Capital Ward Bulletin: Black History Month in Ottawa and Council Updates

Black History Month

February is Black History Month, an opportunity for all Canadians to celebrate, honour and reflect on the legacy and contributions of Black people to our nation, our city and our communities. 2025’s theme is Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations—a recognition of the diversity of Black Canadians, the importance of Black leadership and the legacy being built for future generations.

As part of Black History Month, there are a host of events happening throughout the city. You can find a calendar of events at Black History Ottawa’s website. In addition, the Ottawa Public Library has a Black History Month event series for residents.

On Wednesday, February 12, city council will officially recognize Black History Month. The Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing, will be performed by Ottawa’s Heavenly Voice Choir. Councillor Rawlson King—the Council Liaison for the City's Anti-Racism and Ethnocultural Relations Initiatives—and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe will provide a formal address marking Black History Month.

A visual display curated by the City of Ottawa Archives team will be featured at City Hall and on digital screens in February to offer a glimpse into the contributions of the Black community in shaping a more inclusive Ottawa

Don’t Forget: The Capital Ward Cup is Tomorrow!

The Capital Ward Cup is back. The hockey kicks off at 11:30 am at Mutchmor Rink, between Third and Fourth Avenue, behind Corpus Christi Elementary School.

Whether you’re playing or just come out to cheer, we look forward to seeing you there!

Snow! Removals Coming Soon to Capital Ward

There has been a lot of snow accumulation recently. We have been asking our excellent winter operations team to do a removal of all core areas in the city as soon as possible. We hear this will start on Sunday or Monday in the ward. It usually takes a week or two to complete all streets in Capital Ward. Staff will put up no parking signs on streets in advance…it's always fun to watch the trucks go by with the giant snowblower. 

Alta Vista Transportation Corridor Public Consultation—Re-Cap

Last Wednesday, we held a public consultation on the future of the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor (AVTC)—a proposed four-lane freeway that would run through current greenspace from Walkley Road to Nicholas Street at the Queensway.

Specifically, we were focusing on the section of the corridor between the Rideau River and Lees Avenue, right beside Springhurst Park. This greenspace—known colloquially as Lees Field or The People’s Park—serves as important and well-used park space for residents nearby and in surrounding communities.

We had close to 150 attend to listen to a brief history and context of the AVTC, as well as a presentation by city staff on the Transportation Master Plan, and to ask questions and provide feedback on the future of this parcel of land.

Thanks to all of you who attended and to those who emailed us with their thoughts.

We had a great discussion. There were many thoughtful comments. People offered their concerns relating to the need for park space, concerns about pollution and environmental degradation, the deleterious effect on transit use and, importantly, how this would affect people’s day-to-day lives.

By the end of February, we plan to have an As We Heard It report available, which we will post to our website and announce here.

In March and April, the city will hold consultations on the Transportation Master Plan, giving residents more opportunities to provide feedback on the AVTC.

Your Capital Ward

If you have a photo you’d like to share in an upcoming bulletin, please send it to [email protected], with the subject line Your Capital Ward. Please give us your name for attribution…or tell us if you’d rather not have your name shared.

Mid-Term Governance Review

Council reshuffled some committees last week as part of its Mid-Term Governance review. I will remain Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee for the rest of the term; Councillor Brockington will be leaving this committee, but we will be joined by Councillors Johnson and Lo. In addition, I will remain on the Transit Committee and the Finance and Corporate Services Committee.

At the council meeting, we directed staff to review procedures around delegate registration and communication with public delegations to committee. We want to see more predictability for public delegations, and better facilitation and equitable access for public delegations

Sometimes, an agenda item will garner significant interest from the public, resulting in a high number of public delegations. Items that are later in the agenda can take variable amounts of time to reach the table for discussion.  This unpredictability may cause residents to have arranged childcare needlessly, miss work or make other unnecessary arrangements. Further, it makes delegation harder for some members of the public to navigate than others, creating an unequal impact on residents. We believe this situation should be ameliorated.

Council Once Again Delays the Acquisition of Prime Conservation Lands Near Fitzroy Harbour

We were disappointed to see that the acquisition of property at 5689 Ferry Road was once again delayed at City Council. This beautiful 223-acre parcel near Fitzroy Harbour boasts wetlands, mature woodlands, pasture and 0.8 km of shoreline on the Ottawa River. With a price tag of just $1.95 million, the land represents an uncommonly rare, affordable and strategic opportunity for reforestation and wetland restoration in Ottawa. Additionally, the lands feature two heritage structures (a farmhouse and log house dating back to 1910 and 1845, respectively); archaeological potential, including possible use and/or occupation by Indigenous people; and opportunities for low-impact recreation.

As private property, the forests, wetlands and shoreline are protected by neither the property’s zoning or overlays, nor by the local Conservation Authority. In acquiring it, the City of Ottawa would have the opportunity to achieve meaningful progress on a variety of city-wide goals and frameworks, including the city’s no-net-loss policies and tree-planting goals, calls in the Official Plan to acquire conservation lands, the Term of Council strategic priority to create a “Green and Resilient City”, and recommendations from the Rural Summit which called for the conservation of rural forests.

Reduced from an original asking price of $3.5 million, city staff negotiated an excellent deal on these lands, which comprise not only Natural Heritage System Core Areas but Natural Linkage Areas and which were identified by staff as highly important to conserve.

Despite years searching for a property of this caliber, staff said in meetings that these lands are exceptional and represent perhaps the most significant opportunity for conservation in Ottawa in recent years. Importantly, the benefits these lands offer in terms of drainage, carbon sequestration, biodiversity and more are important not just for the species living there, but for the residents of Ottawa as a whole—helping to prevent flooding, increasing tree cover, and preserving greenspace.

The Council decision on January 29 served to delay this decision until the end of March, a move which could squander the opportunity entirely. In the meantime, staff were directed to provide a list of other properties which could be considered for acquisition and to investigate the potential for Conservation Authorities to share in the cost. We look forward to seeing the results of the land inventory come back and will continue to advocate for the acquisition of 5689 Ferry Road when the opportunity once again presents itself.

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Rules Advance Through Committees and onto Council

According to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), electricity demand in Ontario is anticipated to grow 75% by 2050. This is the equivalent of adding four and a half cities the size of Toronto to our provincial grid in just under 25 years.

To meet these energy needs while maintaining a livable planet and meeting our emissions reductions goals requires renewable energy. To enable the use of renewables, Ontario needs batteries—to capture energy at times when production is high and then release it when demand is high (e.g. peak hours) and/or production is low (e.g. a cloudy afternoon, nighttime).

In 2022, the IESO led the largest energy storage procurement ever in Canada, known as the “E-LT1” and the “LT1” Request for Proposals, which resulted in 26 proposed principal-use BESS projects throughout the province, with a total capacity of 2,916 megawatts. Two of such projects were proposed for Ottawa. To manage these and other BESS projects in the city, staff have since proposed Zoning By-Law and Official Plan Amendments which would regulate factors such as the size and placement of the systems.

Our office is pleased to see that these guidelines are adequately permissive so as to enable renewable energy generation in Ottawa while maintaining important safety oversight to address risk. The staff proposal having now been carried through the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the Planning and Housing Committee, the final recommendations will rise to Council on February 12 for final approval. We hope to see the final recommendations proceed at that point and to mark a win for renewable energy in Ottawa.

Rideau Winter Trail—Loppet 2025

Following a successful inaugural event last year, Rideau Winter Trail Ottawa will be hosting Loppet 2025, their second urban ski loppet on Sunday, February 23.

Starting in front of the Rideau Sports Centre at 10:00 am, participants can choose between a 2 km or 11 km loop (non-timed). All ages are welcome to join in the fun. Registration includes snacks, hot drinks…and lots of fun! Participants also get 15% off lunch at The Bridge Public House (in the Rideau Sports Centre), following the Loppet. 

For more information, and to register, please click here.

Ride Free Sno-Bus service During Winterlude!

Going to Winterlude this year in the Nation’s Capital? Ride the Sno-Bus for free to several official Winterlude sites.

Winterlude Sno-Bus Schedule

• Between Elgin Street at Sparks Street to Jacques-Cartier Park North
  • February 1 and 2, 8 and 9, and 15 and 16, from 10 am to 5:30 pm
  • Monday, February 17, from 10 am to 3 pm

Gatineau Sno-Bus Schedule

• Between Robert-Guertin Park and Ride and Jacques-Cartier Park North
  • February 1, 8 and 15, from 9 am to 9 pm
  • February 2, 9 and 16, from 9 am to 6 pm
  • No service on Monday, February 17

Hop on a Sno-Bus on Elgin Street at Sparks Street. Look for buses signed “Sno-Bus” at bus stops marked by Sno-Bus signs.

Sno-Bus and Rideau Hall shuttle dates and schedules

Getting Downtown

To get downtown during Winterlude, take the O-Train or any bus route that serves the downtown area. Park & Ride lots across the city offer FREE parking and frequent service with connections to Lines 1 and 2.

Line 2 and 4 are open Monday to Saturday, and parallel bus service operates all week. Use the Travel Planner to help plan your trip.

Reminder

You cannot board the bus wearing skates. When carrying your skates, please use skate guards or carry them at your side to avoid injuries.

Winter Helmet Safety

If you enjoy winter activities like skating, skiing, and sledding, please keep safety in mind as you and your loved ones head out to play. A properly fitted helmet, used for the sport or activity it is designed for, can help protect your head and reduce the risk of a serious brain injury. 

Did you know? A hockey helmet is best for both hockey and skating as it is made for the kind of falls that happen on ice. A ski helmet is designed for impacts most common in downhill skiing, and for use in cold weather. 

For information on choosing the right helmet, how to wear a helmet, when it’s time for a replacement and more, please visit:

• Helmet Safety - Ottawa Public Health
• Helmets for winter activities:

• • Ice hockey – Parachute
  • Skiing and snowboarding – Parachute
  • Sledding and tobogganing – Parachute
  • Snowmobiling – Parachute

Concussion Awareness

A concussion is a brain injury. It results from a blow to the head, face or neck, or a blow to the body that jars the head, causing the brain to move rapidly inside of the skull. A concussion can cause a variety of symptoms such as confusion, headache, fatigue, vision or balance problems, irritability, nausea, vomiting and more. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to stop activity immediately and seek medical attention right away.

Early recognition of concussion, proper medical assessment, and appropriate management make a difference in recovery. 

To learn more about concussions, visit Concussion – Parachute

Apply for the Community Environmental Projects Grant Program by March 31

The Community Environmental Projects Grant Program (CEPGP) is a city-run program which provides funding to non-profit organizations in Ottawa to undertake small-scale, community-based initiatives dealing with environmental sustainability. In 2019, our office successfully moved a motion which resulted in a 2023 budget increase for the program from $52,000 to $102,000 per year. 

To apply to the program, an applicant must:  

• Be based in Ottawa;  

• Adhere to not-for-profit principles; 

• Represent a community association, community group, youth group, school council/parent association, or an industry and trade association; 

• Not have an active CEPGP project; and  

• Commit to completing the proposed project by June 30, 2026. 

Only one application per organization will be accepted each year. This year, the deadline to apply to the CEPGP is Monday, March 31 at 4:00 pm. 

For more details on the program, please visit Ottawa.ca/cepgp.

Public Information about Accessibility Features in Parks Survey

The city is seeking your input through an online survey to learn what accessibility features you would like to know about when visiting City of Ottawa parks and how you would like to access that information.

The information you provide will be used to develop options for providing residents information related to accessibility features in parks.

For accessible survey formats or communication supports (hardcopy, large font, audio, Braille, phone survey, etc.), please contact [email protected] or (613) 580-2424 ext. 33544.

Heritage Ottawa Workshop—Help for Your Older Home

Heritage Ottawa is developing a series of essential workshops for owners and prospective owners of older homes. Offered either in-person or online, the workshops cover a range of topics presented by professionals in their fields to help you care for your historic property.

As part of the series, they have developed a two-part workshop to help homeowners prepare for extreme weather events we are facing with increasing regularity due to climate change.

Part 1: Doing the Groundwork: Preparing Your Home's Landscape for Severe Weather

When: Thursday, March 6 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm

Registration Fee: $25.00  

Part 1 "Doing the Groundwork" will focus on how weather impacts the landscape elements of your home. Topics will include good practices for the design and management of rainwater flow (safely re-directing or capturing it for use), and the prudent care and maintenance of trees and shrubs.

Part 2 "Building Resilience: Preparing your older home for severe weather" will be centred on the key components of a building's exterior envelope, as well as internal systems, and is scheduled for April. 

For more information or to register, visit heritageottawa.org/events/heritage-ottawa-workshops.