March 24, 2023 Newsletter

A Message from Councillor King

Councillor King in the Community

It was an honour to attend a commemorative room-naming event with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and my Councillor colleagues at the Rideau Branch of the Ottawa Public Library in honour of Daniel Poliquin on International Francophonie Day, March 20. The naming of the program room is in recognition of Mr. Poliquin’s contributions to Franco-Ontarian literature and his links to the Lowertown and Sandy Hill communities. Mr. Poliquin is a prolific Franco-Ontarian novelist, essayist, and award-winning writer and literary translator living in Ottawa. He was also an interpreter for the public service and the House of Commons. 

I enjoyed the Ujima Job Fair for youth held by Jaku Konbit at City Hall last weekend. Happy to see the participation of OC Transpo and Invest Ottawa.

Rideau-Rockcliffe News, Events and Engagement Opportunities

Catch Basins:

It’s normal for water to pool around a catch basin in wet weather. Roads are designed to drain based on the sewer capacity. Please call 3-1-1 if the catch basin issue is related to a missing catch basin (drain cover).

You may create a service request to advise the City of a catch basin (drain cover) that is:

• Blocked (causing flooding on the road)
• Sunken or raised
• Broken

Can't find your nearest catch basin? Use the interactive map.

For all emergency requests call 3-1-1. If this service is not available to you, please call 613-580-2400. All other Service Requests will be triaged and addressed as operations allow.

Report issues with catch basins on the road

Potholes:

Please call 3-1-1 if the pothole issue is related to the following:

• Construction activity (square or rectangular cut in road)
• An immediate hazard to people or property
• Personal accessibility
• A traffic-related issue (such as traffic signals or traffic signs)

For all emergency requests call 3-1-1. If this service is not available to you, please call 613-580-2400. All other Service Requests will be triaged and addressed as operations allow.

Report a pothole on the road

Volunteer Help Wanted: Managing Editor(s) of the New Edinburgh News

Help the fire-impacted Overbrook residents

For residents wishing to help those affected by the fire in Overbrook on Presland Road in February, you can also visit this Canada Helps page to make donations. Please select Fund 10- Presland Road Fire Victims.

Gift Cards, including for groceries, restaurants, fast food, or Wal-Mart, can be sent to:

• First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, 30 Cleary Road, Ottawa ON K2A 4A1

E-cards can be emailed to [email protected] to the attention of Jen.
For both mail and email, please ensure your correspondence notes that your donations are for the Presland Road Fire victims.

Manor Park Sip & Shop Monthly Market - March 25

The second Sip & Shop Monthly Market in Manor Park is this Saturday, March 25, from 3 to 7 pm, at the Hub, 1805 Gaspe.
A licensed event, grab a drink and a meal, wander the vendors and be terrified by the Easter Bunny from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. 

For details, please click here.

Community Coffee Day at the Rideau Community Hub - March 31, 2023

Join the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre and Incubator13 for a warm cup of coffee (or tea) and friendly conversation every last Friday of the month!
The first session is March 31 from 2 to 3 pm.
Location: Rideau Community Hub, 815 St. Laurent Boulevard in the Incubator13 Room - Room 124
Come alone or bring a friend, and get to know the wonderful people in our neighbourhood. 

For details or to contact the Centre, please click here.

City of Ottawa News, Events, Meetings and Engagement Opportunities

OPL’s Main branch closed April 1 due to a planned electrical shutdown for repairs

The Main branch of Ottawa Public Library, located at 120 Metcalfe, will be closed on Saturday, April 1, 2023, due to a planned electrical shutdown for repairs. 
The branch will reopen on Sunday, April 2, 2023, at 10 am. 
Click here for more information.

 

Registration for the City's Cleaning the Capital Campaign 

Spring is on its way and the Cleaning the Capital Spring Campaign will proceed with registration starting March 15th, and cleanup projects taking place between April 15 and
May 31.

Important dates:

• Registration now open.
• April 15, 2023 - May 31, 2023:  Spring Cleaning the Capital campaign
• April 22, 2023:  Earth Day
• May 1, 2023:  Registration closes
• June 15, 2023:  Deadline to submit your online cleanup report

Visit ottawa.ca/clean for more information.

Application Assistance - Canada Housing Benefit - Deadline is March 31

  

Ottawa ACORN is a local and national community organization of low- and moderate-income people. They work on a variety of issues such as affordable and livable housing, predatory lending, the digital divide and more. The deadline to apply for the federal government's $500 Canada Housing Benefit is March 31, 2023. ACORN is reaching out to low-income tenants who are likely to qualify and offering their services to help anyone who needs assistance filling out their applications.

Tenants can reach out to Ottawa ACORN by either calling their office at (613) 746-5999 ext. 2 OR by filling out this form.   

 

Spring Freshet 2023 - Update for March 24, 2023

Current Conditions:

Rideau River

Water levels and flow are expected to increase in all waterways in the Rideau Valley Watershed into next week, but the short-term forecast does not suggest flooding along the Rideau River yet.

Ottawa River

The Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board’s March 21 update indicated that water levels and flows in most locations continue to be at seasonal values and are expected to continue declining in the coming week.

Stay Informed

Residents can join the City of Ottawa’s Spring Flood 2023 Facebook group to access information for those affected by spring flooding or anyone who wishes to keep up to date with any developments.
Residents can also visit ottawa.ca/springflooding to get valuable information such as current conditions, any road, pathway or park closures, planning and prevention tips, and sandbag depot locations.
Residents who wish to sign up for the RVCA’s flood mailing list can do that here.

 

Vanier Museopark: Sugar Festival 2023 - March 27 to April 2

After three editions disrupted by the pandemic and the devastating fire at the sugar shack, the Vanier Sugar Festival is back in person from March 27 to April 2, at Richelieu Park.
A flagship event in the Museopark’s public programming, the Sugar Festival celebrates the sugar season and allows visitors to reconnect or become familiar with the artisanal way of producing maple syrup. 
For details, please visit museoparc.ca/sugar-festival.

 

Upgrade Your Home for Energy Efficiency: A Guide to Successful Retrofitting - March 29

Wednesday, March 29
7 – 8 pm
Virtual
Are you ready to take the first step towards a greener home and a more sustainable lifestyle? Join EnviroCentre for an informative webinar on home retrofits and energy audits. Led by Ben Perry, Home Performance Specialist at EnviroCentre, this 60-minute session will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to make your home more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.  Click here to register. 

 

The Great Egg Race - April 1

The City of Ottawa hosts The Great Egg Race at the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park on Saturday, April 1 from 9 am to 4 pm.

Design an egg car, build it, and compete in The Great Egg Race at the Horticulture Building in Lansdowne Park. There’ll be three races plus free family activities! All materials are provided. To participate in the race, sign up on Register Ottawa. Email [email protected] with any questions.

 

City of Ottawa Summer Programs - Register April 3 and 4

• Browse summer camps and activities on register.ottawa.ca.
• Register for summer learn to swim and other aquatics programs on Monday, April 3 at 9 pm
• Register for summer camps and all other summer programs on Tuesday, April 4 at 9 pm

Creating a Climate Resilient Ottawa - April 4

Tuesday, April 4
6:30 – 8 pm
Zoom
In the last few years, Ottawa’s temperature has increased, and we’ve experienced extreme heat, a derecho, tornadoes and flooding. Climate change is here, and we need to be prepared. The good news is that there are solutions we can all take to ensure Ottawa is ready for these ongoing changes. Hear from Joanna Eyquem, from the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, and City staff about how we can prepare for the realities of climate change and how you can get involved in shaping the City’s Climate Resiliency Strategy.  Register here.

 

Community Partner Insurance Program - Consultation Survey

The purpose of this survey is to consult with the diverse resident-led groups and organizations offering programs, activities and events across the City, in preparation of seeking direction from Ottawa City Council on the Community Partners Insurance Program.  For details, please click here.

 

Revamped Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program webpage and intake

The Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program has recently updated its program webpage and intake to better meet the continued demand of this loan program.
This program provides Ottawa residents and property owners with long-term, low-interest loans to support deep energy and carbon reducing retrofit projects.

Take a look and see if this program is right for you!

 

Canadian Tulip Festival 2023 - May 12 to 22 at Commissioners Park

The Canadian Tulip Festival is joining forces with the Royal Canadian Navy for the Festival’s 71st edition in Commissioners Park, among 306,000 tulips at Dow’s Lake in Ottawa this May 12 to 22, 2023. Celebrating the Naval Reserve Centennial, the Festival will highlight the role brave citizen sailors played during the struggle for Dutch liberation in the Second World War.

Saturday, May 13th at 11 am the Festival’s Opening Ceremony begins with a Canadian Navy presence across the waters of Dow’s Lake. On land, Honoured Veterans, VIPs, and the public will be entertained by the lighting of the Canadian Remembrance Torch, and the National Band of the Naval Reserve as they parade down Queen Elizabeth Drive. The ceremony concludes with Navy League vessel Howard toting a landing craft with a vintage cannon and carriage onto the water for an official gun salute.

Click here for the event schedule.

 

Lansdowne 2.0 - Survey now open

Lansdowne Park is in need of significant renovations. The City of Ottawa and Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group have worked together to create a plan that reflects the history, unique location and role of Lansdowne as a year-round gathering place for Canada’s capital. For all the details, schedules, background and information, visit engage.ottawa.ca/Lansdowne. You can start by completing this survey. This is only the first of many opportunities you will have to provide input about Lansdowne 2.0. 

New Zoning By-law: Discussion Papers and Survey - Survey deadline is July 28

The City is preparing a new Zoning By-law to implement the new Official Plan. Consultation has now begun and discussion papers on key issues are available on Engage Ottawa. You are invited to complete a survey for each discussion paper. The surveys close Friday, July 28.

How can the Zoning By-Law support the City’s climate change goals?
The Official Plan incorporates eight strategic goals intended to support climate change mitigation and resiliency. The Zoning By-law is an important tool that can implement many of the climate change policies in the Official Plan. Some of these policy areas include:

• Supporting higher density forms of development, such as low-rise apartment buildings, that reduce the per capita energy needed for heating and cooling buildings
• Reducing emissions associated with distance traveled to access goods and services by locating dense development close to amenities and sustainable modes of transportation such as walking, cycling and transit
• Guiding where renewable energy generation facilities may be located
• Supporting food security by permitting indoor food production in additional locations and preserving farmland
• Providing more opportunities for local food production
• Reducing risks associated with flooding and extreme heat
• Protecting the natural environment
• Supporting a diverse mix of land uses in 15-minute neighbourhoods.

Find out more about the Zoning By-law and have your say.

Have questions? Email [email protected]

---

Funding Opportunities

 

To stay up to date on City of Ottawa funding opportunities, please visit the City of Ottawa's website as well as the Ward 13 website

---

Ottawa Police Service News

➤ Are you familiar with the grandparent scam?

Organized Fraud Unit investigators have received more 10 reports about the grandparent scam in the past week and want to share a few safety tips with the community.

Click here for details.

---

City Council and Committee News

To stay up to date on Ottawa City Council and Committee news, please click here.