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.

SJAM Winter Sports Festival – January 19

See http://sjam.ca/ for more more up to date details about this winter sports event nearby at Remic Rapids, including weather conditions and entry fees.

[Rear view of the skiers starting to race]

SJAM Festival

COME AND JOIN US FOR A FUN COMMUNITY EVENT ON SUNDAY 19 JANUARY 2020.

  • All ages XC Ski Scurry and Scoot fun races
  • All ages Fat Bike Blast race
  • Try out the GIANT multi-person Norwegian skis
  • Check out our ski obstacle course, play on the snow hill, demo some gear, warm up with hot chocolate and enjoy our supporting partner booths
  • Support two important local causes: The SJAM Winter Trail and The Snowsuit Fund of Ottawa

Continue reading “SJAM Winter Sports Festival – January 19” →

Results from the Workshop on Climate Solutions

Subject: Proceedings of the Workshop on Climate Solutions and Ottawa’s New Official Plan
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2020 13:01:53 -0500
From: Daniel Buckles <dbuckles@sas2.net>

Hello. We are delighted to share with you results from the workshop “Climate Solutions and Ottawa’s Official Plan”, held at Bayview Yards November 15 and 16, 2019 and attended by more than 120 people.

The new website, https://www.ottawaclimatesolutions.net/ includes priorities and policy actions developed by 11 discussion groups, on Nature, Food, Buildings and Transportation, as well as the Economy. It also contains several outstanding videos relevant to the ongoing development of Ottawa’s new Official Plan (from Dianne Saxe, former Environment Commissioner for the Province of Ontario, and from Mitchell Beer, the Managing Editor of Ottawa-based The Energy Mix).

Importantly, the site provides you with an opportunity to comment and contribute to the ongoing development of “The People’s Plan for Ottawa’s Climate Emergency”. To do so, and to build momentum behind climate action, Sign Up to the Forum.

Finally, hold the date March 7, 2020 for the next workshop of the People’s Official Plan (POP), to be hosted by the Healthy Transportation Coalition, the Federation of Citizen’s Associations, Ecology Ottawa, The Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital and other partners in the POP working group. It will focus on organizing informed action against expansion of the current urban boundary by showing that just and healthy intensification is possible!

Daniel Buckles (CAFES and Board member of the Greenspace Alliance) and Paul Johanis (Chair of the Greenspace Alliance)

Rink Status Update

Looks like the rink will be closed on Tuesdays (not Mondays), and weekdays run earlier, from 5pm to 8pm. There’s a hope for it to be ready by January 13th. Current schedule and other information at https://champlainpark.org/park/the-rink/ Here’s the message from our rink coordinator…

Subject: Re: Champlain Rink Opening – ODR
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2020 19:38:40 +0000
From: <redacted>

Hello. I have the supervision schedule all set for next week. I have 4 high school volunteers.

The city pushed back the opening of rinks to Monday January 13. It’s supposed to rain Friday and Saturday.

The plan is to go to the rink Thursday with a snow plow to pack down the snow that’s there. Then let the rain cover the rink for 2 days. Then it should be up and running next week with the cold weather.

It might not be ready Monday but it will be ready shortly after.

I have two or three people that have offered to help with maintenance. I will definitely need help next week.

<redacted>

Bike Minds (story telling) – January 29

Bike Minds – tales of the bicycle

[Bike Minds logo of Head silhouette thinking about a Bicycle]

Picture a cyclist, and what do you see – a well-to-do downtowner riding a “fixie”, or a sporty suburbanite clad in Lycra? Look a little deeper though, and you may be surprised by what you find.

BIKE MINDS is a storytelling event where positive and inspiring bike-related stories are shared in front of a live audience from a diverse range of storytellers. Our mission is to change the way you think about people who ride bikes.
Continue reading “Bike Minds (story telling) – January 29” →

Winter Session Activities Starting in January

All of our local activities are continuing on in January. See the full calendar for a date oriented view. Here’s a list of the classes and clubs in alphabetical order:

Marcella Winship Obituary

Kelly passes on this obituary:

Marcella Winship, a longtime resident of Clearview Avenue (near the corner of Patricia), has died in Magog, Que., at the age of 84. She is remembered fondly by neighbours as a kind, thoughtful person who was very engaged in community life, just as she was proudly enthusiastic to be Canadian. Condolences to her husband David and three children and good friend Amy (Steele) Kempster. Please see the attached notice on ottawacitizen.com. The service is Saturday, with visitation on Friday.

https://ottawacitizen.remembering.ca/obituary/marcella-winship-1078175979

Winter Carnival – January 25

The Champlain Park Winter Carnival is coming soon! Saturday January 25th, 12-3 pm at the Field House. Details to follow for fun filled activities, but currently we’re looking for volunteers for:

  • Making a Chili for the chili contest (great prizes for the winners)
  • Providing some baked goods (make or fake, we won’t tell)
  • Help with outdoor games and fun
  • Helping in the kitchen
  • Set up/clean up
  • Ticket sales

Volunteers can contact erintopping@hotmail.com or 613-799-1770 to help out.

Thanks, Erin

[Horse Drawn Sleigh from 2016 Carnival]

Christmas Tree Recycling

Once Christmas is done, you can bring your natural Christmas tree to the baseball diamond backstop fence for the winter carnival (wind break – stop that north wind, so prop them up against the north side fence) and February’s community bonfire (combustion!). But please make sure all decorations have been removed.

Of course, there’s also the usual City of Ottawa green bin / yard waste recycling program that takes them too (again, no decorations or plastic tree wrappers).

Rink Status Update

Subject: Champlain Rink Opening
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2019 20:04:10 +0000
From: <redacted>

Hello everyone. Happy holidays. The City has indicated to all rink operators that they want the rinks open Friday, January 10th.

Note from the City of Ottawa:

“Beginning of building base ice is on January 3rd, 2020. Typically, we account for base ice to take between 5-7 days, so we would ask that ice be ready for January 10th, 2020.”

I will keep everyone updated. So far I have one volunteer for supervision. He is a 14 year old high school student. He cannot do all 20 hours so I will still need some more paid volunteers. I will need a two to four more volunteers to fill the 20 hours per week.

<redacted>

Rink 2019/2020 Information

(from https://champlainpark.org/park/the-rink/)
Continue reading “Rink Status Update” →