State of Capital Ward & 2026 City Budget Discussion—Next Week!
On Wednesday May 21, we’ll be hosting the State of Capital Ward, including a 2026 City Budget Discussion. This will be a chance for residents in the ward to gather—virtually and in-person—to review what we’ve accomplished together in Capital Ward, the work ahead and a look forward to what we want to see for the ward and the city.
The budget discussion will give residents a chance to provide meaningful input into the city budget well in advance. City staff will be on hand to discuss the budget process and listen to residents’ feedback.
After years of calling for improvements to the city budget consultation process, we are proud to have put forward a successful motion in 2025. As a result of the directions in the motion, city consultations on the budget can be held earlier in the year—in spring as opposed to fall. This improved timeline allows for more meaningful resident engagement, with more time in the process for city staff to reflect residents’ requests in the budget.
So join us in person or online on May 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm to discuss the state of Capital Ward, and to have your priorities heard as part of the Budget 2026.
Click here to register to attend in person at St. Paul University (Multi-Purpose Room), enter at 110 Hazel Street.
Click here to register to attend online via ZOOM.
Great Glebe Garage Sale
It’s almost garage sale time! On Saturday May 24 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, the Glebe will transform into the city’s biggest open-air market. Come on out to the Glebe, find some deals, have some fun and just make a day of it.
And if you are coming to the Glebe next Saturday, please remember there will be lots people on the street and driving will be slow, so please be careful…and if you can bus, bike or walk, all the better.
New Boarded Rink in the Glebe
For decades, the city installed a boarded hockey rink in the Glebe every winter—usually in the schoolyard of Mutchmor Public School, but it had a temporary home at the St. James Tennis Club, as well.
While there are other public skating rinks in the neighbourhood, this was the only rink with boards that would allow people to play sports that require boards, like hockey or ringette. It has been a very popular amenity in the neighbourhood.
The Mutchmor schoolyard is shared with Corpus Christi Elementary School. With increased school attendance after OCDSB program changes, the needs of the school have changed how the yard is used. This has created challenges with installing the rink at Mutchmor.
This past winter, Mutchmor once again agreed to host the rink—for which we were greatly appreciative—but there was a desire to find a more suitable home for the rink on City of Ottawa land.
After much discussion with city staff, we have found a potential new home for the rink at Sylvia Holden Park. This would require some slight modifications to the park:
- A new underground water connection would need to be installed.
- Three permanent rink lights (LED fixtures) would be installed on the west side of the rink, to face away from residences on O’Connor, while leaving the green space open for free play in the summer.
- A trailer would be located on-site during the winter and removed in the spring.
This new rink would slightly larger the one at Mutchmor this year. The rink surface would be approximately 20 metres by 45 metres.
It is expected that the necessary work can be done this year so that the rink can be in operation by winter.
If you have any thoughts on the new rink, please let us know at [email protected].
Red Light Camera Audit
A couple of weeks back, the Auditor General released their audit on the funds raised from the Red Light Camera program and the Automated Speed Enforcement (photo-radar) program. As part of the program, council and city staff had agreed that revenue from cameras installed in 2021 and later would be directed to the city’s Road Safety Action Plan.
Unfortunately, that did not happen, and the funds went to the Ottawa Police Service and the city’s general revenues.
Make no mistake about it, red light cameras reduce incidents of red light running and associated collisions. This is a program that will make our streets safer.
It has the added advantage of raising funds that can be directed to proper, permanent traffic calming measures that can also make our streets safer.
When done properly, this program is a win-win for residents. As we continue with this program, I will press staff to follow the agreed upon path and have the revenues from these cameras go to transportation safety measures.
Let’s Bike Month 2025!
This June, join thousands of Ottawa residents in celebrating Let’s Bike Month 2025!
The City of Ottawa has been partnering with EnviroCentre to support our yearly cycling campaign for 16 years! With thousands of participants, hundreds of teams, and dozens of events throughout the month, Let’s Bike Month is one of the largest and longest-running cycling campaigns in Canada.
How to participate this year:
- Sign up as an individual and start a team to encourage your community to join in!
- Log your bike rides and see the impact YOU make by choosing to bike!
- Like or follow Let’s Bike Ottawa on Facebook or Instagram!
- Share your rides on social media and tag us with #LetsBike2025
- Join one of our exciting events or workshops! Hurry – some activities require registration and space is limited!
Thanks to our amazing community sponsors, Let’s Bike Month will be giving away thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes to participants throughout the month of June, JUST for riding their bike. To be entered into our prize draws, you just need to have logged a ride during the month of June. You can see a list of prizes and sponsors here!
For more information about the campaign, please contact [email protected].
Track your cycling with Pedal Poll to contribute to Canada’s national bicycling statistics
Have you ever wanted to see a data snapshot of biking in Canada? Pedal Poll is an annual initiative to assess Canada's national bicycle count. From June 3 to 8, you can contribute to the national data set by carrying out a bike count in your neighbourhood.
For more information and to register, visit the Vélo Canada Bikes website.
Your Capital Ward
Photo by Jamie Brougham
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.
People’s Summit 2025—Powering Change in Ottawa!
Join the People’s Summit 2025—an energizing evening of connection, strategy and action on Tuesday, May 27 from 5:30 to 9:00 pm at Impact Hub Ottawa.
Whether you're just getting involved or have years of advocacy experience, this summit is your chance to join forces with others who care about building a more inclusive, affordable and responsive Ottawa.
Expect:
- Hands-on strategy sessions on pressing city issues (Lansdowne, Tewin, climate and more)
- Celebration of community victories
- Live taping of the Better Ottawa Panel
- “Best Socials in the City” Contest Kickoff
Impact Hub Ottawa
123 Slater Ave, 6th floor
Tuesday, May 27, 5:30 to 9:00 pm
All are welcome—RSVP now at betterottawa.ca/summit/.
Community-led Green Initiatives and Garden Program Plan Approved
Did you know? Ottawa has more than 120 food-producing community gardens, 27 of which are situated on city lands.
This month, council approved a staff report and recommendation on next steps for the implementation of the Community-led Green Initiatives and Garden Program, which facilitates the creation and maintenance of community gardens.
The staff recommendation outlines a plan to create the program in two phases. In phase one, the city will develop a framework for the program. In doing so, staff will:
- Put the program under the Recreation, Cultural & Facility Services department, allowing the creation of a dedicated budget,
- Hire a one full-time employee with a dedicated focus on the program,
- Resume access to city land for new community gardens, an option which has been on hold since 2023,
- Restart the review of unanswered community requests
- Develop guidance on the scope of projects, permissible city lands, partnership criteria, requirements, guidelines and funding opportunities for community-led initiatives going forward,
- Create a streamlined intake system with two application periods per year,
- Clarify city-community partnerships, including criteria, roles, and responsibilities,
- Explore agreements and insurance provisions,
- Set clear design, infrastructure, and operational standards,
- Establish a department-led working group to allow collaboration between city departments, and
- Host ongoing community engagement
In phase two, staff will develop a plan for future program expansion.
To learn more about the program, visit engage.ottawa.ca/community-gardens-and-community-led-green-initiatives.
Healing Forests: Reconciliation in Action
Beyond their ecological and environmental benefits, forests offer our communities spaces to gather—and heal. That’s why the National Healing Forests Initiative aims to create forests as spaces for reflection and reconciliation in response to the legacy of residential schools and other harms faced by Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Inspired by the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Healing Walk in Ottawa, the initiative was founded by Patricia Stirbys (Saulteaux Cree from Cowessess First Nation) and Peter Croal, Capital Ward resident and retired geologist.
Each Healing Forest is a community-led project which makes space for residents to come together with the goal of honouring Indigenous cultures, grieving injustices and fostering a shared future.
Click here for information on how to undertake a Healing Forest project, or read more about the initiative at nationalhealingforests.com.
Boulevard Gardens Update
Council has expanded the gardening permissions for residents in the City-owned boulevard next to their property. While a permit is not required, there are safety considerations and rules to follow.
What’s new:
- Owners and tenants can replace the grass in the boulevard abutting residential property with an alternative groundcover that grows to 20cm. This includes in areas around a municipal tree, fire hydrant or on the slope of a ditch.
- Residents can plant food in their boulevard garden.
- Raised garden beds, containers and plant supports are allowed in some areas (details on ottawa.ca/rightofway)
Keep in mind:
- Utility locates are required (Ontario OneCall) and only hand-digging is permitted.
- Noxious weeds and invasive species are not permitted in the boulevard.
- The maximum plant height (including raised garden bed or container height) is 1.0 metre or 0.75 metre for corner lots.
- Materials such as river rock, stones, concrete, brick and pavers are not allowed in the boulevard.
- There are areas of the boulevard where you cannot plant a garden or place a raised garden bed or containers, including under municipal trees and within a ditch.
- The City cannot guarantee the suitability of the boulevard or the soil for food production, however there are appropriate ways to mitigate the risks.
- The City and utilities are not responsible for protecting, repair, replacing or reinstating a boulevard garden damaged while doing work.
It is up to each resident to judge the suitability of their location and ability to maintain a garden before starting a gardening project.
Visit ottawa.ca/rightofway to learn more about residential boulevard gardens, the rules to follow, how to identify the boulevard next to your property and special considerations for growing food in this space.
Free Heat Pumps Training
Are you an Ottawa designer, energy advisor, contractor, or HVAC installer looking to expand your knowledge of heat pump technology? Or do you wish your HVAC contractor knew more about heat pumps?
Sign up for our Heat Pumps Essentials course—a one-day course designed to help energy efficiency professionals understand, select, and confidently advocate for heat pumps in residential, commercial, and industrial spaces.
The city is offering this free, full-day training on Heat Pumps Essentials to eligible Ottawa stakeholders.
Event Type: Virtual Webinar
Date: Wednesday May 21, 2025,
Time: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Participants will explore key topics such as:
- Understanding how heat pumps work.
- Differentiating the types and form factors of heat pumps.
- Considering building parameters to implement the right heat pump system.
- Justifying heat pump service offers.
To register, please click HERE. Spots are limited!
Participant registration for representatives from commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential buildings is funded through the Ottawa Retrofit Accelerator program, delivered by Hydro Ottawa. For more information, visit hydroottawa.com/ora.
2025 Gravel Road Upgrade, Surface Treatment and Pavement Preservation Programs
As part of the City of Ottawa’s annual infrastructure maintenance cycle, road resurfacing or crack sealing will occur.
This work is expected to start in May/June and completion is anticipated by fall 2025.
The road will remain open to traffic with lane closures expected. Traffic control personnel will direct traffic through the site.
This work is expected to start in May/June and completion is anticipated by fall 2025.
The road will remain open to traffic with lane closures expected. Traffic control personnel will direct traffic through the site.
As part of this project, crack sealing will be completed on Bronson Avenue.
An Emergency Can Happen at Any Time—Are You Ready?
As in many cities around the world, Ottawa continues to experience warmer, wetter and more unpredictable weather due to climate change. Being ready for the unexpected helps keep everyone safe in case of an emergency and also plays an important role in recovery efforts.
In the event of an emergency, are you ready to take care of yourself and your family for up to three days? This week is Emergency Preparedness Week and it is the perfect time to refresh and renew your family emergency plans. Read on for some guidelines to help you get started.
The Are You Ready? Program
Severe weather, power outages, or water disruptions can quickly escalate into emergencies that affect you, your loved ones, and your entire community.
It’s important to be prepared and know what to do before an emergency happens. By taking a few simple steps now, you can feel more confident and ready when disaster strikes.
Are You Ready? Workbook
The Are You Ready? workbook is a practical guide to help individuals and families stay safe during emergencies.
It provides easy-to-follow worksheets and checklists. The workbook will help you understand your risks, make a tailored plan and build an emergency kit.
Download the Are You Ready? workbook [PDF]
Emergency Preparedness Checklist
An emergency kit checklist outlines essential items you need to stay safe and self-sufficient for at least 72 hours during an emergency.
It includes basic supplies, like food, water and flashlights, and important documents which will help you and your family stay safe and respond quickly.
Download the Emergency Preparedness Checklist [PDF]
Personal Property Inventory
An insurance inventory helps you keep track of your personal belongings in case there is loss or damage from a disaster.
By recording item details, like room location and purchase date, you will be better prepared to file an insurance claim and recover faster after a disaster.
Download the Personal Property Inventory PDFOpens in a new tab or window
Additional Preparedness Resources
We’ve updated our emergency preparedness section on ottawa.ca to help you be as ready as possible for potential emergencies.
Alongside household emergency planning, you can also find information and supporting resources about:
- Ottawa Alert, the City’s public emergency notification system
- Types of emergencies experienced in Ottawa
- Emergency planning for communities
- Emergency planning for businesses
- Coping after an emergency
- More preparedness kits and checklists
Information Sessions
Do you want to better prepare yourself and your family or community for an emergency?
The City’s Office of Emergency Management offers information sessions to help you get started with emergency planning. Group sessions are available covering personal preparedness for households and community preparedness for local organizations.
Information sessions are:
- In-person, hybrid or virtual
- 30 to 60 minutes in length
- Free—there is no cost for this service or to participate
Consider hosting a neighbourhood session as a community-building activity! For more details and to book a personal or community information session, visit our Emergency preparedness education sessions page.
Ottawa Alert is now Live!
The City of Ottawa has launched Ottawa Alert: ottawa.ca/OttawaAlert—a new public emergency notification system designed to keep our communities informed during emergencies.
What is Ottawa Alert? Ottawa Alert delivers urgent notifications directly to your phone, email, or mobile app, providing real-time updates, safety instructions, and public safety alerts. The City of Ottawa and Ottawa Police Service will share critical safety instructions, emergency updates, and recovery information – like shelter openings or dangerous areas to avoid after severe events.
It’s free, bilingual, accessible, and available in 30+ languages.
How to Register: Visit Alertable or download the Alertable app on the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Choose the alerts you’d like to receive and your geographic area.
Stay connected and be prepared with Ottawa Alert!
Innovative Sewage Energy Project Underway at LeBreton Flats
A new era of sustainable energy is dawning in Ottawa with the formation of the LeBreton Community Utility Partnership, a joint venture between Envari Holding Inc. (a subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.) and Theia Partners. Together with the City of Ottawa, the partners have formalized a landmark agreement to implement an advanced Sewage Energy Exchange System (SEES) at the LeBreton Flats redevelopment.
This groundbreaking energy project will harness the untapped thermal potential of wastewater to provide sustainable and efficient building heating and cooling to Odenak, a development in a partnership between Dream Unlimited Corp, Dream Impact Trust and Multifaith Housing Initiative. Located at 665 Albert Street, Odenak will be the first customer for LeBreton Community Utility's SEES.
Odenak is a 608-unit, two-tower project adjacent to the Pimisi light rail transit (LRT) station. It features a mix of market-rate and affordable residential units as well as retail spaces. In a first for Ottawa, it will be sustainably powered by the SEES, which leverages advanced Canadian technology from SHARC Energy Systems. The SEES utilizes highly efficient heat pumps and operates entirely without fossil fuel, marking a significant step towards a cleaner energy future for the city.
Construction to connect to the City’s sewer infrastructure is slated to begin later this year, following a collaborative design phase between the City of Ottawa and the LeBreton Community Utility partners.
