Happy Capital Pride
We’re at the end of August, and you know what that means: back-to-school season, bus service changes…and Capital Pride!
I was at the opening flag raising and I’ll be there Sunday for the parade, checking out the booths and enjoying the spirit of community that is Capital Pride.
The LGBTQ2+ community has taken decades to secure rights. As we see an increase in bigotry, homophobia and transphobia in our city and our country, I believe it’s important to show support whether you’re a member of the community or an ally.
In the midst of recent controversy around Pride and the struggle for human rights, internationally, I would recommend my colleague Councillor Ariel Troster’s recent Op-Ed: I am queer and Jewish and will be marching in the Pride parade.
The parade starts at 1:00 pm on Sunday and there are other events throughout the weekend. I hope to see many familiar faces there.
Capital Ward Bike Ride & BBQ—Save the Date!
We’ll be hosting a community bike ride and barbecue on Saturday September 21.
Save the date! More details will follow in the next newsletter.
We’re Hiring!
Are you looking for work? Do you want a job that lets you help your community? Does the term “municipal governance” excite you? Why not consider working with our team? We have a contract position opening in our office. More information and to apply, visit www.shawnmenard.ca/careers.
Heron Park Fieldhouse
The old fieldhouse has now come down and the project will be turning to needed soil remediation before reconstruction. We are excited to be delivering this needed amenity in Heron Park after decades of waiting.
Back-to-School Time
It’s the back-to-school season in the capital, so we’ll start seeing more kids out on the streets, walking and biking to school, and more school buses taking kids to their classes. We encourage all parents to try sustainable modes of transportation when dropping off children.
We continue working with the city to improve safety around our schools and wherever kids might be walking. This year, we’ve rolled out more traffic calming measures, to add to the measures we’ve put in in the past.
EnviroCentre has prepared information on how to make your trip to school more active, including bike busses, walking with a buddy, or parking a block or two away and then walking. You can find the Walk-A-Block map for OCDSB and OCSB schools here, and at these links for CECCE and CEPEO.
Glebe Avenue Tree Project
By the time you read this, you may have seen some work start up on Glebe Avenue beside the Shopper’s Drug Mart. The city is trying out a new technique that hasn’t been done in Ottawa yet. The city is planting two new trees with soil cells that will be connected to the street’s catch basins to provide more water to the trees. The soil and water will help the trees grow to full size.
The construction site will encroach on the sidewalk, bicycle lane and parking bay. There will be a new temporary bicycle lane and pedestrians will be directed to the other side of Glebe Avenue. Vehicle access through the intersection will be maintained.
The work will continue through September and into October. When it’s done, the bike racks, parking meter and signage will be reinstalled at the existing locations. The new sidewalk will be reinstated at the same location and width as the current sidewalk.
Lansdowne 2.0 Site Plan Control—Public Consultation
There will be an online public consultation on the plans for the re-development of the Event Centre and Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park. Join us for the virtual information and comment session on Tuesday, September 10 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Register here.
Learn more about Lansdowne 2.0 here: Lansdowne 2.0 | Engage Ottawa.
Your Capital Ward
Photo by Steve Gurman
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.
OC Transpo Fall Service Changes
As we roll back into fall, you will see some changes to OC Transpo service to accommodate students going back to school and more commuters returning from summer vacations.
While there had been an outside chance the LRT Trillium Line would be back running by the start of school, unfortunately, that won’t be happening. OC Transpo is still in the midst of the Trial Running phase. Once that is completed, then the 21-day testing phase will begin.
We will keep you up-to-date as we get more information from OC Transpo.
Seasonal Adjustments
- Routes 7 and 25 will return to their regular non-summer schedules to accommodate the seasonal return of higher ridership.
- Frequency on Line 2 buses serving Carleton University will be increased from summer service levels to accommodate the seasonal return of higher ridership. Peak period service will operate every 10 minutes, and midday and evening service where needed to increase capacity.
Summer Weekend Service to Seasonal Destinations
- Labour Day, Monday, September 2, will be the last day of operation for the seasonal service on Route 125 to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Route 139 to Petrie Island, and Route 185 to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum.
School Services
- School service will resume. Changes to school service have been made based on observed ridership levels and in consultation with school boards and their student transportation agencies.
- Full details on specific changes to school routes will be available on octranspo.com.
Service to Major Events
- Redblacks Games: Fares to and from the event are included in event tickets. Special 450-series service is provided to bring customers to and from the games.
- Supplementary service for CityFolk, Army Run and the Panda Game will be determined closer to the event date in consultation with event organizers. Any supplemental or adjusted service for the events will be communicated to customers through OC Transpo’s regular communication channels.
Holiday Service
- Labour Day – Monday, September 2, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a Sunday schedule from 8 am to 11 pm. Line 2 bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule from 7:30 am to 11 pm.
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Monday, September 30, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a weekday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a weekday schedule from 5 am to 1 am. Line 2 bus service will operate on a weekday schedule from 5:30 am to midnight.
- Thanksgiving – Monday, October 14, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on Sunday schedule from 8 am to 11 pm. Line 2 bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule from 7:30 am to 11 pm.
- Remembrance Day – Monday, November 11, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a weekday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a weekday schedule from 5 am to 1 am. Line 2 bus service will operate on a weekday schedule from 5:30 am to midnight.
Service Adjustments
Starting Monday, August 26, O-Train Line 1 will run every 10 minutes from approximately 9 am to 3 pm and 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm on weekdays. Peak-period and weekend service remain unchanged. The full detailed schedule is available on octranspo.com. These service adjustments better reflect current demand and travel patterns and account for forecasted fall ridership. This change will be closely monitored and can be adjusted if there is a change in ridership levels.
Cleaning the Capital 2024 Fall Campaign
The vibrant fall colours will soon make their appearance across the city and the Cleaning the Capital Fall campaign will proceed with registration on August 15. Cleanup projects will take place between September 15 and October 15.
Participants can register their cleanup projects by using the online registration form available at www.ottawa.ca/clean. The registration form populates an interactive map with pins that display the location, date, and time of all registered cleanup projects. Cleanup kits, which include garbage bags and nitrile gloves, will be made available for pick-up by registrants at one of 14 City of Ottawa facilities across the city. This fall, based on participant feedback and demand, we have added four new cleanup kit pick-up sites (including two rural pick-up locations).
As the new three-item limit for curbside garbage collection will come into effect during this campaign, participants are encouraged to review the instructions and options for proper disposal of collected waste/litter prior to their planned cleanup projects. This information will be communicated to participants via registration confirmation, as well as through www.ottawa.ca/clean.
Key Fall campaign dates:
- August 15: Registration begins
- September 15 to October 15: Cleaning the Capital Fall campaign
- October 1: Deadline to register
- November 1: Deadline to submit online cleanup reports
Have your say on Draft Budget 2025
Budget 2025 is right around the corner, and the city wants to hear from you! Tell them what budget priorities matter to you by visiting the Engage Ottawa Draft Budget 2025 page today to complete a short poll. The poll is open until Friday, September 13 and the results will be posted on Engage Ottawa.
Once the poll closes, there will be other opportunities to get involved with Draft Budget 2025, including through Councillor-led consultations, social media, your local Councillor and feedback tools on Engage Ottawa.
Your feedback is integral to the development of the city’s budget. It’s your city and your budget, so have your say!
Important dates and information
- Ongoing: Residents provide feedback and questions related to Draft Budget 2025 through social media (using #OttBudget), 3-1-1, local Councillors and feedback tools on Engage Ottawa
- Tuesday, August 6 to Friday, September 13: Residents share their budget priorities by completing the Engage Ottawa Draft Budget 2025 poll
- September to November: Councillor-led budget consultations take place to receive input from residents. Exact dates for consultations will be communicated by Councillors, posted on ottawa.ca, Engage Ottawa and social media
- Wednesday, November 13: Draft Budget 2025 is tabled at Ottawa City Council
- Wednesday, November 13 to Monday, December 9: Residents can submit questions to City staff through Engage Ottawa and register to make public delegations to the various Standing Committees
- Wednesday, December 11: Draft Budget 2025 is considered for adoption at Ottawa City Council
Budget background
- Every year, the City of Ottawa produces a municipal budget. One of the city’s most important documents, the budget is the blueprint that defines how money is received (revenue) and spent (expenses). There are two main components to the draft budget:
- The operating budget funds city programs and services that residents rely on every day
- The capital budget helps grow our city by paying for new infrastructure and assets under the city’s control and the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and assets
- The draft budget is broken down by Standing Committee, department and service area as described in the Table of City Services and Standing Committee reporting structure. With direction from City Council, the budget is drafted and tabled for review by each Committee and adopted by Council. There is also one Commission and three Boards who make recommendations to Council regarding their draft budgets:
- Transit Commission
- Ottawa Police Services Board
- Ottawa Board of Health
- Ottawa Public Library Board
- Draft Budget 2025 supports Council’s commitment to fund ongoing operational needs. The draft budget is respectful of taxpayer dollars, continuing to invest prudently in Ottawa’s future to build a sustainable, secure and prosperous city for all.
For more information about the city’s budget, visit the Budget, finance and corporate planning page.
New Zoning By-law Community Information Session - Ward 10, Ward 16, Ward 17, Ward 18
Join us for a ward-specific virtual information session on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on Zoom to discuss Ottawa’s new Zoning By-law. The session will begin with a citywide presentation that will provide an overview of the new Zoning By-law. At 7:00 pm, following the citywide presentation, ward-specific breakout rooms will take place to cover key topics relevant to Wards 10, 16, 17 and 18 and host a Q&A session. It’s your chance to learn about the basics of zoning, key concepts of the proposed by-law, and engage in further discussions where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts!
To attend, please register here.
E-cargo Bike Pilot Project Survey
This survey is seeking public feedback on the use of cargo power-assisted bicycles (e-cargo bikes) in Ottawa.
The Province of Ontario's Bill 282 (Moving Ontarians More Safely Act) defines power-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) based on the unladen weight of the bicycle. E-bikes that weigh more than 55 kilograms are now considered e-cargo bikes. Ontario has a pilot program underway to allow e-cargo bikes to be used for the movement of goods and people, both personally and commercially. Ottawa City Council approved participation in the Cargo Power-Assisted Bicycles (E-Cargo Bike) Pilot Project in 2021.
The City of Ottawa is participating in the pilot program so that residents and businesses have the option of using e-cargo bikes instead of trucks, vans and cars. This supports the city’s objectives of encouraging more active and sustainable transportation and goods movement. Personal e-cargo bikes can help to fulfill families’ and households’ daily needs without a car. Commercial e-cargo bikes will be able to replace standard delivery trucks in dense urban environments. E-cargo bikes provide a promising opportunity to reduce traffic pressure on City streets and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The survey results will assist in reporting on the City of Ottawa’s participation in the e-cargo bike pilot program.
City of Ottawa Mandatory Multi-Residential Organics Diversion Notice
The City of Ottawa is transitioning to a mandatory organics program, for all properties in the multi-residential sector starting this fall. Multi-residential properties (buildings with six units or more) that receive waste collection services from the City of Ottawa will transition to the organics program with help from Solid Waste Services staff from the fall of 2024 to the winter of 2028.
This initiative would see the city implement requirements for all multi-residential properties to implement and participate in the city’s Green Bin program in order to receive city waste management services, in accordance with the city’s multi-residential waste diversion strategy.
Increased diversion of organics in the multi residential sector aligns with Objective 2 of the city’s Solid Waste Master Plan, which sets out to Maximize the Recycling of Waste. Actions under this objective that have the biggest impact on keeping waste out of the landfill are recommended for prioritizing in the short-term (0-5 years). Diverting more waste not only extends the life of the landfill but decreases GHG emissions and can help to generate revenue opportunities to offset the cost of those programs. Further, bringing the green bin to all multi-residential properties to increase waste diversion in the multi-residential sector supports the following provincial direction and city initiatives:
- The Province’s Food and Organic Waste Policy Statement provides direction to multi-residential properties to increase waste reduction and resource recovery of food and organic waste. The Provincial target for multi-residential properties is 50% waste reduction and recovery of food and organic waste by 2025.
- The Province of Ontario is committed to phasing out food and organic waste from landfills by 2030.
- The city’s Energy Evolution project calls for 98% organics diversion from landfill and 100% diversion of paper products.
For additional information regarding the green bin onboarding process, please connect by email at [email protected] or 3-1-1.
Residential Protective Plumbing Program (RPPP) By-law Review Survey
The Infrastructure and Water Services Department (IWSD) is currently reviewing the Residential Protective Plumbing By-law (2016-376) and Program, which provides financial assistance for property owners to install protective plumbing devices that reduce the likelihood of basement flooding and prevent wastewater and stormwater from entering residential properties through sewer lateral connections.
This comprehensive review aims to achieve several key objectives:
- Change the current two-step application process to a single application;
- Remove the CCTV requirement;
- Remove the external consultant review; and,
- Simplify existing rebates and add new rebate opportunities.
In addition to the Residential Protective Plumbing Program review, staff are also reviewing and proposing amendments to the Compassionate Grant Program.
The current program provides funding of $1,000 to qualified residential property owners and tenants who have been affected by recurring flooding due to sewer surcharging because of significant rainfall. To qualify, a property owner must provide proof of three or more sewer backups during a fifteen-year period; own or rent the property during all three backups; experience at least $1,000 in damage during the most recent backup; have no outstanding balance on property taxes; and report backups within four months of the event.
Staff are recommending removing the following requirements from the current application process:
- No outstanding balance on property taxes; and
- Multiple flooding events related to sewer surcharging (3 or more in a 15-year period).
Staff are recommending revise/adding the following requirements to the current application process:
- Reporting to the City within one (1) month of the flooding event; and
- Require appropriate mitigation measures be taken to be eligible for subsequent grants.
Updating these requirements will increase eligibility, reduce the required steps residents must take to receive a grant, and help to ensure mitigation measures are taken to reduce future risk.
Sewer Use By-law Review
The City of Ottawa is conducting a review of its Sewer Use (By-law No. 2003-514).
The Sewer Use By-law regulates wastewater discharges to the sewer system. This ensures prohibited substances are not discharged into the water environment, and industrial facilities do not discharge pollutants that cannot be treated at the City’s wastewater treatment plant. The By-law is also meant to help businesses understand their impact on the environment, their responsibilities, and the resources available to help them comply with the Sewer Use By-law.
The Sewer Use By-law review targets education and enforcement, strengthens overview, improves transparency and accountability and aims to:
- Align with recent Provincial regulatory changes, including updates related to O. Reg 267/03 for Biosolids and the Guidelines for the Management of Biomedical Waste from 1992;
- Incorporate new references to the Ontario Building Code Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act (Reg 129-04);
- Consider amendments to address industry trends; and,
- Revise current language to enhance industry awareness of compliance expectations.
Breakfast Matters: No child should start their school day hungry
Every school day, the Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE) provides over 17,000 meals and snacks to children and youth in over 200 Ottawa schools across all four public school boards. To help support the increased need for the School Breakfast Program, ONFE has launched the #BreakfastMatters fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $30,000 before October 1st. Learn more and donate now at onfe-rope.ca/breakfast-matters/.
Nominations Open for Order of Ottawa and Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching
The city is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Order of Ottawa and the Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching.
You can complete nominations for both awards either online or by downloading a nomination form from the Order of Ottawa award webpage. The submission deadline is Friday, September 13 at 11:59 pm. Nominations will be considered every year for five consecutive years from the date of submission.
A list of Order of Ottawa inductees is prominently displayed on a wall on the first floor of Ottawa City Hall and posted online. Nominations from the public are reviewed and recipients of the Order of Ottawa are chosen by a Selection Committee that includes the Mayor, City Clerk, Chief of Police, City Archivist, Chief Executive Officer of Library Services and the Chief of Protocol (ex-officio member).
You can find more information about both awards on the Order of Ottawa award webpage.
Nominations by immediate family members, self-nominations, and posthumous nominations will not be accepted. Elected municipal, provincial and federal officials are not eligible while in office.
