This Saturday: You’re Invited to the Old Ottawa East Barbecue and Capital Ward Bike Ride with Councillor Menard!
Don’t forget! We’re hosting a community bike ride tomorrow, in collaboration with the Old Ottawa East Main Event.
We’ll be joining the Main Street Barbecue (already in progress) at 12:30 pm. We will be meeting at the barbecue, which is currently scheduled to be located at the St. Paul University Parking lot next to the Grand Allee off Main Street, but there will be festivities all weekend—more information should become available here: www.ottawaeastcag.org/main-event-2024.
At 1:15 pm, we'll start a short bike tour from the barbecue to some important spots for active transportation in the ward. The pace will be slow, and people of all ages and abilities are welcome! We look forward to gathering with the community to celebrate achievements and talk about what's needed next.
Just show up at the barbecue with a bike and join the tour! I’ll be flipping burgers at 12:30.
Coffee Chats Are Back
As you may know, my team and I work out of our City Hall office. We also hold direct meetings and events in the community, often visiting residents and doing our best to improve quality of life for people.
Prior to the pandemic my team and I also held numerous scheduled “coffee chats” where residents could attend and discuss issues of concern or ask questions.
We will be holding a coffee chat in every community in the ward over the next year. Starting this coming Monday, September 23rd I will be hosting a coffee chat in Old Ottawa South at the Happy Goat (1124 Bank Street) at 9:30am and I hope you’ll stop by for a chat!
In the future we will hold coffee chats in Dow’s Lake, Heron Park, Glebe, Glebe Annex, Old Ottawa East and the Riverside Towers area.
See you Monday!
2025 Budget Directions
This week, city council approved the mayor's proposed budget directions, including an across-the-board 2.9% budget increase—rather than employing a strategic focus on council priorities and differentiation amongst the rates—and threats of a 75% fare increase for OC Transpo. In my view, these proposals will be a detriment to city efforts to fix and maintain important infrastructure, provide services such as upgrades to parks and bathrooms for residents, or stem the ongoing decline of transit in Ottawa.
I voted against the budget directions, as I want to see a city with a healthy and functional transit system, and properly-maintained infrastructure and services.
Two weeks ago, I wrote about a better approach to city finances. You can read that here.
Old Railway Rideau River Pedestrian Bridge Renewal EA Study—Rescheduled Public Information Session
The Old Railway Rideau River Pedestrian Bridge Renewal Environmental Assessment (EA) Study Public Information Session originally scheduled for Wednesday September 24 has been postponed until October.
We will provide an update once the specific date, time and location have been confirmed.
Heron Park Field House Update
In preparation of the of the construction of the new Heron Park Field House, demolition of the old field house began in the summer, and between now and November, city staff will be conducting soil remediation.
It’s exciting to see this project underway. We will keep residents up-to-date as it progresses.
Smyth Road Bicycling Safety Improvements
Beginning in September 2024, the City of Ottawa will begin construction work to construct bicycling safety improvements along Smyth Road. This project will provide formal cycling facilities along Smyth Road from Riverside Drive to east of the Ottawa Hospital Riverside Campus intersection, including modifications to the Riverside Drive on/off ramps.
This work is scheduled to begin in late September 2024 and completion of the majority of the work is anticipated by late fall 2024. The remaining works are expected to be completed in spring 2024.
To accommodate the proposed construction, intermittent lane reductions can be expected on Smyth Road. Access to the Riverside Drive on/off ramps will be detoured during nights or weekends at times during construction. Access for pedestrians and bicyclists will be maintained. Pedestrian detours can be expected. OC Transpo routes may experience some delays while travelling through the construction area.
A figure showing the planned modifications is available on the project webpage. For more information about the project, please visit www.ottawa.ca/SmythCyclingImprovements.
Cleaning Catch Basins
If you’re in the Glebe and have noticed some temporary No Parking signs going up on the side streets, it’s to allow the city to regular cleaning and maintenance of catch basins. The parking restrictions should only last a day, and then crews will move on to another street.
It’s a bit of an inconvenience, but this is important to work to help prevent flooding in the neighbourhood.
Your Capital Ward
Photo by Doug Humphries
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.
Synapcity
Local non-profit Synapcity, creators of Ottawa’s Civics Boot Camp, is partnering with the Ottawa Public Library to launch Pulses, a series of bi-weekly, facilitator-led discussions on key issues in our city, including climate, housing, transit, arts and inclusion.
Local chapters are launching across Ottawa. The Old Ottawa South chapter will meet Thursday’s starting September 19 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Sunnyside OPL branch. It will be led by Synapcity co-founder Manjit Basi.
For more information, visit synapcity.ca/upcoming-events.
Public Works Name the Plow Campaign
The city has launched its new Public Works Name the Plow campaign!
The purpose of the campaign is to build awareness around snowplow safety among Ottawa’s children and youth, while having some fun naming snowplows in the process.
Name submissions can be made by visiting Engage Ottawa between September 9 and 30. After the names have been submitted, the city’s very own snowplow operators will draw a final list of names for the public to vote on. Voting will take place between October 14 and the 21 by visiting Engage Ottawa. Residents who do not have access to a computer, mobile device, or Wi-Fi will also have the option of submitting their snowplow name and/or casting their vote by calling 3-1-1 or visiting one of the city’s Client Service Centres. Campaign information is available in both English and French as well as 14 other languages!
The final 24 winning names (symbolizing the City’s 24 wards) will be announced on October 24 at Transportation Committee.
Nominations are open for the 2025 Ottawa Heritage Awards
The City of Ottawa recognizes outstanding achievements in heritage conservation with the Ottawa Heritage Awards. The application period for the 2023 to 2024 awards is now open. The deadline for applications is Friday, November 1, 2024.
There are three types of awards:
- project-based
- community member/groups
- student-led [NEW]
Project awards may be presented in seven categories:
- Restoration: Returning a heritage resource to its original form, material and integrity.
- Adaptive Reuse: Adapting an old building for a new purpose while retaining its heritage character.
- Infill: New construction in a historic context.
- Addition: New additions to historic buildings.
- Government: Awarded to a restoration project at a public sector property.
- Heritage Grants: Awarded to recipients of funding under the Heritage Grant Program for Building Restoration.
- Other: This category will change depending on the projects submitted in a given year. Projects could include engineering projects (i.e. bridge restoration) or landscaping projects (i.e. restoration of historic gardens or parks).
Some projects may qualify in more than one category. Please note that projects related to properties owned by the federal government will only qualify for the "Government" category.
Projects completed between January 2023 and December 2024 are eligible. For more information or to nominate a heritage property, visit ottawa.ca.
Awards will be presented in February 2025.
Hydro Ottawa Customer Engagement Survey
From September 16 to October 4, 2024, Hydro Ottawa Limited (HOL) will be inviting customers to take a key role in shaping the future of Ottawa’s energy landscape by completing their 2026-2030 draft investment plan survey. By participating, customers will help guide their investment priorities; how they prepare the electrical grid for the challenges and opportunities ahead and the rates customers pay for the next five years, 2026 through 2030.
You can visit www.hydroottawa.com/ourfuture [www.hydroottawa.com/notreavenir] for more information or to complete the survey.
Secure Bike Parking Lockers are now available!
Attention all Ottawa cycling enthusiasts! The City of Ottawa is now offering an innovative new bike parking solution for cyclists travelling in the downtown core. Our new Secure Bike Parking Lockers, placed at three key destination areas, provide residents and visitors alike with a high quality, secure option for bike storage while they are enjoying all that our city has to offer.
This is an important part of implementing the city’s Public Bike Parking Strategy and is a key piece to encourage and promote cycling in our nation’s capital.
The Secure Bike Parking Lockers are available at the following key destination areas:
- Byward Market: 141 Clarence Street, along the west wall inside the parking garage close to the Murray Street exit
- The Glebe: 170 Second Avenue, outside the Glebe parking garage near the entrance/exit on Second Avenue
- Centretown: 234-250 Slater Street, at the surface parking lot adjacent to the sidewalk
- More to come!
Using the lockers
- Each locker can hold six bicycles.
- Download the Vélo-Transit application on your Android or Apple device.
- Create an account and choose the desired location. Lockers are available on a first come, first serve basis.
- Select “Pay as you go”, followed by your desired locker number.
- Enter your payment details and confirm the start of the rental.
- Select “Open door” and wait for approximately 30 seconds.
- Store your bike by laying your mobile device flat on the lock for 5 seconds to unlock it. The door will lock automatically after 8 seconds or as soon as the door closes.
- Retrieve your bike by following the previous step to unlock.
- To stop your rental, click “End Rental or Stop Service” in the Vélo-Transit application.
Fees
- First 2 hours: free
- Each additional hours: $0.50/hour
- The rental period will continue until the user ends their session through the Vélo-Transit application.
This initial phase of bike locker installations will be monitored to determine potential next steps to adjust and expand the program. So download the Velo-Transit app, reserve your spot and get biking!
Visit the city website for more information…and check out the video!
