Author: AGMS

I'm a game programmer, doing pretty much everything (from Wii, Kinect to iPad). On the side, just for fun, I write file systems (for the nifty BeOS/Haiku operating system) and experiment with metadata.

“The 25th Hour – If A Tree Falls” Video on Protecting Champlain Park Trees

Subject: Video by Carleton U students features tree protection in Champlain Park
Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2015 14:11:36 -0500
From: Debra Huron <dhuron@sympatico.ca>

Daniel Buckles and Erin Topping, with her children, are featured in a new video by four Carleton University journalism students. Councillor Jeff Leiper is also interviewed in the video, produced by Amy Thatcher, Craig Lord, Owen Maxwell and Aishu Ravishankar.

The students’ video looks at the conflict between large trees in our neighbourhood and the large footprint infill doubles and large private homes being built: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAXqFMFA-NQ

While many of us think that celebrating our large bur oaks is a good thing, I want to be clear that just as many people are indifferent or even hostile to what seems like a motherhood issue: protecting the healthy, mature trees that beautify the neighbourhood. I have had someone tell me, “The bur oak is not an endangered species; why should we be concerned about it?”

My answer is that the bur oaks in our neighbourhood ARE endangered, due to human activities and the city’s infill policy which allows builders to squeeze buildings into every sq. foot of space on lots. Other trees on the endangered list, based on those that have died recently, are silver maples and black walnuts. While I appreciate what Councillor Leiper has to say about “push-back” with the Planning department to amend the size of buildings, I want to know how this can happen in the face of an Official Plan that supports infill development and a lack of coordination among Forestry Services, planning, building permit, legal, and by-law enforcement departments within the City? This may be something to explore with our Councillor at his next Ward Forum, slated for early January 2016.

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Debra Isabel Huron
I provide writing, editing, and training
to help you communicate more clearly
Visit my website to sign up for e-newsletters
Follow me on Twitter @debraisabel
Telephone: 613-859-8049
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Outdoor Rink needs Volunteers and Ice

20151204 Champlain Park Rink looking NW.jpeg

The boards are up (and looking solid with all those new replacement planks – click on the photo for a better view). All we need now is some cold weather and volunteers to help shovel, supervise and otherwise keep the rink operating. Contact Jim Kot for marching orders (umm, shovelling schedules). High school students can get credit for ice work.

I’ve appended the information about rink hours, see https://champlainpark.org/the-rink/ for the more up to date and prettier version.

– Alex
20151204 Champlain Park Rink looking SW.jpeg
Rink Volunteers needed!

Helping with supervision and shoveling, please contact Jim Kot phone 613-722-7519 or e-mail kris.tom@sympatico.ca
High school students can earn Community Volunteer credit hours by helping out.

Don’t forget to dust off your skates and get sharpened…
Come out and enjoy our community rink and have fun with your family and friends!

The first day of the rink is always weather dependent, it’s not usually sooner than December 27 but not later than January 1st.
The official last day is February 28, weather permitting the Rink Coordinator will try to keep open as long as he can.
Last year he was able to stay open till March 7th, and did a fantastic job keeping the ice in such great shape for the season.

Don’t forget to bring your helmet! Skate safe, have fun!

Rink Coordinator:
Please contact Jim Kot for rink availability, special events and booking arrangements at phone: 613-722-7519 or e-mail: kris.tom@sympatico.ca.

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Thursday 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Friday 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday Noon to 6 p.m.
Sunday Noon to 6 p.m.

Specific Ice time events:
Women’s hockey Sunday from 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Hockey for kids 10 and Under Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Hockey for kids 11 to 14 Tuesdays & Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Volunteers
Volunteers are welcome to help with supervision and shoveling, please contact the Rink Coordinator.
High school students can earn volunteer hours by helping out.

Usage/Permit notes:
Only if the group is related to our neighbourhood will a permit be considered after regular hours of operation
During the day the school has priority
People from Tunney’s Pasture can use rink during lunch, no permits are required
Special events can be scheduled as long as it does not interfere with regular public skating hours, some exceptions can be made

Kitchissippi Ward Forum – January 12

From: Fiona.Mitchell@ottawa.ca
Subject: Kitchissippi Ward Forum – January 12, 2016 – Save the Date
Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2015 19:51:56 +0000

Hello our wonderful community and neighbourhood associations,

We just wanted to give you all a quick heads up that our next Kitchissippi Ward Forum is confirmed for Tuesday, January 12 from 5:30-8:00pm at the GCTC. A formal invitation and details will follow before Christmas, but we wanted to pass along the info so you can put it into your calendars and get thinking about what kind of updates you would like to give.

Thanks!

Kindly,

Fiona

Fiona Mitchell
Councillor’s Assistant
Office of Councillor Jeff Leiper, Kitchissippi Ward 15
110 Laurier Avenue West. Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1
t: 613.580.2400 ex. 15823
e: fiona.mitchell@ottawa.ca

For more information follow us:
http://www.kitchissippiward.ca
@KitchissippiOtt
For inquiries related to city services such as sidewalk maintenance, recycling, garbage pickup, by-law enforcement, etc. call 3-1-1 or visit http://www.serviceottawa.ca.

More on Minimum Parking Review

Following on the previous post, here’s more:

From: Moerman, Tim <Tim.Moerman@ottawa.ca>
Sent: Tue, Dec 1, 2015 1:37 pm
Subject: REMINDER! Minimum Parking Review — N’OUBLIEZ PAS! Examen des exigences minimales de stationnement

***REMINDER!***

(le français suit)

Zoning Study: Minimum Parking Review

Draft Recommendations Now Available
Deadline for Comments: December 18, 2015

Good afternoon!

We are writing today to remind you that the Minimum Parking Review has produced some draft recommendations on changes to the minimum parking requirements under the Zoning By-law, as well as some additions to the Frequently Asked Questions page. The proposed changes can be accessed from our project page at

http://ottawa.ca/minimumparking

We’ve also produced a short video that discusses some of the reasons for our approach:

Link to Minimum Parking Review Movie.

The Minimum Parking Review was launched on May 4th, 2015 with our online Discussion Paper. Stakeholders were encouraged to read the discussion paper, which laid out the background, pros and cons of minimum parking requirements, as well as a range of approaches to modifying these requirements. Stakeholders were invited to send comments on the Discussion Paper, and over the summer we met with a number of community associations to discuss the issue and to gather feedback. Draft recommendations were posted on October 21st.

We welcome your thoughts and comments on the proposals described above. Please send comments no later than December 18, 2015 and direct all correspondence to:

Email: tim.moerman@ottawa.ca or minimumparking@ottawa.ca
Regular mail: Review of Minimum Parking Requirements
City Hall
110 Laurier Avenue West, 4th Floor Mail Code 01-14
K1P 1J1
Fax: (613) 580-2459
Website: http://ottawa.ca/minimumparking

***N’OUBLIEZ PAS!***

Étude de zonage : Examen des exigences minimales de stationnement

Recommandations provisoires disponibles
Date limite pour les commentaires, le 18 décembre 2015

Madame, Monsieur,

Nous vous écrivons aujourd’hui pour vous faire souvenir que l’examen des exigences minimales de stationnement a donné lieu à quelques recommandations provisoires visant des changements aux exigences minimales fixées par le Règlement de zonage, ainsi que plusieurs réponses a vos questions ajoutées à la Foire au questions. Les changements proposés peuvent être examinés sur notre page Web consacrée au projet :

http://ottawa.ca/stationnementminimum

Nous avons également réalisé une courte vidéo qui traite de certaines raisons qui ont motivé notre approche :

Lien de la vidéo sur la révision des exigences minimales de stationnement

L’examen des exigences minimales de stationnement a été entamé le 4 mai 2015 avec notre document de travail en ligne. Les parties intéressées ont été encouragées à lire ce document, qui décrivait le contexte, les avantages et les inconvénients des exigences minimales de stationnement, et qui exposait une série d’approches visant à modifier ces exigences. Les parties intéressées ont été invitées à faire part de leurs commentaires sur le document de travail. Au cours de l’été, nous avons rencontré un certain nombre d’associations communautaires afin de discuter de cette question et de prendre connaissance des commentaires émis. Nos recommendations provisoires ont été publiées le 21 octobre.

N’hésitez pas à nous faire part de vos commentaires sur les propositions décrites plus haut. Veuillez envoyer toute commentaire d’ici le 18 décembre 2015 aux coordonnées suivantes :

Courriel : tim.moerman@ottawa.ca ou stationnementminimum@ottawa.ca
Poste : Examen des exigences minimales de stationnement
Hôtel de ville
110, avenue Laurier Ouest, 4e étage, courrier interne 01-14
K1P 1J1
Télécopieur : (613) 580-2459
Web : http://ottawa.ca/stationnementminimum

Tim J. Moerman, MCIP, RPP
Planner
Policy Development and Urban Design Branch
Urbaniste
Direction élaboration des politiques et conception urbaine
City of Ottawa | Ville d’Ottawa
http://ottawa.ca/planning / http://ottawa.ca/urbanisme

Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for 2015-11-30

This week’s topics:

  • Theft of Canada Goose winter parkas – Merivale Road and Richmond Road stores.
  • Annual Ottawa Police Service Awards Ceremony.

There’s also a warning about a fundraising scam in the name of the Ottawa Police Service.

– Alex

—– Forwarded Message —–
Subject: Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for Nov. 30
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2015 14:33:43 -0500
From: Dawn Neilly <wellingtoncpc@gmail.com>

Attached is the Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for November 30, 2015. Please feel free to pass it along to anyone who might be interested in reading it. Any comments, information or requests to be added to or deleted from the list may be sent to wellingtoncpc@gmail.com.

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

NeighbourhoodWatch-2015-11-30.pdf

From: Media Relations OPS/SPO
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2015 9:20 AM
Subject: Money-collecting scam warning / Mise en garde concernant une arnaque de collecte de fonds

NEWS RELEASE/
COMMUNIQUÉ Executive Services
Services de direction
474, rue Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Tel./tél. 613-236-1222
Fax: 613-760-8064
http://www.OttawaPolice.ca/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 24, 2015 9:25 am

Money-collecting scam warning

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service is informing the public on an recent scam where a caller states that he/she collecting money on behalf of the Ottawa Police Service and attempts to get the victim’s credit card number.

The Ottawa Police would like to remind the public that we do not solicit donations from the public.

The Ottawa Police Organized Fraud Unit is advising the public that have been victims of this scam to contact the Ottawa Police and make a report.
It is the time of year when many fraudsters use the generosity of people to solicit “charity” donations that are not legitimate. If you want to make a donation to a particular charity, do so directly through their legitimate website or by phoning them directly.

Anyone with information regarding this type of fraud is asked to call Ottawa Police Fraud Section at 613-236-1222, ext. 5162. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by downloading the Ottawa Police app.

-30-

CONTACT:
Media Relations Section
Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366
@OttawaPolice
http://facebook.com/OttawaPoliceService

POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE: le mardi 24 novembre 2015, 9 h 25

Mise en garde concernant une arnaque de collecte de fonds

Ottawa — Le Service de police d’Ottawa tient à mettre au courant la population en rapport à une arnaque récente où un fraudeur prétend recueillir de l’argent au nom du Service de police d’Ottawa et s’affaire à obtenir le numéro de carte de crédit de sa victime.

La Police d’Ottawa tient à rappeler aux gens qu’elle ne sollicite pas de dons de la part du public.

L’Unité des fraudes organisées de la Police d’Ottawa prie les gens qui ont été victimes de cette arnaque de bien vouloir communiquer avec la Police d’Ottawa pour signaler l’incident.

En cette période de l’année, bien des fraudeurs abusent de la générosité des gens pour recueillir des dons « charitables » qui ne sont pas légitimes. Si vous souhaitez faire un don à l’endroit d’un organisme de bienfaisance particulier, faites-le par la voie de son site web officiel ou en téléphonant à ses bureaux.

Toute personne ayant des renseignements concernant une fraude de ce type est priée de communiquer avec la Section des fraudes organisées de la Police d’Ottawa en composant le 613-236-1222, poste 5292. Vous pouvez fournir anonymement des renseignements par la voie d’Échec au crime en composant sans frais le 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), ou en téléchargeant gratuitement l’appli de la Police d’Ottawa.

-30-

Contact:
Relations avec les médias
Téléphone: 613-236-1222, poste 5366
@OttawaPolice
http://facebook.com/OttawaPoliceService

Monthly Poll Inaugurated

We’re trying out the WordPress/Polldaddy poll facility to see if it would be useful. The plan is to put out a monthly question of relevance to the neighbourhood. Maybe we should have a poll to pick questions for the next poll 🙂

Of course, we don’t know who is answering it since it is open to the public, so the results may be meaningless. However, I expect this blog and web site are of interest only to residents of Champlain Park, so it’s most likely that answers will be from neighbours.

The current monthly poll is on the home page, and this month’s is also included in this post (which is a way of bookmarking it so you can go back to it when a different question is used for the monthly poll).

– Alex

Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for 2015-11-23

This week’s topics:

  • Holiday closures at police stations.
  • Fraud targets elderly Chinese women – Bless this (soon to be empty) bag of treasure.
  • 2106 Draft Operating and Capital Budgets – Comments welcome.
  • Suspect to be identified – Photo, near Wellington and Parkdale.

– Alex

—– Forwarded Message —–
Subject: Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for November 23
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:41:20 -0500
From: Dawn Neilly <wellingtoncpc@gmail.com>

Attached is the Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for November 23, 2015. Please feel free to pass it along to anyone who might be interested in reading it. Any comments, information or requests to be added to or deleted from the list may be sent to wellingtoncpc@gmail.com.

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

NeighbourhoodWatch-2015-11-23.pdf

Newswest AGM – November 23

Subject: Newswest AGM Nov. 23
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2015 20:43:02 -0500
From: Cheryl Parrott <cheryl.vance@sympatico.ca>

Newswest Annual General Meeting – Mon Nov. 23 at 7pm in the Hintonburg Community Centre, 1064 Wellington St. W. We encourage you to come and be a part of your community newspaper. Membership is $5.00.

Newswest is a non-profit, volunteer run community newspaper formed in 1978. It is one of the longest surviving community newspapers in Ottawa. Newswest is written by the community for the community.

Since 2003 Newswest has been published within the Kitchissippi Times but remains an independent publication. Newswest covers the area bordered by the O-train tracks and Woodroffe Avenue, between the Ottawa River and Carling Avenue. This area includes the neighbourhoods of Mechanicsville, Hintonburg, Champlain Park, West Wellington, Hampton Park, Westboro Beach, Westboro, Highland Park, McKellar Park, Carlingwood and Civic Hospital. Over 16,000 copies of Newswest are distributed free-of-charge 12 times a year to homes and retail locations in the Kitchissippi area.

Cycling in the City Newsletter

For local bicyclists, the City of Ottawa “Cycling in the City – November 2015” newsletter has some useful information, such as which paths are plowed in winter. The November issue’s topics are:

  • East-West Bikeway Update
  • Winter Cycling Network
  • Macdonald‑Cartier Bridge Rehabilitation and Multi-purpose Sidewalk
  • Mackenzie Avenue Cycle Tracks
  • Bronson Avenue Improvements at Colonel By Drive
  • 2014 Bruce Timmerman Award Winner – Monna-Leigh McElveny
  • Trillium Line Pathway Extension, Young Street to Carling Avenue
  • Cycling Data – Strava
  • 2015 Roundup

You can see it at http://cityofottawa.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=a284df1155ec3e67286080500df36a9a.1400&nosocial=1 or sign up to receive your own copy there too.
CyclingInTheCityNewsletter201511