Category: Government

Messages from various levels of government.

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.

Vacant Unit Tax Reminder

via Heather…

The goal of the Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) program is to ensure that properties don’t sit vacant and crumbling for eons, when they could be rented instead. This has been a problem in Ottawa, with investors buying up properties, evicting the tenants, then leaving them vacant and “composting”, sometimes for years. Champlain Park has not been immune to this sort of activity.

The City’s intention is good and, coupled with other ongoing initiatives, may well prevent unnecessary evictions and homelessness. I don’t like the negative option approach, but in an increasingly cash-strapped city, maybe it’s the most efficient approach for now? One hopes that Ottawa will, sooner rather than later, find a way to marry the tax data on principal residences, and the VUT program, so homeowners won’t have to, every year, re-declare their principal residences online.

Here’s an example of a house in Champlain Park that had been abandoned and left to crumble for about 20 years, in spite of repeated appeals to the City by neighbours and the Community Association. When the house was first abandoned, it could have been affordable housing for a young family. At last, the absentee owner sold the property to a family who built a new home on the property. (2014 photo from Google Maps Street View):

[Abandoned house on Cowley in 2014]
Abandoned house on Cowley in 2014.

Continue reading “Vacant Unit Tax Reminder” →

Recycle your Christmas Tree at Champlain Park

Recycle your 🌲 Tree at the Champlain Park Baseball Diamond, anytime in January!!

Give your old Christmas tree a ‘second life’ by donating it to the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail. Trees will be used to create wind breaks and safety barriers/cordons at various locations along the Winter Trail at Remic Rapids. Trees can be brought to the North East corner of the Champlain Park baseball diamond anytime in January, 2023. The Winter Trail team will then make sure they get to where they are needed.

[Christmas trees stacked up against the baseball diamond fence at Champlain Park, Ottawa, ready for a bonfire or windbreak]

Thank you from the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail Team, and happy skiing!

Webinar on Bill 23 – November 23

via Heather, quoting our city councillor Jeff Leiper:

“The most sweeping city planning decisions in a generation are in the process of being imposed on Ontario municipalities. What does it all mean?”

On Wednesday, November 23, Councillors Jeff Leiper and Glen Gower are hosting a webinar on Ontario’s Bill 23 and its impact on Planning in Ottawa. Details on this issue and how to join the Zoom webinar are here:
https://kitchissippiward.ca/content/qa-webinar-bill-23-and-changes-ottawa-city-planning

There’s also a letter to the province from the CPCA on the impact of the bill on our neighbourhood:
[Screen shot of the first page of the letter]
20221115 CPCA re Bill23.pdf

Ontario Changes the Planning Act and Ottawa’s Official Plan

via Heather…

The attached text is excerpted from Jeff Leiper’s Kitchissippi Ward Newsletter. For an excellent synopsis of the impact on Ottawa of the changes made by the Province to the new Official Plan, please click on the link to Glen Gower’s assessment (highlighted). Continue reading “Ontario Changes the Planning Act and Ottawa’s Official Plan” →

Mayoral Candidate Debate Update – October 17

The Ottawa Mayoral Candidate Debate on the topic of “Leadership for a Liveable Ottawa” will be on Monday October 17 at Horticultural Building at Landsdowne Park, with an online stream too. It’s organized by the Glebe Community Association and sponsored by FCA Ottawa (Federation of Community Associations). Our Champlain Park Community Association has contributed too. Here is a newer link to the details:

https://glebeca.ca/event/mayoral-debate/

And their new poster:

[2022 Mayoral Debate Poster]
Debate-2022-poster-copy.pdf

Mayoral Candidate Debate – October 17

Ottawa Mayoral Candidate Debate on October 17 at Horticultural Bldg. Landsdowne Park organized by Glebe Community Association and sponsored by CAFES Ottawa (Federation of Community Associations). Champlain Park Community Association has contributed $100 to costs of funding the event. Here is the link to the details:

https://glebeca.ca/event/mayoral-debate-for-the-2022-municipal-election/

Thanks,
Carol

Mayoral Eco-Debate – September 28

Reminder: the final Mayoral Eco-Debate will take place on Wednesday September 28, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Register to participate either in person or on Zoom:

Eventbrite RSVP: https://bit.ly/OttEcoDebates
EcoDebates Centretown September 28 7-9pm RSVP – in person or online

Recordings of the previous Eco-debates, variously including participation from all candidates except Bernard Couchman, are available here:

Barrhaven Eco-Debate August 16 2022
Kanata Eco-Debate August 30 2022
Orleans Eco-Debate September 7 2022

Tunney’s Pasture Redevelopment Input – Reminder

We’d like to take a moment to remind our neighbours that there is still time to apply to join the Tunney’s Pasture Communities Perspectives Group (CPG) to play a supporting role in the redevelopment of Tunney’s Pasture.  

Until August 26, any organization or individual that represents community interests can apply to take part in this small group hosted by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Canada Lands Company (CLC). Of course, Neighbours for Tunney’s shares the view that we’d like to ensure that a diverse variety of interests and perspectives are considered throughout the redevelopment of the non-federal development blocks at Tunney’s Pasture. 

Please consider the unique contributions that you could make and visit the CPG application form tab to learn more and complete the application.

We also encourage all local residents, community groups and stakeholders to explore these Engagement resources to follow the project and the consultation process. 

Finally, please continue to spread the word and invite others to join our ever-growing network of Neighbours for Tunney’s via email request to: NeighboursforTunneys@gmail.com

Your Neighbours for Tunney’s working group

www.neighboursfortunneys.ca