Capital Ward Bulletin: Clemow Noise Update, Lansdowne 2.0, City Consultations and more!

Lansdowne 2.0 Vote Planned for Fall: It's Time to "Say No to Lansdowne 2.0"

This October, city council will face a final vote on Lansdowne 2.0—a proposal with unsupportable costs, risks, and shortfalls, including:

$656 million in debt repayment cost to taxpayers with no protection against construction cost overruns,
A smaller football stadium and hockey arena with fewer seats and higher ticket prices,
Sell-off of public space to for-profit real estate developers with no affordable housing on-site and with public subsidization of a private parking lot,
Demolition of brand-new businesses and no protection for surrounding small businesses,
The destruction of 58,000 square feet of park space and 113 healthy trees, and
7+ years of construction with worsened traffic and congestion and no planned improvements for transportation to the site.

This plan for Lansdowne 2.0 is wasteful and it will burden taxpayers for years to come. It just doesn't make sense.

But it's not too late to turn the tide—and there are better alternatives. Instead of spending more and getting less at Lansdowne Park, we should be conserving and enhancing what we have.

It's time to make room for a better plan. It's time to Say No to Lansdowne 2.0.

Click here to join our efforts and to "Say No to Lansdowne 2.0".

Update on Air Conditioning Noise Emanating from The Clemow

Since the first complaints were received about the noise from the newly constructed residential building at 275 Carling Ave (The Clemow), our office has been working actively with By-Law and Regulatory Services (BLRS), Building Standards and Planning departments to try to resolve this issue, while also continually engaging with the property owner. We have met with residents on site, listened to their concerns and heard the jarring noise that the community is having to contend with.

The noise resembles the sound of a helicopter flying overhead in the nearby residential neighbourhoods and changes in pitch depending on the wind direction. This disturbance is a quality-of-life issue that has been a constant during this hot air-conditioning season.

While the immediate resolution of this has been slowed by the fact that the noise from The Clemow has yet to yield a violation per BLRS, we have continued to work with these municipal groups to seek clarification on relevant thresholds and regulations, and advocate for the community with the property owner.

These efforts have resulted in good news—a commitment received August 19 from the owner that plans are in motion to address the noise. The building owner shared the following:

We are currently meeting with our sound consultant to explore options for reducing the noise.

After that, I will have a structural engineer prepare a plan for the installation.

Once the plan is complete, we will:

Submit it to the city for approval.

Source the necessary materials.

Arrange for the installation.

We will continue to share updates with you as we move forward.

With that commitment in place, we are keeping an eye on the follow through, timing and the future options for ensuring that building owners address this satisfactorily prior to construction. This will require changes to city wide municipal bylaws and planning processes which we are committed to raising and pursuing.

Back-to-School Transportation

It’s back-to-school time, a time when our most vulnerable road users can find themselves the victim of a serious collision.

Young children walking home from school may not always be paying attention to what’s going on around them. That makes it all the more important for you, the motorist, to be on the lookout for their safety. Between 2019 and 2023, there were 153 collisions involving pedestrians that resulted in a fatality or major injury.

Motorists:

Be alert for pedestrians
Pay attention when making a right or left turn at an intersection
Slow down when driving through school areas and residential areas
Watch for Community Safety Zones. Fines are doubled in these areas.
Yield the entire width of the roadway at pedestrian crossovers, or school crossings where there is a crossing guard

Pedestrians:

Cross when traffic has come to a complete stop.
Watch for traffic turning at intersections or entering and leaving driveways.
At a traffic signal, cross at the beginning of a “Walk” light. Do not cross once the “Don’t Walk” signal begins to flash or once the solid “Don’t Walk” is displayed.

Parents and caregivers:

Teach and reinforce the proper techniques for crossing the road safely with your child.
Stress the importance of walking on the sidewalk, or where there are no sidewalks, of walking facing traffic as far away as possible from the travelled portion of the road.
When waiting to cross the street, stop before the edge of the sidewalk.

Be Part of the Community—Become a Crossing Guard!

Join the Ottawa Safety Council’s (OSC) dedicated, community-minded team of Adult Crossing Guards!

Great reasons to join the OSC’s crossing guard team:

Make a real difference in your own community!
Get to know your neighbours
Help local families
Become a trusted face in your neck of the woods
Enjoy supplementary income and perks

Being a Crossing Guard provides a meaningful employment opportunity that puts a smile on everyone’s face.

Interested in learning more? Get all the details on becoming a crossing guard from their website at www.ottawasafetycouncil.ca/employment-opportunities/ or contact Stewart at [email protected].

OC Transpo Fall Service

OC Transpo’s fall service begins Sunday, August 24. This fall’s service includes seasonal service changes and the return of school service, a new route providing service to Ottawa International Airport, additional bus service adjustments, and adjustments for construction.

New fall schedules are available on octranspo.com. Before heading out, use the Travel Planner or Transit app to plan your trip.

Seasonal service changes and school service

Frequency will increase on Routes 7 and 25 as higher ridership returns at Carleton University and La Cité
Labour Day, September 1, was the last day of special summer weekend service on Route 8 to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Route 125 to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and Route 139 to Petrie Island
600-series school routes, and school trips on regular routes, will resume for the new school year

New Route 105

New Route 105 will provide service to the Ottawa International Airport from St-Laurent and Hurdman Stations, running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, approximately every 30 minutes. It will replace part of Route 197 and some trips on Route 98.
Route 105 will offer more options for east-end residents accessing the airport. It will also provide a direct connection to the airport from intercity bus and train service at St-Laurent and Tremblay Stations.
Overnight, when O-Train Line 1 is not operating, buses will connect to the airport from Rideau and Hurdman Stations. This new overnight service, named Route N105, will replace Route N98.

As a result of road reconstruction and other infrastructure projects this fall, some routes may experience delays, detours, and additional travel time. Up-to-date information detours and stop impacts can be found on OC Transpo’s alerts page.

Sylvia Holden Park Seasonal Rink Survey

As we’ve written about before, the city needs a new location for a boarded skating rink in the Glebe. Mutchmor Public School is no longer willing to host the 20m x40m winter boarded rink that has long served the Glebe community. An evaluation of other site options determined that Sylvia Holden Park was the preferred site to host a relocated rink, given the available open space fronting O’Connor and its existing water supply and electrical services.

A pilot rink operation Phase 1 is proposed this winter as a test of the rink’s usage and popularity. The following infrastructure would be required:

Permanent rink water service (subsurface chamber & standpipe)
Repurposed rink boards and change trailer relocated from Mutchmor (temporary)
Six temporary rink lights (3 per side)

The rink boards, lights and change trailer would be installed in late fall and removed in spring.

Should the seasonal board rink prove popular, Phase 2 of permanent rink infrastructure installation is proposed in 2026:

Three permanent lights on the west side of the rink, to direct light away from O’Connor St. homes
Winterize a change room in the park pavilion for use as a skate change room
Permanent rink bunker to store rink hose and maintenance equipment

Currently, the city is conducting a survey of park and rink users. For more information on the proposal or to complete the survey, please visit engage.ottawa.ca/sylvia-holden-park-seasonal-boarded-rink-project.

Capital Ward Construction Updates

Brewer Pool: Planned Mechanical Improvements and Temporary Closure

An important mechanical upgrade that is scheduled to take place at Brewer Pool, which will require a temporary closure of the facility for late Fall 2025 into early Winter 2026. The pool will be closed from November 3 to February 1. This project is essential to replacing a key component of the facility’s dehumidifier system, which plays a critical role in maintaining air quality and a comfortable environment for swimmers and staff.

Brewer has a long history of serving the community and it continues to play an essential role in providing access to aquatic programming in Ottawa’s central core. This upgrade represents a meaningful investment in the site and is a necessary step in keeping the pool operational and in line with modern facility standards.

While the project will require a temporary pause in programming at Brewer, the city is confident that the improvements will enhance the experience for all users, especially lane swimmers, aquafitness participants and club members who regularly rely on the facility. The upgraded dehumidifier system will contribute to a more comfortable and efficient environment for everyone who uses the facility.

During the closure period, nearby aquatic facilities, including but not limited to Plant Recreation Complex, Canterbury Recreation Complex, and Sawmill Creek Pool, will remain open and will continue to provide a range of programming options. The city is encouraging members and residents to take advantage of these sites during the closure. In addition, pass holders will be able to place their memberships on hold for the duration of the shutdown if they prefer.

Staff are currently working with user groups and partners to develop transition plans and to explore alternative program options for the affected months. The city is also carefully reviewing operational impacts to ensure continuity of service as much as possible during the closure period.

Greenfield Avenue, Main Street, Hawthorne Avenue et al. Reconstruction Project

The Greenfield-Main-Hawthorne reconstruction project includes the design and construction of storm sewers, sanitary sewers, watermains, roadways, sidewalks, cycling infrastructure, traffic signals, street lighting and streetscape/landscape treatments within the City’s right of ways in Old Ottawa East.

In older roadways like Hawthorne Avenue and Main Street, there are many underground utilities—some still in use, others no longer active. These include water and sewer pipes, gas lines, hydro, communication cables, streetlights, and traffic signals. Most of these utilities run along the road, with connections that branch off to things like utility poles, hydrants, catch basins, buildings, and lights.

As part of the Greenfield-Main-Hawthorne reconstruction project, the City worked with utility companies to carefully plan the placement of new storm and sanitary sewers, replacing the old combined system. In doing so, overhead wires were also required to be removed from utility poles

The Greenfield, Main, Hawthorne integrated renewal project continues to make progress as we work towards the completion of this multi-year initiative. The following highlights detail some of the work that has been completed or is ongoing as part of the project:

Sewer separation complete

The old combined sewer system has been replaced with separate storm and sanitary sewers. This helps reduce basement flooding and sewer overflows during heavy rain.

Water and sewer work nearly finished

Underground work is complete across most of the project area, except for a short section on Echo Drive (between Hwy 417 and Main Street), where watermain and home connections are almost done.

Road and sidewalk construction underway

Crews are building new curbs, sidewalks, bike lanes, and road surfaces. Landscaping work, including driveways, green spaces, and tree planting, is also ongoing.

Hawthorne Avenue improvements

The intersection at Colonel By Drive and Pretoria Bridge has been upgraded and now includes new cycling infrastructure.

Utility pole removal delayed

Although underground utility work is finished, the removal of utility poles is delayed until the end of September due to factors beyond the City’s control. Because of this, Main Street and Greenfield Avenue will stay one-way for now, and detours will remain in place until mid-fall.

What’s next?

Once the poles are removed, crews will return to finish curbs, sidewalks, road paving, traffic signals, and signage. The contractor will continue making progress wherever possible in the meantime.

The overall project is still expected to be completed in fall 2025. We appreciate the public’s patience as this important infrastructure renewal is completed.

Traffic impacts and detours

A number of traffic impacts are ongoing to facilitate construction. We continue to appreciate residents’ patience as we work to complete this project.

Extended road closures:

Greenfield Avenue southbound closed from the 417 on ramp to Main Street

Main Street southbound closed from Greenfield Avenue to Hawthorne Avenue.

Detours

The detour route for the closure of Main Street southbound is via Hawthorne Avenue from Colonel by Drive to Main Street.

The detour route for the closure of Greenfield Avenue is via Lees Avenue from King Edward Avenue/Mann Avenue to Main Street.

The detour for vehicles travelling northbound / southbound on Colonel By Drive wishing to travel northbound Greenfield Avenue is via Hawthorne Avenue. Local egress for the residents fronting Echo Drive or Harvey Street west of Main Street will be via Echo Drive to Main Street. Residents of the 10 Main Street condominium building will access their homes via Main Street northbound from Hawthorne Avenue. Egress for 10 Main Street will be northbound on Main Street to Echo Drive eastbound.

Extended road closures:

Harvey Street - From Main Street to Echo Drive

Echo Drive - From Dead End (Hwy417) To Main Street

Detour

Local access and egress from Main Street to either Harvey Street or Echo Drive will be maintained at all times. Given the narrow corridor and the deep excavations, on-street parking on Harvey Street and Echo Drive will be reduced to facilitate the underground work on the local streets.

For more general background information about the project, visit ottawa.ca/gmhreconstruction.

Glebe Community Centre—Facility Exterior Rehabilitation Project

Starting in September, work will begin on the exterior of the Glebe Community Centre.

Exterior cladding, window and door elements are in poor condition resulting in service disruptions and accelerated deterioration of adjacent building components. Repairs are required to minimize service disruptions, prevent costly repairs in the future, and improve building aesthetics.

Work will take place around the exterior of the building on the north, west and east sides.

During construction, access to the community center will be maintained throughout the duration of the project. There will be no impact on indoor programming or activities.

The tennis club will remain open, except for a brief shutdown of a few days during the setup and takedown of scaffolding on the west side of the building. We will provide at least one week’s notice prior to closing the tennis court.

During construction, it is the city’s priority to ensure the safety of the public. We need your co-operation to make it safer for everyone and request that residents please stay clear of all construction equipment and open excavations. If applicable, please tell your children about the dangers of playing near a construction area. Access to the Glebe Community Centre will be maintained for the duration of this construction project.

Integrated Renewal: Harvard, Chesley, Warrington, Wendover and Raleigh

This month, the city will be conducting geotechnical investigations in Old Ottawa South on the following streets:

Harvard Avenue, Cameron Ave to Warrington Dr
Chesley Street, Wendover Ave to Bank St
Warrington Drive, Dead End to Harvard Ave
Wendover Avenue, Chesley St to Warrington Dr
Raleigh Street, Warrington Dr to Harvard Ave

This work is being completed to determine the underground soil conditions to support the design of the road, watermain, and sewer replacement on Harvard Avenue, Chesley Street, Warrington Drive, Wendover Avenue and Raleigh Street. The construction phase of this project is tentatively scheduled to start in 2027, subject to funding availability.

This work is scheduled to begin September 8 and should take approximately one week, weather dependent. Soil sample containers will remain on-site at some locations for an additional three weeks, pending lab results prior to being removed.

More information about the project can be found at ottawa.ca/HarvardAvenue.

Evening and Weekend Paid Parking Coming to High-Demand Areas This Fall

Starting in September, the City of Ottawa will begin extending paid parking into weekday evenings and on Saturdays in high demand neighbourhoods. This phased rollout aims to establish more consistent paid parking hours across the City, encouraging turnover in areas where on-street spaces are frequently at capacity.

The initial phase will focus on high-demand areas where parking occupancy regularly exceeds 80%. These neighbourhoods include:

Glebe (South): Weekday parking changing to 8:30 am to 7:30 pm (instead of 8:00 am to 5:30 pm), and Saturday parking adjusted to start at 10:00 am (instead of 8:00 am)
Little Italy South: Weekday parking changed to 8:30 am to 7:30 pm (instead of 9:00 am to 5:30 pm), and Saturday parking added from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm
ByWard Market and surrounding areas: Weekday parking extended to 7:30 pm and Saturday parking adjusted to be from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm (currently either 8:00 am or 8:30 am until 5:30 pm)
Downtown (Nepean Street and to the north): Weekday parking changing to 8:30 am to 5:30 pm (instead of 8:00 am start) and Saturday parking added from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm

These updates are based on detailed data analysis and are designed to improve parking availability in commercial and mixed-use districts where demand is consistently high.

These updates are based on local parking data and are intended to improve turnover in areas with consistently high demand. By encouraging regular turnover, more residents and visitors will be able to find parking near their destination.

Visitors can pay for parking at Pay & Display machines or by using the PayByPhone app. In areas where paid parking is new or changing, signage and the information on the machines will be updated to make things clear and easy to follow.

For detailed zone maps, hours, and payment options, please visit ottawa.ca/parking. Those with questions can contact us directly or email [email protected].

Free Drop & Swap: Fall Pop-Up—Saturday September 13

The City of Ottawa and Ottawa South Eco-Action Network (OSEAN) have joined forces to organize a Free Drop & Swap: Fall Pop-Up on Saturday September 13 at the Jim Durrell Recreation Centre, Ellwood Hall, 1265 Walkley Road. Residents are welcome to drop off items starting at 9:00 am, with the event running from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

This is a great opportunity to turn “too much stuff” into “just what someone needed”. Bring your gently used fall and winter items, such as sports gear, Halloween costumes, or holiday decorations, and swap them for something new-to-you. It’s a fun, landfill-friendly way to declutter, connect with neighbours, and give pre-loved items a second life.

Residents are encouraged to visit ottawa.ca/WasteReduction for more information and additional waste reduction tips.

Household Nazardous Waste Event—Sunday, September 7 at Tunney’s Pasture

The City of Ottawa is hosting a Household Hazardous Waste drop-off event on Sunday, September 7 at Tunney’s Pasture (residents can follow the signage at Tunney’s Pasture for the specific location of the event).  Residents are welcome to bring their materials to the event between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.

You don't have to wait! Residents are always welcome to use the City’s Waste Explorer to find retailers nearby where they can return many items daily.

Electronic Waste
Please note that electronic waste is not accepted at Household Hazardous Waste drop-off events hosted by the City of Ottawa. Residents can bring electronic waste to retailers by checking Ottawa.ca/WasteExplorer. They can also attend electronic waste drop-off events hosted by Junk That Funk or bring electronic waste to the Trail Road Landfill Facility at no cost.

For information on household hazardous waste, visit ottawa.ca/HHW.

Volunteer Expo—September 19

Volunteer Ottawa is holding its Fall Volunteer Expo on Friday, September 19 from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre (102 Greenview Ave). This is a free, in-person event where residents from all over Ottawa can speak with dozens of local charities and not-for-profits about volunteering opportunities.

Your Capital Ward

Photo by Elizabeth Ross

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.

BikeNight at Confederation Park

The National Capital Commission is hosting BikeNight at Confederation Park on September 13, from 6:00 to 10:00 pm.

Come see their pop-up partners Tunes on Wheels, Safer Roads Ottawa, and the NCC heritage team. While there, listen to the event DJ or grab a bite to eat and refreshments at the NCC Bistro at Confederation Park.

Night Bike Ride

The event features a nighttime bike ride along the Queen Elizabeth Driveway and Colonel By Drive.

Distance:6 km (single loop)
Time: 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Meeting point: Confederation Park, or join the BikeNight circuit

Visit ncc-ccn.gc.ca/open-ncc-bikenight for more information.

Girls Hockey in Ottawa

Be on the lookout for the smiling faces of girls' hockey players coming and going from the downtown arenas starting in September. The Ottawa Girls Hockey Association plays out of McNabb, Sandy Hill, Jim Durrell and Tom Brown arenas. Registration is open now for girls aged 4-17 to play in the OGHA recreational house league. No experience is necessary and house league players should expect to be on the ice twice per week. Stay fit. Have fun. Play Hockey. More information available at ogha.org or email [email protected].

EcoYouth Council

Ecology Ottawa is thrilled to accept applications for the second year of its EcoYouth Council. The EcoYouth program responds to growing eco-anxiety among young people and highlights the power of local environmental action. Through the Council, school presentations, and the Youth Summit, youth participate in practical environmental solutions, deepen their knowledge, and develop leadership skills. This is a fantastic opportunity for youth aged 16–23 to make a real impact in their community.

Ecology Ottawa invites interested youth to access their website for more information and to apply. Applications close today!

Draw the Line March

On September 20, people across Canada will be DRAWING THE LINE and calling for a future rooted in justice, peace and sustainability.

Here in Ottawa-Gatineau, we’ll march to demand:

A rapid transition away from fossil fuels
Respect for Indigenous sovereignty
Full rights and status for migrants
Strong public services that meet the needs of our communities
Peace and democracy, not militarism and war

Join us to help build a more just future for all:

Saturday, September 20, 2025 @ 11AM
Ottawa Start: Elgin & Wellington | Gatineau Start: Maison du Citoyen.

Beaver Management Forum

Join city staff for an evening of education and discussion on beaver management in the City of Ottawa.

Date: Tuesday September 9
Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Location: Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre, Main Hall
Admission: Free with registration

With presentations by Michael Callahan (Board President and Instructor - Beaver Institute, Inc. and Owner - Beaver Solutions LLC), Brandon Williamson (Land Management Coordinator with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority) and Michel Leclair, expect to gain valuable insight into relevant beaver management processes and how those processes impact our communities and land. This event will also include a discussion period with our speakers as well as city staff.

Steps to Wellness Program for Perinatal Depression

“Perinatal mental health” is the emotional health and well-being during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth.

Pregnancy, birth and early parenthood are often seen as times of excitement and great joy for the parents to be. They are also times of tremendous change and stress. You may find your mood changes quickly from being excited or happy to sad or feeling overwhelmed. Taking care of your mental health is important because:

You are more able to develop a secure attachment with your baby.
It helps build your resilience and ability to cope with stress.
You are more able to reach your potential as an individual, parent and caregiver.

Ottawa Public Health is pleased to share this opportunity with you to invite women who are expecting or have a child (birth or adoption) and who have been feeling depressed, sad, anxious, worried, angry or overwhelmed to a FREE 9-week group-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) program.

During a nine-week series, participants meet in a virtual group setting with a public health nurse and learn skills to help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by changing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Next sessions:

English Group starting September 18, from 10:00 am to noon – OPEN for registration
English Group starting September 24, from 10:00 am to noon – OPEN for registration
English Group starting September 25, from 10:00 am to noon – OPEN for registration
French Group starting February 2026

If you or someone you know is interested, please visit ParentingInOttawa.ca/CBT for more information, and to register.

Waste Less. Eat Smart. Savey Money.

The city has partnered with Love Food Hate Waste to launch a new campaign to help you save money and cut down on food waste.

Reducing food waste was identified as a priority by residents during the development of the Solid Waste Master Plan. This campaign is one of 50 actions in the plan that will guide the city towards more sustainable waste management.

Did you know the average Canadian household throws away approximately $1,300 worth of food every year? While some food waste—like bones, peelings and eggshells—is unavoidable, a staggering 63 per cent of food that gets thrown out could have been eaten. That includes leftovers, spoiled produce and those forgotten items at the back of the fridge.

The good news? Reducing food waste at home is easier than you think. With just a few small changes to how you plan, use and store your food, you can make a big difference.

Visit ottawa.ca/FoodWaste to get food saving tips and recipes, including:

How to store produce so it stays fresher for longer
Creative recipes for the most commonly wasted food
Demystifying “best before” dates
Inspiration for using up leftovers
Canning and food preparation
Meal planning and batch cooking

Love Food Hate Waste is a globally recognized and proven behaviour change campaign founded in the United Kingdom. Launched in Canada in 2018, Love Food Hate Waste works with businesses, governments and community groups to help Canadians make the most of the food they love.

Wasting food means we are wasting water, resources and energy used to grow, produce and distribute that food to consumers. It also produces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Putting food waste in the green bin is a good step—but the best thing we can do is stop food from being wasted in the first place.