September 10 Newsletter 2021

September 10, 2021 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

Many students returned to school this week and I hope that everyone had a great start to the school year. September often marks the unofficial start to the year with many activities resuming and I want to remind residents to remain vigilant so that we stay one step ahead of COVID-19. If you have not already received the COVID-19 vaccine, please do so.  

There are quite a few things happening in the community and around the city. With election day coming up soon, there will be a debate for diverse communities happening this Monday, September 13 at 7:30pm. The debate will focus on issues of concern to Ottawa’s Black communities and will help residents make an informed choice. The NCC is looking for feedback as it starts to work on a plan to re-envision the area. Please take a moment to fill out the survey, included in this newsletter. A reminder that the 2021 Crime Prevention Ottawa Awards are fast approaching. If you know someone who should be nominated for a category, be sure to fill out the form which can be accessed from this newsletter. Rideau Sports Centre will be hosting two exciting events next weekend on September 18 and 19. They will be hosting both an open house and an outdoor market. Finally, the West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes this season. It is always a good idea to be aware of how to protect yourself against mosquito bites, especially as many residents have been able to take in more of the outdoors during the pandemic. 

Debate for Diverse Communities 

As Council Liaison for Ant-Racism and Ethnocultural Initiatives, I am pleased to sponsor the 613-819 Black Hub federal election candidates debate focused on issues of concern to Ottawa’s Black communities. Make an informed choice. Hear what the candidates say their parties will do for Black Canadians on issues including, immigration, employment, justice, climate change and more. 

Date: Monday, Sept. 13 

Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm 

Location: Streamed online on YouTube and Facebook from City Hall 

Candidates: Simon Gnocchini Messier (Green Hull-Aylmer), Sandrine Perion (PC Hull-Aylmer), Huda Mukbil (NDP Ottawa South), Greg Fergus (Liberal Hull-Aylmer) 

Moderators: Sarah Onyango and Adrian Harewood 

Plan for the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway 

The National Capital Commission (NCC) has started initial work on developing a plan for the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Park. This Plan will re-envision a linear park along the riverfront that will look at environmental protection and management while planning for animation of the Ottawa River through recreational opportunities and by reconnecting people to it. 

The NCC planning and consultation process will be launched in the Fall of 2021. To inform the development of this linear park, the NCC is conducting a short survey to solicit the opinions of residents who use the parkway and surrounding areas. 

https://ncc-ccn.questionpro.ca/a/TakeSurvey?tt=rgU4lxqLnUDtiMtFhbTSrA%3D%3D&lcfpn=false 

The survey will be available online until September 12, 2021. 

REMINDER: 2021 Crime Prevention Ottawa Awards Call for nominations 

It’s almost time for the 13th annual Crime Prevention Ottawa Awards. 

Don’t miss your opportunity to nominate a deserving community safety leader. The deadline for submissions is October 7, 2021. The awards honour people, groups, programs and collaborations making Ottawa a safer city for everyone.  

The ceremony will take place online on Monday, November 8, 2021 from 12 to 1 pm.  Save the date! 

Nominees are being sought for the following award categories: 

• Leadership Award 
• Business Award 
• Youth Leadership Award 
• City Employee Award 
• Volunteer Award 
• Volunteer Program Award 
• Community Program Award 
• Enforcement Professional Award 

The nomination form, criteria and frequently asked questions can be found at: www.crimepreventionottawa.ca. 

Rideau Sports Centre: Open House and Outdoor Market 

The Rideau Sports Centre will be hosting two special events next weekend. On Saturday September 18 from 10am to 4pm, stop by the centre to take part in their open house and sample the many different programs they offer. Try fitness classes, yoga, and tennis. There will also be activities for kids and live music! Check out the full lineup here. 

On Sunday September 19 from 10am to 2pm, stop by the outdoor market which will host an array of local vendors. The full lineup of vendors and goods that will be available can be viewed here. 

First mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus this season 

Mosquito trapping and testing as part of Ottawa Public Health’s West Nile virus program have confirmed the first positive West Nile virus lab result in Ottawa mosquitoes for this season. Biting mosquitoes can pose a risk for West Nile virus until the first hard frosts of the fall. Residents can help reduce mosquito populations around their homes by getting rid of all outdoor objects that can hold water, where mosquitoes lay their eggs.  

West Nile virus is an infection spread primarily by the northern house mosquito (Culex pipiens). Most people will not develop any symptoms if infected, but about 20 per cent may experience flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches and possibly a rash. The risk of more serious illness in which West Nile virus invades the central nervous system, increases with age, with older adults and people with weakened immune systems being at higher risk. Serious illness occurs in less than one per cent of infections. 

There have been no reported, confirmed, or probable human cases of West Nile virus in Ottawa this year. As of September 4, there have been three reported human cases in Ontario this year. 

Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites by: 

• Applying a Health Canada-approved mosquito repellent containing DEET or icaridin to exposed skin and to clothing 
• Protecting yourself especially between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active, and at all times in or near shady, bushy, or wooded areas 
• Wearing light-coloured, tightly woven, loose-fitting clothing, including long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, shoes and socks to protect exposed skin 
• Making sure all windows and doors in your home have well-fitting screens that are in good condition 
• Reducing standing water sites around your home, such as bird baths, toys, flowerpot saucers, swimming pool covers, old tires, wheelbarrows, buckets, and cans – anything that can hold water for seven days or longer 
• Keeping all openings to rain barrels covered with screen mesh at all times 

Spending time outdoors has many health benefits. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are spending time outdoors in urban settings, including on their porches, in their gardens, and in local parks. These settings are ideal for the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus. Be sure to protect yourself against mosquito bites around your home.  

Montreal Road Revitalization 

Please find below a two-week update (Monday, September 6 to Friday, September 17) for the Montreal Road Revitalization project. The work activities planned for the next two weeks will include: 

• Vanier Parkway/Montreal Road intersection – Work is tentatively scheduled to begin on Saturday, September 18 in the southwest quadrant of the intersection that will require closure of the east-west crosswalk on the south side of the intersection for four to five weeks. The work will be fairly extensive, similar to the construction that took place in the southeast quadrant that required lane closures on the Vanier Parkway and Montreal Road with police directing traffic at times.  

• North River Road to Vanier Parkway – The sidewalk on both the north and south sides of Montreal Road is complete except for sections near hydro poles at the North River Road/Montreal Road intersection. The hydro poles will be removed once new streetlights are installed which is scheduled for this fall. The North River Road/Montreal Road intersection will be completed next year.   

• Vanier Parkway to Marier Avenue – The northside concrete curb, base asphalt, sidewalk and the asphalt cycle track are complete for this section. Crews are continuing work on the south side of the road and are progressing with the construction of underground electrical utility work and concrete curbs between Savard Avenue and Olmstead Street. Soil cells for urban trees are also being constructed on the south side. A section of sidewalk has been constructed from the Vanier Parkway to Savard Avenue with additional concrete proceeding east in the next two weeks. Bollards and concrete planter curbs are being constructed at the Emond Street plaza.   

• Marier Avenue to Lafontaine Avenue – A majority of sidewalk has been constructed on the north side from Marier Avenue to Bradley Avenue. Underground utility work continues on the south side, including Mona Avenue to Altha Avenue and at Alfred Street. Removal of existing sidewalk and pavers continues on the south side east of Bégin Street. Road excavation will be completed this week between Marier Avenue and Altha Avenue.   

• Lafontaine Avenue to de l’Église Street – Underground sewer and catch basin work continues. The north side of Montreal Road between Lafontaine Avenue and Cantin Street has been paved. The south side of Montreal Road from Ducharme Boulevard to de L’Eglise Street has been paved. Electrical underground work will be undertaken on the north side between Lafontaine Avenue and Cantin Street which will impact some accesses.    

• De l’Église Street to St. Laurent Boulevard – Excavations for new sanitary sewers and the watermain are continuing at de L’Eglise Street with crews working east towards St. Laurent Boulevard.   

• Continued traffic impacts and road closures – Montreal Road is reduced to one westbound lane from Vanier Parkway to St. Laurent Boulevard. Lane reductions on Montreal Road and Vanier Parkway will be required while work is ongoing in the southwest quadrant of the Vanier Parkway/Montreal Road intersection. All streets are closed between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard, except for Olmstead Street, Marier Avenue, Granville Street/Lafontaine Avenue and Cantin Street. Traffic calming flex posts installed along Lafontaine Avenue, Deschamps Boulevard and Montfort Street have been restored with additional reinforcing which should limit issues with cars detaching the flexposts from the asphalt.  

• Month-long construction outlook – Underground and aboveground work continues between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard. The curbs and granular road surface on the south side of Montreal Road between the Vanier Parkway and Olmstead Street should be nearing completion within the next month, followed by road paving and sidewalk construction. Underground, road, curb and sidewalk work will continue between Marier Avenue and de L’ Eglise Street. Work on North River Road, including installation of permanent traffic calming measures and dedicated pedestrian crossings, is tentatively planned to start within the next month. Work will be starting in the southwest quadrant of the Vanier Parkway/Montreal Road intersection in the next two weeks which will impact crosswalks and lanes at the intersection. City crews will be installing new traffic signals at Cantin Street, Lacasse Avenue, Hannah Street and Cody Avenue starting mid September and continuing until the end of September. Some pedestrian movement across the intersections will be disrupted while crews are working during the day.    

• Hydro update – Hydro Ottawa removed their overhead power line between North River Road and Vanier Parkway on the weekend of July 17. Before the hydro poles can be fully removed, the new streetlights must be installed and energized. Complete removal of the poles will happen towards the end of the summer.