Category: Government

Messages from various levels of government.

Tips for Disposing of Branches

From https://ottawa.ca/en/storm-cleanup-april-2023 via Jeff Leiper:

What to do with debris and waste

Debris separation:

  • Household waste: Place at the curb as part of regular garbage and recycling collection
  • Organic waste: Spoiled organics can be stored in the freezer then place at the curb for weekly green bin pickup. For those with more urgent need to dispose of food waste, a large bin will be available at the Trail Waste Facility at no charge from Monday, April 10 to Saturday, April 15. Trail Waste Facility hours of operation are below.
  • Tree cuttings, branches and brush: Place at the curb separate from non-organic, storm-related waste. To allow collection, we encourage branches to be tied with twine in bundles of less than 1.2 m (4 ft.) in length and 60 cm (2 ft.) in width, and that bundles or containers weigh no more than 15 kg (33 lb.). Individual branches should be less than 10 cm (4 in.) in diameter. Larger tree cuttings, branches and brush may be brought to the City’s Trail Waste Facility at no charge until further notice. Otherwise, these may wait, curbside, for chipping or collection by specialized City and contracted crews. There is no need to call 3-1-1 at this time.
  • Household hazardous waste: Visit the Waste Explorer on ottawa.ca for disposal information

Do not stack or lean: Do not place debris near or on trees, poles or other structures as this makes removal difficult. This includes fire hydrants and meters.

If you don’t have a sidewalk, ditch, or utility line in front of your house, place debris at the edge of your property before the curb.

Trees
Continue reading “Tips for Disposing of Branches” →

Rosemount Library READ Meeting – May 17

via Lynne via Jeff Leiper…

Do you love your local library – Rosemount? Have ideas on how it can be even better?

READ is looking for you! We’re having a brainstorming and next steps meeting the evening of Wednesday May 17th. We would love to have more Rosemount library users join us in the discussion and also consider joining the READ working group. RSVP here if you want to attend OR learn more. Bring your ideas and enthusiasm for our local branch!
Continue reading “Rosemount Library READ Meeting – May 17” →

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” →