Category: Federal Government

Posts from or about our Federal Government.

New Patricia Avenue Sidewalk

In local news – there’s a new sidewalk on Patricia Avenue!

The former asphalt one has been replaced with a new concrete sidewalk. It has fewer cracks than the old one, a slip reduction rubber pad at the corner, and the sideways tilt is about half of the previous one (formerly it had driveway ramps sloping up completely in the half of the sidewalk next to the street).

The more noticeable change is that the corner of Patricia and Amanda is narrower, just the width of the road. Formerly it was the junction with Island Park Drive and part of the extra wide curve was the former road going up the hill to Island Park.

The $120,000 budget was funded by the city of Ottawa and the Federal government. And it seems like they’re finished as of October 18th 2019, except for a bit of landscaping repair to the adjacent front lawns.

New Patricia Avenue sidewalk at the corner with Sunnymede. Note the slip reduction rubber pad built into the curve, the place where slips are more likely.

Continue reading “New Patricia Avenue Sidewalk” →

Pontiac De-paving Day Photo Review

Community Effort to Remove Pavement on Pontiac Street and Reclaim Paradise!!

Last Saturday, a family-friendly event was led by Councillor Jeff Leiper to de-pave one block of Pontiac Street and to re-connect the green space of Champlain Park directly to NCC lands accessing the Ottawa river.

The Councillor received sponsorship from the City with funds from cash-in-lieu of parkland money and a small grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Energetic community volunteers showed up to dig up sections of pavement and transfer them to City dumpsters. The volunteers were organized by Enviro Centre and Champlain Park Community Association, with coffee from Bridgehead and bagels from the Ottawa Bagel Shop.

In the near future, the City workers will finish digging the gravel base, adding soil, and seeding the area. The NCC will remove the fence and gravel on their side. Volunteers plan to landscape the NCC land with native species of ground cover, shrubs and trees. As Joni Mitchell sang in her song “Big Yellow Taxi”, “you don’t know what you’ve got, ’till it’s gone”. It’s not often a parking lot gets turned into parkland!

Enviro Centre team with Champlain Park Community Association volunteer, Debra Huron, set up coffee (Bridgehead) and bagels (Ottawa Bagel Shop) as well as supplying tools and safety gear for volunteers. Photo by John Arnason.

Continue reading “Pontiac De-paving Day Photo Review” →

National Tree Day – September 25

Grade 2 and 3 children at St. George Catholic School in our neighbourhood will celebrate National Tree Day at 1:15 pm this Wednesday by planting a tree on the Pontiac side of the main school yard. Join us that same day from 4:30 to 6:30 pm to plant a tree (or two) in “the Little Woods” at Patricia and Clearview. Weather permitting, tree planting will continue in the NCC forest near the school on Saturday, from 10 till noon. Bring your shovel and/or a pick!

For those interested in the bigger picture, attend a Tree Canada event at the Museum of Nature, where the NCC, the City of Ottawa and the Ville de Gatineau will present the results of a tree canopy assessment. This report on the extent of the current tree canopy is meant to support planning for the future of urban forestry in the region.

Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa ON:
4:30 National Tree Day Ceremonial Tree Planting, west grounds (corner of Argyle and O’Connor).
5:00 Presentation of report findings in the Rotunda.
5:30 Questions and discussions.

Federal All Candidates Debate – October 15

You are invited to the Federal All Candidates Debate, Tuesday, October 15, 2019, at 7 pm.

  • The debate is sponsored by your local community associations.
  • Some volunteers to help set up and put away tables and chairs would be appreciated. Please get in touch with Heather Pearl at pearhea@aol.com before October 4. I will forward your information to the organisers.

If you can’t make it in person, there are also plans to live-stream the debate on YouTube.

[Poster saying: All Candidates Debate, 7 pm Tuesday 15 October 2019, St. George's Parish, 415 Piccadilly Ave North, use parish hall main entrance, doors open 6:30 pm]
All Candidates Debate – Federal Flyer 2019.pdf

NCC Westboro Beach Improvements Workshop – April 29

From http://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/events/share-your-ideas-for-the-redesign-of-westboro-beach

How can we improve Westboro Beach?

The National Capital Commission (NCC) invites you to attend a public workshop on the Westboro Beach area redevelopment project.
During this workshop, we will ask you for your thoughts and ideas on:

  • The design of a new pavilion and its surrounding landscape
  • Ways to provide enhanced, year-round experiences for beachgoers and site users
  • Opportunities to revitalize and celebrate the beach’s built heritage

[Westboro Beach in 2015]
Continue reading “NCC Westboro Beach Improvements Workshop – April 29” →

NCC Moving Trees at Champlain Bridge Park

From the NCC e-newsletter, unfortunately not anonymously available online (you’d be able to unsubscribe us).

[Aerial View of the Proposed Champlain Bridge Park]

Improvements to the Champlain Bridge parking lot area: Implementing the first phase of the Ottawa River South Shore Riverfront Park

The National Capital Commission (NCC) would like to inform you about upcoming work to improve the Champlain Bridge parking lot area, which will begin this Thursday, December 13, 2018.
Continue reading “NCC Moving Trees at Champlain Bridge Park” →

SJAM Trail Closure at Remic Rapids

From Jeff’s Kitchissippi Ward Newsletter #155, also see http://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/posts/temporary-closure-on-the-sjam-winter-trail-in-the-remic-rapids-parking-area-november-26-to-december-14 for details (closure likely on December 3, 4) and a map.

Remic Rapids work to close parking lot, SJAM trail

As part of its invasive species management strategy and emerald ash borer management program, the National Capital Commission (NCC) will be working to remove invasive species in the Remic Rapids parking area. Dead trees and trees that pose a safety risk to the public or the work crew will also be removed. This work is being undertaken to prepare for the replanting of native trees and shrubs, which will take place in spring 2019. The work will be undertaken from November 26 to December 14, 2018, between 7 am and 5 pm, weather permitting. The parking lot will be closed to the public, but will reopen once the work is completed. For public safety, the winter trail will be temporarily closed for two days while wood chipping is being done. Signage will be installed to indicate that work is in progress, and workers will ensure the safety of pathway users close to the work area. Workers will be using mechanical equipment for this work.