Transit Forum
Last week, I had the honour to participate in the Transit Forum held by the Carleton University Students’ Assocation (CUSA). We had a good discussion about such issues as routes 7, 111, R2 and the upcoming re-launch of the new north-south LRT line; the harm that would come from cutting service and raising fares (a foolish policy that would further erode ridership; and the U-Pass, a topic close to my heart, as I led the campaign for it in Ottawa many years ago.
I’d like to thank CUSA for hosting the event, and everyone for their attendance. Together, we can keep fighting for better transit for everyone in the city.
Mutchmor Rink Update—A Call for Volunteers
When we came into office in the winter of 2018-2019, one of the first issues we tackled was bringing back the boarded hockey rink to the Mutchmor schoolyard. It took a lot of work—and a lot of compromise and collaboration between the community, the school, the board and the city—but I was glad we were able to bring back this neighbourhood amenity.
With warmer winters and less use of the rink, the school has been re-assessing whether installing the rink ever year is the best use of the yard. It’s quite understandable. With high enrollment, outdoor space during recess can be at a premium. But it would be a shame to lose the only boarded outdoor rink in the neighbourhood.
After discussions with the school principal, city staff and representatives from the Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group (GNAG), we’ve settled on a path forward. The school has agreed to have the rink in place one last time this year, but only if there is an operator and volunteers to run it. City staff will be reviewing other locations for a boarded outdoor rink in the community to see if any other locations are feasible in future years.
So while we’re happy to have a tentative solution, it can only happen if we have an operator and enough volunteers from the community to help out.
These community rinks are generally run by volunteers. In the past, GNAG has overseen the operations of the rink, but they don’t have the capacity to do that this year.
We would need an operator in place this month, along with other volunteers, or the rink cannot be put in. If this rink is important to you and you are able, please consider volunteering.
For more information, or to become a community outdoor rink operator or volunteer, please email [email protected].
New Bench on Main Street
Our office worked to see a new bench installed near 143 Main Street (out front of NuGrocery) as part of the city’s Older Adult Plan.
Having proper public seating along our commercial and main streets is an important part of improving quality of life and ensuring a city that is accessible and inviting for all.
Lansdowne 2.0—Ottawa Sports Fans Deserve Better
As many of you will know, our office has long campaigned for a Better Lansdowne. We have recently detailed the various ways the current Lansdowne 2.0 proposal is a bad deal for Ottawa residents. The deal is not just a poor financial decision for the city, nor is it just awful for parkgoers who would see 58,000 square feet of greenspace removed, but it is also a bad deal for Ottawa sports fans. It would mean higher ticket prices, tearing down the historic rink and north side stands with decades of life left in them, no roof over the proposed new north side stands, 3085 fewer seats planned for a new arena (bringing seat counts lower than the average Ottawa Professional Women’s Hockey League attendance), no plan to address longstanding transportation issues, no guarantee from the private partner that the teams would stay in Ottawa past 2032, and the demolition of small businesses just built in 2014.
We have set up an add your name campaign where folks can learn more and can express agreement that Lansdowne 2.0 is a bad deal for residents, including sports fans.
Glebe Hallowe’en Village—Free Accessible Daytime Trick-or-Treating Event
An enthusiastic group of volunteer neighbours and community members are delighted to present the first-ever Glebe Halloween Village!
This event is perfect for families looking for a fun and accessible Halloween experience.
Head over to Glebe Avenue (between Lyon Street and Bank Street) on Saturday, October 26, between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm for a memorable experience filled with treats, costumes, and community spirit.
The block will be transformed into a free, accessible daytime trick-or-treating experience with so many things to see and do:
- at least twenty-five treat stations at the ends of driveways (with food and non-food treats)
- a firetruck and our firefighter friends from Station 12 (between 11 a.m.-12 p.m.)
- visitors from The League of Superheroes (between 11 a.m.-1 p.m.)
- a make-and-take craft station hosted by Child in Mind
- a Zoom Photobooth
- a Flow Recreation Therapy regulation station
- sensory bins from Kai's Sensory Kreations
- so many kind and welcoming neighbours of all ages!
They look forward to welcoming children (and those young at heart) with mobility, sensory or intellectual disabilities who may not typically get to participate in trick or treating!
Please feel free to reach out to organizers with any specific access concerns or questions ([email protected]).
For more information or to book your free tickets, visit: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/glebe-halloween-village-free-accessible-daytime-trick-or-treating-event-tickets-1033674527337?aff=oddtdtcreator
Tour of ROPEC: Ottawa’s Wastewater Treatment Facility
Our office recently organized a tour of Ottawa’s one and only wastewater treatment plant, the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Center, for City Councillors to learn about the operations of this important facility in serving Ottawa residents and protecting our environment.
The facility, which runs non-stop year-round, maintains key services for Ottawa residents, removes toxins from the wastewater system, and protects public health and eco-systems with functions including screening and grit removal, digestion, aeration, and disinfection. The facility also runs partially on renewable energy captured at the plant. Thank you to the committed city staff who manage and operate this facility around the clock and for the educational tour!
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.
Old Railway Rideau River Pedestrian Bridge—Environmental Assessment Public Information Session
A Virtual Public Information Session for the Old Railway Rideau River Pedestrian Bridge, Schedule B Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study will be held on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Presentation material can be accessed on the City of Ottawa website, and will be posted one day prior to the meeting: Ottawa.ca/rideauriverbridge
Please register if you wish to participate.
Citywide Equity Budget Consultation—October 21
Residents from Ottawa's Black, Indigenous and racialized communities are invited to join Councillor Rawlson King, Council Liaison for Anti-Racism and Enthocultural Relations Initiatives, for an Equity Budget Consultation on the City's Draft 2025 Budget. The session will take place on Zoom and in person at the St. Laurent Complex, 525 Coté Street, in the Claude B. Aubry Room on October 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Everyone welcome.
Those interested in attending either virtually or in person are invited to fill out a survey in advance.
Please register to receive the virtual meeting link, or scan the QR code in the poster.
October 25: Engage in a Consultation for the Ottawa Backflow Valve & Sump Pump Incentive Program
The City of Ottawa is proposing several updates to the Residential Protective Plumbing Program and By-law to help residents better protect their properties from basement flooding. This program provides incentives for the installation of backflow valves and sump pumps.
On Friday October 25 from 10:00 am until 12:30 pm, residents are invited to participate in an in-person public consultation concerning these proposed updates.
Refreshments and a light lunch will be included. Admission is free. All are welcome.
2024 Ottawa E-scooter End-of-Season Survey
The City of Ottawa is seeking public feedback on the Shared Electric Kick Scooter Pilot, following its fifth season. As the 2024 season nears completion on November 15, the City of Ottawa wants to hear about your experience. Whether you have used the shared e-scooters or not, please send your feedback by filling out this survey. The data collected will be valuable for comparing with previous seasons and will be used to help make recommendations for any potential future season.
Music to Movement Build—Retro Funk Costume Party!
Join Horizon Ottawa for a night of incredible funk/jazz music at the Bronson Centre (Mac Hall).
Whether you're someone who loves groovy live music featuring some of Ottawa's top local talent, and/or you're someone who wants to learn more about progressive organizing work in this city, this event is for you!
For tickets or more information, click here.
Protect yourself: Get your flu vaccine!
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is recommending that residents aged 6 months and older get their annual flu vaccine as soon as possible this flu season. OPH is anticipating an active respiratory illness season with influenza (flu), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulating in the community at the same time. The flu can cause serious illness and can result in complications and hospitalizations, especially for older adults and young children. Getting an annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from the flu.
Starting October 15, 2024: Participating local pharmacies will begin to offer flu vaccines to individuals at high risk of flu-related complications. These individuals include:
- Children under 5 years of age, because their immune systems are developing, and their airways are small and more easily blocked;
- Adults 65 years old and older, because their immune systems can be weaker, and they are more likely to have an underlying condition that increases their risk;
- Residents, staff and care providers of congregate living settings (such as chronic care facilities, retirement homes);
- Pregnant individuals, because their immune system, heart and lungs change – especially later in pregnancy – making them more likely to get seriously ill from the flu;
- People with underlying health conditions, such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes;
- Members of First Nations, Inuit or Métis communities;
- Members of racialized and other equity deserving communities;
- First responders and health care workers; and
- Individuals with significant exposure to birds or mammals, such as poultry, livestock, slaughterhouse and processing plant workers, wildlife officers/researchers, and veterinarians.
Starting October 21, 2024: OPH Community Clinics and Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs will offer the flu vaccine for eligible high risk and priority populations who face barriers to access, including:
- Children aged 6 months to under 2 years and their household members (note: children 2 and older are directed to pharmacies for their annual flu vaccine).
- High-risk individuals facing significant barriers to access, such as newcomers without OHIP and children 2 to 5 years of age who have tried to access the vaccine through another provider.
Starting October 28, 2024: all individuals 6 months of age and older who live, work, or go to school in Ontario are eligible for the flu vaccine through local pharmacies and healthcare providers. Updated COVID-19 vaccines will also be available for everyone.
There are many options for getting your annual flu vaccine
- Pharmacies continue to be the main point of access for annual flu vaccines, including in rural areas to eligible individuals in Ottawa. Contact your nearest pharmacy today. Please note that pharmacies cannot vaccinate children under 2.
- Check with your regular health care provider to see if they offer flu vaccines.
- OPH Community Clinics and Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs will offer flu vaccines to eligible individuals by appointment (for our clinics) and on a drop-in basis (for our hubs). Learn more and book an appointment at OttawaPublicHealth.ca/Flu
Increase your protection this season by getting both your flu and updated COVID-19 vaccine at the same time
Flu vaccines may be given at the same time as, or at any time before or after administration of other vaccines, including the updated COVID-19 vaccine, for people aged 6 months of age and older. Speak with your health care provider or pharmacist to learn more about co-administration. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are currently available in Ottawa to individuals at highest risk. Starting October 28, 2024, updated COVID-19 vaccines will also be available to the general public. OPH will offer co-administration this season to eligible individuals in OPH Community Clinics and Neighbourhood and Wellness Hubs.
Ottawa Public Health monitors respiratory virus trends, including the flu, and provides regular updates on social media and at OttawaPublicHealth.ca/FluReport. For more information on respiratory illness, including prevention and where to seek care, please visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/RespVirus.