Ping Pong, Board Games – Thursdays

Just a reminder that there are Thursday night games at the field house. Table tennis on the first (that’s tomorrow!) and third Thursday of the month, Board and other kinds of games on the second Thursday. 7pm to 9pm.

  • Kids should be accompanied by adults
  • We now have 3 ping pong tables, and plenty of regular tables too for board games.
  • Bring your paddle & balls but we do have extra paddles and balls. Same for games, if there’s one you particularly want to play then bring it!
  • There is no cost but you do have to be a member of the Champlain Park community association.
[20250206 First Meeting of the Ping Pong Club at Champlain Park]
First meeting of the Ping Pong Club at the Champlain Park Fieldhouse, February 6, 2025.
Playing Ticket to Ride at Games Night at the Champlain Park field house, January 8 2026.

Helping Hintonburg after the Fire

From https://hintonburg.com/community-fire-fund-for-residents-of-65-armstrong-street-in-hintonburg/

Community Fire Fund for residents of 65 Armstrong Street in Hintonburg

19 neighbours in Hintonburg urgently need our help.

[Hintonburg Fire photo from their web site, 2026]On Sunday evening (Jan 18) there was a fire at the rooming house at 65 Armstrong Street. Tragically, one resident died from injuries sustained in the fire.

Nineteen other residents have been displaced from the building and damage from the fire will prevent them from returning for many months to come. The Red Cross helped the first three nights and now the City is working on finding temporary and hopefully permanent accommodations.

With the help of the landlord and Councillor Leiper we hope to provide them with some funds to resettle.

You can donate to the HCA Fire Fund by e-transfer to treasurer@hintonburg.com and add a note “Fire Fund” or you can leave a cheque addressed to Hintonburg Community Association Inc. at the desk at the Hintonburg Community Centre, 1064 Wellington St. West.
(Write: Fire Fund in the memo on the cheque)

NOTE – the HCA is not a charitable organization and cannot provide a tax receipt.

Time is of the essence. We hope to disburse money that has been donated by Jan. 29 and will make a second disbursement for any money after that date.

Winter Carnival – January 24

Winter Carnival 2026 on Saturday, January 24, at Champlain Park and Fieldhouse, noon to 3pm

It’s back…with hot chili, cool music, a bon fire, the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail team, and fun sleigh rides! Everyone is welcome to attend the Carnival, whatever the weather. Among the activities:

  • 12-3: bonfire and food in the fieldhouse.
  • 1-3: horse drawn sleigh rides and outdoor games in the park (children must be supervised by adults).
  • 1:30-3 pm: music in the Field house with locally based Jazz, David Constant and friends.

Admission, sleigh rides, hot chocolate and coffee are FREE.

Food and Beverages: There will be a Chili cookoff, baked goodies, juice, hotdogs and more for sale in the Fieldhouse kitchen. Please bring a little cash. Debit/credit machines are NOT available.

The Kichi Sibi Winter Trail team will be out for the fun including a display with snowmobiles and grooming equipment. More info about the trail can be found at www.wintertrail.ca

Volunteers make it happen! We need help with setup and cleanup, lunch counter, ticket sales, and donations of baked goods. Call out for chefs to bring their best chili dish of course! Please contact Erin and Kelly for more info at erintopping@hotmail.com.

Rink will be operating as per normal. The outdoor obstacle course popular with children and youth will be running again this year as well for the duration of the carnival. As an indoor event, organizers urge everyone to follow public health guidelines.

[Sleigh Ride at 2023 Winter Carnival]
Sleigh with Winter Carnival 2023 visitors on the former Pontiac Street Christmas Tree crossing. Photo by AGMS.

The Future of Churchill Alternative School

Churchill Alternative School is undergoing big changes in September and the parents are asking residents in Champlain Park for their support.

[Churchill Alternative School, from Apple Maps street view]

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is phasing out the Alternative program and will not be accepting any JK students this fall at Churchill. The board also states that dual track programs like French Immersion and English With Core French will not be offered.
The school council asked the board to reconsider and offer French Immersion.

Parents are also concerned that given all the changes, Churchill school could close in the future.

There are of course broader concerns about the impact all this could have on neighbouring schools in this area – especially those that are at capacity.

Enclosed are letters from both the OCDSB and the Churchill school council explaining each’s position.
Alternative Letter to Parents December 2025.pdf
Churchill Request for Support Letter 202601.pdf

Here is the link to sign the school council’s petition: https://savechurchill.com/

If you want to offer help to the council, contact Amanda at: churchillschoolnews@gmail.com

Games Night Reminder – January 8

Just a reminder that it’s time for fun and board games at the Field House, starting this year on Thursday January 8 from 7-9 pm and continuing on the second Thursdays of each month. Bring your own game or try someone else’s favourite. See the original post for details.

[Huge Rummikub tile collection]
One unlucky player in our Rummikub game couldn’t make a starting move (lay down 30 points of tiles) for maybe a dozen turns! They collected this pile of tiles which still wouldn’t build up to 30 (3 different colours of the same number or 3 of the same colour in a number sequence).

[Rummikub game box]

Christmas Tree Recycling

Recycle your Christmas Tree at the Champlain Park Baseball Diamond, anytime in January!!

It’s now time to collect trees in our neighbourhood at the park, as I am reminded by the appearance of the now traditional Kìchì Sìbì Winter Trail / Facebook post:

Now accepting Xmas trees. Drop off at Remic Rapids parking lot ONLY. Please remove all tinsel and other foreign objects. (But don’t rush it! Enjoy your tree as long as you can.)

The ones dropped off at the park will get used, though we’ll divert some for decorations for the Winter Carnival and rink windbreaks.

[Christmas Trees Recycled around the Rink, January 2024]

Yoga Classes Starting – January 5+

[Yoga Example]
Champlain Park has several openings for yoga at the field house starting next week.

  • We now have one spot on Monday at 7:30 if someone wants it.
  • 3 spots left on Wednesday at 6:00.
  • 2 spots left on Wednesday at 7:30.

It’s a ten week session, you must have purchased your current Champlain Park Community Association membership 2025-26. The cost will be determined once I have final numbers.

If you’re interested please send me an email indicating which time you want. Please sign up if you’re sure you can take part. It’s a hassle chasing down folks who sign up, change their mind and don’t let me know.

Thanks
lauriefagan59@gmail.com

Please see the general Yoga Page for more details.

Also posted at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChamplainPark/posts/2317450048738072/

The Rink is Open!

Paul B. writes in the Champlain Park Outdoor Rink Facebook group for rink notifications:

The rink is open today. Please be careful as the edges are rough, some soft spots etc. Much of the outer skating surface remains closed until we can recover what we lost.

Thanks to all the hard working volunteers. We are still in need Supervisor volunteers – please email me at oblenesp@gmail.com if you can help out.

Changeroom hours:
Mon-Fri 6-9 PM
Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM
Sunday 12-4 PM

[Champlain Park Rink freshly flooded on Febrary 2, 2024]
Photo by Derek F, 2024.

See our rink page for more background info on how to use the rink and volunteer opportunities. Contact the rink people at ChamplainParkRink@gmail.com or use the Facebook group if you have questions.