Month: January 2018

SJAM Ski Festival – January 28

I just noticed that there will be a ski festival on the Winter Trail at the end of the month. There are also rumours of a ribbon cutting in the morning at the Pontiac street fence opening, as mentioned in Jeff Leiper’s newsletter: “I hope you’ll join us at 9:00 am in Champlain Park to kick the day off as reps from the NCC, other levels of government, and I mark the new opening in the fence that used to divide the City and NCC parks. With that portion of Pontiac closed, the two parks will become more and more seamless in the coming months.”

There is a related Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/2023935901181789/ General trail info is at http://www.wintertrail.ca/ and our notes are at https://champlainpark.org/sjam-winter-trail/ The key details from the ski festival’s web site http://sjam.ca/ are:

  • Location: Remic Rapids off the Sir John A. McDonald Parkway by the Ottawa river
  • 10:00am 1km Ski Scurry (age 10 and under)
  • 10:30am 5km Ski Scoot (age 10 to grandparent!)
  • Registration requested as numbers are limited
    • FREE for children 10 years and younger, participants will receive a ski bib (link here)
    • $10 for all other participants (link here)
    • Please pick-up bib between 9-9:45 for those who are pre-registered
  • Onsite registration for the ski events will be available from 9:00-9:45am however we strongly encourage you to register in advance.
  • Donations are welcome in person or through the registration link. All proceeds go towards the ongoing operation of the SJAM winter trail. (Please make cheque payable to “Dovercourt Recreation Association” and write “SJAM Winter Trail Project” on the memo line)
  • Norwegian embassy will be supporting
  • In event of inclement weather the event will be cancelled (please check http://sjam.ca/)

[Skier with ski trailer for their child]

Forest Work in Progress

Maybe this Facebook post from the winter trail people https://www.facebook.com/SJAM.Winter.Trail/posts/1547964968605663 about improving the trail in Kitchissippi Woods and this forestry work notice from the NCC are related…

Subject: Ash tree removal along the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway by Island Park Drive/ Abattage de frênes le long de la promenade Sir-John-A.-Macdonald à proximité de la promenade Island Park CRM:0025365
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2018 16:40:55 -0500
From: Jocelyne Moncion <jocelyne.moncion@ncc-ccn.ca>

(le texte français suit)

Hello,

As part of its emerald ash borer management strategy, the National Capital Commission (NCC) will be removing ash trees affected by the emerald ash borer along the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway close to Island Park Drive.
Continue reading “Forest Work in Progress” →

Community Bonfire Wrap-up

We had our first and very successful Community Bonfire this past Sunday. Many neighbours, their families and friends and people passing-by enjoyed meeting around a burning fire, skating on the rink or skiing on the SJAM trail with its new path through the woods and over Pontiac to Champlain Park. They braved extreme cold temperatures while enjoying warmth from the fire, hot drinks, the roasting of marshmallows and s’mores.

First, thanks go to community event organizers Jim Cocks, Bill Baggs. They set it up and did most of the work.

Many thanks to Jeff Leiper and his staff (Emma Kenny and Fiona Mitchell-Gougeon) and city workers for supplying the fire kit and cleaning it up later. Thanks to Bushtukah, and Bridgehead for their support in helping make this happen.

Thanks to Dave Adams for getting the SJAM trail in such good shape (even flattening the area around the fire and tent) and Jim Kot for the Outdoor Rink (ODR) being in such good condition after the recent thaw.

The volunteer event organizers Jim and Bill would also like to thank Adrian Bradley for being the link between the community association and his assistance in advertising and promoting the event.

Here’s the story of the event in photos (click for high-res versions, if available)…
Continue reading “Community Bonfire Wrap-up” →

FCA-FAC Meeting – January 17

The Federation of Citizens’ Associations of Ottawa general meeting is being held soon (it is an umbrella group for community associations like our own). Information from http://fca-fac.ca/2018/01/fca-fac-general-meeting-wed-jan-17/ and https://us9.campaign-archive.com/?u=a27879f3aba0015f3fdd0f6be&id=7fc97ac39e

FCA-FAC General Meeting Wed. Jan. 17, 2018

On January 17 an FCA-FAC General Meeting will be held at Kitchissippi United Church with an Arts and Culture theme.

In accordance with our custom at the first meeting of the new year, the meeting will feature “speed-dating”, a series of simultaneous small group interviews with invited experts. Meeting attendees rotate from expert to expert making contacts and learning of various topics of interest to communities.
Continue reading “FCA-FAC Meeting – January 17” →

Winter Carnival – January 27

When : Saturday January 27, 2018
Where: Champlain Park Fieldhouse
Time: Noon – 3:00pm

Snow, rain or shine, this festive annual event takes place on the last Saturday in January.

Hope to see you there!

Activities

wintercarnival2014

12:30-2:30pm Free horse-drawn sleigh rides

After lunch skating, hockey skills competition, and prizes throughout the afternoon

2pm live music, games

Spread the word

Please spread the word, and bring your friends and family.
Admission, hot chocolate and coffee are FREE.

Food & Beverages

There will be Chili cook-off , baked goodies, juice, hot dogs and more for sale in the Fieldhouse.

Your help

If you are able to bring a chili or baked goodies, or helping out in any other way, PLEASE contact one of the organizers to let us know.

We would be VERY grateful!!

Event organizers

Sarah Kotyck email: sarahkotyck@gmail.com
Natalie Raffoul email: nraffoul@cbrcanada.com

Convent Development Open House – January 10

Full article, including photo, at https://islandpark.wordpress.com/2018/01/02/ashcroft-homes-convent-development-open-house/ and also https://kitchissippiward.ca/content/114-richmond-rd-ashcroft-homes-convent-development-open-house

Ashcroft Homes Convent Development Open House

Ashcroft Homes is proposing an adaptive re-use of Les Soeurs de la Visitation Convent at their 114 Richmond Rd site, which would see the building partially demolished and encapsulated in glass, combining heritage and modern elements. The refreshed convent would see office tenants and mixed commercial. We invite you to join us to learn more about this proposed development during a community open house:

Wednesday, January 10
6:00-8:00pm
Van Lang Field House (29 Van Lang Pvt)

Information on the proposed development will be available from Ashcroft Homes, and City of Ottawa staff in both Heritage and Planning will be on hand to field additional questions.

CPCA Treasurer Position Open

This position is central to our ability to carry out the association’s business and activities. We are currently without a volunteer.

Duties: Board Member who oversees the financial business of the CPCA; writes cheques and receives monies related to our activities; does the banking and book-keeping; prepares budget in consultation with the Board; prepares annual financial report for AGM.

Training and assistance will be provided to the new volunteer.

If you are interested in finding out more about the position contact: CPCA Co-Chair, champlainpark@gmail.com

You may also consider attending the next CPCA Board meeting.

Dog Walking in the Woods

Subject: Dog walking in the woods
Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2017 12:18:14 -0500
From: Nhung Hoang

I have lived in Champlain Park for 24 years and love this neighbourhood. The proximity to nature is one thing that is especially precious to me. I have a small dog (a bichon frisé who is getting somewhat elderly) who I take for walks daily. One of the places we like to walk is the path through the woods. Near the entry to the path, it is clearly marked that dogs must be leashed. Unfortunately, not everyone follows this bylaw.

Twice in the last few months my dog has been attacked by larger dogs that have been off leash. Fortunately, he has not yet been injured but I feel that it is just a matter of time. I understand that dogs like to run off leash. Farms, cottages and off-leash dog parks are all places where you can let your canine friends have some more freedom. Please do not do so in places where the law doesn’t allow and where your dogs (as friendly as you believe they are) may be a menace to other dogs (not to mention, skiers, snowshoers and other walkers). Thank you for your consideration.

Nhung Hoang, Cowley Avenue