March 22, 2024 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.
A Message from Councillor King
Your Councillor in the Community
I was pleased to attend the 17th annual Francophone RendezVous event at City Hall the morning of March 21. The event focused on Ottawa's Francophone and bilingual post-secondary education institutions and their significant economic and cultural contributions to the community.
Had an amazing time celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this week with Ambassador Eamonn McKee, Council colleagues, residents and members of the diplomatic corps at the Official Residence of the Ambassador of Ireland in Canada located in Rideau-Rockcliffe.
Rideau-Rockcliffe News, Events and Engagement Opportunities
Happy International Francophonie Day
International Francophonie Day was celebrated on Wednesday, March 20, an important day in which we celebrate Francophones and Francophiles in our community. This day is an important opportunity to learn more about Ontario's rich Francophone history and heritage. Did you know approximately one quarter of Franco-Ontarians live in Ottawa? The City of Ottawa is proud to provide bilingual services to our residents. Learn more at ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/creating-equal-inclusive-and-diverse-city/french-language-services.
Spring Preparedness Operations Update
Street sweeping operations:
Street sweeping typically begins as early as the weather will allow, which means temperatures must be above freezing consistently during the day and overnight before operations can fully begin. When the temperature drops below zero, the water City staff use on the road can form into ice, creating dangerous conditions. These operations are an essential part of cleaning up the transportation network and the team has started preparing and testing equipment as well as developing operational plans. As soon as the temperature consistently remains above zero, crews will be ready, and operations will begin. Click here for more information.
How potholes are formed and filled:
Since January, pothole crews have been working on temporary repairs, over 500 crews have been assigned and filled more than 28,500 potholes! This is an increase of 38 per cent compared to last year where the number of potholes filled between January 1 and February 28, 2023, was 17,503. In winter, conditions are not ideal for pothole repairs. The unstable conditions, including ice and water in the holes, as well as the cold temperatures and frequent freeze / thaw cycles, prevents the patch from adhering as well to the roadway making the repair temporary. Products that staff use to repair potholes during the winter months are Cold Patch and Warm Mix asphalt. For residents wishing to report a pothole, a service request can be created online.
To view the above images in a larger format and for the full Spring Preparedness Operations Update, please click here.
Films at the Fieldhouse - Double Feature - March 22
-
- Trolls Band Together: Doors open at 5:30 pm. The movie begins at 6 pm.
- Dune: Part One: The movie begins at 8 pm
Sugar Festival at Vanier Museopark - March 18 to 24
- Check in at 8:30 am. Race begins at 9 am.
- Tickets $20/person, $40 with meal ticket
- For details and to register, please click this link.
Free Yoga Classes in New Edinburgh - Every Sunday morning & Wednesday evening
Enjoy free yoga at the New Edinburgh Park Fieldhouse, 203 Stanley Avenue, every Sunday from 11 am to 12:30 pm and every Wednesday evening from 7 to 8:30 pm. Unite breath and movement through an asana practice. Join Solmaz Hicks on her yoga journey which began during the pandemic when she discovered a profound connection between mind, body and spirit. Through her yoga practice she changed the way she deals with stress entirely. You can too! Please bring your own mat. Practice times are subject to change. For updates, please visit www.newedinburgh.ca/events.
Hydro pole replacement project - Oakhill & Corona between Acacia and Beechwood - March 25
Road Closure - 165 Prince Albert Street - March 26 to April 9
Work will be done in the right-of-way at 165 Prince Albert Street, between Quill Street and Whitton Place, starting the morning of Tuesday, March 26 for the installation of new site services including water, sanitary and storm. Notifications to all nearby residents have been sent. During this time a portion of the road directly in front of 165 Prince Albert Street will be closed. Access to local traffic will be permitted. The duration of the road closure will last from March 26 until April 9.
Dungeons & Dragons at the St. Laurent Complex - March 26 & May 7
Rockcliffe Park Speaker Series - March 27
On March 27 at 8 pm, Cameron Love, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital will give an overview of the exciting plans to develop a new world class hospital and rebuild the future of healthcare for the Ottawa community. The event takes place at the Rockcliffe Park Community Hall, 380 Springfield Road. For details, please click here.
Women Action Forum - CAWI Caring Cities Initiative - March 27
Ottawa Inuit Community Engagement Session - March 28
On March 28, Ottawa Public Health, in partnership with local Inuit organizations, is hosting the First Ottawa Inuit Community Engagement Session with Inuit with living & lived experience in mental health, substance use, food insecurity, homelessness and other areas of need. The engagement session, which is scheduled for March 28 from 10 am to 3 pm, is an opportunity to hear directly from Inuit Community Members and learn about their experiences in accessing health, mental health, addictions treatments, housing and safety in Ottawa. The First Ottawa Inuit Community Engagement Session takes place at The Rideau Community Hub located at 815 St. Laurent Boulevard in the cafeteria. Bus tickets, refreshments and lunch will be provided. Childcare assistance is also available on site.
Free Play Group at the Overbrook Community Centre - every Thursday
The Overbrook Community Centre hosts a free play group every Thursday from 10 am to 12 pm. The centre is located at 33 Quill Street. There will be toys, fun games and free snacks available.
Free Children’s Playgroup in New Edinburgh - every Thursday morning
Children from newborns to four years old and their parents or caregivers are welcome to attend a free drop-in playgroup at the New Edinburgh Park Fieldhouse, 203 Stanley Avenue, on Thursday mornings from 9 to 11 am. This is an informal and unstructured opportunity to socialize with other children in your community. Please bring your own toy and snack for your child. Some warm beverages will be available for adults. The Crichton Community Council is seeking a volunteer parent/caregiver coordinator so that this initiative can continue past April 15. To learn more, please [email protected].
Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre Tax Clinic - until April
The Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre's free income tax clinic will be available until April 2024. The Income Tax Clinic offers free tax preparation services to low-income members of the community with K1K, K1M and some K1G postal codes. This service helps people eliminate the costs associated with preparing their tax returns, keeps them in good standing with the CRA, and enables them to benefit from the tax credits available to them. You may book an appointment by clicking here. If you have questions, please contact [email protected] or 613-745-0073.
Fibre optic installation - Provender, Burma and Rothbury - Starting April 1
Bell Canada has applied to the City for permission for fibre optic installation along the right-of-way on Provender Avenue, Burma Road and Rothbury Crescent. The anticipated construction dates are proposed for April 1 to May 1, 2024. The project would include open trench work, directional boring, and placement of new Bell conduit. Affected residents will be notified once the project details are confirmed.
The proposed work includes:
- replacement of 22 poles along the right-of-way
- replacement of the remaining 34 poles along the existing Hydro Ottawa rear-lot easements
- replacement/installation of 11 new anchors for pole line support
Sidewalk Renewal & Repair Projects
As part of the City of Ottawa’s annual infrastructure maintenance cycle, sidewalk repairs that began in October 2023 will resume this summer. In the next few weeks, sidewalks will undergo reparations at 7-9 Rideau Gate and at 10 Sussex Drive. For more information about sidewalk repairs, please visit ottawa.ca/constructionmap. Notices to local residents will be delivered approximately one week before construction resumes. The City of Ottawa will be repairing sidewalks as preventative maintenance aimed at extending the City's sidewalk network lifecycle. Work will involve removal and replacement of concrete panels, iron adjustments. Increased noise levels to be expected in order to facilitate the work. Roads will remain open to traffic with lane closures expected. Traffic control personnel will direct traffic through the site. The sidewalks will be repaired during the day and evening and will involve minor lane interruptions. Weekend work is anticipated for all locations and traffic interruptions may also be experienced due to flagging operations. The City of Ottawa has retained the Contractor, D-Squared Construction Ltd., to complete the work.
Sidewalk project - Frances Street - starting in April
Rideau-Rockcliffe Roundtable - in Manor Park - April 3
Youth Crocheting at St. Laurent Complex - April 4 and May 2
Crocheting for youth: Learn the basics or get a refresher on how to crochet. Learn chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet, triple and make your first 'Granny Square'. No experience required. This program takes place Thursdays from 6 to 7 pm at the St. Laurent Complex, 525 Coté Street. Program dates are April 4 to 25 and May 2 to 30. Click here for registration and more details.
Concerts in New Edinburgh - April 5 and 6
The Crichton Community Council (CCC) proudly presents two Jim Bryson concerts at the New Edinburgh Park Fieldhouse, 203 Stanley Avenue, one on the evening of Friday, April 5 and a second on Saturday, April 6. Doors open at 7 pm. Music at 8 pm. Tickets are available for $30 from: April 5 Eventbrite or April 6 Eventbrite. Come early to claim a seat, then wet your whistle before the show. Standing room is available at the back of the room, near the bar. Licensed drinks and snacks will be available. Jim Bryson is a National Folk Award nominated Canadian Singer-Songwriter and Record Maker. For more information, please click here.
Free tax clinic - April 6, 13 and 27
Ottawa-Vanier MP Mona Fortier and Ottawa-Vanier MPP Lucille Collard host free tax clinics by appointment at 237 Montreal Road on April 6, 13 and 27. For details and to make an appointment, please call 613-744-4484.
Overbrook Community Association - Join the board! - April 16
Attention Overbrook Neighbours! Ready to make a difference in your community? Join the Overbrook Community Association! The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16 at 7 pm at the Overbrook Community Centre, 33 Quill Street. The OCA is on the lookout for enthusiastic individuals to join the board. You can also join the meeting online Please register for the meeting link by clicking here. Everyone welcome. If you would like to join the board, please fill out this brief expression of interest form. Don't miss out on this chance to shape the future of Overbrook! Join your neighbours at the AGM and learn how you can get involved.
Sladen Avenue and Noranda Avenue Watermain Replacement - Spring 2024
A development-driven Watermain Upgrade Project is anticipated to start in Spring 2024 on Sladen Avenue and Noranda Avenue.
What - The work consists of the replacement and upsizing of the watermains on Sladen Avenue and Noranda Avenue for a total length of 255m. All private services will be replaced to the property line along with reinstatement of disturbed areas. The watermain replacement is driven by the planned development at 641 Sladen Avenue.
Why - The owner of 641 Sladen Avenue (St-Laurent Academy - Ottawa Private School) will undertake this watermain upgrade work to meet the fire flow demands for a proposed development on the subject property. This upgrade of the existing watermain from 152mm to 200mm with a new fire hydrant will also improve the existing fire flow demands of the school, St-Laurent Academy.
Where - The project limits on Sladen Avenue are from Noranda Avenue to Malartic Avenue, while the project limits on Noranda Avenue are from St. Laurent Boulevard to Sladen Avenue.
More details on construction timelines, traffic management and parking restrictions will be provided in advance of the project.
Oakhill, Corona and Carsdale Integrated Renewal - May to November
Construction of the Oakhill, Corona and Carsdale integrated road, watermain and sewer renewal project is slated for May to November 2024. This project will require approximately six tie-ins to watermains and sewers on Beechwood Avenue. Each tie-in will be done at a different time. To accomplish each of these tie-ins, one lane of Beechwood will need to be closed for a period of time. Only one lane of Beechwood would be closed and flaggers would direct traffic. City staff are currently working on the schedule and logistics. Updates will be shared.
City of Ottawa News, Events, Meetings and Engagement Opportunities
New Ways to Bus - OC Transpo to launch new bus network
New Ways to Bus is coming to Ottawa in 2024! Later this year, OC Transpo will launch a new bus network, focused on frequency, local service in your neighbourhood, and connections to key destinations. New Ways to Bus includes more than 100 routes and will start at the same time as O-Train Lines 2 and 4 in the south, opening up new convenient connections across the city. Every neighbourhood and most customers will see changes to their trip. The new network is a key part of OC Transpo’s 5-Year Roadmap and is based on the results of the 2023 Bus Route Review. New Ways to Bus meets the Council-approved Transit Services budget. It is a big step towards OC Transpo's goal of increasing bus service reliability to 99.5 per cent, alongside the Bus Maintenance Action Plan and ongoing employee recruitment efforts. OC Transpo's New Ways to Bus webpage is now live.
Ottawa Black Film Festival March 22 to 26
The 4th Ottawa Black Film Festival #OBFF24 is back with a hybrid version to amplify the voices of Afro-descendants. Founded by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, OBFF is thrilled to announce the official program and events lineup, running March 22 – 26, 2024. The In-Person screenings and events will take place at Library and Archives Canada. #OBFF24 is supported by Canadian Heritage, Library and Archives Canada, Telefilm Canada and Festwave Institute. Through 40 films, various panels, workshops and events, this hybrid fourth edition is aimed at the public from all communities as it highlights the talent of creators from diverse backgrounds and makes room for them to reflect on the issues they face. For details, please click here. For the full schedule, please click here.
World TB Day - March 24
Every year, on March 24, the world recognizes World TB Day to increase public awareness of tuberculosis (TB) and to highlight the ongoing global efforts to eliminate the disease. TB is preventable, treatable, and curable; however, TB remains an epidemic in much of the world. Ottawa Public Health is committed to caring for and supporting people with TB. In 2023, our Infectious Disease Team at Ottawa Public Health managed 70 cases of TB. Our team supports people with TB from the time they were diagnosed until they were fully treated and cured! Stop TB Canada is an organization that is committed to ending TB. In partnership with Results Canada, they are encouraging Canadian cities to “light up landmarks” in red in support of World TB Day. The Heritage Building, the OTTAWA sign, the Shaw Centre, and the Aberdeen Pavilion will be illuminated in red on March 24, 2024. Additional sites in Ottawa may also be lit up red. For more information, visit www.OttawaPublicHealth.ca/en/Public-Health-Topics/Tuberculosis.aspx.
March 15: Registration opens
April 15 to May 31: Cleaning the Capital Spring campaign
April 22: Earth Day 2024
May 3: Registration closes
June 15: Deadline to submit online cleanup reports
Get active this spring and summer with team sports
Share your ideas for a connected, reliable, safe and accessible Ottawa
Waste Sorting Challenge - Draw takes place March 29
Have you entered the City's Sort and Score virtual waste sorting challenge yet? Learn how to sort your waste and you could even find yourself using those skills at Bluesfest this summer! Take the City's virtual waste sorting quiz for a chance to win a full festival pass to Bluesfest! Check out full contest details at this link.
Snow Plow Contractor Licensing Review - Survey open until March 31
The City of Ottawa periodically reviews by-laws to address emerging issues and ensure each by-law continues to meet the needs of the community. Council has directed City staff to review regulations related to snow plow contractors, including the following issues:
- Noise and nuisance;
- Illegal snow dumping on private and public property; and,
- Follow up on permanently allowing metal driveway markers.
For more information on the By-law Review Framework and the current by-laws under review, visit the City’s By-law Review webpage. If you are a member of the public, you can complete the online survey and subscribe to Engage Ottawa for future updates. If you are a snow plow contractor, email [email protected] to receive additional information on industry-specific engagement opportunities and future updates. The survey will be available until March 31 to provide your feedback on regulations for snow plow contractors working on private property. If you are an industry member, the City will be consulting with you in April 2024. For details, please visit Engage Ottawa.
Review of special event by-laws - Survey open until March 31
Ottawa is a dynamic capital, with City services supporting over 500 festivals and special events year-round. We are currently reviewing and seeking your feedback on the by-laws regulating special events on City streets and private and public property. We’re also looking for opportunities to support parades, festivals and community celebrations. Participate in the online survey to have your say on special event regulations by Sunday, March 31. With your input, together we can improve special event services and key regulations that will help grow our economy, enrich our culture, and protect our community and environment. Keep an eye on Engage Ottawa this spring for more engagement opportunities focusing on the City’s special event regulations and processes.
City grants available to non-profit groups for environmental projects - Deadline is April 5
The City of Ottawa is now accepting applications for the 2024 Community Environmental Projects Grant Program (CEPGP). CEPGP provides funding to non-profit organizations interested in undertaking small-scale, community-based initiatives that support an environmentally sustainable Ottawa. The application deadline is Friday, April 5 at 4 pm. Successful CEPGP grant recipients must complete their projects by June 30, 2025. For details on eligibility criteria, the application process, profiles of past projects, and to complete an application form, please visit ottawa.ca/cepgp. For more information on CEPGP, please contact Tara Redpath, CEPGP Coordinator, at 613-580-2424 ext. 16822 or at [email protected].
#ottmusic helps local musicians share their sound - Applications due by April 5
Solar Eclipse - April 8
On Monday, April 8, 2024, the Moon’s orbit will position it directly between the Earth and the Sun, causing a solar eclipse. While other areas will experience a total eclipse, in Ottawa the eclipse will not be total -- the maximum will be approximately 99 per cent occurring for two to three minutes starting at 3:25 pm. Because there is no total eclipse in Ottawa, there is no safe time to look at the Sun without appropriate eye protection. It’s important to keep your safety in mind during this event. You can visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/SolarEclipse to learn more about staying safe during the eclipse.
Child Care and EarlyON - Service System Plan Survey open until April 10
The City of Ottawa Children’s Services is in the process of updating the local Child Care and Early Years Service System Plan for the next five years (2024-2028). This plan will act as a road map to identify priorities and set-out actions to meet the vision of an accessible, affordable, high quality, equitable and inclusive Early Learning and Child Care system by addressing local needs. What we hear during engagement opportunities, as well as through a review of demographic and service data, will help to establish the strategic priorities for our city to respond and better meet the needs of children and families in Ottawa. It will also ensure a strong foundation for the future as child care and early years initiatives continue to evolve and align with the on-going implementation of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system. As Children’s Services works to update the Service System Plan it is important that we hear from parents, families, and caregivers and those expecting a child. Feedback will help identify community priorities, strengths, challenges or gaps, and areas for action. Your feedback will help ensure we are setting appropriate priorities for the next five years. The survey will remain open until April 10, 2024.
Recreation and Parks Funding: Community Partnership Minor/Major Capital Programs - Deadline is May 1
The Community Partnership Minor Capital Program is designed to implement capital improvements to parks and recreation facilities by partnering with community groups and sharing costs. The next deadline to apply for the Community Partnership Minor Capital Program is May 1, 2024.
Emergency Services News
Cryptocurrency fraud alert
The Ottawa Police Fraud Unit is warning of a new scam involving online job posts where cryptocurrency is involved. Unsuspecting job seekers provide their personal information and, ultimately, lose money. OPS is reminding job seekers to use their best judgement when looking at online job ads.
Calling all local charities: Apply to be the beneficiary of the 13th annual OPS Gala by March 31
The Ottawa Police Service is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for its 13 annual Gala to be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the Shaw Centre. OPS invites those who qualify to fill out the application form at ottawapolice.ca/Gala before 4 pm on Friday, March 31, 2024.