State of Capital Ward: Recording and slide deck

Thanks to everyone who participated in our State of Capital Ward event this past Wednesday May 21! We were pleased to have a fruitful Budget 2026 discussion with more than 150 attendees online and in person. We were also joined by several senior staff who helped respond to questions and who noted down the evening's priorities.

We kicked off the event with a presentation of accomplishments in Capital Ward from the past six years, and an explanation of the Budget 2026 process from city finance staff.

To watch the full recording, click here: youtu.be/VmkhITBRnaM. To review the slide deck, click here. If you would like to receive a French language version of the slide deck, please reply to this email or contact us at [email protected]. 

Lionel Britton Park Update: Tree Removals & New Layout

In late summer/early fall, the city will undertake general park and playground improvements at Lionel Britton Park. The upgraded park will include new asphalt pathways, new surface soil and grass, a new swing set and refurbished existing play structures within engineered wood fiber, a new standalone sand box, and new perimeter chain link fencing with improved access for city maintenance staff.  

Other changes to the park will include the following:

• A few small trees will be removed to allow more space to remove and replace the existing fencing. Larger mature trees which form the main canopy of the park will be protected and retained.
• The invasive Japanese Knotweed has been identified in several areas in the park, with the largest concentration of bushes being found along the northern fence line. Staff will endeavor to excavate and remove all of the Japanese Knotweed, including roots, from the park.

The exact construction schedule for this project will be confirmed and shared with the community when a contractor is hired. Tentatively, the work is planned to occur this fall between September and November. A notice has gone out to residents in the area to this effect (Jon: attached - not sure if you want to link to it - it's En and Fr in one) and more information can be found at the following webpage: Lionel Britton Park—Landscaping & Soil Risk Management Project | City of Ottawa.

More Affordable Housing Coming to the Glebe 

The vision for Affordable Housing to replace the city parking lot on the southwest corner of Bank and Chamberlain (574 Bank Street) is getting closer to becoming a reality. As part of the development of the Bank Street Secondary Plan in the Glebe, affordable housing—up to nine storeys with ground floor commercial—was envisioned for 574 Bank St and championed by our team and the Glebe Community Association.  

Our office has been working with city staff, and we can report that the city is currently in the process of taking the necessary steps to be able to dispose of the city parking lot to an affordable housing provider.  

Our office has released some initial funds from our affordable housing ward account to help fund initial studies for development at this site. Currently, the plan is for a nine-storey building with commercial at grade, and with mixed income non-market residential on top. We hope to be able to confirm more details soon. 

Bronson Avenue Crosswalk Painting

In the coming months, you will notice “ladder” style crosswalk painting at all the side streets along Bronson. This is to better delineate pedestrian space and alert drivers to their presence. This is a preliminary measure to make Bronson safer for everyone, especially pedestrians.

In the next two or three years, the city will begin the re-construction project for Bronson, and it will be important to get proper, permanent improvements to the street. We are currently discussing these needs with both city staff and the local community associations—and we would like to thank the residents (the “Bronson Team”) who have been working so hard on this.

Pedestrian Accessibility at 1435 Riverside Drive

Starting late summer to early fall 2025, the City of Ottawa will begin the implementation of pedestrian improvement measures at the pedestrian crossing located on the Transitway, approximately 165 metres west of Terminal Avenue. The work entails implementing concrete landing pads and Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI) on both sides of the crossing.

Construction is anticipated to be completed by late fall.

The contractor will take every precaution to minimize interruptions to your normal life, but as you can appreciate, there may be some inconvenience during the course of the operation of the work.

Please be advised that for the duration of construction, access to your residence will be maintained. Significant effort is being made to reduce the duration of the construction impacts in your area.

Primary Care Forum for Older Adults

Margaret Tansey, Chair Seniors Health Innovations Hub, in concert with Shawn Menard, Councillor Capital Ward, are inviting you to a Forum “Primary Care for Older Adults: An Urgent Need”.  This free event will be held on Wednesday June 18, 6:00 8:00 pm, online and in person, at Southminster United Church (accessible), 15 Aylmer Avenue at Bank Street. 

Our goal is to build awareness of the crisis in primary health care for older adults, to share related advocacy approaches and to provide strategies to support healthy aging. The intended audience includes older adults and their families, caregivers, as well as stakeholder and advocacy groups across Ottawa.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Benoit Robert, Chief Medical Officer at Perley Health and a renowned seniors’ health expert.  The Director of the Ottawa Ontario Health Team-Équipe Santé Ontario, Monica Armstrong, will set the stage for the event by presenting recent data about primary care and the needs of older adults to highlight why this is an important and urgent issue in Ottawa. Hoda Mankal, one of Ottawa’s foremost public faces for the nurse practitioner (NP) profession, will outline the scope of NP practice.  Dr. Nancy Edwards, an expert on fall prevention, will present a summary of her findings and its impact on healthy aging.  Nathalie Lafrenière will inform us on how to navigate the available community services important to aging at home.  A Q&A session is planned.

Registration is appreciated. Providing your email will allow us to contact you with event-related information.  You can register at this link.

The 2026 Budget Questionnaire

The City of Ottawa engages with residents each year to gather ideas and feedback as it drafts the budget for City Council’s consideration. Your feedback helps shape the City’s budget priorities and contributes to decisions about investing in a sustainable, secure, and prosperous city for all. 

The budget questionnaire, as part of the public budget consultation process, will gather resident input for the City of Ottawa as we work towards creating and adopting the 2026 draft budget. The focus of the questionnaire is on determining your priority for services reporting to the City of Ottawa Standing Committees. For an understanding of City services and past budget allotments, please refer to previous budget books and Table of City Services and Standing Committees. 

Take Questionnaire.

Have Your Say on Climate Ready Ottawa!

The City of Ottawa is launching the next round of public engagement on Climate Ready Ottawa—our city’s draft climate resiliency strategy—and the city wants to hear from you!

Climate Ready Ottawa is a long-term strategy designed to guide action and investment that will help our city become more resilient to climate change.

Developing a climate resiliency strategy is a key project of the Climate Change Master Plan and Council’s Strategic Plan.

Addressing climate change requires collective action. Visit Engage Ottawa to learn more about how climate change could affect you, your family or business, and steps you can take to be prepared.

Thank you to everyone who provided comments through the 2024 survey or in past engagement sessions! We are integrating those ideas and welcome your additional feedback as we finalize the strategy and plan.

Here’s how you can get involved:

• Attend one of the Public Open Houses
  • Thursday, June 12 – Nepean Sportsplex, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
  • Saturday, June 14 – City Hall, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
  • Monday, June 16 – Ray Friel, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
  • Thursday, June 19 – Virtual Session, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
    Register here
• Visit: engage.ottawa.ca/climate-resiliency to read the background information and provide feedback (deadline June 30^th, 2025)
• Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about this project and others that build a green and resilient Ottawa
• Learn how you can prepare for a changing climate

Have Your Say on Ottawa’s New Zoning By-law—Draft 2

The City of Ottawa is inviting residents to review and provide feedback on Draft 2 of the new Zoning By-law. Residents are encouraged to review and comment on the second draft on the project’s EngageOttawa page and to attend online, virtual, and in-person open-house events.

How to Participate

Residents can explore Draft 2 online and attend one of the upcoming open houses:

In-person Open House

• Date: Monday, June 2
• Location: Ben Franklin Place, 101Centrepointe Drive
• Time: 6:30 to 8:00 pm
• No registration required

Virtual City-wide Open House:

• Date: Thursday, May 29
• Time: 6:00 to 8:00 pm
• Registration: Click here to register for the May 29 session

Virtual City-wide Open House:

• Date: Tuesday, June 3
• Time: 6:00 to 8:00 pm
• Registration: Click here to register for the June 3 session

Your Capital Ward

Photo by M J Hawley 

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.

Heron Road Closure at Bank Street until August 31

Starting Sunday, June 1 at 8:00 am, Heron Road will be closed east of the intersection from Bank Street to Alta Vista Drive.

This closure is expected until August 31 as part of Phase 1 of the Bank Street Renewal Project.

This project involves the renewal of underground infrastructure—such as watermains and sanitary and storm sewers—along with road and sidewalk reconstruction, the addition of a cycle track, new street lighting, upgraded traffic signals, and streetscape improvements. 

Detour route

A signed detour will be in place to direct motorists to use Walkley Road and Heron Road, east of Alta Vista Drive as the alternate route.

Bank Street will continue to be reduced to one lane in each direction from Riverside Drive to Collins Avenue. Please plan ahead and allow for extra travel time. 

Access to local businesses

Bank Street businesses remain open during construction. Construction work will be coordinated to ensure uninterrupted customer access to local businesses.

Traffic impacts

Traffic delays around the construction zone are expected. Signage will be in place to notify residents of the impacted area.

OC Transpo

OC Transpo routes 41, 92, 689, and 698 are impacted by this closure. Please visit OCTranspo.com/alerts for transit detour information. 

Pedestrians and cyclists

Pedestrian access will be maintained through the work zone at all times. Cyclists will be able to dismount and use the pedestrian route. 

Stay informed

• Visit ca/BankStreetRenewal for additional details and specific traffic impacts.
• Sign up for the project newsletters to receive regular project updates.
• Contact the project team at [email protected].

Pumping up climate change mitigation in the Glebe

Organized by the Glebe Community Association Environment Committee, several homeowners who have installed heat pumps (fully electric or electric-gas hybrid) in their century-old residences shared their experiences with about 75 tour participants. In Ottawa, shifting to Ontario’s low-carbon electricity grid can significantly cut emissions for home and water heating.

Homeowners talked about the quote-gathering process, installation, impacts on home comfort (overwhelmingly positive since many Glebe homes do not have central air-conditioning) and impacts on energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.

One homeowner who switched from a gas furnace to a fully electric heat pump two years ago reported a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions with annual costs nearly unchanged.

Another homeowner stressed the importance of proper insulation as part of an energy retrofit. This home had extensive envelope retrofits, including attic insulation, spray-foamed rim joists, exterior wall insulation, two new windows and an exterior door. This renovation alone reduced their annual heating bill by 46%. When a hybrid heat pump was added one year later, total emissions were reduced 70% while maintaining the same savings in energy costs.

The tour ended with a question-and-answer session with experts from Hydro Ottawa, Electrify 613, Envirocentre and Better Homes Ottawa, a City program that offers low-interest loans for energy upgrades.

Bold Voices of Ottawa

Bold Voices of Ottawa is a local choir singing choral music by Black composers. They will be performing a Spring Concert, Music Down in My Soul!, on Friday, June 6 at 7:00 pm at Trinity Anglican Church, 1230 Bank Street, in Old Ottawa South.  The concert will include spirituals, gospel and African-inspired pieces!  Join them for some spring merriment!

Right to Learn Afghanistan

The Ottawa chapter of Right to Learn Afghanistan is holding a fundraiser at the Ottawa Little Theatre on Sunday June 8 at 2:30 pm for the dress rehearsal of 37 Postcards. All proceeds will go to Right to Learn Afghanistan, a registered charity and not-for-profit organization working to make the right to education a reality for Afghan women and girls.

Click here for tickets, or email [email protected].

Ottawa Humane Society Needs Volunteers

The Ottawa Humane Society urgently needs 30 foster volunteers for its Sheltering Animals From Emergencies (SAFE) program. SAFE provides temporary shelter for pets whose owners are in crisis. SAFE pets might stay in the OHS’s care for a few weeks, up to a few months. Foster volunteers help make longer placements possible, providing one-on-one care in their own homes.

More information about SAFE and sign up for volunteers is available on the OHS’s website.

Extended Collection Hours During Peak Leaf and Yard Waste Season

It’s officially peak leaf and yard waste season. Twice a year, in the fall and spring, waste collection operators have until 8:00 pm to pick up leaf and yard waste to accommodate the increased volumes of yard waste. Green, black & blue bins and garbage will continue to be picked up as usual between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm.

Did you know setting out your leaf and yard waste separate from your green bin saves money because it can be composted at the Barnsdale leaf and yard composting pad at the Trail Waste Facility Landfill? Setting leaf and yard waste out separately will be required in 2026, as part of the 2026 Residential Curbside Collection Contract.

To learn more about our green bin program and leaf and yard waste, visit: Ottawa.ca/greenbin.

The City of Ottawa’s Extreme Heat, Cold and Air Quality Relief Strategy

Extreme heat events can result in significant adverse health impacts. The City of Ottawa’s Extreme Heat, Cold and Air Quality Relief Strategy (the EHCAQ Relief Strategy) has been updated to outline the actions that the City of Ottawa and community partners will take to prepare for, to mitigate, and respond to these events.

The City’s Extreme Heat, Cold and Air Quality Planning Committee meets regularly to review the EHCAQ Relief Strategy and update information for partners and residents to help prepare for the hot weather season. Committee members include representatives from Emergency and Protective Services (EPS); Community and Social Services (CSSD); Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services; Finance and Corporate Services; Ottawa Public Health (OPH); Ottawa Public Library; 3-1-1 Client Services; The Salvation Army Outreach Services; Ottawa Community Housing; Home and Community Care Support Services, and 2-1-1 Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario. Extreme heat response is a shared responsibility involving multiple city departments and community partners working collaboratively to lead actions in their respective areas of responsibility.

It is important for people to have access to cool places throughout the summer. OPH’s interactive map of places to cool off on the Extreme Heat and Humidity webpage provides information about public places where residents and visitors can cool off in Ottawa. It includes splash pads, wading pools, swimming pools, parks, libraries, and community buildings. Residents are welcome to seek access to air conditioning at any city facility that is open to the public during regular hours of operation.

Thinking about swimming today?

Swimming in natural water can be refreshing and exciting, especially at Ottawa’s supervised beaches. However, open water has risks to consider, like bacteria from wildlife, weather conditions, and hidden hazards. It's important to be aware of these risks to ensure a safe and enjoyable time.

Know the risks before swimming

• Severe weather: Lightning, high winds, and heavy rain can be dangerous.
• Heavy rain: Rain can wash contaminants into the water, making it more likely to have high levels of bacteria.
• Beach conditions: Many birds, dead fish, algae, or garbage may make the water more likely to have high levels of bacteria.
• Cloudy water: High winds and waves can make the water cloudy, hiding hazards and stirring up bacteria.
• Cuts or open wounds: Bacteria can infect open cuts or wounds.

Protect your health during and after swimming

• Before swimming: Take children to the toilet to reduce contamination.
• During swimming: Keep your head above water and avoid swallowing it.
• After swimming: Wash hands with soap or use hand sanitizer, shower, and dry your ears.

Beach water monitoring

What is it?

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) monitors water quality by taking water samples at supervised beaches during the summer months.

Samples are analyzed by the Provincial Public Health Laboratory to check for E. coli bacteria. High levels of E. coli over 200/per 100ml can indicate the presence of other harmful organisms, which can increase the risk of getting sick from the water.

Change from daily to weekly testing

Starting in 2025, OPH will collect water samples weekly instead of daily. This change is in line with the approach taken by most public health units in Ontario and the National Capital Commission.

Why the change?

Results from daily samples take 18 to 24 hours to process, and do not reflect current conditions. By focusing on current conditions (weather, cloudy water), you can make a more informed decision about swimming.

For more information about staying safe at Ottawa beaches visit: OttawaPublicHealth.ca/Beaches.

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 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.

New on-street parking permit registration system launches in June

Beginning in June 2025, the city is improving the process of renewing or applying for on-street parking permits through the launch of a new online system that will streamline operations and be more convenient for the user.

This new system will be accessible from MyServiceOttawa, a one-stop shop service where you can manage things like water billing, waste collection needs and now, select on-street parking permits.

Rather than needing to submit a new application each time your permit is set to expire, certain permits like monthly on-street residential passes will be eligible for automatic renewals. The system will store the necessary information should you ever need another parking permit, enhancing customer experience and service delivery.

It covers the following parking permits:

• Residential
• Temporary consideration
• Small business ID card
• Guest
• Daycare
• Visitor
• Special events – including funerals
• Volunteer
• Healthcare
• Musician and artist loading
• Replacement

This new parking permit management system will not impact eligibility requirements, as the criteria will remain the same. All active permits will automatically be migrated into the new system, and current permits will not need to be replaced until they near their expiry date.

To apply for a new permit or renewal on the new system, clients must have or create a My ServiceOttawa. Anyone who currently has a valid on-street parking permit that will soon be up for renewal should create an account as soon as possible.

Permit applications unavailable May 29 to June 3

A short “blackout” period will take place between Thursday, May 29 and Tuesday, June 3 in order to accommodate the migration of existing permit data into the new Parking Permit Portal. During this time, the permit application forms will be unavailable and permit renewals and new applications cannot be submitted. Anyone needing a new permit or renewal should apply before 4 pm on May 29 to avoid any delays.

All permit holders, including those whose permits are set to expire during this period, will be contacted individually by email with details on how to renew their permits. Funeral homes, who may need to request a special event parking permit, will also be contacted. Additionally, all those impacted by the blackout period will be notified once the new system has been launched.

If you require a parking permit during the blackout period and believe that your situation qualifies as urgent, please call 3-1-1 and dial option 6 to speak to an agent.

Alternate and accessible declaration options available

Alternate and accessible options are available for residents who require accessibility-related supports and for those without access to the internet or digital devices – such as computers, tablets and other hand-held devices:

• Call 3-1-1
• Call 613-580-2401 for TTY
• Call 613-580-2400 to contact the city using Canada Video Relay Service

Spring into action—COVID-19 dose recommended for people at higher risk

• Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is recommending that individuals at high risk of severe illness, complications or hospitalization from COVID-19 receive an additional dose of a COVID-19 vaccine this spring. In alignment with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization(NACI), those considered at higher risk, who are eligible for a spring dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, include:
• Individuals 65 years of age and older;
• Residents of long-term care and retirement homes, and other congregate living settings for older adults;
• Individuals six months of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised; and
• Individuals 55 years and older who identify as First Nations, Inuit or Metis and their non-Indigenous household members who are 55 years and older.

The recommendation for all other individuals, including infants turning six months of age, is to wait until the fall for their annual COVID-19 vaccine.

Getting your spring dose of a COVID-19 vaccine:

• Pharmacies continue to be the primary point of access for COVID-19 vaccines. To find a pharmacy near you, visit ca/FindPharmacy.
• You can also check with your regular health care provider to see if they offer the vaccines.
• OPH provides COVID-19 vaccine services only to eligible individuals facing significant barriers to accessing the vaccine in our community. For more information on how eligible residents can receive their COVID-19 vaccination, visit ca/COVID19Vaccine.