January 17, 2025 Newsletter
January 17, 2025 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.
November 3, 2023 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.
Protect yourself against the flu and COVID-19 by getting your vaccines
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) recommends that everyone six months and older get the annual flu vaccine and the updated XBB 1.5-containing COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are particularly recommended for people at high risk of severe illness from flu and/or COVID-19 as well as health care workers and first responders. Effective October 30, 2023, flu vaccines and the updated COVID-19 vaccines are available for all residents. There are many options for getting your flu and updated COVID-19 vaccine:
To book your appointment for the updated COVID-19 vaccine: COVID-19 vaccine appointments at OPH Community Clinics can be booked through the Ontario COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007).
To book your appointment for your annual flu vaccine: Flu vaccine appointments at OPH Community Clinics can be booked through the Ottawa Public Health website.
OPH wants to remind Ottawa residents that there are simple and effective ways to help protect yourself, your families and our communities against respiratory illness. Some people in our community are at a higher risk of severe illness. Minor symptoms for one person could be a life-threatening illness for another. Using the following layers of protection helps keep everyone safe:
For more information on respiratory illness, including vaccination and treatment, please visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/RespVirus, call 613-580-6744 or call 3-1-1 after hours.
Thank you to St. Mary's Home for inviting me to their 90th anniversary celebration the evening of Nov. 2. I was proud to present a certificate on behalf of Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Rideau-Vanier Councillor Stéphanie Plante in recognition of this special milestone occasion. St. Mary's Home has been continuously and responsively supporting pregnant and parenting youth and their children in the Ottawa area for 90 years.
Thank you to everyone who attended my Equity Budget Consultation for Black, Indigenous and racialized communities. My thanks to Deputy City Treasurer of Revenue, Joseph Muhini, QuakeLab, the Ottawa Black Business Alliance and Rideau-Vanier Stéphanie Plante and River Councillor Riley Brockington for attending and participating. The hybrid event was held Nov. 1 on Zoom and in person at the Ottawa Black Business Alliance at 235 Montreal Road.
As we approach Remembrance Day, I was happy to join Councillors Matthew Luloff and David Hill at Veterans House in Wateridge Village this week to thank the Knights of Columbus for donating jackets and comfort kits to tenants and to those staying at the Ottawa Mission.
Thank you to Rideau-Rockcliffe residents and community association representatives for attending my Ward 13 virtual budget consultation on Oct. 30. My thanks to the City's Deputy City Treasurer of Corporate Finance, Isabelle Jasmin, for participating.
It was a truly frightening haunted house experience experienced by hundreds of children and youth at the Overbrook Community Centre on Oct. 31, created through a wonderful partnership with the City’s recreational staff, Ottawa Community Housing, the Overbrook Community Association and the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre.
A wonderful inaugural Halloween drop-in event was held on Oct. 31 at the New Edinburgh Park Fieldhouse for neighbourhood trick or treaters, organized by the Crichton Community Council.
I dropped into the excellent Halloween Party and barbecue held this week at the Wabano Centre for the Indigenous community.
The Lindenlea Community Association hosted an amazing haunted house experience for local kids at the Lindenlea Community Centre on Oct. 29.
I enjoyed Mayor Mark Sutcliffe's Trick or Treat event at City Hall on Oct. 28.
I gave opening remarks at the National Trust Conference, held at the Chateau Laurier last week, to more than 700 attendees in my capacity as Chair of the City’s Built Heritage Committee.
It was great to have attended the Algonquin College Speaker Series briefly last week to listen to discussions about community resilience through emergency management and preparedness.
OC Transpo News for Rideau-Rockcliffe
Following my motion to Council during the 2023 City Budget cycle to improve bus service in Wateridge Village, along with consultations with residents and the community association, I am pleased to report that OC Transpo has been responsive to community input and has proposed the following bus service improvements that will positively impact Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward:
These proposed changes, recommended through OC Transpo's bus optimization process, will be considered by Transit Commission on November 14. If approved, the proposed bus route changes would be funded through the upcoming transit budget, which will be tabled on November 8, discussed and approved at the Transit Commission on November 14, and rise to City Council for final approval on December 6. Implementation would occur after this.
On September 15, I released a position paper focused on improving OC Transpo bus routes in Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward to enhance efficiency and improve the passenger experience. The paper explores the challenges with current routes that serve our area and the importance of route optimization for the main bus routes which serve this Ward. Additionally, the position paper showcases the benefits of optimization, such as reduced travel time, improved reliability, and increased ridership and makes recommendations concerning bus route improvements based upon resident input from both a transit survey and virtual townhall session that my office conducted, in conjunction with Rideau-Vanier Councillor Stéphanie Plante and Somerset Councillor Ariel Troster, earlier this year. The paper can be accessed at this link. During this budget cycle, I will continue to ask questions as to how OC Transpo can continue to improve service, keep service affordable for residents and reduce service cancellations.
2023 Order of Ottawa inductees and Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching recipient announced
Yesterday, Nov. 2, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe announced 15 residents who will be inducted into the Order of Ottawa this year, as well as the recipient of the 2023 Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching. I am looking forward to joining Mayor Sutcliffe in inducting Rideau-Rockcliffe resident André M. Levesque into the Order of Ottawa during the ceremony at City Hall on Nov. 16. Residents can watch the ceremony live on Rogers TV Cable 22 and rogerstv.com at 7 pm. It will be rebroadcast on Rogers TV Cable 22 on Friday, November 17 at 10 am and Saturday, November 18 at 6:30 pm. For more information about the Order of Ottawa, please visit ottawa.ca.
Time to change your clocks back - Nov. 5
On Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 2 am clocks are turned backward one hour in Ontario. OC Transpo confirms that extra trips will be added to coincide with the clocks falling back one hour this weekend. OC Transpo will have five additional operators who will be working around this timeframe specifically to accommodate customers who may be impacted by the change, and OC Transpo will assign those extra trips on those routes that are running at that time of the night (Routes 45, 75, 39.) Please note that the LRT will be running for an extra hour as well.
International Inuit Day - Nov. 5
International Inuit Day is Nov. 7 this year, however, celebrations will take place Nov. 5, from 1 to 4 pm, in Annie Pootoogook Park in Sandy Hill, 250 Somerset East. Everyone is welcome – whether Inuit or not! There will be food, Inuit games and performances, speeches, artisan goods for sale, and cake! This will be a wonderful day of celebrating Inuit culture, food and people.
Flu & COVID booster vaccines are available
Ottawa Public Health expects the 2023/2024 respiratory season to be atypical when compared to pre-pandemic years, with early activity of respiratory viruses such as influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulating simultaneously with COVID-19. OPH recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the annual flu vaccine and the updated XBB 1.5-containing COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are particularly recommended for people at high risk of severe illness from flu and/or COVID-19 as well as health care workers and first responders. Book your COVID booster through the provincial booking system.
To book your appointment for your annual flu vaccine: Flu vaccine appointments at OPH Community Clinics can be booked through the Ottawa Public Health website.
For more information, please visit the project webpage here.
Remembrance Day in the Nation's Capital - Nov. 11
On Remembrance Day and through Veterans Week, we honour those who have served and continue to serve our country.
Nov. 8 is Indigenous Veterans Day. The First Nations, Inuit and Métis of Canada have a long and proud tradition of military service to our country. Please click here to learn more.
Local Ceremonies in Ottawa
There are many local ceremonies taking place across Ottawa this week. For the full list, please click here.
Watch the National Ceremony on TV or online
The 2023 National Remembrance Day Ceremony, hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion, takes place at the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa on Nov. 11 starting at approximately 10:30 am. It will feature a Veterans' Parade and a fly-past. The City of Ottawa will restrict road access around the War Memorial before and during the ceremony. The program for the event is available at this link.
Transit information:
National Capital Core Area Plan Workshops - Nov. 15
The NCC is updating the National Capital Core Area Plan. This is your opportunity to help shape the future of the core area! The NCC wants to hear your thoughts on their long-term plans to help build a capital that is inclusive, picturesque, thriving and well connected. Join the NCC at one of its workshops on Nov. 15, 2023. For details, please click here.
Register for recreation and culture winter programs
Inclusive Recreation Programming for Fall/Winter
The City of Ottawa is excited to announce that Inclusive Recreation programming for Winter 2024 is available. These classes and activities are tailored to support individuals with disabilities of all ages take part in community recreation. Registration is currently open for Fall programs, and registration for Winter 2024 programs begins Nov. 16. More information and a full list of programs are available for fall aquatics, non-aquatic programs, and PA days.
Ottawa Filming Locations
Ottawa’s film and television industry has grown significantly in recent years, due in large part to the city’s variety and proximity of film-friendly locations. To further promote our filming locations, the Ottawa Film Office worked with local advertising agency Mediaplus to create a video showcasing what the region offers film and television productions. You can view the video on YouTube. The OFO is a non-profit organization dedicated to attracting and promoting live-action and animation production in Canada's capital. Click here to learn more.
Reviewing Ottawa's Heritage Register: Volunteer and Outreach Opportunities
Pickleball is currently the fastest growing sport in North America. As such, demand for court space is steadily increasing across Ottawa, while tennis continues to be a well-loved sport in our community. The City has identified the need for an outdoor tennis and pickleball strategy, which will ensure that communities across Ottawa have access to both sports. The strategy will also serve as a reference guide for future management, oversight, and development of all public and club-operated outdoor tennis and pickleball courts. Currently the City operates over 500 outdoor tennis and pickleball courts, including combination courts (shared tennis and pickleball lines), single sport courts and municipal membership club courts. Following an evaluation of the current public court model, the strategy will identify a clear direction and delivery model for both outdoor tennis and pickleball across the city of Ottawa. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]. For more information, please visit engage.ottawa.ca/tennis_pickleball.
GET INVOLVED
Resident feedback is an important part of developing the City’s outdoor tennis and pickleball strategy. Complete the survey at this link to tell the City about your household’s use of the outdoor tennis and pickleball courts in your community. Accessibility is an important consideration for the City of Ottawa. If you require special accommodation, please email [email protected].
Update: Statement on Recent Hate-Motivated Incidents in Ottawa
To all Ottawa Residents: In the past days and weeks several concerning hate-motivated criminal incidents including graffiti, vandalism, hate mail, threats and a potential threat to public safety (later deemed unfounded through investigation) have been reported to police. These incidents have targeted Jewish and Muslim community members in Ottawa. Hate speech, symbols and other hate-motivated incidents are unacceptable. Those incidents can have a lasting impact not only on those who have been targeted, but throughout the neighbourhoods and communities where they occur. The Ottawa Police has zero tolerance for hate-motivated incidents. The Hate and Bias Crime Unit fully investigates all reported incidents. We will prosecute those who commit hate crimes to the full extent of the law. Click here to read the full statement.
Please join Ottawa Police activities during Crime Prevention Week - Nov. 5-11
Police services across the province are participating in Crime Prevention Week, in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP). This annual awareness week highlights how residents and police can work together to enhance the safety of their communities. This year’s Crime Prevention Week is set to begin on Nov. 5 and extend through Nov. 11. Various activities will be carried out around Ottawa, and we extend an invitation to you to participate. For details, please click here.
Here are some key events and highlights for the week:
January 17, 2025 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.
January 10, 2025 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.
December 20, 2024 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.