Adopt a Pontiac Street Planter

The Planters on Pontiac are almost ready for planting. The drainage issue has been resolved (holes drilled, gravel at bottom, lining for the planters) and we will soon have new soil (thanks to Fiona at Councillor Leipers’ office).

[Concrete Planters on Pontiac, with dirt installed]

There are a few Planters available for adoption. If you are willing, please contact Daniel Buckles (dbuckles@sas2.net), the Environment Committee Co-chair. The adoption protocol is:

  • The primary purpose of the planters is to beautify the street scape. Other goals (plant diversity, habitat) are secondary but encouraged.
  • The planters are loaned by the City to the community at large, so are not owned by individuals.
  • Volunteers adopt a planter for a year at a time, renewable as desired.
  • Volunteers make their own plant selections (no food plants allowed in 2018, but this may change in future. Perennials are fine, as are annuals and herbs)
  • Volunteers maintain the planter they adopt, including watering as needed. Contact planter neighbours if you need help.

Help to green our community!

Forum Francophone des Parcs d’Ottawa 2018 – 16 juin

Subject: Forum Francophone des Parcs d’Ottawa 2018
Date: Wed, 23 May 2018 12:35:57 -0400
From: Inès Ayyadi <ines.ayyadi@ecologyottawa.ca>

Bonjour,

Je fais appel à vous et à votre association communautaire pour vous parler d’un programme élaboré par Ecology Ottawa et Park People : « Les Amis des Parcs ». Fondé par le gouvernement de l’Ontario, « Les Amis des Parcs » a pour but d’assister les communautés francophones dans la célébration de leur culture ainsi que dans la mise en valeur des espaces verts et des parcs.

Le samedi 16 juin (voir les détails de l’événement ci-dessous et dans les pièces jointes), nous organisons notre premier forum francophone qui a pour but d’aider les résidents intéressés à obtenir toute l’aide nécessaire pour organiser un événement. Nous aborderons tous les sujets cruciaux pour la planification d’un événement, tels que la publicité autour de ce dernier, la levée de fond, ou encore le renforcement des capacités organisationnelles. Cet événement a lieu pour aider les personnes expérimentées comme les débutants.
Continue reading “Forum Francophone des Parcs d’Ottawa 2018 – 16 juin” →

Community Association Board Meeting Agenda – May 31

Agenda

Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA) Board Meeting

Thursday May 31, 2018
7:30 PM at the Fieldhouse
Everybody Welcome

Board meetings will have an open session for community residents to observe business discussions. Non board community members will also be invited to participate at certain times by the chair and there will be “in camera” topics for the board members only.

Open session

  1. Approval of previous minutes of executive meeting April 5, 2018 and review of action items, attached – All
  2. Report of interim executive motions – All
    1. Discussions on the use of the $500 donation – Duncan, Michael, Jennie – Information (10 minutes)
      (Postponed from previous meeting)
  3. FCA Update – Roland – Information (3 Minutes)
  4. Ward Council Review and Action Item – Roland – Information (5 Minutes)
  5. Board discussion protocol: referring items back to committee, instead of board discussion – Decision – David (5 minutes)
  6. Membership canvassers: problems in finding volunteers – Jennie – Information (3 minutes)
  7. Update on feedback from TD Parks grant – Jennie – Information (5 minutes)
  8. Update on tree mapping, a tree planting guide, the planters – Daniel – Information / Decision (10 minutes)
  9. Website Branding – use of our name (Champlain Park Community Association) or acronym (CPCA) for meeting descriptions (i.e. Board Meeting) and in Website title
  10. CPCA Board e-mail distribution list – proposed omission of non-participating member – CoChair1 – Decision
  11. Allowing sufficient number of response days for e-mail votes – CoChair1 – Decision
  12. Vice President Position – Motion – CoChair1 – Decision
  13. City Permits Required for Community Events Requesting use of Park/Fieldhouse – Carol – Information
  14. Reimbursement of four permanent garage sale signs – Carol – Decision

What tree should I plant in a small yard? – June 9

Date: Sun, 27 May 2018 10:07:56 -0400
From: DANIEL BUCKLES <dbuckles@sas2.net>

What tree should I plant in a small yard?

[Flowering Catalpa Tree in a Small Front Yard]

If you have thought about planting a tree in your yard but don’t know what options to consider, Saturday June 9 is your opportunity to pick the brain of Owen Clarkin, famed Ottawa tree specialist. Owen Clarkin and I are developing a decision-guide for site assessment and selecting the right tree for you. Make an appointment with us for Saturday June 9 between 1:30 and 5:00 pm (half hour intervals) and we will come by your house to walk you through the steps: What is the vision for your property, what are the notable attributes of candidate trees, what risks to consider, how to care for your tree as it grows?

We are particularly keen to talk with residents in new infill houses so we can see what is possible in very small yards.

Contact Daniel Buckles (Co-chair CPCA Environment Committee) for an appointment (dbuckles@sas2.net) or 613-722-8048.

Convent Development Phase II Open House – June 6

From: “Mitchell, Fiona” <Fiona.Mitchell@ottawa.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 3:22 PM
Subject: 114 Richmond Rd – Ashcroft Homes Convent Development & Phase II Open House – June 6 7:00-8:30pm

Afternoon folks,

I wanted to give you direct notice that we are hosting a second open house for the Ashcroft Convent property, as well as what I’m referring to as their Phase II development, which is the rest of the undeveloped site, on June 6 from 7:00-8:30pm at the Van Lang Field House. Full details and some renderings from the development applications can be found on our blog:

https://kitchissippiward.ca/content/114-richmond-rd-ashcroft-homes-convent-development-phase-ii-open-house
Continue reading “Convent Development Phase II Open House – June 6” →

Local Crime Rash

Several people have been reporting minor theft from cars in the neighbourhood. If it happens to you, feel free to warn other neighbours by contacting your Neighbourhood Watch block captain, sending a message to the webmaster, or by posting on the neighbourhood Facebook group. If this gets bad enough, the Neighbourhood Watch can arrange for an education meeting about theft prevention. Though https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/safety-and-crime-prevention.asp is a good place to start (hmmm, there’s a section on what to do if your vehicle is broken into).

Please also let our local constable Dawn Neilly know so that even if they can’t catch the thieves, they can track the kind and locations of the crimes. https://champlainpark.org/neighbourhood-watch/reporting-incidentsemergencies-within-our-community/

Here’s a report from one of our neighbours about an event on the wee hours of May 17:

Just wanted to report that my car at xxx Cowley was broken into last night at around 2:45 AM. Nothing was stolen but the 2 culprits (both wearing black hoodies, one in beige pants) were heading North down the last block of Cowley towards the Ottawa River. During my drive around, I noted a few other cars around the neighbourhood with their doors ajar, or dome lights on so this may not be the only notification you receive.

Then there was a post last night (May 19) on the Facebook group about sunglasses being stolen overnight from a car, leaving the interior light on and door ajar. Car reportedly was locked. There’s another report of small change being stolen. Someone noted that baby gear is never stolen, so we can rule out desperate mothers as the thief :-).

– Alex

Re: Repaired Park Benches!

New boards on the picnic tables.

On 2018-05-15 08:52 PM, Heather Pearl wrote:

Hi neighbours. This note is an update to Alex’s message regarding the new / refurbished park benches and picnic tables. This truly was a successful team effort, led by Champlain Park resident Dominique Simoneau-Ritchie. Dominique was ably and enthusiastically assisted by residents Alex Smith and Carol Arnason, and Fiona Mitchell, who is Jeff Leiper’s Assistant.

As a result of the team effort, we not only have better furniture. Carol Arnason now has a contact in the City’s Public Works Department. Carol hopes to benefit Park users by fostering this relationship with Public Works, but she needs your help. As a first step, she would like to meet with neighbours who use the play area and pool during the summer. One goal is to involve residents in helping to maintain a safe, clean Park for their kids. Please be in touch.

Carol can be reached at arnasoncarol@gmail.com

Thank you,
Heather

pearhea@aol.com