Thank You, Heron Park
We had a great time at the celebration for the opening of the Heron Park Community Building. Residents came to check out the building, enjoy a barbecue and appreciate this valued public park. City departments, community organizations and local residents set up booths for people to learn more about their work in the city.
The Clementine Food Pantry was there, and the neighbourhood showed their support with substantial food and cash donations—a wonderful example of neighbours helping neighbours.
Thank you to everyone who showed up, participated and supported the wonderful work going on in Heron Park.
Free Youth Transit
We are happy to announce that free youth transit is almost here! From July 1 to August 31, youth will ride for free all day, every day. Come the fall, youth transit will be free in Ottawa after 5:00 pm during the week, and all day long on weekends and holidays.
Last year, we brought a motion to City Council to implement free transit for anyone aged 18 years or under on all weekday evenings after 5:00 pm, and all day every day on weekends, holidays and summer. Since then, we have worked with the city staff, the chair of Transit Committee, Mayor and Council to bring this to fruition.
This is an important initiative for Ottawa. Transit has grown more and more expensive, especially for families. A return trip for a family of four could cost $32. Now, that would be cut in half.
Further, this gives more freedom to young people as they travel around our city—to work, to go to extracurricular activities, to visit family and friends, or just to enjoy Ottawa. It provides extra safety at night, as youth will be able to hop on the LRT or bus without the barrier of a fare, rather than walk home alone.
By making transit more affordable and accessible, it will become more attractive to youth and families with an estimated additional 600,000 annual trips taken because of this measure alone. This can help shift our transportation modal share and can also help to create a culture of transit use as young people grow up, encouraging more and more transit use in years and decades to come.
Here's how riders 18 and under can access free transit:
Here’s how:
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Purchase a Presto card if you don’t already have one.
Presto cards cost $4.00. You can buy one at participating Shoppers, Loblaws and Real Canadian Superstores. Find a location here -
Set a Pre-Teen or Youth pass on your card. The pass you need depends on your age.
You can do this at participating Shoppers, Loblaws and Real Canadian Superstore locations. Find a location here - Tap your card on the fare gate or fare reader to board for free!
You can read more about free youth transit here: www.octranspo.com/en/news/article/youth-age-11-18-ride-free-all-summer/
OC Transpo Compensation
Last week, Council passed my motion, seconded by the mayor, with a suite of measures to help improve reliability of OC Transpo including adding more para Transpo service, transit priority street changes, LRT freezing rain fixes, more buses and 2 free weekends of service.
This is one step, along with the influx of new E-Buses, free transit for youth (18 and under) starting July 1st, and double LRT cars back in service. I know there is so much more work to be done to improve service and the LRT, but this is some progress.
441-443 Echo Drive—Development Proposal
In late May, a development application was posted by the city that would see a 16-unit rent-controlled apartment complex demolished on Echo Drive. The applicant has proposed a new six-storey, 52-unit apartment building with 54 car parking spaces and 56 bicycle parking spaces in the three-storey underground garage, and a rooftop amenity space.
The application seeks Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments for the height of the building, which would surpass the existing height limit by two storeys. The proposal also seeks Zoning Bylaw Amendments on the side yard setback and to remove the requirement for outdoor bicycle parking.
Upon reviewing the application, our office was concerned with the potential for the displacement of tenants, the loss of relatively affordable units, and the impact of the construction and proposed building in this part of Old Ottawa East. We felt that the short timeframe in which to consult with the community and seek solutions required immediate action. Our office moved to find agreement on a longer timeframe and a more robust consultation which has now been agreed to.
My team met with tenants and residents of the Old Ottawa East community at the community association's planning committee meeting on June 2 and heard a great deal of concern on a number of fronts. We have held a preliminary meeting with the Planning Department and have scheduled a meeting with tenants in the coming days along with MPP Catherine McKenney.
Planning Services have acknowledged that the application has been put on hold by the applicant. They will continue to accept comments from the public until after a consultation meeting is held in the fall of 2026.
If you would like to submit comments, the feedback form can be found here.
New Park in Old Ottawa East
Please join us for a public consultation on the Forecourt Park in Old Ottawa East (in front of the historic Deschâtelets Building) to be held downstairs in the Old Town Hall at 61 Main Street from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on Monday June 22. We will provide coffee and dessert.
There will be an option to join the meeting online (zoom info below). Background information, including the notes from the last consultation and a concept drawing of the new park, will be posted on Engage Ottawa before the meeting.
Please RSVP here: www.shawnmenard.ca/forecourt_park_consultation
Photo Credit: EnviroCentre School Streets Feasibility Study
School Street Pilot on Hopewell Avenue
At next week’s Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC) meeting, the committee will be considering a proposal to pilot two School Street projects in the city this fall, and one of them would be for Hopewell Avenue between Grosvenor and Bank.
The one-month pilot project, being led by EnviroCentre, would likely see Hopewell closed to traffic between Grosvenor and Bank during the school drop-off and pick-up times. The details of the plan have not been finalized, nor has the date of implementation.
As we get more information, we will share it with residents.
In the past, we have had various discussions with the school community about Hopewell Avenue. We have made changes to parking regulations and installed seasonal traffic calming, in response.
As the work on this pilot moves ahead, we will want to continue working with the principal, teachers, parents council, students and local residents on the options for Hopewell Avenue.
The Clemow Noise Update
Over the last several months, our office has been coordinating with Bylaw and Regulatory Services (BLRS), Planning Services and the property owner of The Clemow, in effort to see reductions to the HVAC noise disturbance that was being experienced in some parts of the Glebe last summer. We also have been in regular communication with representatives of the community.
Following the installation of a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) at The Clemow in April, BLRS conducted testing from a few locations in late May with the system operating at 100% capacity during the daytime and at night.
Here are the results they shared:
During the daytime reading (4:20pm), readings were taken with the unit on for 20 minutes and again with the unit turned off for 20 minutes. Three Officers were onsite at three different locations (known to problematic), and there was no audible difference between the unit being turned on and off. No violations were recorded. Ambient noise was quite high with traffic, wind, and air traffic, so further readings were taken later on at night to get a better idea of the general noise.
Between 10:45pm and 11:30pm, more general readings were taken. Traffic from the 417 was audible but there was no wind. At the three locations, all readings (source noise and ambient noise combined) did not result in a violation being recorded.
The only hum that could be heard was directly on Clemow and it was extremely faint and generally drowned out by neighbouring residential AC units.
The locations where readings were conducted are as follows:
- Percy and Renfrew
- Percy and Clemow
- Second and Chrysler
The feedback we have heard from the community has been mixed; some residents in closer proximity have shared that the noise levels remain roughly the same as last summer, while others feel that the noise is diminished or is not reaching quite as far. Higher temperatures will put this to the test. Our office is hopeful that these changes to the HVAC system will provide relief to the community from what was experienced last summer.
We will continue to monitor this and are open to hearing feedback as warmer temperatures come. There remain steps that KTS needs to undertake as part of the Planning process that require them to demonstrate compliance with the province's environmental noise guidelines by way of a Stationary Noise Assessment before this matter is closed.
Speed Hump Installation
The construction season also means that the city will soon be installing speed humps throughout the city. In Capital Ward, we will see two speed humps installed on Holmwood Avenue (between Bank and Craig Streets), and one on Southern Drive (between Avenue Road and Bristol Avenue).
We are able to have speed humps installed through our ward’s Temporary Traffic Calming budget. We are happy to see these speed humps being installed this year, and we are reviewing more locations in the ward to be installed in coming years.
Replacement Bus Shelter at Bank and Grove
With the recent re-construction of Grove Avenue, some residents may have noticed that the bus shelter was missing. Not wanting to lose the bus shelter, we asked staff about this. They told us there were some issues with the grade of the new concrete pad, which sloped down towards Grove. This meant that the standard shelter foot could not be used.
Staff worked with the supplier of bus shelters, and a new foot was designed, and now the bus shelter is back in place on Bank Street at Grove Avenue!
Sandy’s Flowers and More
I had a wonderful visit to Sandy's Flowers and More, a new business in Capital Ward on Bronson Avenue. They are incredibly kind and generous people who operate an independent shop with fantastic flowers, house plants, old school candy options and much more! Please support them in this location on the repaved Bronson Avenue.
Your Capital Ward
Photo by Liz 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.
ANCHOR Crisis Response Expanding in Our Community
ANCHOR's 24/7, community-led crisis response service has expanded to serve residents in our neighbourhood. ANCHOR is a non-police, trauma-informed and culturally appropriate mental health and substance use crisis response service available to people aged 16+ in ByWard Market, Lowertown, Sandy Hill, Lees Towers, Vanier and Overbrook.
People experiencing or witnessing a mental health or substance use crisis can access ANCHOR by calling 2-1-1.
ANCHOR can assist with:
- Mental health crises;
- Substance use crises;
- Erratic or unpredictable behaviour;
- Wellness checks;
- Connecting people to mental health information or referrals.
For more information on the service area, please see the map below. Additional information is available at Ottawa.ca/ANCHOR
Brewer Pool—Summer Camps and Swimming Lessons
Brewer offers swimming lessons for individuals of all ages and swimming abilities. One of the best ways to ensure you and your child's safety this summer is through swimming lessons and water smart education.
They offer weekly morning lessons Monday to Friday and monthly evening lessons most nights.
An average camp day includes a morning lesson and either an afternoon free swim or trip to the park/splashpad. Weekly theme-based crafts and games fill out the rest of your child's day.
To register online please head to register.ottawa.ca and search Swim Explorer or Swim Explorer Junior at Brewer Arena and Brewer Pool.
Please give them a call for more information.
Brewer Pool
(613)-580-2090
[email protected]
100 Brewer Way
Subsidized Camp Spaces Available
The Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre is excited to launch its very first Summer Arts Camp!
This very first Arts Camp will offer young people ages 8-11 a fun, creative, and engaging week of visual arts, drama, music, movement, outdoor activities, and attending live performances facilitated and presented by professional artists.
We are also grateful to be able to offer a limited number of subsidized/discounted registration spaces as part of the launch. These are offered at a first come, first serve basis—all folks need to do is ask and we can share the Special Subsidized Launch Rate of $260.
Camp Details and Registration: carleton.ca/cdcc/artscamp
The camp will be held on location at:
Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre
290 Lisgar Street, Ottawa
We invite you to spread the word! Registrations are open, and spaces are limited.
Celebrate Pollinator Appreciation Day
This Saturday, June 20, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, come celebrate Pollinator Appreciation Day. Wild Pollinator Partners will be hosting the event at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden (off Prince of Wales Drive, just south of the Arboretum).
At the event, you’ll be able to learn about pollinator gardens, speak with scientists who study pollinators, buy a native tree for your yard (or win one in their free lottery!), or enjoy a guided walk and nature talk.
Learn more at the Pollinator Appreciation Day website.
Public Service Announcement—Turtle Egg-Laying Season
June is turtle egg-laying season. If you see a turtle on land, they are likely laying eggs.
Please give turtles lots of space. Stay more than a few metres away, and please keep dogs away.
If you want think you find a nest and want to help protect it, email Turtles of Old Ottawa East & South at [email protected], and let them know where you saw the nest.
Greenspaces: Community Action on Invasive Plants
The city is developing a community-led invasive plant program to help residents and community groups tackle invasive plant species growing in City greenspaces.
From now until Monday, July 20, you can share your input via an Engage Ottawa survey on the tools, knowledge and supports you or your community group would need to help protect green spaces in your community: engage.ottawa.ca/healthy-greenspaces-community-action-on-invasive-plants.
Green Fair Ottawa is the event you don’t want to miss!
Green Fair Ottawa: Innovation + EV Showcase is a free, fun, family-friendly one-day public event on Saturday, June 13 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Ottawa Conference & Events Centre. Co-organized by Community Action For Environmental Sustainability (CAFES) Ottawa and the Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa (EVCO).
Come to a vibrant marketplace of ideas uniting sustainability innovators, local vendors, and Ottawa residents to explore practical solutions for sustainable living across our indoor exhibitor hall and outdoor EV showcase. From electric vehicles and electric bikes, to electric ATVs, induction stoves, and solar panels, we invite you to experience Ottawa’s green energy future firsthand in a family-friendly and free sustainability showcase!
Come ready to experience:
- EV and e-bike test-drives
- Chef-led cooking demonstrations
- Family-friendly activities
- Educational mini workshops
- Local sustainability innovators
- Food trucks
- Indoor and outdoor vendors
- A door prize of a Teslica F26 Elite E-bike worth over $3,000 for one lucky winner!
Invite your friends, neighbors, and bring the whole family to Green Fair Ottawa!
Saturday, June 13, 2026
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Ottawa Conference & Events Centre, 200 & 300 Coventry Rd
Free admission – Free parking – Short walk from O-Train Tremblay Station
Learn more: cafesottawa.ca/green-fair-ottawa
Race to End Homelessness
Register here to join the second annual Race to End Homelessness hosted by the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa. This is an opportunity to support 80 member agencies of the Alliance who are working to prevent and end homelessness every day in our community.
Support the Race by registering to run/ walk, form teams to fundraise for agencies, and raise awareness about homelessness in our city and the critical work these agencies do to help people find housing and community in our city.
By participating, you are joining a growing movement of residents, organizations, and community leaders committed to ending homelessness in Ottawa. Together, we can create lasting change and ensure everyone has a place to call home.
The event offers 1K, 5K, and 10K options, making it accessible for participants of all ages and abilities.
Event details:
- Sunday, September 27
- 9:00 am to 11:00 pm
- Pine View Golf Course, 1471 Blair Road, Ottawa
Distances:
- 1K Walk, 5K Run/Walk, 10K Run/Walk
Participation directly supports local housing-focused agencies working with people experiencing homelessness across Ottawa.
Beat the Heat—Ways to stay Cool This Summer
Summertime is around the corner and with it comes the risk of preventable heat-related illnesses. The City of Ottawa, Ottawa Public Health (OPH), and many partners share heat safety information and provide supports so residents can stay safe and enjoy summer. OPH publishes an interactive map of places to cool off in Ottawa, including parks, pools, splash pads and libraries. Many air-conditioned City facilities are open during the hottest part of the day.
Visit the OPH Extreme Heat and Humidity website for info and resources including:
- The Beat the Heat factsheet in multiple languages,
- Infographics on cost-effective home, apartment, and condo heat protection.
- Guidance on staying safe during power outages in a heat waves.
- The “Find Your Way Community Resource Guide” with contacts for shelters and drop-in centres.
What are the risks of hot weather?
Hot and humid weather can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and death. While everyone is affected by extreme heat, some people are more quickly affected by heat - particularly young children, older adults (65+), people experiencing homelessness, people who exercise or work outside, and people with certain medical conditions. Keeping indoor temperatures at or below 26°C (79°F) helps reduce health risks.
During heat waves, checking in on people who may be at greater risk is important.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issues heat warnings when the temperature or humidex is expected to stay too hot for at least two days in a row, with warm temperatures overnight. Download the WeatherCAN app to access forecasts, current conditions, and get directly notified of weather warnings and follow OPH on social media for information on public health topics including extreme heat and humidity.
Call for advice and support during hot weather:
- 9-1-1 provides assistance for any medical emergency such as heat stroke.
- 2-1-1 connects people to cooling locations and community supports - https://www.champlainhealthline.ca/listservices.aspx?id=10721
- 3-1-1 provides information on City services and shelter acce
New Grant Program Will Help Ottawa Communities Prepare for Extreme Weather
The Environment and Climate Change Committee and the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee today approved a new three-year pilot Extreme Weather Preparedness Grant Program to help communities prepare for extreme weather events.
Ottawa is seeing more frequent and intense extreme weather, including heat waves, flooding and ice storms. The city is investing in community organizations to help neighbourhoods prepare, respond and recover more effectively.
Residents will benefit from better-prepared neighbourhoods through a $1 million investment over three years. The program will provide up to $50,000 per year to local non-profit organizations to strengthen neighbourhood-level preparedness. Eligible organizations include community associations, non-profits and other local groups that support residents and that have the capacity to deliver projects at the neighbourhood level.
Funding will support practical, on-the-ground solutions, like creating community emergency plans, training volunteers and improving coordination and public awareness. It will also help communities purchase and share essential equipment and supplies, including mobile generators and power stations, temporary shelters, cooling and warming solutions, and items like radios, safety equipment and emergency kits. These resources will help communities respond faster during emergencies, support residents locally and reduce pressure on first responders and social services.
The program responds to community feedback, which identified a gap in preparedness. Fewer than one-third of survey respondents reported having a community emergency plan. This program will help close that gap by giving communities the tools they need to be ready.
Solid Waste Master Plan Update Shows Strong Progress in Reducing Waste
At its regular meeting, the Environment and Climate Change Committee received a mid-year update on the Solid Waste Master Plan, showing strong progress and participation from residents.
Residents' actions are already making a difference. The amount of garbage set out at the curb dropped by 15% in 2025, with almost all households staying within the three-item limit. This shows more people are using other options like recycling and the Green Bin.
Ottawa is seeing more ways to reduce and reuse waste as well. The popularity of Repair Cafés, Drop & Swap events and Giveaway Weekends continues to grow, helping residents reuse items, avoid waste and save money. A new reuse directory will make it easier to find these options locally.
Access to waste diversion services is improving across Ottawa. More multi-residential buildings now have Green Bin service, and more parks and public spaces have three-stream bins, making it easier to sort waste where people live and spend time.
These efforts help keep more waste, including organics, out of landfill and support the City’s climate goals. The City is also planning ahead to ensure waste services remain reliable in the future, including securing organics processing beyond 2030 and exploring long-term waste solutions.
City Council will consider the recommendations from these meetings on Wednesday, June 24.
