Join the SLOWest Energy Competition – and help Champlain Park win!

It’s simple, residents from different neighbourhoods sign up for an online account with Switch Hop that let’s you know how much electricity you are using (and helps you find ways to use less and save $$).

The energy used (or saved!) is added up for all the residents in the neighbourhood and the neighbourhood who uses the least amount of energy wins.

Sign-up..its free!

A description of the SLOWest Energy Competition and how to sign up.. its free.

More information

More information on the SLOWest Energy Challenge is also available at the SLOWest website.

This project is run independently of the Champlain Park Community Association.

Nick Xenos
Champlain Park Environment Coordinator

Doing your part to reduce climate change – how to lower your carbon footprint.

English: The carbon footprint.

Interested in lowering your carbon footprint?

In using greener energy?

Following up on the good OREC article posted on the community website (champlainpark.org) I wanted to suggest a few other ways you can go green on energy and lower your carbon footprint:

The most cost-efficient way is of course to lower your energy usage. There is a good website (switchhop.com) that is free and can help you monitor your energy use throughout the day and compare you to your friends. This gives you a good sense of what you use and when you use it (keep in mind peak rates) so that you can make smart choices about electricity use. Some other helpful sites on energy conservation:

Bullfrog

English: Taken by Neutronic

Another very affordable option is to use Bullfrog .

Bullfrog provides green renewable energy to the Ontario grid. If you sign up with them you don`t need to change anything – you basically estimate (on their site, very easy or use your hydro bill) how much energy you use (electricity and natural gas or other) and then pay them an additional amount per month for them to insert that much green energy into the Ontario grid thereby offsetting your carbon emissions.

Considering that about 25% of our electricity comes from fossil fuels you only need to pay Bullfrog to offset 25% of your electricity usage to be carbon neutral. Depending on your finances you can offset part or all, whatever you can afford. For as little as 20$-40$ per month you can be carbon neutral in your energy usage (they can offset both electricity and natural gas).

micfoFit program

Two of the other options we are seeing more and more of (but require a bigger investment up front) are putting solar panels on your roof via the micfoFIT program and using geothermal for heating your home (which is particularly interesting if you need to replace your oil or gas furnace).

Also to note, we are working with other neighbourhoods on an energy challenge, where we can compete between neighbourhoods to see who can lower their energy usage the most. Stay tuned, more details will be posted on the web site and on the listserv.

Good luck on lowering your carbon emissions and doing your part to fight climate change!

Nick Xenos
Champlain Park Community Association Environment Coordinator

Champlain Park Super Mom climbs Kilimanjaro climb for life

Today’s the last day to donate at Joscelyn’s Personal Fundraising Page

A Champlain Park Super Mom Joscelyn Coolican, joins WaterCan’s National Ambassador, Ben Mulroney on KILIMANJARO CLIMB FOR LIFE.

Raising Awareness About Global Water Crisis  

The Kilimanjaro Climb for Life—scheduled for October 12 to 26, 2012—will challenge brave Canadians to scale Africa’s renowned mountain, which towers 19,341 feet above sea level.

Joining eTalk’s Ben Mulroney in the climb is Ottawa-based Joscelyn Coolican who will celebrate a milestone “40th birthday” while scaling the highest peak in Africa. Joscelyn, an avid hockey player, triathlete and mother of two, hopes to set a positive example for her young children so that they grow up understanding the challenges that people around the globe face on a daily basis.

“Not everyone is as fortunate as we are here in Canada to have access to clean, safe drinking water at the turn of a tap,” says Joscelyn, “As a mother of young children, it is heartbreaking to think of what families have to endure in order to get access to clean water. I want to instill within my kids a sense of responsibility and awareness.” With this climb, Joscelyn returns to her roots in international development, which she developed a passion for during her university days. Since then, she has also gained great insights into water issues here in Canada and abroad through her work with the federal government and community associations working toward the protection of lakes and rivers in Ottawa and the Valley. Joscelyn is reaching out to her community for support in raising $10,000 towards WaterCan’s fundraising goals. Funds raised will help to support WaterCan’s work to provide communities in eastern Africa with access to clean drinking water, basic sanitation and hygiene education. With baby Polly on her back, and her husband, son and poodle at her side during training hikes, Joscelyn will be ready to conquer Kilimanjaro this fall, making it a birthday to remember and life lesson for her children. Joscelyn Coolican and Ben Mulroney join a team of 24 Canadians on this extraordinary journey up Kilimanjaro. Says WaterCan Executive Director, George Yap, “This team—comprising industry leaders, TV personalities and adventurous concerned citizens—will serve as an inspiring example of Canada’s global reputation as a dynamic and forward-thinking nation.”

Donation last day

Through WaterCan’s mobile fundraising initiative, people can text H20 to 45678 to make a onetime donation toward the campaign. WaterCan’s Kilimanjaro Climb for Life campaign.

Joscelyn’s Personal Fundraising Page:
http://give.watercan.com/goto/joscelyn

ABOUT WaterCan

Since, 1987, WaterCan—a Canadian charity—has been working hard to remedy the frequently overlooked water and sanitation crisis. More than 780 million people worldwide lack access to clean water, and a further 2.5 billion lack access to basic sanitation. With the help of generous Canadians, WaterCan introduces sustainable, long-term water, sanitation, and hygiene education programs to communities in need. In the 25 years since WaterCan was founded, more than 1.2 million children, women, and men in the world’s most impoverished regions have gained access to clean water through WaterCan’s programs-a key step in the process of building healthy and efficient communities.

Calling all babysitters!

Interested in babysitting in the Champlain Park neighbourhood?

If you would like to have your name listed as a babysitter on the Champlain Park Community website (http://champlainpark.org), you can register by going to:  

Activities–>Children Related–>Babysitters.

Please read the Terms of Service agreement and complete the form online to sign up.

If you 18 years of age or younger, we will contact your parents to confirm permission to publish your name and contact information (telephone number).

2012 Planning Primer Program – City of Ottawa

2012 Planning Primer Program

These are excellent seminars provided free by the Planning and Growth Management Department of the City of Ottawa.

La version française qui suit

2012 Planning Primer Program

Have you ever wondered how land-use planning is done? What those black and white signs in your community mean? How a zoning application is made? How to make a presentation to Planning Committee? What land-use planners do for your community?

Now is your time to find out

The Planning and Growth Management Department offers the Planning Primer Program to help residents become more aware of, and more involved in, the land-use planning process.  The program is a series of half-day courses.  The series includes two core courses and two elective courses.

The core courses, called Primer I and Primer II, describe the legislative and policy basis under which land-use planning decisions are made, the way policy documents are amended and how to make a development application.

The second elective course on November 17 and repeated on November 19 will focus on urban design planning. Registration will open the first week of November 2012.

To make the most of the information being presented, residents must attend the Primer I course before attending Primer II and attend both the Primer I and II courses before attending an elective course. The content of these Primer courses is the same as those offered in previous years. The courses are offered in English only.

Take the Primer I & II courses

Primer I Course
Saturday, September 22, 2012 or
Monday, September 24, 2012

Primer II Course
Saturday, October 20, 2012 or
Monday, October 24, 2012

Location:
City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West,
Colonel By Room, Second Floor
8:30 a.m. to noon

The Primer I course is a pre-requisite for the Primer II course. Registration for Primer II will open on October 1, 2012

Register today!
Space is limited, so register soon.

Questions?
Please send your questions to primer@ottawa.ca

Abécédaire de l’aménagement 2012

Vous vous êtes déjà demandé comment l’aménagement du territoire était réalisé? Ce que signifient ces enseignes noires et blanches dans votre quartier? Comment adresser une demande de zonage? Comment faire une présentation devant le Comité de l’urbanisme? Ce que font les planificateurs de l’utilisation du sol pour votre collectivité?

Le moment est venu de le découvrir

Le Service de l’urbanisme et de la gestion de la croissance propose son Abécédaire de l’aménagement, un programme destiné à aider les résidents à se familiariser avec le processus de planification d’aménagement du territoire et à mieux y prendre part. Il s’agit en fait d’une série de cours d’une demi-journée, dont deux cours de base et deux cours optionnels.

Les cours de base, intitulés Abécédaire de l’aménagement I et Abécédaire de l’aménagement II, décrivent le fondement des lois et des politiques en vertu desquelles les décisions d’aménagement du territoire sont prises, la manière de modifier les documents de politique et la manière de présenter une demande d’aménagement.

Le cours optionnel aura lieu le 17 novembre et 19 novembre et sera axé sur la planification du design urbain.

Pour tirer profit au maximum des renseignements présentés, les résidents doivent avoir suivi l’Abécédaire I avant d’assister à l’Abécédaire II, et avoir suivi les deux Abécédaires avant de suivre un cours optionnel. Le contenu de ces cours est le même que par les années passées. Ces cours ne sont offerts qu’en anglais.

Participez aux cours Abécédaire I et II

Abécédaire I
Samedi 22 septembre 2012 ou
Lundi 24 septembre 2012

Abécédaire II
Samedi 20 octobre 2012 ou
Lundi 22 octobre 2012
Lieu :
Hôtel de ville, 110, avenue Laurier Ouest
Salle Colonel-By, 2e étage
De 8 h 30 à midi

L’Abécédaire I est un cours préalable à l’Abécédaire II. L’inscription au cours Abécédaire II commence le 1er octobre 2012.

Inscrivez-vous dès aujourd’hui!
Le nombre de places est limité alors inscrivez-vous sans tarder.

Des questions?
Transmettez vos questions à l’adresse primer@ottawa.ca.

Membership Drive 2012 results

Your Membership Made a Difference

As Co-ordinator of this year’s Membership Drive I wanted to show you how we did:

  • 250 households in Champlain Park purchased memberships this year.
  • This year’s drive raised nearly $3800 for the Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA).
  • In addition to the memberships, 14  households donated an extra $190 targeted for  the CPCA Development Fund.
  • We raised more this year (almost $3800) versus $2400 last year.  However, our better results this year are due to the increased membership fee.
  • Overall, 62 % of our community’s households chose to purchase a membership this year; that rate remains unchanged from last year.

These results would not have been possible without the hours and efforts our team of 15 canvassers dedicated to this year’s drive.  Specifically I would like to recognize:

§       Pauline Rubarth and David Constant who stepped up to be canvassers for the first time;

§       Patrick Mates, Chris Liebenberg and David Gourdie who each cracked $300 in collections on their respective routes;

§       Will Egan is our youngest and returning canvasser who demonstrates community involvement is ageless; and finally,

§       Secretary1, whose efforts resulted in 100 percent participation of her neighbours on Daniel Avenue.

On behalf of CPCA I would like to thank all of the canvassers for a tremendous job well done!!  We could not have done it without you!

Please note: 

We will NEED more canvassers for next year.  Think about it … do it!

As this year’s official Membership Drive is now over, anyone who has not yet purchased a membership and wishes to do so, or wishes to make a donation to the CPCA Development Fund, please contact me at 613-722-6829 or by email: bmbg@sympatico.ca.

Barbara Borylo-Gourdie
CPCA Membership Drive Co-Ordinator

First wave of Ottawa wading pools opened today

For immediate release from City of Ottawa:
June 22, 2012

Ottawa – The City of Ottawa opened 20 of its 56 wading pools today. Most of the remaining wading pools will open by Friday, June 29.

For the best information on the opening date of your favourite wading pool go to ottawa.ca/recreation  .

Please note there are also two sets of closing dates this year: August 17, 2012 for the pools opening today and August 22, for those opening later.

Also check the schedule for special event days   at your favourite wading pools. Special events are held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and feature arts and crafts, games, prizes, and lots of time to stay cool in the pool! Six of those special event days will feature a free barbecue lunch and a performance by local entertainers from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Please remember…

  • Operating hours vary. Check the schedule.
  • The opening of wading pools is dependent on the weather. If the weather looks uncertain, call the Seasonal Recreation Office at 613-580-2590 to find out if the wading pool is open that day.
  • Visitors are reminded to abide by admission requirements and water safety rules 


For more information:
Media contact:
  613-580-2450

Public inquiries:    3-1-1

Wading Pool scheduled to open June 29

Wading pools will open for the season starting on June 29, 2012 (weather dependent).

Check back soon for pool-specific schedules at “City of Ottawa wading pools”.

The opening of wading pools is dependent on the weather. If the weather looks uncertain, call the Seasonal Recreation Office at 613-580-2590 to find out if the wading pool is open that day.

Visitors are reminded to abide by admission requirements and water safety rules.

Champlain Park wading pool will open:

June 29 to August 22, 2012
June & July weekdays: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm;
August & weekends: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm;
Except: 
In July: Tuesdays & Thursdays Noon – 7:00 pm
In August: Tuesdays & Thursdays Noon – 6:00 pm.
Closed: Wednesdays

SPECIAL GUEST ACTIVITIES:

Highlighted events feature special guest activities a free barbecue lunch and a Lunchtime Performing Art Series performance between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 26

Rain date : July 27

Company of Fools TheatreChamplain

Company of Fools (Theatre)

Reminder: Garage Sale this Saturday

Yes, it’s that time of year again!

Time to buy back all that stuff you sold to your neighbour last year, but at twice the price.

We are planning to hold the community-wide garage sale again this year.
As usual, it will be held on the first Saturday in June.

Event date:  Saturday June 2, 2012.
Rain date:  Should it be pouring rain, the sale is moved to Sunday, June 3.

We anticipate that residents on Island Park will take part as well.

Think about donating a portion of your proceeds to the charity of your choice, or  to help support Champlain Park Community Association.

Leftover treasures
If you have leftover treasures when the garage sale ends keep in mind that the Ottawa’s Spring Give Away Weekend  will take place the same weekend as the garage sale  (both days).
See Rules for setting out at your Leftover Treasures at the  “Ottawa’s Spring Give Away Weekend” link provided above.

Membership drive underway, runs to June 22

Please welcome your volunteer canvassers when they knock at your door to offer an annual Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA) Membership.

The drive will be held from May 26 to June 22.
To keep you informed about community events, they will also be asking you to confirm your phone number and email address.

WHAT ARE OUR GOALS ?
• To provide needed revenues for community events and offset the cost of CPCA work associated with in-fill development projects
• Increase memberships to 75 per cent of all households in our community.
• Gather sufficient emails to create an electronic communication system

WHAT DOES IT COST?
$15.00 per household (cash or cheque.)

In addition, individual donations will be welcome and will go directly to the Community Action Fund. The Fund was recently created to offset the costs incurred by our CPCA as it addresses the new in-fill development challenges.

SPECIAL EVENTS
Your contribution to the CPCA Membership Drive helps fund:
• Winter carnival • Halloween party • Christmas sleigh ride for kids • Website, Speaker costs

OTHER BENEFITS
Your purchase of a CPCA membership card also provides:
• Discounts on fieldhouse rentals
• Special invitations to candidate meetings, Annual General Meeting (AGM)
• Voting rights at AGM on issues that impact you and your neighbourhood
• Discounts at local businesses (details TBD)
• Special draw – will award prizes to three households that have renewed their memberships

As you can see, membership has its privileges!