Happy New Year!

We hope you have had the chance to take in the beautiful lights in Richmond's Memorial Park!

We hope you have had the chance to take in the beautiful lights in Richmond's Memorial Park!

Happy New Year Rideau-Goulbourn! As we embark on a new year, I do so with new responsibilities at City Hall. In December, Council approved the roles and responsibilities for the new term of council. After serving last term as Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, I had the privilege of being named the Chair of the Environment Committee. Subsequently, I brought forward a Notice of Motion to change the name of that committee to the Standing Committee on Water, Waste and Environmental Protection. The intent is to ensure that the name of the committee reflects the broad mandate of the committee and its key priorities.

As for other responsibilities, I will continue to sit on Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, Finance & Economic Development Committee and the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. I will also be joining the Ottawa Community Housing Board and the Planning Committee.

2019 Town Hall Series

In the coming weeks, our office will be hosting a series of town hall meetings to help kick off the term of Council. We will host these meetings in Burritt’s Rapids, Pierce’s Corners, Kars, North Gower, Stittsville, Richmond, Munster, Ashton, Manotick, Country Club Village, Fallowfield Village and in the Quinn’s Pointe community in Barrhaven. These meetings will take place between January 9th and March 5th.

The intent of these meetings will be to look at what issues are present currently in our communities, what priorities we want to focus on and any other matters that residents feel requires our attention. It is also an opportunity to discuss how best we can improve communication. We have a number of new initiatives we are going to bring forward in order to better serve our residents. Included in that will be drop in meetings where residents can stop by and visit with our team. We will rotate these meetings around the ward every two weeks.

For the Town Hall meetings, we have the following meetings scheduled:

  • January 9th: Canadian Golf & Country Club, 7:00pm

  • January 12th: St. Patrick’s Church, 10:00am

  • January 15th: Manotick Arena, 7:00pm

  • January 19th: Burritt’s Rapids Community Hall, 10:00am

  • January 23rd: Munster Community Centre, 7:00pm

  • January 28th: North Gower Client Service Centre, 7:00pm

  • February 4th: St. Benedict Elementary School, 7:00pm

  • February 6th: Ashton Christ Church, 7:00pm

  • February 13th: Kars Recreation Centre, 7:00pm

  • February 19th: St. Philip’s Parish Hall, 7:00pm

  • February 26th: Marlborough Community Hall, 7:00pm

  • March 5th: Goulbourn Town Hall, 7:00pm

I very much look forward to these meetings, as does our team. I hope you will be able to attend.

 *****

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Remembering Hilda Moore and the Election Blackout Period

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With this being my last column before the October municipal election (more on that later), I wanted to use the beginning of this column to take a moment and remember my grandmother, Hilda Moore, who passed away recently after a battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

My grandmother was born in 1929 and spent her childhood in Old Ottawa South. She met my grandfather, Sumner Moore, in Constance Bay and they got married at Southminster Church on Bank Street. They would buy a home and begin their family in Carlington before moving to Richmond in 1958. My grandmother would spend 60 years in the village of Richmond. There, she was involved in a little bit of everything including the Richmond Legion, Richmond Curling Club and the Goulbourn Museum. Many remember her from her 30 years working as an administrator at South Carleton High School, retiring in 1990.

My grandmother was also very active and interested in the political world. She played a significant part in getting me to where I am today, I am grateful for her role in my life, and that my children were able to have such a strong relationship with her. She touched so many lives in her time and she will be greatly missed by my family and many residents in Richmond who remember her fondly.

Election Blackout Period

As mentioned above, this is the last column that I am able to print in the Messenger until after the October 22nd municipal election. City Council adopted an Election-Related Resources Policy which includes a “blackout period” in which corporate resources and Member of Council’s office budgets are not to be used to sponsor any advertisements, flyers, newsletters or householders. The 60-day “blackout period” is in effect from Thursday, August 23, 2018, up to and including Monday, October 22, 2018 (Voting Day).

During the “blackout period”, advertising for City events or services cannot, in broad terms, include the name of any Member of Council who is also a candidate.

For any pressing City matter, we will make sure that those items are provided to the Village Voice for Manotick issues and the Richmond Hub for Richmond issues. For other areas of the ward, there is a protocol for how matters can be communicated to ensure proper notification still occurs in the meantime.

Please be assured that the only thing impacted here is how we communicate in print. My office will still be attentive to anything that comes their way. Should you have any questions or concerns on anything, email my office or give my team a call and we will assist you.

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Park Updates, McBean Street Bridge Replacement & the Stonebridge Development Proposal

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It is a busy year for Rideau-Goulbourn parks. Blue Rock Park in Kars is currently undergoing renewal while staff work toward the renewal of the play equipment at Richmond Lions Park, in addition to the planned outdoor rink to be located there this year. Planning also continues on Sarah McCarthy Park in Richmond and Ivy & Gordon Scharf Park in Manotick. All the while on Fairmile Road, we inch closer and closer to being able to add play equipment after the acquisition of some land and the progress on a road closure.

With all of that going on, the City, working with Councillor Michael Qaqish’s office and our Rideau-Goulbourn team, have just embarked on an update to the Beryl Gaffney Park concept plan culminating in some new investments in the park. We had our public open house last week with over 60 residents in attendance. In the coming weeks, we will formalize the method for feedback. Please stay tuned to this column and that of the Manotick Village & Community Association for more information.

McBean Street Bridge

The most significant infrastructure project to hit Richmond in some time has begun with the reconstruction of the McBean Street Bridge. In recent weeks, preparatory works began on site. These included some tree removal and the relocation of Bell lines. Aecon Construction has been contracted to carry out the bridge replacement project. The Commence Work Order was issued on June 20th and their completion date is scheduled for December 19th, 2019.

While the project itself will take up to 18 months, the impact on heavy vehicles and transit should only be approximately six months. As soon as one side of the bridge is complete and open, that newly constructed side will not have the weight restrictions any longer. For all other traffic, including cyclists and pedestrians, one lane of traffic will be available, except for a couple of occasions where a full closure may be necessary. The first full closure could occur within the next couple of months but the contractor is aware of significant Richmond events, such as the Fair and the Santa Claus parade and will ensure those are not impacted negatively.

If you happen to be a transit rider and frequently use the 283, there is a detour in place for the duration of the first phase of construction. The detour has been designed in a way to minimize the delay on the fewest number of riders. Simply put, riders from Munster and those who live on the South Carleton side of the Jock River will experience a longer commute. I thank those riders for their patience as we undertake this important project.

Stonebridge Development Proposal

In recent weeks, some of you may have heard my name being thrown around regarding Mattamy’s proposal to alter the Stonebridge Golf Course and build 158 additional units on the golf course property. The reason why I am mentioned is quite interesting as the development application actually falls entirely within Rideau-Goulbourn’s ward boundary. Similarly, there is a street in Stonebridge called Stromness Private, which also falls within Rideau-Goulbourn.

When the current boundaries were created in 2005, holes five through eight were considered to be outside the urban boundary. The urban boundary set the ward boundary lines. With the urban boundary changes that were approved in and around 2010, certain lands in Stittsville and Barrhaven that I now represent became developable, including this portion of Stonebridge. The intention is to correct these lines in 2019 with a ward boundary review. In the meantime, I will be working with Councillors Jan Harder and Michael Qaqish on the issues that impact our Barrhaven consituents.

*****

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Richmond North Sales Meter Station Upgrade Project and Protect Yourself Against Fraud

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Happy New Year and welcome to my first Messenger column of 2018. A new chapter for my column begins this week, as this will be the first time that the Messenger is delivered to Richmond. Following an incredible 50+ year run of the Stittsville News, which sees its last issue delivered this week, communities in Goulbourn will experience a void and the Messenger is stepping up to help fill that void. As a result, my column will now feature some information that Rideau residents would not normally see.

Up until now, I have been writing columns in the Messenger, Stittsville News, Kemptville Advance and the Carleton Place Gazette. Each column is usually different and speaks to the readership in the appropriate catchment area. Because of the change in delivery and the elimination of the Stittsville News, my Messenger column will now focus on things from Richmond in addition to matters in Manotick, North Gower and Kars.

Having said all of that, welcome to the Messenger, Richmond! I first had the privilege of writing articles in the Messenger when I was in high school reporting on the South Carleton High School hockey team. That was twenty years ago. It is a great local, independent paper that focuses on community and provides coverage of our Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. It is a perfect opportunity for residents to stay informed. I hope you will enjoy it.

Richmond North Sales Meter Station Upgrade Project

This is an update that our office received recently on the status of the Richmond North Sales Meter Station Project. TransCanada initially mailed communication about the Project in January 2017 and filed an application with the regulator, the National Energy Board (NEB), in February 2017.

On November 24, 2017, TransCanada received approval from the NEB to upgrade its existing Richmond Sales Meter Station. The Richmond Sales Meter Station is located at 6783 Fallowfield Road, between Conley Road and Huntley Road, in Stittsville, Ontario. The Project will provide TransCanada with the capability to accommodate a customer’s forecasted future natural gas needs.

After the new sales meter station is put into service, the existing Richmond Sales Meter Station will be decommissioned. TransCanada submitted notification to the NEB in February 2017 under a Section 45.1 regulatory application for this decommissioning activity.

Construction of the Project will commence once the pre-construction conditions of the NEB Order are satisfied by TransCanada. TransCanada currently anticipates that construction will commence in May 2018, however some clearing activity is expected to take place in February 2018. TransCanada will provide further notice once the timing of construction is confirmed.

Please note that this project is not related to the Energy East pipeline proposal that was cancelled in October 2017. If you have any questions on this, please let me know and I will make sure to get a response from TransCanada.

Protect yourself against online fraud

Everyone is vulnerable to fraud, including you. Sadly, the Internet has made it much easier for criminals to take advantage of people, and much more difficult for investigators to track. With the tax season upcoming, protect yourself against online scams. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) does not send emails or texts with links requesting your financial or other personal information. Do not give your personal information over the phone until you have checked the status of your CRA account.

Ottawa Police Staff Sergeant Stephanie Burns offers these tips to keep you safe from tax scams and enticing offers:

  • Be suspicious of emails that ask you for confidential information.
  • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of contests asking you to pay money to collect your prize, or winnings for contests you did not enter. 
  • Take your time to think and ask questions. Contact someone you trust for a second opinion.

Learn more about fraud and how to protect yourself:

While CRA related scams can be quite frequent, they are not the only ones you need to be concerned about. You also need to be cautious of charitable organization scams. While there are many organizations that do tremendous work in our communities, there are some that scam people using pressure tactics to give on the spot and have you sign up for monthly donations with your credit card.

For more information about common scams, please visit the Ottawa Police website at ottawapolice.ca/en/about-us/common-scams.asp.

The following was published in the last edition of the Stittsville News:

The end of an era is now upon us. Unfortunately, this is the very last edition of the Stittsville News. For over seven years, I have been able to use this newspaper as the prime means of communication between my office and the residents of former Goulbourn Township. While this one form of communication comes to an end, my office continues to find ways to communicate with you in a variety of forms.

If you have been relying on this column as your source for information, rest assured that we have you covered. My office will increase the frequency of our e-Newsletter in 2018 to bi-weekly. You can easily register for that newsletter on our www.rideaugoulbourn.ca website. In both Richmond and Munster, I actively participate in Facebook conversations concerning issues throughout the ward. If there is any issue on one of these pages that you feel needs my attention or input, just tag me in a post and I will jump in. We also send out paper newsletters, usually twice per year.

Richmond and Munster also have active community associations that help out as well. In Munster, the MCA produces the Munster Mash four times a year and they allow me to communicate with residents through that. In Richmond, the Village Association has been working diligently in recent weeks and have developed RichmondHUB.ca. You can get your Richmond fix by visiting online or following them on Twitter @HUBreport. The RVA has been kind enough to welcome my submissions as well.

In addition to all of this, do not expect to wait too long before another print weekly community paper comes to Richmond. A new paper could be in your community as early as this week. The lines of communication will continue and I will endeavor to do everything that I can to keep you informed. If there is any method of communication that you suggest, please feel free to email me and let me know your thoughts.

In closing, thank you to all of you for following along these past seven years. Thank you to Mike Stoodley of Metroland for running my column each week in addition to running my monthly column in the Carleton Place Gazette and the Kemptville Advance. Thank you to John Brummell for always having a smile on his face every time I saw him in the community. Most of all, thank you to John Curry for everything you have put into this paper for so many years. I know I said this all a few weeks ago, but it really cannot be said enough. On behalf of an appreciative community….

THANK YOU!

*****

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

City of Ottawa's 2018 Budget

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On December 13th, City Council approved the 2018 budget. This budget maintains the predictability of the previous seven budgets in that it focuses on priorities that matter the most and carries a 2% property tax increase. You likely heard talk of a proposed 2.5% increase but that was withdrawn following the announcement that the City had a surplus for the second straight year and $10M of that surplus would be dedicated to infrastructure renewal.

In Parks & Recreation, planning and consultation will be undertaken for improvements to Beryl Gaffney Park using the master plan for that plan and the $560,000 identified in the budget. Blue Rock Park, in Kars, will see improvements, as will King’s Grant Park and Richmond Lions Park and Gordon & Ivy Scharf Park in Manotick. New parks will be created in the form of Lela Scharf Park, Mud Creek Park and the Spring Pond Parkette, all in Manotick. Also in Manotick, a new park is planned for construction in the new Riverwalk development. Sarah McCarthy Park will be constructed in Richmond. The total funding commitment for these parks, using 2017 and 2018 budget dollars, is $1.7M.

When it comes to traffic improvements, planning is slated for the intersections of Prince of Wales Drive & Bankfield Road, Prince of Wales Drive & Barnsdale Road, First Line Road & Bankfield Road and Rideau Valley Drive & Barnsdale Road. Previously budgeted works are also expected to be carried out this year at Moodie Drive and Fallowfield Road.

The biggest issue across the City, and in every other municipality for that matter, is infrastructure renewal. For 2018, Rideau-Goulbourn will see the resurfacing of Rideau Valley Drive South as well as a small portion of Fallowfield Road around Moodie Drive. Another major renewal project for 2018 is the McBean Street Bridge. There will also be many culvert replacements throughout the ward. In cases like Rideau Valley Drive North, these culvert replacements are the precursor to full resurfacing. The previously mentioned $10M injection into renewal will be discussed early in the new year as recommendations are presented to the Finance & Economic Development Committee on how to allocate those funds.

In other areas, the 2018 budget adds 25 new Ottawa Police officers, 14 new paramedics, $100,000 for rural transportation to be distributed through service agencies, including Rural Ottawa South Support Services. This budget also sees increases to social services spending and increased transit to suburban growth areas as OC Transpo continues to prepare for the opening of LRT in 2018.

If you have any questions about any of the items listed above or anything else on the budget, please do not hesitate to contact me.

North Gower Client Service Centre

Please note that the Client Service Centre in North Gower will be closed on Thursday, December 28th and Thursday, January 4th. Normal hours will resume on Thursday, January 11th. With that said, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Onward and upward to 2018!

*****

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Speeding, Libraries and Farmers' Markets in Rideau-Goulbourn

In this column two weeks ago, I highlighted some upcoming budget changes with regard to infrastructure renewal. However, I also mentioned that, in the short term, the City was looking at doing what they could to address some current infrastructure needs in Richmond. In recent weeks, Council approved additional funding and some of that has been allocated to Strachan Street, from McBean to the dead end beyond Cockburn. This project is currently out to tender.

Reporting Speeding in your Community

My office receives many emails/calls about speeding in different communities. Although we are always happy to investigate traffic calming measures, the most effective action that residents can take is to report speeding to the Ottawa Police Service (OPS), which you can do online at OttawaPolice.ca. This is the only way the incident is formally reported and helps OPS plan accordingly. This small step could make a bigger difference in your neighbourhood.

Ottawa Public Library

The North Gower and Richmond libraries have multiple events planned this summer. The North Gower branch is hosting a weekly “Summer Family Storytime” on Tuesdays from 10:30-11 am until August 15th. In Richmond, catch a “Family Reading Adventure” every Wednesday from 10:15-11 am until August 23rd. The Richmond branch is also hosting “Get Crafty” weekly on Fridays, 1:30-5 pm until August 25th. You can also visit the Manotick and Munster libraries to check out books for the whole family!

Our Local Farmers’ Markets

Rideau-Goulbourn is home to two great Farmers’ Markets! The North Gower Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays from 8:30 am to 1 pm and The Manotick Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm. Both run until October 7th. For more information, visit: www.ngfarmersmarket.com or www.ManotickFarmersMarket.com.

*****

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Proposed Development near Hyde Park & Richmond Lions Park

Many in Richmond, and many others who have passed through over the years, have asked the obvious question about what will happen to the unfinished five storey building near Hyde Park and Richmond Lions Park. The original plan for the Immanuel House failed, unfortunately, and the initial developer went bankrupt. Since then, though, the property has transferred to a new owner, Silver Maple Developments. The City is now in receipt of an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-Law Amendment to allow multiple 3 storey residential apartment buildings, a 3 and 5 storey retirement residence and 205 square metres of commercial uses on a private water system.

The site was previously approved as Hyde Park with Phase 1 completed as 92 residential townhouses on private roads off of Perth Street and with a private water system. Phase 2A construction is nearly completed and was approved as a three storey 35-unit retirement residence off of Talos Circle and Cedarstone Street. The proposal would see the use change to a 35-unit apartment building. Phase 2B is the partially built 5 storey building with the 3 storey wing. It is proposed to remain a retirement residence. Phase 2 would be serviced with an extension of the private well system and would be accessed off of Cedarstone Street and Talos Circle. Phase 3 would also be serviced with municipal sewer and the private water system and accessing of Talos Circle. It would consist of 8, 3-storey, 14-unit apartment buildings.

The amendment to the Official Plan is required as small drinking water systems are only contemplated for institutional uses, such as schools and retirement homes not for residential uses. The amendment to the Richmond Secondary Plan would recognize a land use change from the institutional to residential to permit Phases 2A and 3 to proceed as residential apartments. It would also permit a 5 storey retirement residence and permit the commercial uses.

The zoning by-law amendment would rezone Phases 2 and 3 from a Rural Institutional zone to a Village residential density 3 Subzone E exception to permit commercial and amend some of the zone provisions. Specifically, the front yard is proposed to be reduced from 9 to 3 metres, the rear yard from 11 to 10.6 metres, increase the height from 15 to 16 metres, reduce the drive aisles from 6.7 to 6 metres and consider Phases 2 and 3 one lot for zoning purposes.

At this time, nothing is being imposed that would impact the existing 92 units in Hyde Park. I will be working with the applicant on hosting a public information session in the fall before this item comes to Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. If you would like to submit comments on this application, please contact [email protected].

*****

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Richmond North Sales Meter Station and Protecting Yourself Against Online Fraud

Richmond North Sales Meter Station Upgrade Project

TransCanada is proposing to replace the existing Richmond Sales Meter Station, with a new sales meter station called Richmond North Sales Meter Station. The proposed Project will provide TransCanada with the capability to accommodate a customer’s request for additional natural gas capacity. The Project is co-located at two adjacent TransCanada sites – the Richmond Sales Meter Station and the Stittsville Compressor Station, both located at 6783 Fallowfield Road, between Conley Road and Huntley Road, in Stittsville.

Meter stations are an important piece of infrastructure for a natural gas pipeline system. They are used to measure the volume and composition of natural gas transported through a pipeline. Construction of this Project involves the building of a new sales meter station and the installation of piping adjacent to the existing Stittsville Compressor Station site. A new pipeline connection will be built from the new meter station to the existing customer connection in the southeast end of the meter station property. The Project will also include the removal of the existing meter station and connection piping, currently located at the southern end of the property. All work will take place within TransCanada’s existing station properties.

Subject to National Energy Board approval, construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2017 and last approximately three months. The facility is anticipated to be in-service in November 2017. More information is available on TransCanada’s NEB application here: http://tinyurl.com/k73ho35.

Protect yourself against online fraud

Everyone is vulnerable to fraud, including you. Sadly, the Internet has made it much easier for criminals to take advantage of people, and much more difficult for investigators to track. This tax season, protect yourself against online scams. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) does not send emails or texts with links requesting your financial or other personal information. Don’t give your personal information over the phone until you have checked the status of your CRA account.

Ottawa Police Staff Sergeant Stephanie Burns offers these tips to keep you safe from tax scams and enticing offers:

  • Be suspicious of emails that ask you for confidential information.
  • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of contests asking you to pay money to collect your prize, or winnings for contests you did not enter.
  • Take your time to think and ask questions. Contact someone you trust for a second opinion.

Learn more about fraud and how to protect yourself:

*****

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Bob Easy receives Mayor’s City Builder Award

In last week’s column, I included information on the upcoming meeting of the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. Please note that, due to a small and non-urgent agenda, the meeting for March 2nd was cancelled and the two agenda items will be deferred to our April 6th meeting.

Bob Easy receives Mayor’s City Builder Award

At the City Council meeting of February 22nd, I had the pleasure of joining Mayor Jim Watson in presenting the Mayor’s City Builder Award to Munster’s Bob Easy.

Bob Easy has been involved in building and supporting youth in the communities of Munster and Richmond going back to the 1970s. The sense of community and of family he established among the teams he coached was sadly evident in 2012 when one of Bob's players, Tyler Kerr, died tragically during a game due to a heart condition. Bob took it upon himself as head coach to support the boy's family, his team and coaches, and the opposing team, by arranging grief counselling. He also organizes fundraising events to assist local players whose parents are unable to fully afford the cost of a hockey season; players who have been given the opportunity to play at a higher competitive level but whose parents are not able to pay the fees associated with that.

In 2001 Bob was presented with a plaque in recognition of his outstanding service to Minor Hockey under the Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association. In 2009-10 he was honoured as Coach of the Year by the Richmond Munster Minor Hockey Association for his special dedication to player development and team play. In 2014 Bob was presented with the Bill Kitchen Award for his devotion of time and effort to strengthening minor hockey in the community.

Bob was also involved in umpiring for fastball in Kanata for many years, and in slo-pitch in North Gower, Richmond and Munster in his later years. He is also involved in the Munster Co-operative Nursery School's annual ball tournament in June. There aren’t too many community events in which you don’t see the always recognizable Bob Easy involved in some way. Just recently, Bob and I both took a few pies in the face at the Munster Harvest Fest. Fortunately for me, I don’t have Bob’s beard so the clean-up was much easier.

Congratulations Bob! It is a well deserved honour.

*****

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Richmond Forcemain Project Update

As we begin Canada’s 150th birthday year, the City has many exciting events and projects planned for Canada’s Capital celebrations. Last year, during my mid-term Town Hall meetings, I detailed several of these exciting attractions including: Ignite 150, Agri 150, Red Bull Crashed Ice and the Juno Awards and Juno week. In addition to these special events, I thought I would take this opportunity to update the residents of Richmond and Munster on a not so flashy project. Progress on the Richmond Forcemain has been progressing steadily over the last few months. City staff, through my office, have been updating residents that are directly impacted by the on-going construction. To date, this project is on time and on budget. Minor work has been completed on the 300 mm bypass Forcemain. Last week, the 300 mm bypass line was commissioned to discharge sewage for a few hours into lagoon “C”. This happened on schedule without incident and all safety precautions were taken to ensure public health and safety. Starting this week, sewage will be pumped into Lagoon “C” using the 300 mm bypass line, as the primary Forcemain is repaired and replaced. This work is expected to take two to three weeks. Residents will continue to see work all along the construction site next to the Jock River along Royal York Street and on Eagleson Road. Trails and parking lots around the Richmond Lagoons have been closed for the duration of the construction project.

If you are interested in seeing past updates, or have any questions or concerns, you can contact David Brown in my office at [email protected] or contact him by phone at 613-580-2424 EXT. 25443.

Kanata-Carleton Cultural Festival: May 27th at Earl of March Secondary School

The Kanata-Carleton Cultural Festival is currently recruiting student volunteers for the day of the Festival. If you know a student who would be interested in volunteering at the Festival on May 27th, please contact my office.

*****

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For more information regarding Rideau-Goulbourn issues and events, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Review of the Final 2016 Council Meeting

I want to begin this week by acknowledging the unfortunate incident that took place on Bridge Street late last week. Without knowing all of the details, I’ll refrain from speculation but assure you that I will be working with the City and Ottawa Police to determine what happened and how such an incident could have been avoided. My thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by this incident.

5721-5741 Manotick Main Street

During the review of the Manotick Secondary Plan, I hosted a meeting to speak specifically about vacant lands throughout the village and how those lands could be developed. It was an opportunity for the community to determine the future of these lands rather than waiting for a developer to come in and do it for us. One such property that was discussed was the vacant parcels at the south end of the village, directly across from Century Road East, sandwiched in between Kelly Marie Drive and Island View Drive. These lands are 5721, 5731 and 5741 Manotick Main Street.

Following our meeting on January 22nd, 2015, Regional Group begun acquiring these parcels and put together a development proposal akin to their eQuinelle project in Kemptville and similar in nature to their Village Walk development in Manotick. While I briefly highlighted this proposal at my November 15th Town Hall meeting, there will also be a public meeting held on Thursday, January 19th, between 7:00pm and 9:00pm at the Manotick Arena to discuss this proposal. I hope to see you there. For more information about this proposal, please visit www.ottawa.ca/devapps.

December 14th Council Meeting

The final City Council meeting of 2016 was a busy one. In addition to the 2017 Budget, we had 46 items on the agenda. Eighteen of those items rose directly from the November 24th meeting of the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. While the main items were the Budget and the Land Evaluation & Area Review (LEAR), Council also approved a new Medical Centre project in Richmond and a bid to host the 2021 Canada Games.

I would like to focus on the approval of the LEAR, though, in follow up to some recent columns on the matter. As part of 17 motions that were approved on the LEAR at Council, some minor changes, additions and deletions were made. We approved further studies into some lands around the village of Munster. We approved an expansion of the employment area south of Fallowfield Road along Moodie Drive. We also approved something else, though, that I voted against. It was a redesignation of 5504 Spratt Road from Agricultural Resource to General Rural.

5504 Spratt Road is the property directly behind the Tim Horton’s at the corner of Mitch Owens and River Road. It is a 66 acre parcel currently used primarily as pasture lands. However, it was subject to an Official Plan Amendment application several years ago which sought to bring the property inside the Manotick village boundary. Following that, a large commercial development would have been applied for. At the time, the City was opposed and the application was eventually withdrawn. A big-box retail development on the outskirts of a village is not consistent with any City policy. Another key factor at the time was the Agricultural zoning of the property.

Through the LEAR, however, the property owner brought forward a soils evaluation that suggests the property falls below the threshold for agricultural designation. Working in favour of that position is the fact that the property is surrounded primarily by residential development and is also used as pasture lands rather than for crops. Ironically, the residential lands north of this property were actually better farmland. Since the study supported a lower LEAR score, staff brought forward a change is designation for this property, which was approved.

Any development, aside from a couple of severances, on this property in the short term is unlikely. Policies are still in place that would not support retail or large scale residential on this property. My vote in opposition to this change was primarily for historical reasons. I do not approve of how the Official Plan Amendment was sought previously and I feel this is merely another avenue to achieve that goal. A retail development in this location would negatively impact surrounding communities, especially the village core of Manotick.

The LEAR will now go to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval with any changes requested coming back to Council. The Minister has 180 days to respond. An appeal period will then open following Provincial approval with an Ontario Municipal Board hearing process to follow. The LEAR, and the entire Official Plan, will not be completely approved until the OMB hearings take place. The projected timeline for this brings us into 2018.

Messenger Changes

As reported in last week’s Messenger, there will be changes to the frequency. With only two editions monthly, I will do my best to keep residents informed and up to date. I’ll also have to be cognizant of timelines for meetings and ensure that we are giving ample notification. This will place more emphasis on the value of our monthly e-Newsletter as well, which you can sign up for at www.rideaugoulbourn.ca. We send out our e-Newsletter each month one week before the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee meeting allowing us to highlight the agenda.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Town hall meetings throughout Rideau-Goulbourn

View full information about dates, times, and locations  on our events page .

View full information about dates, times, and locations on our events page.

Last week, in this column and in the newsletter that was mailed out to all residents, I announced a series of Town Hall meetings. The first was this past Tuesday, February 17 and I am hosting two more this week: Thursday, February 19th at the Kars Recreation Centre, between 7:00pm and 9:00pm, and in Burritt’s Rapids on Saturday, February 21st at the Burritt’s Rapids Community Hall, beginning at 10:30am.  The purpose of the meetings is to provide a general update on City-wide issues, local issues and discuss the term ahead.  Hope to see you there!

I will also be hosting three Town Hall meetings in March:

  • Monday, March 2nd at the Munster Community Centre;
  • Thursday, March 5th at the Fallowfield United Church; and
  • Tuesday, March 10th at the Christ Church in Ashton. 

All of these meetings will begin at 7:00pm.

Richmond Forcemain Repair

Last week, residents in the immediate surrounding area of the pumping station on Royal York Street were notified of field investigation works as part of a design phase of a repair to the forcemain in Richmond, between the pumping station and Eagleson Road.  As indicated in a previous letter in August 2014, the City of Ottawa will be making repairs and modifications to the Richmond Forcemain. The work involves repairing the existing 500mm forcemain, the installation of a new 300mm forcemain to facilitate the repairs, and the installation of a new section of 600mm forcemain for the proposed future development within the Village of Richmond.

The original forcemain was built in the early 1980’s and is in need of repair. As part of the repair process, these preliminary investigations are necessary to complete the detailed design for the future construction activity.  The investigation work will include geotechnical, environmental, and archeological investigations. It will also include the inspection of existing maintenance hole structures, topographical surveying, and locates for underground utilities in the vicinity of the existing forcemain. The use of both staff and equipment will be required to conduct this work.

The field investigation work will take place from mid February to early April 2015.

Gerry Lines Bowling Alley

On February 11th, Council unanimously approved of a proposal to rename the North Gower Bowling Alley to the Gerry Lines Bowling Alley.  Gerry Lines served as President of the North Gower Community Centre Board for 11 years. During that time, the Board managed the community centre, the ball diamond, boys’ and girls’ ball teams as well as the outdoor arena and hockey.

Gerry Lines was also a member of the building committee for the new community centre complex in North Gower. In this capacity, he was instrumental in the fundraising for, as well as the design and construction of the North Gower Recreation Association Centre, now known as the Alfred Taylor Recreation Centre.

Gerry was also instrumental in the development and construction of various recreational facilities in North Gower, including the North Gower Ball Diamond, soccer / football field, playground and the North Gower Bowling Alley. Many of these facilities continue to be enjoyed by residents of North Gower.

In 1988, Gerry was awarded a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister of Canada in recognition of his contribution to his community. Gerry and his wife Hazel were also recipients of the 5thAnnual Edgar Leach Memorial Citizenship Award for their contribution to the development of the community.

North Gower Nursery School Casino Night & Silent Auction

On Saturday, February 21st, come out to the Annual Casino Night & Silent Auction and help raise money for the North Gower Cooperative Nursery School.  The fun begins at 8:00pm and includes a number of fun casino games and the always popular silent auction tables.  Come out for your chance to bid on many great items, including Senators tickets and box seats to the sold out Luke Bryan concert at the Canadian Tire Centre on May 2nd.  If that isn’t enough, for the third year in a row I will be taking on Master of Ceremonies duties!  Maybe my presence isn’t as exciting as I’d like to think it is but this NGCNS fundraising event is always a fun time and I hope to see you there!

2015 March Break Camp at O-YA

The Osgoode Youth Association will be hosting March Break camps at their home on Osgoode Main Street from Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 20, 2015.  The camps, for children in grades 2-6, will run from 8:00am to 4:30pm (After care is available until 5:30pm if booked in advance). The cost is $40 per day or $180 for the entire week.  After care is $10 per day or $40 for the entire week.

The themes are as follows:

Monday: Pirate Day Theme
Tuesday: St. Patrick's Day Theme
Wednesday: Build It Day Theme
Thursday: Beach Day Theme
Friday: PJ Day Theme

To register, download the Registration Form at http://www.o-ya.ca/march-break-camps.html.
Please print, fill out the form and bring it to O-YA with your payment (you can also scan and email your completed forms to [email protected] to reserve your spot). Space is limited, and advanced registration and payment are required. Registration deadline: Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 5:00pm.  For more information, please visit O-YA’s website at www.o-ya.ca.

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491.

Caivan in Richmond, Strandherd/Armstrong Bridge opens

As many of you may already know, the development application by Caivan Developments for 1000 units at 6335 & 6350 Perth Street was appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board last fall.  On May 26th, the OMB hearing was scheduled to take place with the City of Ottawa, Caivan and the Richmond Village Association all represented.  Prior to this meeting, however, an agreement was reached with regard to the development application and Draft Plan Approval was granted.  As promised a few weeks ago, I just wanted to detail some of the details of that approval.

One of the key issues from the community standpoint was stormwater and how the new development would handle surface water and not impact the existing community.  One of the conditions of draft plan approval is that Caivan must host a public meeting to explain their approach to handling stormwater on site.  Drainage was another issue and I can now confirm that the Arbuckle Drain has been approved and will provide adequate outlet for the development, between Perth Street and the Jock River.  The drainage works will see erosion controls put in place to prevent future erosion from occurring.  Similarly, the Van Gaal drain to the north of Perth Street will see the same benefits to the development and the surrounding properties.

On the density concerns, Caivan has agreed to a maximum of 750 units on their lands rather than the applied for 1000 units.  Also, the setback from the road to the home will be four metres rather than the three metres originally sought.  This will help keep the development closer in line with the existing community and less like a suburban development.  Some of the benefits of this will include larger lots, more space for trees, less parked cars on the roads and more space for stormwater recharge within individual lots.

I still don’t expect to see any new homes until at least 2016 and I imagine the growth rate will be consistent with what we have seen in Richmond over the last ten years.  The rate has dipped a little recently with only 26 new homes built in 2013.  An ideal comparison would be the Minto development in Manotick, which will see the addition of 1400 homes.  So far, around 30 new homes have been built and construction began in 2012.  While the new homes in Richmond will be a little more affordable, I don’t expect the growth rate to be anywhere similar to suburban development.

The next steps will see Caivan satisfy their conditions of approval whereas I, along with the City, will work with Mattamy Homes to seek similar adjustments to density and other issues with their 1100 unit application.  If you have any questions on this, feel free to contact me.

Strandherd/Armstrong Bridge is open!

As many of you are now aware, the Strandherd/Armstrong Bridge is now open.  With this long-awaited bridge now operational, the real work begins to determine the impacts it has on traffic, both local and regional.  In the coming weeks and months, City staff will be monitoring traffic flows as it will take some time before patterns become regular.  At first many people will try new routes and if they don’t save time, will revert to their old patters.  Obviously, the morning and evening commute is something to keep a close eye on but also the impact on Bridge Street.

Just recently, a traffic count in Manotick showed approximately 16,000 vehicles per day use Bridge Street.  This is largely consistent with all other studies in recent years.  Just less than 10% of the volume is truck traffic.  In the coming weeks, we will get updated numbers to understand the impact of the new bridge and what relief is being seen in Manotick.

Orgaworld & Green Bin Audit

On July 9th, the Auditor General’s report into the Orgaworld contract and the green bin program was released.  It revealed some serious deficiencies in how the program was launched and the agreement that was signed between the City of Ottawa and Orgaworld.  One of the major issues was the proposed tonnage, of which there was no scientific basis for setting the target of 80,000 tonnes of collected organics per year.  Ideally, the program should have had a ramp up period in order to progressively work toward 80,000 tonnes but that wasn’t even considered.  A simple comparison could have been made to the blue box program which didn’t see much uptake initially but now almost every single laneway has a blue box at the end of it.  These types of programs take time and the contract should have reflected that.

It is easy for anyone who wasn’t on Council when the contract was signed to throw up their hands and say “it wasn’t me.”  That is really not an acceptable approach and it is not what you expect from your elected official.  The job we have is to make this better, fix what is wrong with the contract.  The biggest challenge is making the green bin easier to use for all residents.  In my opinion, the key is allowing organic waste to be disposed of in plastic bags and thrown into the bins.  Obviously, this isn’t the current practice but in countless municipalities, they allow plastic bags.  In those same municipalities, the diversion rate is much higher than here in Ottawa.  It is important to note that the inclusion of plastic bags will not result in a reduced organic quality of the compost.  The Orgaworld plant in London, Ontario accepts plastic bags currently and cycles them out inside the plant.  After separation, the plastics are then diverted and used at a local cement plant in Southern Ontario.

For the most part, we all want to prolong the life on our City-owned landfill, which just happens to be in Rideau-Goulbourn.  We cannot, and should not, force people to divert waste; we need to make it easy.  In the coming months, I believe we will have an opportunity to renegotiate the Orgaworld contract and I, along with many of my colleagues, will be pushing for the inclusion of plastic bags in green bins.  This will reduce odours, result in less mess and more importantly, you won’t have to see the maggots that crawl around our bins from time to time.

In the end, the result will be less waste going to the Trail Road landfill, less money being wasted on our inability to reach the contracted targets and, ultimately, a reduced need to locate a future landfill.

Rural Association Partnership Program

If you are an Ottawa organization operating rural fairs, rural farmers’ markets or rural business organizations such as Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement Areas, you may be eligible for funding of up to $7,500 through the City of Ottawa’s Rural Association Partnership Program (RAPP).

The second-round of RAPP funding is now available with applications being accepted until Friday, August 22 at 4 pm.

The objectives of the RAPP are:

  • To provide project based funding that supports the main priorities for rural organizations.
  • To contribute to the City’s rural economic health by supporting projects that will assist Ottawa’s rural business organizations, fairs and farmers markets achieve sustainability and capitalize on the proximity to Ottawa’s large urban market.
  • To assist in promoting Ottawa’s rural identity to both residents and tourists.
  • To provide economic benefits to small and medium sized enterprises in Ottawa’s rural communities.
  • Assist rural communities to overcome the business development challenges associated with smaller local population base.
  • To increase the capacity for rural communities to provide a quality visitor experience.

More information, including guidelines and an application form, can be found on the Rural Association Partnership Program webpage at http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/social-services/rural-connections/rural-association-partnership-program.

Prospective RAPP applicants are encouraged to contact the Rural Affairs Office at [email protected] or 613-580-2424 ext. 28352 to discuss their proposal prior to submitting an application.

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If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491.

Information about the proposed TELUS communications tower (Richmond)

TELUS is proposing to build a 40m communications tower at 6117 Perth Road in Richmond. The following notification was sent out by TELUS to homeowners within 120 metres of the proposed tower. There is a public meeting, hosted by TELUS, on May 1 at the Richmond Library between 6-7pm.  Below are also two pictures, one showing the exact location and the other showing you what it would look like if the tower was installed.

Re: Notice of proposed antenna system

Public Notification

  1. City of Ottawa
  2. Ward Councilor
  3. Member of Parliament
  4. Local Resident Groups
  5. Landowner within 120 metres of the proposed tower

1. TELUS is proposing an antenna system located at 6117 Perth Road (see Appendix 1 for tower location and conceptual photo) which consists of the following: a white monopole tower and an equipment shelter of approximately thirteen (13) square metres. It is not likely that lighting or markings will be required. TELUS has submitted applications to Transport Canada or NAV Canada to confirm the requirements for lighting and markings. Once completed, the antenna system will measure 40 metres in height.

Industry Canada is responsible for the approval of this antenna system and requires TELUS to review this proposal with nearby public and the local municipality. After reviewing this proposal, the City of Ottawa will provide its position to Industry Canada and TELUS.

2. The purpose of the proposed tower is to increase network capacity and improve wireless voice and data service to TELUS customers travelling through, residing in, or working in the Village of Richmond and surrounding area.

Currently, there are no existing antenna system structures or buildings of sufficient height on which to locate TELUS equipment. The closest existing structure is approximately 1 kilometre away from the proposed tower location. TELUS closest site is located approximately 3.5 kilometres. The location of these two sites does not meet the coverage objective.

3. To meet the objective, the proposed tower must be located within the area to cover and be at a sufficient height. The proposed structure is 40 metre monopole. The antennas will be installed at the top of the monopole and flush-mounted to the tower structure. In addition to the monopole, an equipment shelter will be located within the fenced compound area.

4. TELUS attests that the proposed installation will be installed and operated on an ongoing basis so as to comply with Health Canada's Safety Code 6. The installation will also comply with any future changes to the Code as may be amended from time to time.

Industry Canada requires all wireless carriers to operate in accordance with Health Canada's Safety Code 6 which regulates human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields from emitting devices.

For further information regarding Safety Code 6, please consult: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewhsemt/pubs/radiation/radio_guide-lignes_direct-eng.php

5. TELUS confirms that the proposed monopole will respect good engineering practices including structural adequacy. The proposed monopole is a CSA engineered tower which complies with a 37-01 CSA Standard.

6. As per Transport Canada's Aeronautical Obstruction Clearance, no lighting or special markings are required on the tower. The only lighting proposed as part of the development is a small wall-mounted fixture above the doorway of the equipment shelter.

Standard Land Company, on behalf of TELUS, invites you to attend our Community Information and Comment Session at the Richmond Public Library, 6240 Perth Street, Richmond, on May 1, 2014 between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm, or, within 30 calendar days of the date of this notice (ending May 11, 2014), to provide by e-mail or letter your comments, and/or request to be informed of the City's position on the proposed antenna system.

Omar Lababidi
Standard Land Company Inc.
Suite 600, 366 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M5H 4B2
Toll Free: 1-877-598-1116
E-mail: [email protected]

TELUS will respond to all reasonable and relevant comments or concerns, and that the City will be taking into account comments from the public and TELUS' response to each when providing its position to Industry Canada and TELUS.

Appendix 1

Click to enlarge.Click to enlarge.

For additional questions regarding overall planning and development, please visit the City of Ottawa's frequently asked questions page.

Manotick Secondary Plan review clarifications

Clarifications of Manotick's Secondary Plan review

At the recent Manotick Secondary Plan meeting, and in conversations leading up to it and following it, I have heard some comments regarding the position that the Secondary Plan review will not look at regional traffic issues, such as Bridge Street as a truck route.  I feel I should take a moment and elaborate on why that is the case.

First off, it is important to note that a Secondary Plan is defined by Ontario’s Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing as “a land use policy plan for a district or large neighbourhood within a municipality which provides more detailed land use policies and designations than those found in a municipal official plan.”  A Secondary Plan is the only real opportunity for a community to look at land use without having a development application before them.  As many of you know, this Plan has not been reviewed since amalgamation so I think it is important that we focus firmly on land use, especially in the village core.

When it comes to transportation and traffic issues, one thing is already certain: we all know Bridge Street is a problem.  It would be pointless to conduct further study into Bridge Street traffic when it has been studied to death in recent years and we won’t know what impact the Strandherd/Armstrong Bridge has until it actually opens.  Following that opening, I will continue to push for a City-wide truck route study as the last one was completed nearly 10 years ago.  The truck route study is just one of many tools to look at traffic issues.  We also have localized studies as well as things like the Greenbank Road Realignment Environment Assessment which look at the transportation network around Manotick.  Further, with every phase of the Mahogany development, a local traffic study must be conducted to determine the impacts of the new growth on our roads.  Needless to say, we have many different methods of studying traffic issues but only one to study land use.

The Manotick Secondary Plan is your opportunity to say what you picture the village core looking like in twenty years.  What kind of development do you see occurring in the village? Should we have specific architectural design guidelines so that the historic nature of the core is protected?  It is only a matter of time before a developer suggests a building height higher than 3 storeys so where do you envision that type of building being built?  With infill development becoming more common and with the future move of the Royal Bank from its current location, it is very important that we take this opportunity and focus specifically on land use.  This is a unique opportunity for you to tell a potential developer what they should build rather than the other way around.

While the first public meeting is behind us, there are still opportunities to provide your comments.  Please visit www.ottawa.ca/manotickplan to learn more about the Secondary Plan review and send any comments to [email protected] and please copy me on any emails.

TELUS Community Information and Comment Session (Richmond)

On Thursday, May 1st, TELUS will be holding a Community Information and Comment Session at the Richmond Library, from 6:00-7:00pm.  The purpose is to discuss their proposed 40m communications tower at 6117 Perth Street.  The tower would be located on the northern portion of this property, approximately 200m west of Huntley Road.  In terms of a visual example, it would look like two towers that are currently behind the Tim Horton’s on Eagleson Road in Kanata South.

Industry Canada is responsible for the approval of this antenna system and requires TELUS to review this proposal with nearby public and the local municipality. After reviewing this proposal, the City of Ottawa will provide its position to Industry Canada and TELUS. For more information, you can visit www.rideaugoulbourn.ca under the Issues page.

Carp Landfill Expansion Information Meeting

A Community Information & Comment Session has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 6th from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at NeXT Restaurant, 6400 Hazeldean Road, Stittsville. Waste Management is hosting the meeting and presenting their proposed zoning. City planning staff will be in attendance in order to outline the process for zoning and public input, as well as to listen to comments and questions and to obtain names and contact information from those wishing further information on the application, or to be notified of further action in relation to the file.

The proposed use will serve as an extension to the adjacent existing landfill located at 2301 Carp Road. It will allow for the facility to accommodate industrial and commercial waste. The proposed zoning will see an additional use permitted under the existing zonings to include ‘waste processing and transfer facility’ and ‘solid waste disposal facility’.

The ultimate use would include a waste disposal facility, new vehicular entrance via Carp Road, a landscape buffer along Carp Road, infiltration basins, stormwater ponds, attendant booth, and weigh area, and public drop-off area. Existing buildings and parking are proposed to be retained.

North Gower Cooperative Nursery School Electronics Recycling Event

As part of their annual fundraising efforts, the North Gower Cooperative Nursery School is hosting an electronics recycling event on Saturday, April 26th from 8:00am until Noon.  Drop off your old electronics at the Alfred Taylor Recreation Centre in North Gower.  If you have items you’d like to get rid of but can’t make it on Saturday, let me know and arrangements will be made to pick up the items.

A Brush with Art” Spring Show and Sale

The artists of the Manotick Art Association have been busy for the past few months creating new works of art in preparation for their annual Spring Show.  Over forty local artists will be displaying works in watercolour, oil, pastel, and acrylic, as well as photography, pottery and glasswork.

The show will open Friday evening, May 2 at 6:30pm with a Vernissage that includes music, wine and tasty appetizers from many of Manotick’s fine eateries, this is always a very popular event; and at just $10, tickets will be going quickly.  Tickets are available at Manotick Office Pro, Lindsay & McCaffrey in the Manotick Mews or by calling 613-692-6281 or 613-821-3163 or at the door.

Entry to the show is free on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4 from 10:30am to 4:30pm.  Part of the proceeds from the show will be donated to art programs at local youth associations.  We will also be collecting cash donations in support of Manotick Outreach – Food Cupboard.

The venue for the Spring Show and Sale is the Manotick Curling Centre, 5519 South River Drive.  There is plenty of free parking at the Centre and on the surrounding streets.

Goulbourn Museum Jewellery Workshop

Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Goulbourn Museum is offering a jewellery workshop for adults that combine nostalgia with a splash of sparkle. Local artist Wendy Southin of Dragonfly Dreamers will lead the workshop. Participants will make a double-sided framed collage necklace using vintage photos and can either choose from a wide selection of images available at the workshop or bring their own small photos that fit within a 1.5 inch square, or 1 x 3 inch space.

The Vintage Charm Jewellery Workshop takes place Sunday, May 4th from 1:00- 4:00pm at the Museum. With Mother’s Day around the corner on May 11th the timing couldn’t be better. Participants can design a special necklace for their mothers, or even spend the afternoon together at the workshop. Cost is $35 per person and includes supplies and afternoon tea. To register call 613-831-2393 or email: [email protected]

2014 Show Choir Canada

South Carleton High School is competing in the 4th Annual Show Choir Canada National Championshipfeaturing 13 of Canada’s top youth choirs beginning on Monday, April 21. These high school choirs will be competing for more than $25,000 in prizing and the prestigious title of “Canada’s Show Choir Champion”.  Rogers TV will broadcast the event so you can watch along.

The competition, taking place at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, showcases the High School Nationals as well as the 3rd Annual Junior/Middle School Invitational. The teams at both events are assessed by a judging panel of four top industry experts from across North America and Europe.

South Carleton will be featured in the “Small Size Schools with no Arts Program” category which will air on Friday, April 25th at 7:30pm and Tuesday, April 29th at noon. For more information visit: www.showchoircanada.com.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491.

Woodroffe Avenue closure

An issue of concern for many residents south of Barrhaven is coming to Planning Committee on Tuesday, February 11th.  The closure of Woodroffe Avenue will be on the agenda.  This closure dates back to pre-amalgamation Nepean in which the Council of the day approved closing Woodroffe Avenue at Prince of Wales Drive contingent on the extension of Strandherd Drive to Prince of Wales Drive.  Since that is now open, the closure has come forward with public consultation having been conducted in recent months.  I have heard many concerns from residents in our area on the closure and if you would like to speak on this issue at Committee, the meeting will be held in the Champlain Room at Ottawa City Hall at 9:30am.  As I have stated in the past, I am opposed to the closure as Woodroffe Avenue has historically been a vital connection into the city from the rural area, especially such destinations as the Nepean Sportsplex and Algonquin College.  The counter argument to my position is that taking Prince of Wales/Strandherd as an alternative is only 700m longer.

Manotick Local Improvement

In response to a Letter to the Editor in the December 19, 2013 issue of the Manotick Messenger, I just wanted to provide some details on the cost breakdown of the Manotick Core Local Improvement.  The Letter asked why Manotick properties were paying for something that benefits Minto more than anyone else.  First of all, it is important to note that the drive to bring sanitary services to the Village Core was done so through a petition presented to the City by the property owners, not at the request of any future developer.  However, as future development would certainly benefit, the cost breakdown took that into consideration.

In a report to Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on March 12, 2008, the following was included: “The total estimated cost for the Local Improvement works is $26.96M with $12.06M applicable to the petition areas and the balance of $14.90M to be recovered from future servicing areas.  Based on the $12.06M applicable to the petition areas, the City and non-City share is $6.165M and $5.895M, respectively.”  The $26M figure covers both Hillside Gardens and the Core.  Therefore, only 22% of the total servicing costs were assessed to the properties that originally petitioned for the work.  The City covered 23% while 55% of the total costs will be assessed to future development or other future connections.

I hope this clarifies the issue.  If you have any further questions on this, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Generations Youth & Seniors

A fun Family Day event for youth and seniors is being organized for Saturday, February 15th between 10:00am and 4:00pm.  Rural Ottawa South Support Services and the Osgoode Youth Association are teaming up to offer this is event which will feature an art workshop, baking workshop, afternoon tea social and a delicious lunch.  Seniors over 65 years old and youth, between the ages of 11 and 18, are invited to this FREE event.

Spots are limited so please register as soon as possible.  Youth can register in person at the O-YA Centre of by email at [email protected] and seniors can register by contacting Terry at 613-692-4697 or [email protected].

Seniors Valentine’s Luncheon

The annual Seniors Valentine’s Luncheon at the Kars R.A. Hall is on Thursday, February 13th.  Always well attended, this event features a delicious home cooked meal for only $10 per person.  Live music and entertainment will be provided by the Mellowtones.  Lunch starts at noon so get there early!  The Kars R.A. Hall is located at 1604 Old Wellington Street, just off of Rideau Valley Drive South.

Kars Family Fun Day

Bring the family and join the Kars Recreation Association for some indoor & outdoor activities on Saturday, Feb 15th starting at 10:00am.  For the outdoor enthusiasts there will be skating and snowman making (weather permitting).  If you are looking to remain indoors, have fun soap carving, speed stacking, in addition to other arts & crafts.  Junkyard Symphony & Little Ray’s Zoo will also be in attendance to provide fun for the whole family. The event takes place at the Kars R.A. Hall at 1604 Old Wellington, Kars. There is a charge of $5.00 per adult which includes shows and lunch, children are free. www.kars.ca

Help Richmond win Kraft Hockeyville 2014

The nominations for Kraft Hockeyville close on February 9th at midnight so don’t forget to visit hockeyville.cbc.ca, join the Richmond Memorial Community Centre group and help support Richmond’s bid to be named Kraft Hockeyville 2014!  On February 8th, Creekside Gardens is hosting a Hockey Festival Day on their outdoor rink.  There will be a BBQ and hockey games throughout the day so come out and enjoy the fun.  Creekside Gardens is located at 5901 Ottawa Street.

Blood Clinic

Canadian Blood Services has activated the blood signal - which is a call to action to inform Canadians that there is an urgent need for blood right now. They are asking Canadians to rally together to give blood at their local clinics in the coming weeks. Canadian Blood Services are looking to fill 33,000 open appointment slots nationally.

The clinic in Richmond needs to collect 38 units of blood. Canadian Blood Services is hosting a donor clinic on Monday, February 10th at St. Philip’s Catholic Church between 4:30pm and 8:30pm.  Donors can book an appointment at www.blood.ca or by calling 1-888-236-6283.

Free Family Day Event at Goulbourn Museum

Family Day at Goulbourn Museum will feature an array of free activities for all ages. Families can pose for a photo keepsake in the Old-Fashioned Photo Booth, get creative at the craft station, play games, win prizes, and step back in time in the Museum’s replica village shop.

Visitors will also be the first to glimpse a piece of military history that was once pinned to the chest of one of Goulbourn’s War of 1812 heroes. After being passed down from generation to generation for 160 years, the family of Colonel George Burke has entrusted the Museum with his silver military medal. Burke’s medal will be added to the Museum’s 100th Regiment of Foot exhibition which is undergoing renovations to make the displays more accessible. Both the medal and the refreshed exhibit will be unveiled during the Museum’s Family Day event.

The Family Day festivities take place Monday, February 17 from 10:00am to 3:00pm. All ages are welcome, admission is free and light refreshments will be served. The Goulbourn Museum is located at 2064 Huntley Road, just south of Stittsville, at Stanley’s Corners. For more information, please visit http://goulbournmuseum.ca/whats-happening/ or call 613-831-2393 or join Goulbourn Museum on Facebook for regular updates.

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If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491.

Richmond for Hockeyville 2014!

Since 2006, Kraft and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation have presented a nationwide contest that, each year, names one community as Hockeyville.  This year, a group in Richmond has launched their bid to become Hockeyville 2014 and they need your help.  To support Richmond, please visit hockeyville.cbc.ca and join the Richmond Memorial Community Centre group.  Nominations close on February 9th at midnight.

This year’s competition will result in 16 hockey communities across Canada receiving prize money that will go toward arena upgrades.  The grand prize winner will not only win $100,000 in arena upgrades but will also win the right to host a 2014-15 NHL Preseason game and a visit from CBC.

Richmond has a rich hockey tradition that includes being the birthplace of the International Silver Stick Hockey Association.  Silver Stick Hockey was founded in 1958 and found its home in Richmond as the village had one of the very few indoor rinks at that time.  The philosophy of the Silver Stick tournament was to help develop “Citizenship and International Goodwill through Hockey.”  The first ever Silver Stick games took place on February 6, 1958 and featured the Richmond Peewees and the Woodroffe Bantams playing teams from Potsdam, New York.

Richmond also features a strong high school hockey history with South Carleton High School having won the Provincial Championships in 1977.  No other Ottawa area team has won that championship since.  In closing, help Richmond become Hockeyville 2014 and support the historic hockey tradition in this great community.

Seniors Valentine’s Luncheon

The annual Seniors Valentine’s Luncheon at the Kars R.A. Hall is on Thursday, February 13th.  Always well attended, this event features a delicious home cooked meal for only $10 per person.  Live music and entertainment will be provided by the Mellowtones.  Lunch starts at noon so get there early!  The Kars R.A. Hall is located at 1604 Old Wellington Street, just off of Rideau Valley Drive South.

Richmond Village Association AGM

The Annual General Meeting for the Richmond Village Association is slated for Tuesday, February 4th.  The AGM will take place at the St. Paul’s United Church in their meeting hall and begin at 7:30pm.  Doors open at 7:00pm for a meet and greet.

All Richmond residents/business owners qualify to vote and stand for election for the new 2014 RVA Board of Directors. There are eight positions to be filled. Please join your friends and neighbours for a cup of coffee, to see what your RVA is up to and help elect the new Board.  The Richmond Village Association has a very strong focus on community and stays actively involved by organizing the Spring Clean-Up, Great Garage Sale, Family Fun Day, Santa Claus Parade and the Lighting of the Park.

Seniors Valentine’s Luncheon

The annual Seniors Valentine’s Luncheon at the Kars R.A. Hall is on Thursday, February 13th.  Always well attended, this event features a delicious home cooked meal for only $10 per person.  Live music and entertainment will be provided by the Mellowtones.  Lunch starts at noon so get there early!  The Kars R.A. Hall is located at 1604 Old Wellington Street, just off of Rideau Valley Drive South.

Snowmobile Safety

Snowmobiling is a fun outdoor winter activity, but remember there's always a danger.  A number of accidents are reported every year. Snowmobiling fatalities often involve alcohol, unsafe ice, excessive speed, and riding outside trails and rider abilities.  Accidents are preventable if proper safety precautions are followed.

Stay on approved trails and do not trespass. Riders are reminded that the maximum speed on trails is 50 km/h, and 20km/h where posted. Snowmobilers should plan their route, and advise someone of the plan and arrival times. Carry a cell phone, and GPS if possible. Riders travelling across ice should also wear a floatation device or a floater suit in case they go through the ice. Riders should also practice defensive snowmobiling techniques. Keep an eye out for obstacles on trails such as trees and tree branches, trail washouts, and snow banks.

The Ottawa Police Service Marine, Dive and Trails Team will be hitting the trails this winter to do prevention, education as well as enforcement. For more information, visit ottawapolice.ca.

Kars Family Fun Day

Bring the family and join the Kars Recreation Association for some indoor & outdoor activities on Saturday, Feb 15th starting at 10:00am.  For the outdoor enthusiasts there will be skating and snowman making (weather permitting).  If you are looking to remain indoors, have fun soap carving, speed stacking, in addition to other arts & crafts.  Junkyard Symphony & Little Ray’s Zoo will also be in attendance to provide fun for the whole family. The event takes place at the Kars R.A. Hall at 1604 Old Wellington, Kars. There is a charge of $5.00 per adult which includes shows and lunch, children are free. www.kars.ca

Chapman Mills Sound Connection

The Chapman Mills Sound Connection is a women’s barbershop chorus in its third season.  Based in Barrhaven, the twenty five member chorus sings with Music Director Karen Taylor. The chorus is a charter member of the international organization, Harmony Inc. and competes regularly with other barbershop choruses from New England and Eastern Canada.  Last year Sound Connection came 1.5 points from being able to compete in the Internationals in Orlando, Florida.  This is quite a feat for such a new chorus.  Barbershoppers sing “a cappella”, with no instrumental accompaniment, in four part harmony. The Sound Connection repertoire covers a wide range of music from gospel to jazz standards to rock ‘n roll. They enjoy performing at community and private events.

Women who love to sing are invited to join The Sound Connection for our upcoming Prospective Members’ Nights. Come for an evening and hear our sound, sing along and meet new friends.  The next prospective members’ night is on Tuesday, January 28th at 7.30pm at Jockvale Heritage School, 3131 Jockvale Road, Barrhaven.

For further information check our website http://soundconnection.yolasite.com/ or contact Maxine Mercer, [email protected], 613-435-7441

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If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491.

Western Development Lands update

Western Development Lands - Richmond

On November 7th, a Staff Report will come before the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee that recommends the refusal of draft approval of the subdivision application for 6335 and 6350 Perth Street.  This is the Caivan application on the northern portion of the Western Development Lands.

The rationale for refusal, as laid out in the Staff Report is as follows: the approval of the draft Plan of Subdivision and Zoning By-law amendment are premature until such time as: the issues relating to the overall stormwater management solution for the Western Development Lands are resolved; the Environmental Assessment is complete for the stormwater management; the drainage outlet matters are resolved; the subdivision layout is addressed; and the proposal for the financial plan relating to servicing is accepted.

I will provide further updates as we move forward.

Remembrance Day

November 11th, 2013 marks the 95th anniversary of the official end to the Great War.  Much has changed in those 95 years, especially in the way we receive our news.  Today, we receive even the most minor news story instantaneously, in a variety of ways from all over the world.  However, in 1918, when the news broke out that the First World War had come to an end, the fighting still continued on the Western Front.  The armistice was signed at 5:10am, yet the official ceasefire wouldn’t come until 11:00am.  In that time, an estimated 10,000 soldiers lost their lives.  Private George Lawrence Price of the Canadian Infantry was the last Canadian, and Commonwealth soldier, to be killed in World War I, at 10:58am.  On November 11th, we remember Private Price and all those members of our armed forces who were lost in the line of duty while serving our country.

Remembrance Day services take place, this year, on November 10th in Kars, North Gower and Munster and on November 11th in Richmond and Manotick.  The Kars ceremony takes place at 11:15am in front of Kars on the Rideau Public School.  The North Gower ceremony takes place at 12:45pm in Horace Seabrook Park.  The Munster ceremony is held at 2:00pm at the War Memorial in the Munster Union Cemetery.  The November 11th ceremonies both take place at 11:00am; one at the cenotaph in Dickinson Square in Manotick and the other in Richmond Memorial Park.

If attending the ceremony in Manotick, drop in at Dickinson House afterward and take in their “Dickinson House in Times of War” exhibit.  Admission is free.

City of Ottawa Remembrance Day Schedule Changes

The City reminds residents of a range of schedule changes for Remembrance Day relating to Client Service Centre hours, the 3-1-1 Contact Centre, Provincial Offences Court, transit service and transit information, Ottawa Public Health, recreation and cultural services, municipal child care services, and library services.

The flags at all City of Ottawa will be lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset to honour the memory of all Canadians who have served their country in times of war.

For complete details on schedule changes, parades and ceremonies being held in and around Ottawa to commemorate Remembrance Day, visit ottawa.ca.

Curbside green bin, recycling, garbage, and leaf and yard waste collection will take place on its regular day with no changes to the collection schedule.

Veterans ride for free during National Veterans Week

War veterans who wear their medals or uniforms may ride OC Transpo, Para Transpo and Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) for free with their companions during National Veterans’ Week – November 5 to 11.  OC Transpo is also planning other activities and service changes to commemorate Remembrance Day on Monday, November 11.  Visit octranspo.com for more details.

"Keep it to 40"

The Manotick Village & Community Association has begun an initiative called “Keep it to 40”.  This campaign is aimed at curbing speeding issues on our residential streets by creating community ownership of the problem.  For the most part, the majority of speeders are local so having a campaign that targets local communities asking them to be mindful of their speed is a good way to approach it. 

Two years ago, I wrote in this very column about speeding along Potter Drive.  Potter, specifically the 850m stretch between Watterson Street and Doctor Leach Drive is quite wide with houses set far back from the road.  It is a design feature that almost promotes speeding.  However, this is a residential street where kids ride their bikes and residents go for walks.  Do you know how much time you save by driving 80km/h on this stretch of Potter Drive instead of 40km/h? A whopping 38 seconds.

This is a campaign aimed at making our residential streets safer, so please be cautious out there.  If you come up on someone driving 40km/h on a residential street, don’t tailgate them, don’t try to pass them, you’ll get where you’re going and we’ll all be safer for it.  After all, it’s only 38 seconds.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491.

Goulbourn Jubilee Singers

The Goulbourn Jubilee Singers, alongside the Junior Jubilees, present “Winterval” Saturday, November 23, 2013 7:30pm, and Sunday November 24, 2013, 1:30pm at Glen Cairn United Church, 140 Abbeyhill Road, Kanata.

Under the direction of Linda Crawford and accompanied by Erna Poettcker, the first half of the performance will feature Vivaldi’s “Gloria”, with guest soloists, Sarah Burnell and Annie Duchesne, as well as a string and winds ensemble. The second half will be full of seasonal favourites.

Tickets in advance are: Adults $15.00, Children under 12 and Seniors $10.00. All tickets at the door: $20.00. Further information or tickets: Charlotte at 613-825-3357 or www.gjsingers.com

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491.

Plasco and Roads

With summer somewhat drawing to a close, I just want to remind you of a couple items.  On September 12th, there will be a public meeting at the Richmond Arena, beginning at 6:30pm.  This meeting will be an opportunity for Mattamy Homes to present their plans for either side of Ottawa Street in the Western Development Lands. Their current proposal calls for 1100 units, which will include singles and towns.  Please mark your calendars and come out to ask questions and provide comments on this development proposal.

A week later, it's the Richmond Fair! Hoping for some great weather once again and I hope to see many familiar faces over the course of the weekend. As usual, I will be at my booth for the majority of the weekend.  I believe I spent nearly thirty hours at last year's Fair so there will be plenty of opportunity to chat and provide comments on local issues in and around Richmond.  Looking forward to another great Fair!

August is quickly becoming a big month for events in Manotick.  A Taste of Manotick was, once again, an overwhelming success and it was followed up by this past weekend’s Soap Box Derby/Picnic in the Park event.  The 3rd Annual Soap Box Derby was bigger and better than the previous events and has become a tremendous family event.  The smiles on the kids’ faces were bright and ever apparent and two big kids, myself and Pierre Poilievre, had a lot fun in our 2012 rematch.  The good news is that Pierre did not crash into the Legion this year while the bad news is that he did not win.  All of this bodes well for the 2014 Soap Box Derby as Pierre and I are now tied 1-1.  Of course, I’m fairly certain that only Pierre and I actually care about who wins.

Congratulations to the Manotick Village & Community Association for a successful Picnic in the Park and Soap Box Derby event.  Thank you to Allan Haan, Klaus Beltzner and the entire MVCA Board for bringing such a great event to the streets of Manotick.  It is these types of events that create a community.

Plasco

Last week at Environment Committee, Plasco’s CEO Rod Bryden asked for an extension to his funding deadline to December 31, 2014.  As approved in December 2011, this project is scheduled to be fully operational by March 31, 2016.  The extension request is only on the funding deadline and does not affect the operational deadline.  For this reason, staff supported the extension as it creates no financial impact to the City of Ottawa.

At this committee meeting, I put forward a motion stating that should Plasco not achieve its funding targets that City of Ottawa staff immediately commence a Request for Expressions of Interest to find alternative technology that will allow for the lengthening of the life of the Trail Road Landfill.  If Plasco works, the lifespan moves beyond 2070 but if it doesn’t, we are back to 2035.  There are other technologies that should be explored and while similar technology is not much further advanced than Plasco is today, we shouldn’t waste any more time should Plasco fail.  This motion was approved by Committee and goes to Council on August 28th.

Manotick Main Street/Bridge Street Intersection

Many people are now aware of the recent changes made at the intersection of Manotick Main Street and Bridge Street.  These changes are the result of nearly two years of correspondence and public input from residents of Manotick.  I received several requests to implement a “Right Turn Only” lane at this intersection in the northbound lanes of Main Street.  I looked into it at that time and it was determined that the straight through lane would be overloaded unless left turns were restricted.

On March 7th of this year, I hosted a public meeting at the Manotick Arena with 117 residents in attendance.  At that meeting, I presented the proposed changes for input before moving forward.  My presentation included the “Right Turn Only” lane and the “No Left Turn” onto Maple Avenue.  The left turn restriction was implemented as traffic counts show only 10 cars per peak hour make that turn and the restriction allows for free flowing movements in the straight through lane and the right turn lane. This proposal received near unanimous support with only one resident being opposed at the meeting.

As you now know, this was implemented almost entirely consistent with the proposal I put forward in March.  The one difference is the “No Right on Red”.  I have asked staff to review this element and report back to me.  The way I see it is that we have always gone through this intersection without the red light restriction and the accident rate is relatively low.  I’ll provide an update on this as soon as possible.

Road safety a top priority as children return to school

As students head back to school this fall, the City of Ottawa, the Ottawa Police Service, and Ottawa Public Health remind all road users to be extra attentive to the rules of the road and speed limits, especially in construction zones, school zones and around school buses.

Ottawa Police Service will also be focusing on back to school road safety education and enforcement in the coming weeks.  Safer roads also mean more active and healthy children who feel safe getting back and forth from school by walking or cycling.

This back-to-school initiative is part of the Safer Roads Ottawa Program, a partnership between Ottawa Fire Services, Ottawa Paramedic Service, Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa Public Health, and the Public Works Department. This initiative has been put in place to prevent road deaths and serious injuries in the City of Ottawa, through culture change, community engagement, and development of a sustainable safe transportation environment.

The City will continue to see major construction and renewal in the fall months and will provide mobility options to residents. For more information about how the construction will affect residents, visit ottawa.ca

ROSSS Walk of Care

Join Rural Ottawa South Support Services on Saturday, September 7th for their Annual Walk of Care fundraising event.  This event will include a 5km walk along the Osgoode Multi-Use Pathway from 9:00am to 1:00pm, a BBQ, prizes and entertainment.  Come out and support your parents, grandparents, seniors and adults with physical disabilities as ROSSS raises funds to provide programs and services to help these individuals remain in their homes, living independently.  For more information, please visit rosss.ca or call 613-692-4697.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491.