Star Gazing in the Park – August 13

FREE FAMILY STAR GAZING IN THE PARK

Saturday August 13
(Aug. 14 Rain Date)

Champlain Park
(140 Carleton Ave.)

Outdoor Lecture: Astronomy Basics

with Gary Boyle (near the Fieldhouse), 8:00 – 8:30 pm

Gary is an astronomer, educator and lecturer, dedicated to public outreach. He is also a national media contact on various astronomical events and a columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Backyard Astronomer. In 2017, Gary was recognized by the International Astronomical Union with the naming of asteroid 22406, “Garyboyle” in his honour.

Telescope Star Party in the Park

Aprox 8:30 – 11:30 pm

After the sun sets, a family-friendly star viewing in Champlain Park with telescopes and astronomers from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Ottawa Centre. Also bring your own telescope to add to the fun!

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Physical distancing even at outdoor events is recommended by Ottawa Public Health and this will be encouraged at the event to keep everybody safe. If distancing is not possible, wearing a mask is recommended.

[Poster for Nocturne 2022 Star Gazing in the Park on August 13 2022]

Beware of “grandparent scam”

Forwarded from Ottawa Police Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for July 22, 2022

Contact Cst. Stephanie Lemieux directly (east of O-Train, Line 2) at lemieuxs@ottawapolice.ca or 613-236-1222, ext. 5290.

Contact Cst. Darren Joseph directly (west of O-Train, Line 2) at josephd@ottawapolice.ca or 613-236-1222, ext. 5871.

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Watch out for “grandparent scam” fraudsters

The Ottawa Police Service is advising residents that the ‘grandparent’ scam is very active this summer, with 20 reports received in the past 7 days alone. Victims have been defrauded of large amounts of cash, ranging from $10,000 to 30,000.
Continue reading “Beware of “grandparent scam”” →

Membership Drive 2022 – August 20 to September 30

We are returning to our annual Champlain Park door-to-door membership drive this year.

Cost: per household: $20 (Preferably cash or cheque – with an option for e-transfer)

This helps us support the various community events (sleigh rides, fun runs, Winter Carnival, bonfire and more), community projects (like gardens and forest work) and raise our voice in response to changes from the city and developers. Members also get a vote at the AGM.
[Audience in our park watching A Company of Fools put on The Tempest, summer 2022]

Urgently needed: Volunteers
We need an additional 6 – 8 new canvas volunteers to assist with the membership drive.

It’s a fun and easy way to meet more neighbours.

What’s involved: a few hours of your time (usually late afternoon or evening or on weekends)
Visit about 20 houses on a designated street in the neighbourhood to collect fees and provide neighbours with a one-page handout that highlights the various activities of the Association.

Our canvas volunteers are the core of our Champlain Park Community Association fundraising efforts. Revenues collected enable a variety of community association activities.

If you are able to help or want more information, please contact: Jennie Hornosty (membership coordinator) at email: champlainpark@gmail.com with the subject line: membership drive.

Kot Family Memorial Bench

Memorial Bench Installed on Pontiac Street to Remember Longtime Residents of Cowley Avenue, Steve and Kay Kot

[New Bench on Pontiac Street at Mini-Forest]

If you are walking or biking along the unpaved section of Pontiac Street between Cowley Ave. and Carleton Ave. you will see that the City has installed a new bench facing Champlain Park. The following reflection on the history of her parents and of growing up across the street from Champlain Park during the 1960’s and 1970’s was contributed by Mary Ellen Kot:

[Kot Mom and Dad]
Dad and Mom.

The Kot family, (Mary Ellen, Kathleen, Patricia, Theresa, James and Stephen) is happy to donate a bench to the Champlain Park Community, in memory of our parents, Kay and Steve Kot. Mom (Kathleen Bull) spent all her life (1927-2020) in the west end of Ottawa. She lived at 45 Barrington (later re-named 311 Spencer St.), with her mother and brothers. Dad was from a farming family in Saskatchewan. He came to Ottawa in 1948 to work for the Patent Office of the federal government. His first office was in the Langevin Building where he enjoyed a view of the Parliament buildings. After they married in 1952, Dad joined Mom’s family on Spencer St.
Continue reading “Kot Family Memorial Bench” →

Bicycle Safe Riding Workshops for Kids

The Ottawa Safety Council is running several CycleSafe Workshops throughout the City this summer!

These workshops are open to children aged 5-14 years old, cost $30/child and range in duration from 45 minutes to 2 hours.

Less about how to ride a bike, these workshops focus primarily on safety concepts and awareness needed to share the road safely with other road users, including: anticipating and understanding other road users’ perspectives and actions, Selective Attention, parked cars, positioning on the road, weather conditions and terrain, falling safely, communicating with other road users, hazard scanning, navigating intersections/driveways and right of way.

For more information visit: https://www.ottawasafetycouncil.ca/cycle-safe/
To register your child visit: https://form.jotform.com/211713495890259

[Poster for Cyclesafe Workshops 2022]

Pollinator Garden is Open

The Champlain Park Community Association is pleased to welcome one and all to our neighbourhood’s public Pollinator Garden. Come enjoy the flowers and try to spot the Monarch Butterflies. Access can be gained on the side of the garden facing Pontiac St. Please remain on the pathways when visiting; feel free to bring some water for the plants.

While in the area you can also visit the new Rain Garden, Planters, and our nascent mini-forests along Pontiac St. So much to see-and it will only get even better with time.

Many thanks to our Committee green thumbs for all their hard work in curating, planting and caring for these wonderful additions to our neighbourhood-special thanks to Kris, John, Catherine, Daniel, Joscelyn and all of our Planter Caretakers!

[Pollinator Garden front view]
Continue reading “Pollinator Garden is Open” →

New Home Air Quality Study

Since so many people in our neighbourhood have new houses, this may be of interest. And they send you a report too…

Are you moving into a newly built home in Ottawa? Health Canada wants to better understand indoor air quality in new homes. Find out if you qualify for this research study! Pls RT & share! visit https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/study-new-homes-ottawa-gatineau.html

Vous emménagez dans une maison nouvellement construite à Ottawa? Santé Canada veut mieux comprendre la qualité de l’air intérieur dans les maisons neuves. Découvrez si vous êtes admissible à cette étude de recherche! RT & partagez svp ! https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-canada/services/qualite-air/etude-maisons-neuves-ottawa-gatineau.html

[Poster with a house that has rooms labelled for air quality effects]

The Tempest in Our Park! – July 8

Heads Up and Save the Date!

A Company of Fools returns to Champlain Park this summer.

Date: Friday July 8, 2022
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Duration: 90 minutes
Play: Shakespeare’s The Tempest

Bring your own chairs, your snacks and drinks, family and friends. The actors request that you pay what you can in cash when they pass the hat at the end of the play. We welcome them back to our park on the 32nd anniversary of their outdoor summer entertainment program in City of Ottawa parks!

[Colourful wooden two story set with actors]

From The Fools: A shipwreck. A deserted island. A man with a 12 year-old grudge. Betrayal. Revenge. Magic. And a little bit of power imbalance thrown in for good measure.
Continue reading “The Tempest in Our Park! – July 8” →

OC Transpo Scott Street Bus Detour

Scott St. Bus Detour in effect starting today

The Transitway will permanently close between Tunney’s Pasture and Dominion Stations to allow for construction of the Stage 2 O-Train extensions to Algonquin and Moodie Stations. The closures and bus detours will be implemented in phases starting Thursday, June 23, until Sunday, June 26. There will be temporary bus stop and station access adjustments at Tunney’s Pasture Station to accommodate the transition to the new detour routing. Customers travelling during the transition period should check octranspo.com for details on bus stop changes and detours.

  • Buses will travel on Scott Street.
  • At Westboro Station customers will use temporary bus platforms on Scott Street. The station roadway and building will be closed.
  • Routes 62 and 75 will provide service to a pair of stops on Scott Street at Island Park Drive. No other detoured bus routes will serve these stops.
  • At Dominion Station, customers will use new temporary bus platforms on the realigned temporary Transitway.

At Dominion, Westboro, Tunney’s Pasture and Iris stations, signage will help direct customers to the interim access points and bus stops, and OC Transpo staff will be on site over the first number of days to assist. For the latest detour information, visit octranspo.com/alerts.

Visit octranspo.com or call 613-560-5000 for more information about OC Transpo construction detours and summer service and schedules. You can also connect with OC Transpo through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.