Capital Ward Bulletin: Saving the People’s Park, Public Consultations and Events in our Community

Photo courtesy of John Dance

Saving the People’s Park

This week, the city released an updated draft of the new Transportation Master Plan (TMP) Capital Infrastructure Plan and, good news!, staff are recommending that a future Alta Vista Transportation Corridor (AVTC) should end at Hurdman—it should not cross the river, and should not go through the field on Lees Avenue beside Springhurst Park, also known as the People’s Park.

This is a great win for the community. We’ve been working with residents, the community association and city staff for the six years we’ve been in office to get to this resolution. We want to thank all of you who worked so hard to save the People’s Park.

Over the next few months, there will be consultations on the Transportation Master Plan, and then we expect to see the TMP approved by committee and council in July of this year.

You can read our press release on our website.

Transportation Master Plan Update

The city has launched the consultation on the TMP Capital Infrastructure Plan. Have your say on the future of transportation in Ottawa and share your input by completing the online surveys available on the Transportation Master Plan project page.

The draft Capital Infrastructure Plan identifies the transit and road projects that are needed to accommodate planned growth to the year 2046 and achieve the city’s mobility objectives. It also identifies a subset of projects that should be prioritized for implementation. This phase of TMP consultation also includes prioritization of the active transportation projects that were approved by Council in April 2023.

Get involved!

• Complete the surveys on the recommended road and transit projects, the prioritized list of active transportation projects, and other components of the Capital Infrastructure Plan
• Attend a public engagement session: virtual and in-person events will run from April 8 to May 6
• Sign up for updates and stay informed on the TMP process

Surveys will be open until May 12. To participate and learn more, visit the Transportation Master Plan project page.

Have Your Say: Draft 2 of Ottawa's New Zoning By-law is Here!

The City of Ottawa has released Draft 2 of the new Zoning By-law, a document that will shape the future of our city's development. This updated draft, including detailed zoning provisions and 16 supporting documents, is now available for review on the city's meeting agenda webpage.

The city will be hosting an In-Person Workshop at Ben Franklin Place on June 2. The city will also be hosting two virtual citywide open houses on May 29 and June 3. Further details on public events will be released shortly on the project’s engagement page.

For more details on the project, please visit the EngageOttawa. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the New Zoning By-law project team at [email protected] or using the public comment form.

The final version of the new Zoning By-law, Draft 3, will be presented later this year for Council approval.

Everyone can learn more about the planning process in Ottawa

Planning and development is a complicated business. However, it is also an incredibly important part of what the city manages on a daily basis. You need to understand planning issues if you are: 

• Buying or selling a property 

• Renovating a house or building 

• Living or working near a development site 

• Simply concerned or interested about your city’s future 

This is why the city created the Planning Primer. It’s an opportunity for you to learn about planning in Ottawa. There is no cost to participate.  

Virtual workshops are hosted on Zoom four times per year. The next sessions are in April and you have two to choose from, depending on which fits your schedule: 

• Monday, April 7, 1:30 to 3:30 pm 

• Wednesday, April 9, 6 to 8 pm 

Please register to receive the City Builders e-newsletter to be notified of future primers. Registration opens two weeks before the course date and operates on a first come, first served basis. 

For more information, please visit the city website.

Trenchless Rehabilitation Program

The 2023 Trenchless rehab program is preparing to get started in the city and in Capital Ward.

The Trenchless Rehabilitation Program takes sewers nearing the end of their lifecycle and uses Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP) liners, a trenchless technology, to rejuvenate the existing pipe and expand their usable life without the need to dig up the roadways and replace the pipes.

This year, we expect to see work in four locations in Capital Ward:

LaSalle Street at Apolydor Avenue

Carlsen Avenue at Heron Road

Secord Avenue at Clover Street

O’Connor Street at Patterson Creek

The project is expected to begin construction in mid-April, and be completed by the end of November.

Notifications will be distributed to nearby residences prior to work beginning.

Your Capital Ward

Photo by Peter Croal

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.

17th Southminster Ottawa Scout Group—2025 Garden Supply Sale

Spring is in the air! Get ready for gardening by ordering your supplies from the 17th Southminster Ottawa Scout Group, delivered FREE to your driveway in Old Ottawa South, Old Ottawa East or the Glebe on Saturday May 3.

They offer a variety of high-quality products thanks to the generous support of Ritchie Feed & Seed. Proceeds from this year's fundraiser will be used to make their trip to hike the West Coast Trail possible, as well as to support fun and exciting Scouting activities for boys and girls here in our local community. They’d also like to thank the Royal College for their help to make this fundraiser possible.

Ordering is available now and easy to do at their online store: 17th-ottawa-southminster-scouts.square.site/s/shop.

Questions? Please send an email to [email protected]

Heat Pumps in the Glebe: Take the Tour!

The Glebe Community Association Environment Committee invites Ottawa residents to the Tour of Heat Pumps in the Glebe on Saturday, May 10, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Several Glebe homeowners who have installed heat pumps in their century-old residences are willing to share their experiences and knowledge from their front porch. The types of homes include a row house, houses with multiple apartments and single-detached homes. The heat pumps include a range of manufacturers from Fujitsu to Mitsubishi, as well as standard to cold climate models.

The tour will run from 1:00 to 3:00 pm with attendees being assigned a starting house after registering on the Eventbrite. The tour ends with a Q&A session over a cup of tea at the Glebe Community Centre’s Multi-Purpose room from 3:00 to 4:00 pm.  Representatives from Electrify613, Envirocentre and Hydro Ottawa have volunteered to answer your questions on anything from installation tips to current heat pump rebates and incentive programs, and how Hydro Ottawa is preparing for an electrified future.

The Lone Mitten Project

Every year, hundreds of lost and found bins across Ottawa are filled with individual mittens and gloves that don’t have a partner.  Meanwhile, vulnerable Ottawa residents badly need mittens. To address this, OSEAN and Eco West Enders have launched The Lone Mitten Project. Single mittens will be cleaned and matched up with other similar mittens, and then put into the hands of those in need of warmth. 

There are drop off locations throughout the city. Please see www.osean.org for more information, including a map of drop off locations. You are also invited to bring your unmatched mittens to one of OSEAN’s upcoming events. 

Ottawa South Community Mending Circle

Come learn from volunteer Mending Mentors, who will show you how to repair or hem your favorite garments, give advice on simple sewing projects, and help with sewing machines. All skill levels are welcome. 

The Mending Mentors can coach you on making simple repairs (e.g. seams, small tears, buttons, darning of socks, opened seams, patching), visible mending, repair of knitted or crocheted garments, hemming, and answer basic questions about using sewing machines. If you have something to patch, please either bring some cloth for the patch or contact them in advance with the colour and material type required.

This event will take plans on April 13 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at St Paul’s Atelier Innovation Hub, 95 Clegg Street. Please see www.osean.org for more information.

Busting Out Ottawa is seeking new members!  

Ottawa’s only breast cancer paddling Dragon Boat team would love for you to join them! No paddling experience? No problem! Their coaches will teach you the proper technique, and if you decide to race with the team, they’ll have you ready for the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival in June.

They’re hosting a Membership Information Event on Tuesday, April 15, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Tom Brown Arena. If you have ever received a breast cancer diagnosis, you are invited to participate!

At this event, the team will share information about the club, the sport of dragon boating, and the many benefits of participating. You’ll also have the chance to meet some of our members and hear their inspiring stories about why they paddle!

For more details, visit www.bustingout.ca.

Expanding Our Responsiveness to Conflict in Community Symposium

Community Conflict Resolution Ottawa (CCRO) is hosting a free symposium at Saint Paul University (SPU) in Ottawa on the following dates:

• Friday May 9: 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
• Saturday May 10: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

This symposium is a space for community-based practitioners and conflict resolution practitioners to come together to engage, learn, dialogue, and co-create ways to expand our responsiveness to interpersonal conflict in the communities we live in and support. 

Topics will be offered through presentations, small group discussions, dialogue spaces, and experiential learning. 

To register for the symposium, visit the event page.

You can learn more about the CCRO at their website.

Play a Helping Hand—Casino Night Gala

Helping with Furniture (HWF) Ottawa invites you to their upcoming Casino Gala 2025: Play a Helping Hand. This event will be an evening of excitement, entertainment and philanthropy, all in support of a fantastic cause.

HWF provided more than 5,000 pieces of furniture to families in need in 2024, transforming empty houses into warm, welcoming homes. Funds raised from the gala will help support even more deserving families in the Ottawa community.

Event Details:

• Date: May 2, 2025
• Time: 6:00 PM
• Location: St. Elias Centre, 750 Ridgewood Avenue

Tickets & Pricing:

• Price: $115
• Each ticket includes:
  • A gourmet meal
  • Drink tickets
  • Six game tickets

The Gala will feature casino games, gourmet dining, music by DJ Jamie C from Boom FM 99.7 and will be hosted by Chris Love from KiSS 105.3's The Sandra & Chris Show. 

Adopt-a-Park/Adopt-a-Road program

Looking to be more involved in your community? Consider Ottawa’s Adopt-a-Park/Adopt-a-Road program! Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-Road is a city-wide program that encourages individuals, families, neighbours, community groups, and businesses to take an active role in helping maintain a beautiful city.

Join Adopt-a-Park/Adopt-a-Road as an individual, family, neighbour, community group, or a local business. You can volunteer to help maintain a cleaner, greener Ottawa: Free of litter and full of community pride! Sign up at Ottawa.ca/adopt.

Registration for the new Plant Your Place! program is now open! 

Trees do more than just look beautiful—they help absorb rainwater, clean our air, store carbon, provide shade, and help cool down built up areas! Did you know that 40% of Ottawa’s urban area is private property? That means we all have a role to play in growing our city's tree canopy! 

The City of Ottawa’s new Plant Your Place! program makes it easy for residents to plant trees on their own property, and registration is now open! 

Residents can apply for a FREE tree through the City-Wide Tree Distribution stream: 

• There are 16 different species to choose from. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

• Approved participants will pick up their trees at the Spring Tree Distribution Event for their ward. 

• You'll also get expert tips on how to plant and care for your new tree. 

Plant Your Place! is delivered in partnership with EnviroCentre. To find out more and to apply, please visit the EnviroCentre website. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to EnviroCentre by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 613-656-0100 ext. 7. 

2025 Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Event Schedule

Every year, the City of Ottawa hosts drop-off events to ensure that resident’s hazardous waste is safely collected, transported, and appropriately recycled or disposed of. This helps to protect the environment and decreases the risk of toxic materials ending up in our collection vehicles or landfills.

2025 Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Events Schedule

*Please follow the signage at Tunney’s Pasture for the specific location of the event.

Please note that drop-off event dates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date schedule, and to see the list of acceptable items, please visit Ottawa.ca/HHW.

Project update: Bank Street renewal, Riverside Drive (westbound) to Ledbury Avenue

Photo courtesy of Tomlinson Group

The City of Ottawa is undertaking the renewal of Bank Street from Riverside Drive to Ledbury Avenue. This work will include the replacement of underground sewers and watermains, and a full road reconstruction. The vision for the Bank Street renewal is to construct a functioning and safe arterial main street with a well-balanced multi-modal transportation network which will cater to vehicles, transit, cyclists and pedestrians.

Access to local businesses will remain open at all times. Residents and visitors are encouraged to continue to support Bank Street and area businesses during construction. 

For more information on the overall scope of this project, please visit the project website at ottawa.ca/bankstreetrenewal.

Public information session—April 16

The City of Ottawa invites you to attend a public information session to discuss the ongoing reconstruction project in your neighbourhood. Through this session, the City of Ottawa will be presenting the construction information and traffic impacts related to Bank Street Phase 1 (Riverside Drive to Collins Avenue) construction. The information session will also provide an update on the latest Bank Street Phase 2 (Collins Avenue to Ledbury Avenue) design.

Phase 2 preliminary design drawings will be on display for your review and staff will be present to answer any questions and receive comments.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025
6:30 to 8:30 pm
Jim Durrell Recreation Centre, Ellwood Hall
1265 Walkley Road, Ottawa
Presentation at 7:00 pm

Construction update

Construction of Phase 1 of the Bank Street Renewal project (Riverside Drive to Collins Avenue) will continue through 2025, moving south and including the reconstruction of the Bank Street and Heron Road intersection. 

The work being completed in Phase 1 includes the installation, rehabilitation and/or replacement of various components of the underground infrastructure including watermains, sanitary and storm sewers. It includes full reconstruction of the road and sidewalks and will add a cycle track, new street lighting, traffic signals and streetscape improvements.

In this second year of construction, work will be focused on road reinstatement between Riverside Drive (eastbound) and the Bélanger Avenue / Lamira Street intersection, and on the installation of underground infrastructure between Ohio Street and Heron Road.  

This is a multi-year project which will be constructed in phases. The full completion of Phase 1 (from Riverside Drive (westbound) to Collins Avenue) is expected in 2027. 

Work completed to date: 

• The installation of the new watermain between Riverside Drive (eastbound) and Ohio Street is complete. 

• The installation of the new storm sewer between Sawmill Creek and Randall Avenue is complete. 

• The installation of the new storm and sanitary sewer connections from Bank Street to Kilborn Place and Bank Street to Ohio Street are complete. 

• Two of three large diameter watermain repairs are complete.  
• Sawmill Creek culvert rehabilitation work is complete.
• Replacement of the retaining wall on the east side of Bank Street (south of Kilborn Place) is 80% complete.
• Road, median, sidewalk, cycle track and traffic signal construction between Riverside Drive (eastbound) and the Transitway is 60% complete. 

Spring/summer 2025 works 

• The installation of new storm sewer between Randall Avenue and Heron Road will continue. 
• The installation of new sanitary sewer between Ohio Street and Belanger Avenue will continue. 
• Replacement of the retaining wall on the east side of Bank Street (south of Kilborn Place) to be completed. 
• Final large diameter watermain repair at Lamira Street to be completed.  
• Road, median, sidewalk, cycle track and traffic signal construction between Riverside Drive (eastbound) and the Transitway to be completed. 
• Road, median, sidewalk, cycle track and traffic signal construction between the Transitway and Belanger Avenue / Lamira Street.
• The installation of the new storm and sanitary sewers and watermains through the Bank Street and Heron Road intersection, requiring a twelve-week closure of the east leg of the intersection.

Next steps and traffic impacts 

Early in the spring, Bank Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Riverside Drive westbound and the Heron Road intersection.  

Later in the spring, the east leg of the Bank Street and Heron Road intersection will be closed for (12) twelve weeks which will require a temporary detour using Walkley Road. More details to follow in the coming weeks.

Please watch for changes as the contractor shifts the traffic lanes to accommodate their work. 

The City’s interactive traffic map and incident report are kept updated and are your best resource for City traffic impacts. Please also bookmark the project webpage to stay informed on the project.  

Support local businesses during construction

The contractor is going to ensure access to local businesses is available at all times and will be working with our local businesses to coordinate works so that customer access is not impeded. If a business has more than one access, it may occur that one of them may be blocked temporarily during construction, but this will be communicated in advance and signage will be used to direct customers and staff on how to access the location.

You are encouraged to shop locally and support our Bank Street and area businesses during this construction period.

Accessibility

Accessibility is an important consideration for the City of Ottawa. The City makes every effort to provide access through and around construction sites. If you require a disability-related accommodation, please contact the project team listed below. Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

Noise by-law

For construction activity hours of work, the City of Ottawa follows provincial requirements and the City’s Noise By-law (2017-255).  

Safety

The City of Ottawa is committed to safety in and around project sites. The project team continues to work closely with the industry and to comply with recommendations provided by municipal, provincial and federal health officials, as well as the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

Mobility & you

Stay informed about construction and infrastructure projects. Check out the City’s interactive traffic map and incident report or call 3-1-1 for updates about when and where construction is happening.

Contact

View the project on the web.

Have questions? Contact the project manager, Roxanne Tubb, by email at [email protected].

Southbound closures of Greenfield Avenue and Main Street

Starting Tuesday, April 1, southbound Greenfield Avenue will be closed between the Highway 417 on-ramp and Main Street, and southbound Main Street will be closed between Greenfield Avenue to Hawthorne Avenue.

The closures, which will be in effect until late summer 2025, are related to the ongoing construction for the Greenfield Avenue, Main Street, Hawthorne Avenue et al. reconstruction project.

To ensure safety for all, the road closures are required to allow for adequate space for the construction activity to take place.

Traffic impacts and OC Transpo

Detours and signage will be in place for the duration of the closures.

Southbound Main Street detour

Travel south on Colonel By Drive, turn left onto Hawthorne Avenue, and turn right onto Main Street.

Greenfield Avenue detour

From King Edward Avenue/Mann Avenue, access Lees Avenue and travel to Main Street.

OC Transpo service impacts

Service on Route 55 Westgate will be detoured, and service will be removed from bus stops on Greenfield Avenue southbound (#7042), Main Street southbound (#7627) and Hawthorne Avenue westbound (#7633, #7634). Service on Route 55 Westgate will be available at alternative bus stops on Mann Avenue at King Edward Avenue, and on Main Street at Lees Avenue. This detour will continue until April 27, when New Ways to Bus is implemented and Route 55 is removed.

Service traveling northbound on Greenfield Avenue will not serve the stop at Havelock Street (#7043) until further notice. Service on Route 55 Elmvale and N97 Rideau will be available at alternative bus stops on Main Street at Hawthorne Avenue, or Greenfield Avenue near the Highway 417 on-ramp. This stop closure impacts routes 55 and N97 until April 27, and Route N98 after April 27.

For further updates to OC Transpo service, visit octranspo.com/alerts.

Parking and local access
On-street parking will be impacted during the closure and signage will be in place. Local access to side streets and properties will be maintained, when possible. If disruptions to access are anticipated, notices will be provided.

Pedestrians and cyclists

Pedestrian access through the construction area will be maintained at all times. Cycling access will be maintained only northbound with mixed traffic as there are no existing cycling lanes.