Month: November 2016

Water Rangers Meeting Summary

I went to the Water Rangers meeting last night and can tell you a bit about it.

The Rangers goal seems to be to increase awareness of the river by having people go out and measure it and then report their results on an interactive map at http://waterrangers.ca/. It’s a good spring and summer activity for families with children, to both learn about measuring things and to become aware of what the river is like and what affects it.
RiverRangerMap.jpeg

The Rangers can provide training sessions (including groups and classes) and can lend some equipment, and have done research into finding out what’s readily available (pool strips from Walmart for measuring water acidity and hardness are much cheaper than similar ones from a scientific supply store, and even a bit more accurate).

We tried some hands-on tests with tools from Kat’s utility bag of river science to sort out some jars of water into ocean, northern lake, uninhabited southern lake, and cottage lake. Electrical conductivity gave away the sea water (very salty, conducts electricity well) and along with pH acidity let us figure out the origin of the rest of the jars. I wonder how my souvenir bottle of Detroit river water would have stacked up 🙂

Of course, these are just measurements of things that are related to river health. The actual health, which you define for your own purposes, could be the number and variety of fish, other people may consider birds, tadpoles, plants and other living things as their sign of river health, or your definition could be water quality safe enough to swim in.

Whatever it is, you can find factors that affect river health and count them, measure them, photograph promising signs and post it all to the Water Rangers map. The idea is that over time you can look at the map and see if things are getting better, using the history of your observations and those from other people.

A lot of this started in Westboro, with concerns about the water quality at their beach. That led to various investigations and eventually was a factor in founding the Ottawa River Keeper. However, some of the work they did does show where the city directly affects the river and water safety e.coli counts – the outfalls of storm water into the river. We have several on our riverside, and Westboro resident and river fan John Almstedt said he’d pass on the map they had which covered our area. It’s from the River Watchers web site at https://sites.google.com/site/ottawariverriverwatch/champlain-park
champlain-park-sewer.png

There are lots of smaller storm drains not shown, like the ones from the parkway road to the river (salty road water!). Or there’s the rusting out culvert going from the north edge of the woods behind the school, under the parkway, to the river edge (near the “o” in “Sir John A.”). They all lead into the river. At least we’re modern enough that it’s storm water, not sewage, going into the river.

Anyway, once the weather turns to summer, it should be quite pleasant (as well as educational) to go out and see how the river is doing.

Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for 2016-11-28

This week’s topics:

  • New email scam – Fake fines, by e-mail.

– Alex

—– Forwarded Message —–
Subject: Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for Nov. 28
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2016 14:30:21 -0500
From: Dawn Neilly <wellingtoncpc@gmail.com>

Attached is the Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for Nov. 28, 2016. Please feel free to pass it along to anyone who might be interested in receiving it. Any comments, information or requests to be added to or deleted from the list may be sent to wellingtoncpc@gmail.com. If you need to contact Cst. Neilly directly, please use neillyd@ottawapolice.ca.

Eileen Reardon
Volunteer, Wellington Community Police Centre
(613) 236-1222 x5870

NeighbourhoodWatch-2016-11-28.pdf

Notice of Change in Agenda for Tomorrow’s AGM

Catherine McKenna has sent her regrets, as she will not be able to attend tomorrow’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA).

However, we will still be welcoming Councillor Jeff Leiper and a representative of the Ottawa Mosque.

Please join us at 7:15 for refreshments; 7:30 for the meeting.

More details here:

Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for 2016-11-21

This week’s topics:

  • Information session and PREP test workshop – Recruiting constables.

– Alex

—– Forwarded Message —–
Subject: Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for Nov. 21
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2016 14:06:57 -0500
From: Dawn Neilly <wellingtoncpc@gmail.com>

Attached is the Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for Nov. 21, 2016. Please feel free to pass it on to anyone who might be interested in receiving it. Any comments, information or requests to be added to or deleted from the list may be sent to wellingtoncpc@gmail.com. If you need to contact Cst. Dawn Neilly directly, please use neillyd@ottawapolice.ca.

Eileen Reardon
Volunteer, Wellington Community Police Centre
(613) 236-1222 x5870

NeighbourhoodWatch-2016-11-21.pdf

Champlain Park – Parkland Expansion project – moving forward

<snippet source from:>

November 20, 2016  Jeff Leiper -Kitchissippi Ward Newsletter #72

pontiac-park-expansion

Moving forward with next steps on potential Pontiac closure

 

 

Over the past couple of months, we’ve heard a lot of feedback on whether to press ahead with a proposal I originally heard from community members to close a portion of Pontiac in order to join Champlain Park with the NCC property to the north. That idea captured my and others’ imagination, and we’ve had a rich consultation on it.

As we go into the Champlain Park Community Association annual general meeting next week, I’m preparing to let folks know I’ve decided to proceed with next steps toward achieving that. There’s no guarantee we can accomplish it, but I’ve had enough discussions with the City to be confident that the plan is achievable.

Clearly, it would have pros and cons. Our consultation has raised a number of separate but notionally-related issues on which we’ll also have to work. But, I’ve heard the overwhelming support, counted the traffic, listened to the concerns, and am feeling very comfortable that this step would be to the overall benefit of the quality of life year-round in Champlain Park. Read more here.

Champlain Park Community Association AGM

The Champlain Park Community Association is holding its AGM on Tuesday, November 22 in the field house at 149 Cowley Avenue. I’ll be on hand to provide an update about potential next steps for the Pontiac closure.

How we got here!

22-Nov-2016 CPCA – AGM Meeting Jeff Leiper to provide update
20-Nov-2016 Jeff Leiper -Kitchissippi Ward Newsletter #72
21-Oct-2016 Update: Champlain Park – Park Land Expansion Proposal
01-Oct-2016 Jeff Leiper – Kitchissippi Ward Newsletter #65
27-Sept-2016 Friendly Reminder: Park Expansion Opportunity, We need your support!
25-Sept-2016 Jeff Leiper – Kitchissippi Ward Newsletter #64
20-Sept-2016 Park Expansion Opportunity, We need your support!
28-April-2016 The Park Extension was first proposed to Jeff by Carol Arnason on behalf of Adrian Bradley, who was unable to attend this meeting with Jeff. Adrian later met with Jeff at one of his pop-up meetings held at the Van Lang Fieldhouse to follow up on the status of this proposal. Where Jeff indicated he was looking into it, and would be setting up meeting with community to discuss further.

Traffic Counts along Pontiac

Traffic counts September 22 and 23, 2016 (snippet source: from Jeff’s Newsletter #65)

I want to understand the traffic implications better, so did some quick counts on Thursday and Friday.

On Friday, I was out from 3:15-5:05 and counted on Pontiac in the stretch we’re floating closing:

  • 15 cars westbound that came from Northwestern
  • 4 cars westbound that came from Carleton
  • 17 cars eastbound from Cowley. My impression is that these were almost all Tunney’s parkers.
  • 17 cars eastbound from Keyworth, including 7 that had a child visible in the car (my assumption is that these are pick-ups from the school), and 3 buses
  • 10 cars eastbound from Patricia, including 6 that had a child visible in the car (again, I’m making an assumption of pick-ups)
  • 2 bikes eastbound, and 15 bikes westbound
  • 14 pedestrians eastbound, and 25 pedestrians westbound. As you might imagine, a very large number of these westbound pedestrians looked like they were headed to their car from Tunney’s Pasture.

As an observation, the school rush lasts for about 10 minutes immediately after the bell. Traffic is extremely light outside of that period.

On Thursday morning, I did a count from 7:30 to 9:15 am.

On Pontiac westbound I observed:

  • From Northwestern: 9 vehicles, of which 8 had kids visible
  • From Carleton: 14 vehicles, of which 10 had kids visible and one bus
  • 4 bikes
  • 10 pedestrians

On Pontiac eastbound I observed:

  • One vehicle – a resident of the Keyworth/Cowley block
  • One vehicle from Cowley
  • 12 vehicles from Keyworth, of which 4 were buses
  • 7 vehicles from Patricia, of which 1 was a bus
  • 33 bikes
  • 6 pedestrians

Community Solidarity Walk – November 20

Our city councillors invite you to a solidarity walk in response to the recent graffiti on religious buildings. Besides a special service on Saturday morning at 11, there is a walk on Sunday:

Please join us at the corner of Island Park Drive and Scott Street on Sunday at noon, from where we’ll walk to Wellington and Somerset streets and finish at Plant Bath. It’s 3k in total, and shouldn’t take more than an hour and a half.

For background information, and details about the service and walk, see: https://kitchissippiward.ca/content/community-solidarity-walk

Ottawa Mosque – Champlain Park Neighbour

The Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA) was shocked and deeply concerned to learn of the vandalism and hate-filled messages that targeted the Ottawa Central Mosque in our small community last night.

We are deeply honoured that the Ottawa Muslim Association calls our neighbourhood home. And to our neighbours and friends we say: you are welcome here. We stand with you today, and we offer you our support, help, and vigilance to prevent future acts of hatred.

To our residents, please keep an eye out for any suspicious activity around the Mosque.

And if you have any information that could help with the current investigation, please contact Ottawa Police at 613-230-6211.

Leading Women/Leading Girls Building Communities Nominations

Subject: Leading Women/Leading Girls, Building Communities 2017 Nominations OPEN
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2016 15:45:59 +0000
From: Yasir Naqvi, MPP (Constituency Office) <ynaqvi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org>

Dear friends,

Nominations are now open for the 2017 Leading Women/Leading Girls, Building Communities Recognition Awards! This award acknowledges and celebrates women and girls who demonstrate exceptional leadership in working to improve the lives of others in their communities.

Eligibility Criteria:

Leading Women:

Nominees must be 18 year of age or older at the time of nomination and have not received this award in the past. Nominees who have received a Leading Girls Award may be nominated for the Leading Women Award if they have different accomplishments.

Nominees must have demonstrated exceptional community leadership to improve the lives of others and have made substantial contributions through volunteer work.

Nominees must have worked to improve the lives of others in one of the following ways:

  • supporting the participation of women from diverse cultural communities in social and economic community life;
  • taking initiative to foster communities where women and children can live free from violence;
  • promoting women’s and girls’ health and well-being through education, community services and/or research;
  • providing young women with mentoring, guidance, coaching and opportunities for self-improvement;
  • supporting women’s participation in their chosen field or endeavouring to remove barriers in the workplace or field of work; or,
  • encouraging women to participate in any part of public or community service.

Leading Girls:

Nominees must be under 18 year of age at the time of nomination and not have been nominated in the past.

Nominees must have demonstrated exceptional community leadership to improve the lives of others and have made substantial contributions through volunteer work.

Nominees must have worked to improve the lives of others in one of the following ways:

  • breaking down barriers and encouraging girls to get involved in careers where women are underrepresented;
  • actively promoting issues such as equality, diversity, healthy equal relationships, preventing violence against women and reducing racism and discrimination;
  • encouraging girls to participate in any part of public or community service; or,
  • mentoring, coaching, leading events or organizations and being a leader for women and girls in their communities.

Nomination Instructions:

A nomination form is attached to this email. This form needs to have supporting documents attached and both Section A and B completed, including:

  • nominee information;
  • MPP information; and,
  • Two Letters of Support: the letters must be unique to each nominee and must address the three questions listed in Section B of the nomination form. Letters may be submitted by a community leader, mentor, employer, or another individual who has experience volunteering with the nominee. Letters of support from family members are not valid in this case.

Deadline:

We will be accepting nominations until January 13, 2017. Please send this form and the attached supporting documents to my Community Office by email at ynaqvi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org or by mail to:

109 Catherine Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 0P4

We need the leadership of women and girls to build a fair and equitable society. This award celebrates women and girls whose hard work and contributions inspire others. As the Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa Centre, I am pleased to be able to honour exceptional women and girls in our community. Think about the women and girls you know who are enacting positive change and consider nominating them for next year’s award. I look forward to hearing from you about the women and girls in Ottawa Centre who are making a difference.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to my Community Office at ynaqvi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org or 613-722-6414.

Sincerely,

Yasir

Yasir Naqvi, MPP
Ottawa Centre

leading-women-leading-girls-nomination-form-03112016103637.pdf

Subject: REMINDER: Leading Women/Leading Girls, Building Communities 2017 Nominations
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2017 19:54:08 +0000
From: Yasir Naqvi, MPP (Constituency Office) <ynaqvi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org>

Dear Friends,

I am writing to let you know that the deadline for the Leading Women/Leading Girls Building Communities Awards is closing in. We want to ensure that all the contributions of women and girls in our community get recognized and celebrated!

The nomination deadline has been extended to this coming Monday, January 16, 2017 for the enormously successful program.

In our community of Ottawa Centre, 138 women and girls have been recognized with this award since its launch in 2006! Past winners include women who have made a positive difference in their communities by acting as a positive role model, encouraging girls to get involved in non-traditional careers, and championing issues such as financial security, diversity and healthy relationships.

There are so many women and girls whose leadership and actions are improving the lives of others and setting a good example. I encourage you to take this opportunity to recognize their efforts.

To nominate someone, simply fill out the attached form, answer three short questions about the nominee, and attach two letters of support. These letters must be unique to each nominee and should indicate how the nominee’s work has improved the lives of others. Letters may be submitted by a community leader, mentor, employer, or another individual who has experience volunteering with the nominee.

Applications must be submitted to my office by Monday, January 16, 2017 so that I can submit them to the Ontario Women’s Directorate in time. If you have any questions, or need any help completing your application, please do not hesitate to contact my Community Office.

Recognizing women and girls who are helping to build stronger communities is part of Ontario government’s plan to build a successful, compassionate and united province where everyone has the opportunity to connect, contribute and enjoy a high quality of life.

Sincerely,

Yasir‎

Yasir Naqvi, MPP

Ottawa Centre