May 22 Newsletter 2020

May 22, 2020 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

Happy Friday! I hope you are safely enjoying the sunshine and staying healthy and happy. I will be holding a Town Hall meeting via Facebook Live, on Thursday, May 28^th. Tune in at 1 p.m. to share your questions and concerns, and to hear the latest updates from Council. Visit facebook.com/rawlsonking to join the conversation next Thursday!

WARD UPDATES

Stanley Avenue Pathway Consultation

The City of Ottawa is proposing to close the pre-existing gap in the Rideau River Eastern Pathway in New Edinburgh with the addition of a new segment of multi-use pathway between the south limit of Stanley Avenue and the north side of the New Edinburgh Park playground. The goal of the project is to create a safer and more comfortable connection for people walking or riding along the Rideau River Eastern Pathway.

The continuity of this pathway is identified in the Council-approved 2013 Ottawa Cycling Plan as part of the Ultimate Network Concept (UNC), for which there is no targeted completion date.

Part of the purpose of the UNC is to encourage co-ordination with neighbouring construction and to facilitate efficiencies when possible. The reinstatement of a portion of New Edinburgh Park/Stanley Park following the Combined Sewage Storage Tunnel (CSST) project construction presents an opportunity to do just that.

The City of Ottawa is seeking feedback on the proposed design. If you have any comments on this proposal, please provide them by June 11, 2020, using the online feedback form.

CITY UPDATES

Outaoiuais Checkpoints

The Government of Quebec lifted its checkpoints between Ottawa and the Outaouais region on May 18, 2020, as recommended by public health authorities. This remains an extremely fluid situation, we recommend you still follow public health guidelines and social distancing when you travel. 

City seeking donations of cloth masks for vulnerable residents

The City’s Human Needs Task Force is seeking donations of cloth masks for vulnerable residents.

The City is seeking cloth masks:

• Made with two layers of tightly woven but breathable cloth such as cotton
• Without any seams over the mouth and nose through which air may leak
• Ideally with horizontal pleats to help fit a variety of faces

How to donate

Please email [email protected] to set up an appointment for drop-off. You must follow physical distancing when dropping off donations. 

Wearing a cloth mask is not a replacement for physical distancing, hand washing and monitoring your health. Staying two metres away from people you don’t live with is important but isn’t always possible in public spaces. Wearing a mask adds an extra layer of protection, especially for others in case you have COVID-19; it may also help reduce your risk in case others have COVID-19.

For more information about cloth masks, visit Ottawa Public Health’s websiteand Health Canada's website.

City implements stage-one access to some outdoor parks

In response to last week’s provincial announcement, outdoor sports facilities and multi-use fields, including baseball diamonds, soccer fields, frisbee golf locations, tennis, platform tennis, table tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts, BMX parks and skate parks, are now open. In addition, off-leash dog areas, benches, picnic areas and shelters are also open. In all cases, physical distancing of at least two metres is required.

City crews will begin installing tennis nets and unlocking off-leash dog areas immediately, and the work will be completed over the next few weeks. Sports fields are available for casual use only, respecting physical distancing measures and groups of no more than five people. The rental of fields for competitive sports will not resume until Provincial Orders allow for competitive play.

Provincial Orders remain in effect prohibiting the use of play structures, swings, slides, splash and spray pads, wading pools and exercise equipment.  

During the first stage of reopenings, Emergency Provincial Orders remain in place prohibiting gatherings of more than five people outside of your current household. This applies to all public use of opened outdoor park facilities. To allow for physical distancing and to limit the spread of COVID-19 when using outdoor sport amenities, maintain a two-metre distance from others, and avoid picking up someone else’s sports equipment. Wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face.

Benches, picnic tables and gazebos

Restrictions on benches, picnic tables and gazebos have also been relaxed under the provincial stage-one reopening framework, but physical distancing is required.

Benches and tables are not cleaned frequently. Please wash your hands after using them and be sure not to touch your face.

Enclosed off-leash dog parks

Enclosed off-leash dog areas in City parks have now reopened. Please remember that the gates at off-leash dog parks are high-touch surfaces that are not cleaned. Please wash your hands before entering and after exiting a dog park, and avoid touching your face.

You can also walk your dog in a park’s greenspace, as long as you follow the park’s designation. 

Residents can check the map on ottawa.ca to see the dog walking designation in their neighbourhood park.

Impacts of COVID-19 on Canadians’ Perceptions of Safety

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many questions have been raised about its impact on Canadian society. In order to address this information need, Statistics Canada has developed short crowdsourcing questionnaires to collect information on specific topics related to the impacts of the pandemic. From May 12 to 25 2020, Statistics Canada will be collecting information on the Impacts of COVID-19 on Canadians’ Perceptions of Safety.
 
Canadians are invited to provide their perspective on the current crisis, by sharing their perceptions of safety, crime and violence in their community during the pandemic. Results will be used by governments and other organizations to evaluate the need for services and assistance programs to support individuals, families, and communities during and after the pandemic.
 
In this rapidly evolving situation, we are hoping that the information collected will provide insight into the impacts that COVID-19 is having on the sense of safety Canadians feel in their communities. We expect to publish results in mid-June.
 
Link to complete the survey – Please share with your colleagues, networks and friends!  https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/survey/household/5323-covid-series