September 13, 2024
September 13, 2024 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.
May 26, 2023 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.
The Ontario government announced on May 24 that it is investing an additional $24.1 million in Ottawa's affordable housing stock to create up to 138 affordable and supportive housing units in Wateridge Village in Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward. The units are currently being built on the former Canadian Forces Rockcliffe Base. The mid-rise buildings will include housing for middle-income residents, as well people on the city’s social housing waitlist, which includes people residing in the emergency shelter system and offsite facilities such as hotels and motels.
The project, located at 715 Mikinak Road, is a joint initiative between the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC) that, once completed, will contain a total of 271 units across three buildings. The project will provide supports for seniors, families, Indigenous households and persons with developmental disabilities. More than 20 per cent of the units across the project will be accessible.
Building more affordable housing is the best method to address homelessness and tackle the housing supply crisis. This welcome investment, which Housing Minister Steve Clark announced on Wednesday in Ottawa, will supplement a previous provincial investment of more than $2.6 million from the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative, a shared program between Ontario and federal governments aimed at creating new housing and increasing affordability. The project has received more than $78 million from the federal government through its $13.2-billion National Housing Co-Investment Fund and $200-million Federal Lands Initiative, which promotes turning surplus federal lands and buildings into sites for affordable housing. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation committed $4.6 million. The City of Ottawa has contributed $24.7 million to this project.
Due to this new provincial investment, the City can now offset $24.1 million and redirect those funds to its new $48.5 million Homelessness Prevention Program which was unanimously approved by both the Community Services Committee and City Council this week. The City's new program will provide long-term housing allowances, a landlord damage fund for Ottawa’s Housing First program, outreach to those living outdoors, emergency shelters and transitional housing, and a variety of other services and supports. The City will also pilot a new housing benefit for large families experiencing chronic homelessness and continue to fund a project to prevent singles in receipt of social assistance from entering the shelter system.
In near to mid-term, City Council will continue to advocate for more resources from senior levels of government to address the housing and homelessness crisis afflicting the City of Ottawa.
Thank you to the Manor Park Community Council for inviting me to attend and say a few words during their annual general meeting on May 24. Congratulations to the new and returning directors. I also appreciated the invitation to speak during the Overbrook Community Association's board meeting the evening of May 25. I extended greetings on behalf of Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to those who gathered for the second edition of the Kwibuka basketball tournament at College La Cité on May 21 to commemorate the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Thank you to the The Association Socio-Sportive "Amitiés" for inviting me. I experienced an incredible tour of Ottawa's new central library site, Ādisōke, with my Ottawa Public Library Board colleagues on May 19. I had an amazing visit on May 17 with former Overbrook councillor Fern Casey and Councillors Tim Tierney, Matt Luloff and David Brown. Thank you to the Rockcliffe Park Foundation for hosting the incredible return of the highly anticipated Dining with Ambassadors fundraising event on May 12.
Montreal Road Revitalization Update
Road Rehabilitation Works in Rideau-Rockcliffe
As part of the City of Ottawa’s annual infrastructure maintenance cycle, road resurfacing will occur in the following locations:
The roads will remain open to traffic with lane closures expected. Traffic control personnel will direct traffic. The City has retained contractor R.W. Tomlinson to complete the work.
Overbrook Cleanup Day - May 27
Manor Park Public School Mayfair Event - May 27
Manor Park Public School presents its Mayfair event on May 27 from 10 am to 3 pm on the school grounds at 100 Braemar Street in the school yard. The event will feature an an Indigenous band and hoop dancers, cake walk, book and bake sale, music and more. The Manor Park Community Council will be there selling ice cream and freezies.
Sip & Shop: Monthly Market in Manor Park - May 27
In partnership with Ottawa Street Markets, experience a fully licensed, local shopping experience right here in Manor Park. Sip on local craft beers and Ontario VQA wine while shopping a selection of curated local goods and products from local vendors each month. From eco-friendly products, handmade jewelry, wool socks, art prints, wooden products, to farm fresh produce and baked goods. Fresh doughnuts and perogies - plus delicious soft pretzels and more! Prepared food available on site for an easy late lunch or dinner! Craft beer from Dominion City, Bicycle Craft Brewery and Shillow Beer Co.
The next market is May 27, from 3 to 7 pm, at 1805 Gaspe Avenue. Full Details Here
Ottawa Marathon Cheer Stations in Rideau-Rockcliffe - May 28
Volunteers are welcome to come to one (or more) of six cheer stations in Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward to cheer on those participating in Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.
Lane Closures - Queen Mary Street - May 29 through to June 6
My office has been advised that due to a watermain hookup, lane closures will be in effect on Queen Mary Street, from Edith Avenue to Lola Street, May 29 through to June 6. One lane will be closed at a time. The sidewalk on the north side of Queen Mary will also be closed.
Climate Resiliency Community Workshop for Rideau-Rockcliffe residents - May 30
The City’s Climate Change and Resiliency unit is looking to hear from communities across Ottawa to inform the Climate Resiliency Strategy and programming, recognizing that people will face different impacts based on many factors including geographic location, age, gender, race, and income. CAFES and The City of Ottawa are hosting in-person Climate Resiliency Community Dialogues in partnership with Community and Citizens Associations. These Community Dialogues will focus on climate resiliency and community preparedness for climate impacts such as extreme weather events, flooding, and higher temperatures. The goal of these dialogues is to foster discussion around what climate impacts residents and communities are most concerned about, how prepared they feel, and what strategies can mitigate these impacts.
Wards 12 & 13 - Lindenlea, Manor Park, New Edinburgh, Overbrook, Rockcliffe Park and Vanier
May 30, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Location: Richelieu-Vanier Community Centre, 300 Des Peres-Blancs Avenue
Register for the meeting link here.
There are several other opportunities for you to contribute your ideas to help design the strategy:
Hydro Ottawa Tree Trimming and Power Outages - June 1
Hydro Ottawa, along with its forestry contractor Asplundh Canada, will complete tree trimming work on June 1, 2023, as part of their efforts to prevent trees and branches from coming into contact with overhead power lines. A power outage is scheduled as a result of this work and will impact residents on Morin Street and St-Laurent Boulevard. A planned power outage will be required to proceed with this work. All impacted residents will be contacted by phone, email or text and will be further notified by written notice delivered to their door where applicable. Further, notification will be provided if the power outage is to extend beyond the original duration time. In case of adverse weather, the outage may be rescheduled.
Affected streets: Morin Street and St. Laurent Boulevard
Date: June 1, 2023
Power outage: 8 am to 2 pm
Contractor on site: Asplundh Canada
Customers impacted: 79
On The Road 4 Mental Health - Fundraising Walk Coming Through Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward - June 2 & 3
On June 2, father and son, Greg and Aaron, will begin their 24-hour walk at noon in Stittsville, touching on all 24 wards in the City of Ottawa with a planned arrival at Ottawa City Hall at 11:30 am on Saturday, June 3. Their goal is to generate $50,000 for the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa. During their journey, they will be passing through Rideau-Vanier, Rideau-Rockcliffe and Beacon Hill-Cyrville Wards. You can cheer them on closer to home during their pit stops at the following locations:
Please click here to make a donation. Visit this link for more information about their initiative.
Physical Activity for Older Adults - Tai Chi and Exercise every Friday
The Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre is now hosting Tai Chi and exercise classes for older adults (50-plus) in the Cummings Boardroom at the Rideau Community Hub, 815 St. Laurent Boulevard, every Friday at 10 am. These free sessions are specially designed to meet the needs of Rideau-Rockcliffe community members. To register or to learn more about the centre's seniors’ activities, please call 613-745-0073 ext. 106 or email [email protected].
Doors Open Ottawa - June 3 and 4
The City of Ottawa is proud to present Doors Open Ottawa, a free annual architectural event that celebrates our community’s built heritage. On June 3 and 4, join the City for the 21st anniversary celebration of Doors Open Ottawa, and pay homage to our city’s history, culture, and stunning architecture! It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s the perfect way to discover how Canada’s Capital has become the beautiful city it is today. Doors Open Ottawa is excited to be returning to a hybrid format for 2023. Browse the list of buildings, where you can filter by category, features and/or format to plan your visits.
Participating buildings in Rideau-Rockcliffe:
Manor Park Garage Sale - June 3
Rent your garage sale table now to be part of the fun at the Manor Park Community Centre, 100 Thornwood Road. Renting a table will allow you to set up and sell on site at the community centre with others. Renters will be responsible for transporting and pricing their own goods. The Manor Park Community Council encourages all Manor Park residents to set up a garage sale at their homes! Food, treats and coffee will be available for purchase on site at the Manor Park Community Centre the morning of the garage sale, June 3, from 8 am to 12 pm. Rent your table online.
Meet the Fleet at the Public Works Big Wheels Expo - June 4 at the Ottawa Stadium
On Sunday, June 4, the City of Ottawa is hosting the Public Works Big Wheels Expo, a free event to shed light on what puts the ‘work’ in ‘public works.’ People will be able to take a look inside these machines and learn about how they work. The event will include vehicles such as a garbage truck, a 25-ton rock truck, a road painting truck, a traffic signal display, a sidewalk sweeper, a hydraulic crane truck, and much more. Consider making a day of it and attending the Ottawa Titans 1 pm game at the same time; the first 100 visitors to the Big Wheels Expo will be offered free tickets to the Titans’ matinee game. For details, please click here.
Date: Sunday, June 4
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
(Ottawa Titans game day at 1 pm)
Location: Ottawa Stadium, 300 Coventry Road
Cost: FREE
Free Dental Screenings at the Rideau Community Hub - June 9
Ottawa Public Health hosts free dental screenings at its Neighbourhood Wellness Hubs. Drop by the Rideau Community Hub in Room 101 at 815 St. Laurent Boulevard on June 9, between 10:30 am and 4:14 pm. Looking for a dentist? Need help accessing dental care? Interested in a free dental screening at Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs? Click here for more information or call the Ottawa Public Health Dental Information Line at 613-580-2424 ext. 23510.
Please join The Council on Aging in Ottawa in person (or online) at the Rideau Community Hub (their new home) at 815 St. Laurent Boulevard in the cafeteria (on the main floor by the main entrance) on Tuesday, June 13 from 1 to 3 pm. Free parking onsite. Refreshments will follow the meeting. To attend, please register at this link.
Anti-Racism Strategy Townhall - June 14
As part of the City's launch of its inaugural Anti-Racism Strategy, residents are invited to attend upcoming townhall sessions. Come learn about the strategy and share your feedback The City for All Women Initiative hosts the first townhall on June 14 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Rideau Community Hub, 815 St. Laurent Boulevard. Click here for details, and click here to register. To learn more and read the Anti-Racism Strategy, visit ottawa.ca/antiracism.
The Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre is thrilled to announce its upcoming Violin Recital. Their talented young musicians have been practising diligently and are looking forward to showcasing their skills and hard work in a beautiful performance. The Centre invites all of its partners and community members to attend and support these talented young performers on June 16 between 4:30 and 5:30 pm at the Rideau Community Hub, 815 St. Laurent Boulevard.
The community faces a challenge in accessing high-quality musical instruments, specifically violins. Consequently, the Centre requires violin donations to support its violin program and ensure that every child can participate wholeheartedly. If you possess a violin in good condition or wish to contribute financially, kindly get in touch with the Centre's youth program officer or visit their website to make a donation. Your generosity will have a profound impact on the lives of numerous children in Rideau-Rockcliffe. For more information on Centre activities and programs, please contact email [email protected] and [email protected] or call 613-745-0073 ext. 123.
Overbrook resident Ron Davies' play, Transitions, will be produced at the 2023 Ottawa Fringe Festival. Winner of the 2023 Hamilton Fringe New Play Contest, Transitions is a family drama about change. Family members from three generations – an ailing grandfather, a beleaguered mother and a transgender teen – struggle to understand each other's life changes ... and to deal with their own. Performances take place at the Arts Court Theatre, 2 Daly Ave., from June 16 to 24. The play runs 55 minutes. Tickets at $12 (plus $3.00 for a Fringe pin) will be available through the Ottawa Fringe Festival site at ottawafringe.com. For more information about the play, visit transitionstheplay.ca or follow Overbridge Productions on Facebook, and Instagram. For more information about Ron Davies, visit ron-davies.ca or email [email protected].
Weekend Traffic Impacts - May 27 and 28
This upcoming weekend, traffic impacts are expected around the City due to the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. Avoid delays by planning ahead and giving yourself extra time for your travels. Click here for the full list of traffic impacts.
Updates to the City of Ottawa's Use and Care of Roads By-law
City staff are interested in resident feedback regarding proposed regulations to allow for residential gardening, little free libraries and retail vending in the City’s right of way. Curious what a right-of-way is or what each of these projects entail? The project website has definitions, explanations of the projects, proposed changes, FAQs as well as contact information of staff who can answer any additional questions. Staff will be bringing these proposals to Transportation Committee in June for debate and a recommendation to Council on a final decision regarding approval.
Ottawa Public Health Update
West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease in Ottawa
When ticks and mosquitoes are active, they have the potential to spread infections to Ottawa area residents. Learn how to protect yourself. For more information about West Nile virus and Lyme disease, visit Insects, Animals and Bites - Ottawa Public Health.
OC Transpo Bus Route Review - Open House June 1. Survey open until June 2.
OC Transpo wants to welcome you on board a career in transit. A recruitment team will visit several transit stations next week to provide you with all the information you need to get your career started. OC Transpo has hundreds of openings for new staff members, including bus operators, customer service representatives, special constables, garage supervisors and licensed mechanics. All positions offer excellent benefits for you and your family, a comprehensive pension plan, and career growth opportunities. The transit roadshow will provide you with the opportunity to learn more, so you don’t want to miss it! The OC Transpo recruitment team will have a booth set up, staffed with experts who can explain the application process and set you up for success. The roadshow will take place as follows:
May 27 Job Fair!
A job fair will also take place on Saturday, May 27 at Greenboro Station from 9 am to 3 pm. Here, you can speak directly with staff who work in the jobs that interest you and connect directly with the recruitment team about interview tips and how to fill out online applications. For more details about the transit job fair and roadshow, visit octranspo.com/jobs.
The Beechwood Stroll - May 28
The Beechwood Cemetery Stroll is a free, family-friendly guided historical tour through Beechwood, the National Cemetery of Canada. Tours are given on the last Sunday of each month, rain or shine, and begin at 1 pm. Tours start from the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, located just off their Beechwood Avenue entrance. For more information, please click here. To register for the tour on May 28, please click here.
Celebrate the 20th annual AccessAbility Day, presented by the City of Ottawa in collaboration with the Canadian Accessibility Network and the Institute of Public Administration of Canada – National Capital Region. Please join Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who will deliver the Proclamation of AccessAbility Day in Ottawa. This will be followed by a variety of engaging speakers who will share their perspectives on the topic, including a keynote speech from Stephanie Cadieux, Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer.
When: May 31, 2023
Time: 12 – 2 pm
Location: Zoom
Please click here to register by May 30 at 4 pm in order to receive your Zoom link.
Seniors Wellness Fair - June 1
Learn from our Guest Speakers and Vendors
9:30 am Dr. Frank – “Can Alzheimer’s Be Stopped?”
10:40 am Lauren Orlofsky – “Mental Health Matters”
Date: Thursday, June 1, 2023
Time: 9 am - 1 pm
Place: Gloucester 50+ Centre, 4355 Halmont Dr.
Click here for details.
Play Free on June 3
Everyone can play free Saturday, June 3 to Celebrate National Health and Fitness Day! The City of Ottawa will be offering free passes for swims (including wave swims) and cardio and weight rooms at select facilities, plus hosting a fun, free, virtual Zumba session at 9 am. Register for Zumba in advance at ottawa.ca/fun and to view the list of participating facilities. Some sites may require reservations.
Tickets for the Mayor's annual Canada Day Celebration for seniors available starting June 5
Calling all seniors looking to celebrate Canada Day at the Mayor's annual Canada Day Celebration at Lansdowne! Tickets will be available as of June 5. For more information, please click here.
O-Train Line 1 partial closures for planned maintenance: June 5 to 19
O-Train Line 1 service will be partially closed from June 5 to 19 at varying times and locations due to annual track and maintenance work. Train and R1 service will run in various sections. For the full schedule, please click here.
Keeping Cool in the Capital: Exploring the benefits of heat pumps - June 6 webinar
Tuesday, June 6, 7 - 9 pm
Webinar
Is your old air conditioning due for a replacement? Curious how to make the most out of your cooling system this summer? Join EnvrioCentre’s Ben Perry to go over the future of your air conditioner and how to plan for the future cooling and heating demands in your home with an Air Source Heat Pump. We will cover topics from sizing a heat pump and how to plan the project to ensure you take advantage of all grants and financing available. Register
Consultation - New Low-Rise Development Design Guidelines - June 6
The City of Ottawa is developing new comprehensive Urban Design Guidelines for Low-rise Infill Housing for approval by Council in 2023. The Guidelines will reflect the policies and directions in the new Official Plan adopted by Council in October 2021. The City will be consulting with residents, community organizations, the development industry, non-profits and other stakeholders to ensure that everyone gets a chance to have their say in the new Urban Design Guidelines for Low-rise Infill Housing This Engage Ottawa page will be your one-stop shop for project updates and information on future public engagement opportunities. You will also find FAQ’s, blogs and future drafts of the Guidelines as they become available. The City of Ottawa will be hosting a virtual public information session on June 6 at 6:30 pm on the newly released draft Low-rise Design Guidelines. Residents are invited to attend the session to hear from City staff and take part in a Q&A about the guidelines. Residents are asked to register in advance by using this link.
For more information please email [email protected].
Vacant Unit Tax appeal period now open
With the 2023 final property tax bills sent out to residents, the Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) appeal period is now open for residential property owners who were charged the VUT but believe they should not have been charged the one per cent tax. The first step in the appeal process is filing an online Notice of Complaint, now available on ottawa.ca/vut. The City will review your Notice of Complaint, and you will receive a decision by mail or email. Please click here for details.
The top preventable fires in 2022 were: unattended cooking and improperly discarded smoking materials. Ottawa firefighters also saw many fires that involved cooking with oil that could have been prevented. Last week, they responded to 17 fires in 7 days in our city and the only connection these fires had was that many of them were preventable. During this extremely busy stretch and again in 2023, the same preventable causes are leading the way. The Ottawa Fire Prevention team created some short videos to help educate residents on ways to prevent these types of fires and to show that “Simple actions can save lives.” Click here for more information. Have questions? Email Ottawa's Fire Prevention Division at [email protected].
For meeting agendas, please visit ottawa.ca/agendas or call 3-1-1.
For information on how to participate in individual meetings, please consult the specific meeting’s agenda at ottawa.ca/agendas.
To watch the meetings on Youtube, please click here.
September 13, 2024 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.
September 06, 2024 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.
August 30, 2024 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.