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.

Wellington West Big Heart Day – February 25

On Saturday, February 25 something BIG is coming to Wellington West this HEART Season! Join together on Wellington St W between 11am – 2pm for the BIG HEART Challenge Activity Day!

All to raise money for the Ottawa Heart Institute. Proudly presented by our sponsor Wellington West Retirement Community, and in partnership with Run Ottawa.

Lining 2km of Wellington St. West are games, activities, obstacles, and challenge stations! Grab a ballot from one of the stations and begin checking off your activities as you complete challenges. Want a neat way to try all the activities? Start at one of the two start/finish makers and make your way down the street! Invite your friends and family out and have fun while raising money for the Ottawa Heart Institute through the BIG HEART Challenge!

Event page: https://wellingtonwest.ca/the-big-heart-challenge-activity-day/
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1899970357020600

Some interesting challenges in the list there, and fortunately there is snow in the forecast so there can be some snowball action. I also see “FREE Stubbe chocolate for every challenge completed!” so there’s a prize even if you only do one of the ten challenges. Hmmm, should that milk jug toss challenge be a milk bag toss? 🙂

– Alex

Community Association Board Meeting – February 28

Agenda

Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA) Board Meeting

Tuesday February 28, 2023
7:30 PM via Google Meet
Everybody Welcome

Board meetings will have an open session for community residents to observe business discussions. Non board community members will also be invited to participate at certain times by the chair and there will be “in camera” topics for the board members only. Please contact the secretary via champlainpark@gmail.com to request a link to join the meeting.

Open session

  1. Approval of minutes of January 24, 2023 – Liz
  2. Report of interim motions – all
  3. Use of the Planning and Zoning Fund (discussion) – Heather – 30 minutes
  4. Having an area on the website for jobs and services offered (decision) – Liz – 10 minutes
  5. History of Champlain Park: Update on Book – Bob Grainger – 10 minutes
  6. Membership Drive – Need coordinator (advertise?), dates – Lynne – 5 minutes
  7. Other Business
  8. Next Meeting

Agenda last updated on February 24, 18:37. Please contact the secretary to add topics.

Cashmere & Chocolate Sale – February 11

Saturday February 11 2023 from 10am to 3pm at the Champlain Park field house, 149 Cowley Avenue.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, an afternoon that combines some of our favourite things.

On display and for sale will be high quality used and vintage cashmere sweaters and scarves and designer handbags. Several vintage clothing dealers will be hand. Expect to also find knitted hats and scarves, jewellery, exquisite chocolates and other tasty sweets.

And wait! There’s more, including double chocolate cake with tea!

[Poster for the Cashmere, Chocolate and Vintage Show, 2023]
Poster.pdf

1934 Robbery, Police Chase, Shooting Story

Just for the record, if you haven’t seen the private Facebook post or public Tweet…

Local historian Dave Allston has dug up a 1934 story about some kids who idealised John Dillinger way too much, leading to a robbery and a dramatic chase across town with the young robbers shooting at the police from a stolen car, that ended up in our neighbourhood (at Pontiac and Cowley) with the thieves escaping into the forest. You can read about it on his web site at:

https://kitchissippimuseum.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-1934-hintonburg-island-park-drive.html

Neighbour Debra e-mailed Dave and wondered if Pontiac Street connected directly to Island Park Drive (there are remnants of the road with manholes in the woods, and the related old sewer line caused backflow in the 2019 flood and has since been plugged up). Dave replied back, with this 1926 map:

[Map of Champlain Park area roads in 1926]

There’s also a 1950’s map in our Roads in the Woods – Pontiac and Other Street Expansion Plans post.

It’s interesting to see how First Street became Premier Avenue, and now it’s Amanda (name of a neighbour’s child) to avoid duplicate names across the amalgamated Ottawa.

Later on Dave commented that it became Carlou Avenue briefly, from 1947 to the early 1950s. Here’s the fire insurance map he mentioned:

[1948 Fire Insurance Map where First Street becomes Carlou in 1947]

Lazy Bay Commons: Trees Not Embassies

At the meeting on January 24, the CPCA Board voted to donate $250.00 to Mechanicsville’s Lazy Bay Commons, Trees Not Embassies Legal Defence Fund. Background is here: 20230124 Presentation Lazy Bay Commons.pdf This unique cause has the support of our Councillor, our MPP and our MP, community associations and other volunteer organisations in Ottawa. Ottawa City Council rejected the NCC’s Application to build embassies in this location.

[Map of the Trees Affected and Surrounding Area]

The NCC appealed Council’s decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), the “independent adjudicative tribunal responsible for resolving appeals and applications on a variety of contentious municipal and land use planning matters.”

Mechanicsville continues to raise funds to hire a Professional Planner and Lawyer, so they can participate meaningfully in the Appeal process. Donations may be made here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/trees-not-embassies-legal-defense-fund

Heather

Many Thanks to Volunteers at CPCA Winter Carnival 2023!!

Thank you to a huge team of residents who volunteered to put on a very successful party at Champlain Park Saturday afternoon, January 21, 2023!! For those who were not able to make it on Saturday, it was an incredible post pandemic quarantine event, extremely well attended, and really highlighted the joys of being part of this community in winter: City park with outdoor skating rink, field house and NCC Kichi Sibi Winter ski trail, all located on our doorstep. We welcomed visits from our elected representatives: Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Councillor Jeff Leiper, and MPP Joel Harden along with Constable Darren Joseph, our community police officer.

Congratulations and special thanks from the Champlain Park Community to the following enthusiastic volunteers who made it a memorable fun event:

  • Erin Topping and Kelly Archer were the awesome organizers of volunteers, activities, ticket sales, lunch counter at Winter Carnival 2023.
  • Wellington West Business Improvement Area sponsored the sleigh ride by providers, Chris and Sharon Kelly.
  • CPCA Board members Nick Xenos, Lynne Bankier, and Liz Gyaloky coordinated insurance coverage and park permits.
  • CPCA Board member Kris Phillips organized the presentation of Champlain Park Community’s $500 donation to Kichi Sibi Winter Trail Groomer Dave Adams by CPCA Treasurer Dave Harding. The display of new grooming equipment and information booth at entrance to ski trail was an exciting new attraction.
  • Paul O’Blenes, outdoor rink manager, had the ice in great shape. Aimee Ferron extended the supervision hours of change rooms for the event.
  • Bridgehead supplied free coffee and hot chocolate.
  • Linda Landreville, Katie and Olivia Bolger and Connor Bryant served food and drinks.
  • Derek McKinley (Sing Song Party Time) provided musical entertainment for families.
  • Neighbours donated chilis and baked goods for the lunch counter and pitched in to help clean up.

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

Continue reading “Many Thanks to Volunteers at CPCA Winter Carnival 2023!!” →

Queen’s Jubilee Awards for Local Volunteers

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Awards presented to Ottawa Centre volunteers, residents of Champlain Park Community! Congratulations Christine, Heather, and Roland!

The Awards were presented to Christine Leadman, Heather Pearl, and Roland Dorsay by MP Yasir Naqvi at the Holiday Party he hosted on December 21, 2022 to celebrate community volunteers in Ottawa Centre. Yasir Naqvi announced “It is an honour to present the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee emblem to many volunteers and community members who are the pillars of our community and contribute to a more welcoming, supportive, and inclusive Ottawa. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II devoted her life to public service and had an admiration for volunteers such as you.”

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award

[Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award Certificate signed by MP Yasir Naqvi]

To commemorate, the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth on the throne in 2022, Canada presented Platinum Jubilee Awards to residents of Federal ridings who have demonstrated a commitment to strengthening our community and improving the lives of their neighbours through voluntary service across a broad range of fields.

These Awards, in the form of a special commemorative pin and accompanying certificate, pay tribute to residents of all ages and backgrounds who performed unpaid work and showed selfless service to others to build a caring and supportive community.

Many thanks Christine, Heather, and Roland for your dedication to making Ottawa Centre a better place to live! The Award is well deserved.

Community Association Board Meeting – January 24

Agenda

Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA) Board Meeting

Tuesday January 24, 2023
7:30 PM via Google Meet
Everybody Welcome

Board meetings will have an open session for community residents to observe business discussions. Non board community members will also be invited to participate at certain times by the chair and there will be “in camera” topics for the board members only. Please contact the secretary via champlainpark@gmail.com to request a link to join the meeting.

Open session

  1. Approval of minutes of Nov 3 and Dec 12 2022 – Liz
  2. ONCA: Ontario Not for Profit Corporations Act – Lynne
    • Deadlines and Proposed Process
  3. FCA Insurance Working Group: – Lynne
    • Update on Rink Accident Insurance
    • changes expected in how CA’s will be insured when current insurance expires June 1, 2023
    • Comparison of volunteer coverage for bodily injury (Rink vs Other CPCA volunteers)
  4. P&Z update on FCA project on recommendations to improve the CofA process. (H.Pearl, 5 minutes)
  5. Traffic problems at IPD/Scott – H. Pearl, 5 minutes
    • Jeff Leiper brings together reps from the City (traffic planning, OC Transpo, OPS), NCC, RCMP and affected communities to seek ways to mitigate traffic problems associated with Scott / IPD / Parkway / Champlain Bridge nexus.
  6. Request for CPCA donation to Mechanicsville’s OLT process re: the Lazy Bay Commons (D. Buckles, 10 minutes)
    • This agenda item is the outcome of an originally much more comprehensive request made by Daniel Buckles, to a subset of the Board members, just before the AGM last fall. A significant amount of information was exchanged, and a report generated, provided and (mostly) accepted.
  7. Voting by email – Lynne – Please respond
  8. Emails: avoiding the volume – Lynne
  9. Civic Engagement – Richard – 15 minutes
  10. Motion re Signage for the Rink – Liz & Dave – 5 minutes
  11. Other Business
  12. Next Meeting

Agenda last updated on January 23rd. Contact the secretary to add topics.

The Rink is Open!

The rink is up and running thanks to the amazing effort by the maintenance team. This year there are no COVID restrictions from the city. Indoor facilities will be open during supervised rink hours for warming, skate changing, washroom use, and access to the first aid kit. Our student volunteers will oversee the use of the changerooms and the rink during these hours.

Students, if you’re 14 yrs old or older, this is a great way to earn your community volunteer hours. We’re always looking for more help. Sign up is easy with our Google form:
https://forms.gle/EmpbS7UVRit5y7fg9

Contact us at ChamplainParkRink@gmail.com if you have questions.

Supervised Rink Hours for 2023:

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

Public requests to the city for ice time permits will continue to be forwarded to the rink operators. We encourage all rink users to review the City of Ottawa’s outdoor skating rules.

Champlain Park ODR updates

See our Facebook page for the latest rink news and schedule (also posted near the rink).

Let’s have a great skating season!

Here’s how you can help make that happen.

  1. Respect others.
  2. Leave the rink in better shape than you found it.
  3. Please keep snow off the boards (1′ away or over is preferred).
  4. Have fun!

Views of the new freshly flooded rink on the morning of January 16, 2023:
Continue reading “The Rink is Open!” →