This morning visiting dignitaries officially opened the opening in the fence at Champlain Park, then went down to Remic Rapids for the SJAM Ski Festival.
Here’s part of the story, in photos and video.
Continue reading “Ribbon Cutting at the SJAM Winter Trail Fence Gap”
It’s going to be busy in the park this weekend and we hope you will be able to join us with your family and friends for both of these winter events – the Winter Carnival on Saturday and SJAM Winter Trail Celebration and Ski Festival on Sunday.
Our Winter Carnival event organizers are asking for your help with the following, if you have some free time for a few hours:
Thanks, we appreciate your support and hope you have fun!
Here’s the Ski Festival schedule from Dave Adams:
Just a reminder that our Winter Carnival is being held this Saturday, see https://champlainpark.org/2018/01/06/winter-carnival-january-27/ for details (Chili contest, Horses, Music, Hockey, Skating and more). Contact the organizers if you have questions or want to help out.
![[Horses pulling a sleigh]](https://champlainpark.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wintercarnival2013.png?w=863)
Just a reminder about the Sunday Ski Festival described in a previous post.
It’s starting on morning of January 28th with a ribbon cutting at the new Pontiac Fence Crossing at 09:10, followed by the delegates skiing to the Remic Rapids ski festival site by 09:30.
See the attached Media Invitation from the NCC for more information. Check the Ski Festival web site http://sjam.ca/ for weather updates.
MI – Sir John A. Macdonald Winter Trail Celebration and Ski Festival.pdf
Just a note that the FCA is putting on a workshop titled “Ottawa – a City of Neighbourhoods” on the topic of:
It is intended to be a forum for discussion about planning among community associations, residents, city officials and the development industry. It is an opportunity to learn about planning issues, solutions and a long term vision for neighbourhoods in Ottawa.
See http://fca-fac.ca/2018/01/jan-27-weekend-workshop-ottawa-a-city-of-neighbourhoods/ for information. One of our co-chairs, Heather, will be attending and everyone else is welcome to attend.
From: Lea Scherer <lea.scherer@ecologyottawa.ca>
Subject: Environmental concerns & Park Month
Sent: Mon, Jan 15, 2018 2:15 pm
Hi Champlain Park Community Association,
Thank you for all that you do to make your community a better place. Ecology Ottawa, a local grassroots environmental organization, is planning a busy 2018 and we need your community association’s help.
Below, you will find two requests for action. We hope you can take the time to respond. We look forward to building a better Ottawa with your community’s help.
If you’re interested, please apply to the Park People directly and send a note to the Champlain Park Community Association to keep us in the loop and to check for scheduling conflicts.
When our parks come alive, people are happier, communities are more connected and cities thrive. That’s why the TD Park People Grants will provide $2000 to groups from Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal to help make community events like movie nights, harvest festivals and nature walks happen in parks.
I just noticed that there will be a ski festival on the Winter Trail at the end of the month. There are also rumours of a ribbon cutting in the morning at the Pontiac street fence opening, as mentioned in Jeff Leiper’s newsletter: “I hope you’ll join us at 9:00 am in Champlain Park to kick the day off as reps from the NCC, other levels of government, and I mark the new opening in the fence that used to divide the City and NCC parks. With that portion of Pontiac closed, the two parks will become more and more seamless in the coming months.”
There is a related Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/2023935901181789/ General trail info is at http://www.wintertrail.ca/ and our notes are at https://champlainpark.org/sjam-winter-trail/ The key details from the ski festival’s web site http://sjam.ca/ are:
![[Skier with ski trailer for their child]](https://champlainpark.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20161225_134346_as_9788-skier-with-ski-trailer-for-their-child.jpeg)
Maybe this Facebook post from the winter trail people https://www.facebook.com/SJAM.Winter.Trail/posts/1547964968605663 about improving the trail in Kitchissippi Woods and this forestry work notice from the NCC are related…
Subject: Ash tree removal along the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway by Island Park Drive/ Abattage de frênes le long de la promenade Sir-John-A.-Macdonald à proximité de la promenade Island Park CRM:0025365
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2018 16:40:55 -0500
From: Jocelyne Moncion <jocelyne.moncion@ncc-ccn.ca>
(le texte français suit)
Hello,
As part of its emerald ash borer management strategy, the National Capital Commission (NCC) will be removing ash trees affected by the emerald ash borer along the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway close to Island Park Drive.
Continue reading “Forest Work in Progress”
We had our first and very successful Community Bonfire this past Sunday. Many neighbours, their families and friends and people passing-by enjoyed meeting around a burning fire, skating on the rink or skiing on the SJAM trail with its new path through the woods and over Pontiac to Champlain Park. They braved extreme cold temperatures while enjoying warmth from the fire, hot drinks, the roasting of marshmallows and s’mores.
First, thanks go to community event organizers Jim Cocks, Bill Baggs. They set it up and did most of the work.
Many thanks to Jeff Leiper and his staff (Emma Kenny and Fiona Mitchell-Gougeon) and city workers for supplying the fire kit and cleaning it up later. Thanks to Bushtukah, and Bridgehead for their support in helping make this happen.
Thanks to Dave Adams for getting the SJAM trail in such good shape (even flattening the area around the fire and tent) and Jim Kot for the Outdoor Rink (ODR) being in such good condition after the recent thaw.
The volunteer event organizers Jim and Bill would also like to thank Adrian Bradley for being the link between the community association and his assistance in advertising and promoting the event.
Here’s the story of the event in photos (click for high-res versions, if available)…
Continue reading “Community Bonfire Wrap-up”
![[Logo as used in Home Page and Elsewhere]](https://champlainpark.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cropped-champlain-park-logo-emily-2020.08.06.jpg?w=104){kind=logo}
Champlain Park Community 