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.

Break Ins / Trespasses in the Neighbourhood

These events occurred during the week of 5 July 2021 and involved one or more industrious and sneaky souls quietly prying off the cross board on the outside of the fence, then pushing that section of the fence inward to gain access to the property. This section of fence was shielded from the view of the residence by a shed that is found on the property near the interior of the fence line.

Furthermore it appeared that after gaining access to the property the person(s) in question hid behind the shed waiting for an opportune time to do something further. Thankfully, nothing else happened as the property does have security lighting, cameras, and a nighthawk of an owner, but it highlights the lengths to which some criminals may go to to break into a property, or to surveil it for later activity.

A separate ‘break and enter’ event also recently occurred at another nearby property where a car was broken into to gain access to a garage door opener; a bicycle was subsequently stolen from the garage on the property.

It is important to file a police report when something of this nature occurs. Doing so will help Ottawa Police Services and the community identify crime trends or problem areas that may require some added attention.

In your travels, please remind your neighbours to be vigilant about their fence lines/back gates/etc (where applicable), particularly where the properties back onto wooded areas, parks, etc., and where they may have other structures/items shielding their view of the inside of their fences.

Report suspicious activities and individuals to the appropriate authorities. Together we can continue keep our community family friendly and safe.

[Wooden fence with bottom half off the nails]

Tunney’s Pasture Redevelopment Update

Subject: Tunney’s Pasture Redevelopment: FYI for the Board and for posting on the CPCA website
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2021 16:19:45 -0400
From: Heather Pearl

On April 5, a short history of the Tunney’s Pasture redevelopment plans was posted on the CPCA website.  All Champlain Park residents were invited to complete a Survey, developed by the Wellington Village Community Association (WVCA).  The survey results are in, a web page has been created, the working group is growing and everyone is invited to participate.  Here is a brief recap:

Tunney’s Pasture redevelopment plans have been in the works for some time. This massive federal government project has been developed under a cone of silence. Plans are now at an advanced stage, and have been done with no community consultation or input, nor the input or knowledge of city staff and elected officials. Whatever the outcome, this will have a major and direct effect on anyone who lives near Tunney’s Pasture, works at Tunney’s Pasture, or enjoys the river, roads and greenspaces in and around this large campus. The Wellington Village Community Association recently completed a survey of area residents regarding their knowledge and concerns related to the redevelopment, and are using this data to make a difference before it is too late. Step one is for all of us to push for the release of the detailed plans, and to push for the federal government to meet with local residents to ensure our input is taken into account, and taken seriously.

The community associations representing Wellington Village, Champlain Park, Hintonburg and Mechanicsville have formed Neighbours for Tunney’s to focus on these and other Tunney’s Pasture redevelopment-related issues. A preliminary web page has been launched (www.neighboursfortunneys.ca) and a mailing list has been created so that everyone can stay apprised of updates, and have continued input into the work your community associations are doing on your behalf. Even if you live outside of these four neighbourhoods, you can still sign up. You can join the mailing list by sending a request to  neighboursfortunneys@gmail.com.

For more information, please read the Neighbours for Tunney’s News Release and the Backgrounder and visit the WVCA web page.

To access previous Tunney’s Pasture related posts on the CPCA web site, type “Tunney’s” into the box under Search our Posts to find Community Information on the web page.

Thanks, Heather

Caterpillar Voracious Appetites

Now is the time to protect trees from caterpillars with voracious appetites.

Heritage bur oaks in our neighbourhood are being attacked by the gypsy moth caterpillar. In fact, all deciduous trees are at risk from the caterpillar. So are conifers.

Here’s what you can do to protect any tree in your yard (or in the park):
https://www.champlainoaks.net/post/copy-of-protect-your-bur-oaks-from-gypsy-moth-caterpillars

[Oak tree with burlap sack circumference guard]

Yoga in the Park – July 9 to September 10

[Westboro Champlain Park Outdoor Yoga Series title]

10-Week Outdoor Yoga Series

The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’ or “to connect’.​

What better way to find connection than to practice yoga in a way that connects you to the natural world around you? To breathe in the fresh summer air, to enjoy the sound of the birds in the sky and the wind rustling the leaves in the trees — that is true connection.

You’re invited to Champlain Park this summer, to enjoy this magic for yourself! This lovely morning class will help you wake up with intention + connection. You will be guided through a Hatha yoga class that will help strengthen + stretch the body by sinking into the sensations of the body instead of the overthinking mind.

​All Yoga with Carolynne classes focus on cozy + accessible yoga, so all body shapes + mobility levels are welcome!

Logistics

Dates: Fridays | July 9 to September 10
Time: 9:30AM to 10:30AM
Location: Champlain Park — Corner of Cowley & Clearview Ave.
Cost: $115 for Series / $15 per Drop-in

FULL DETAILS & REGISTRATION FOUND HERE

Plants Need Help

Tom Sawyer’s Life Lesson

Mark Twain’s brilliant story about the Adventures of Tom Sawyer shows that “to make someone covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.” Tom Sawyer, when his friend asked why he was not distressed about having to paint his Aunt Polly’s fence, simply said, “I don’t see why I would be, you don’t get to do this everyday.” Within a few hours, every one of his friends was vying for the opportunity to paint the fence, even paying him in kind (apples and precious pieces of string) for the privilege.

Well, we have some difficult things to challenge you that are also important enough for you to want to take on the challenge.

What are we talking about? Keeping 180 trees and a pollinator garden alive and thriving during a dry spring and summer is both difficult to attain and important to beautifying our neighbourhood. We are also trying to recover the abandoned former parking lot at Pontiac and the Park as a future tree planting site. Your contribution can make a difference, by taking on responsibility for a few hours in our watering schedule or by doing other tree or earth moving care. We have a pretty good system in place, but need more helping hands.

[Saplings with Stakes on Pontiac where there were parking spaces]

If this amazing opportunity to bring biodiversity into the neighbourhood is something you want to be part of, contact Daniel Buckles (dbuckles@sas2.net) for a brief orientation and access to the online schedule. The project is an initiative of the Champlain Park Community Association.

Support for Councillors’ Request to Rename the SJAM Parkway

Champlain Park neighbours are encouraged to review the following information and consider writing individual letters in support of the initiative to rename the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway.

Coucillor’s Jeff Leiper, Catherine McKenney and Theresa Kavanagh have asked the Federal Government to facilitate an Indigenous-led consultation process to rename the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway. The letter is posted on Jeff’s web site at: https://kitchissippiward.ca/content/name-reconciliation-re-name-sjam

For those with an interest in history, a precipitous name change in 2012 turned the Ottawa River Parkway into the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway. There is no historical link between the Parkway and Sir John A. Macdonald, who died in 1891. The Parkway, first proposed in the 1940s as part of the Greber Plans for Ottawa, was built on former rail lands and the sites of waterfront houses.

An excellent synopsis is contained in Kelly Egan’s article in the Citizen, published on June 3: https://o.canada.com/news/local-news/egan-sir-john-a-wrong-name-for-parkway-in-2012-even-more-wrong-today.

Wikipedia has a brief section on the history of the Parkway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_A._Macdonald_Parkway.