planned for the next two weeks (June 20 to July 1) include: 

• Montreal Road/Granville Street intersection underground sewer pipe — The underground work at the Montreal Road/Granville intersection has shifted to the south side of the road and the north side curb lane is open westbound traffic. The work involves replacement of a segment of the sanitary sewer and watermain work that will take 3 weeks to complete. The north/south crosswalk on the west side of the intersection is closed while the underground work is completed.    
• Lafontaine to St. Laurent Boulevard curb construction — The curb on the south side of Montreal Road between Lafontaine and St Laurent is now complete with the exception of segments that require hand work. Crews have started start placing granulars and preparing the surface for the cycle track and sidewalk behind the curb. Road paving of the south side of Montreal Road between L’Eglise and St. Laurent is scheduled for end of this week (weather pending).  
• Hydro Ottawa pole topping — Hydro Ottawa tentatively reschedule the removal of their overhead cables between L’Eglise to west of Altha for mid-July. Any power disruptions associated with the work will be communicated by Hydro Ottawa in advance. Complete removal of the hydro poles will be undertaken later this year once all telecom overhead wires are replaced by underground cables. 
• North River Road multi-use-path (MUP) — The MUP work on the west side of North River Road from Montreal Road to south of Tudor Place is now complete including railing installation.  Paving of the final asphalt lift on North River Road is scheduled for later this week (weather pending).  Bricks for the area between the MUP and the road curb are on backorder and should be arriving in late July for installation.  
• Utility and telecommunications — Underground utility work and placement of telecom ducts to allow for hydro pole burial is continuing on the south side of Montreal Road between Lafontaine Avenue and de L’Eglise Street. 
• Landscaping and streetscaping North River Road to Mona Avenue —Preparation for landscape is well underway and street furniture installation has started, including the installation of bike racks, benches and garbage receptacles. Shrub planting in the numerous low-lying concrete planter walls will start this week. Removal of the existing Dupuis Plaza hard landscaping is completed, and crews have started grading the surface for installation of pavers.