Community Association Board Meeting – June 10

Agenda

Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA) Board Meeting

Thursday June 10, 2021
7:30 PM via Google Meet
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. Please contact the secretary via champlainpark@gmail.com to request a link to join the meeting.

Open session – draft agenda

  1. Approval of minutes of April 19, 2021 – Liz
  2. Report of interim motions – all
  3. FCA update – Roland (Information, 5 Minutes)
  4. Membership Fee Update – Dave
  5. Start discussions on Registering the CPCA as a charitable organization and assign a board member to lead – Adrian (Guest Lana Saleh will contribute her expertise also)
  6. CPCA Signing authority – Adrian – quickly discuss and agree who can sign for:
    a) 2021-22 NCC Winter Passes for Non-Profits
    b) Register for Non-Profit Software Licenses
  7. Update on our Insurance (Lynne, Liz)
  8. Other Business
  9. Next Meeting

Forest Artists with Don Monet

Are you a struggling student artist? Work with a pro and help your neighbourhood too by documenting the amazing green transformation going on right here in Champlain Park.

If you have been down to the river you will have seen the pollinator garden at the end of Carleton, and the “Tiny Forest” that has popped up along Pontiac.

[Black Walnut Way - tree planting along Pontiac Street]

There are other delights in the woods too that are the fruit of local volunteers with the Champlain Park Community Association.

We would like your help (photographers, painters, sculptors, etc.) to showcase the plant biodiversity and volunteer spirit we are bringing into the neighbourhood.

Don Monet, painter and owner of Ottawa’s CUBE Gallery, lives here too and would be happy to mentor or otherwise support you in a local art project focused on the green transformation. If interested, contact Daniel Buckles (daniel.buckles@gmail.com) for a virtual introduction to Don.

Calling all High School Students! – Reminder

Looking for a fun place to volunteer?

[Pollinator garden with pots of new plants waiting]

The Champlain Park Community needs your help caring for plants and tiny forests (watering, weeding and maintenance).

“It is really nice to spend some time outside in the forest, and you get volunteer hours too! If you love to be outdoors and help out your community, this is the place for you!”

says student volunteer Natasha L.

You can expand your knowledge about plants and trees and species of bugs, and meet new people, all while getting volunteer hours. It is all outdoors, so there is plenty of space to social distance and stay safe!

If you are interested, please contact Daniel Buckles (daniel.buckles@gmail.com)

Westboro Beach Update

Some news from the NCC on their Westboro Beach renovation. Didn’t realise that there would be a Churchill avenue underpass; that explains all the construction on the SJAM parkway! Copied from their newsletter which doesn’t have a corresponding web page…

Westboro Beach Pavilion Project Update

(Le français suit)

The National Capital Commission (NCC) would like to provide an update regarding the Westboro Beach redevelopment project.

Below, you’ll find the most recent information about construction work, the new pavilions and the development of parking areas.

Westboro Beach pavilions and landscaping

Over the past year, our team has been working on furthering the design development for the new and rehabilitated pavilions at Westboro Beach. We’ve progressed from the ideas phase to a concrete plan. Also, drawing on the rich and diverse feedback provided by community members, we have developed a design that we think will please all who visit this enchanting site. Here is a short video illustrating the proposed design.


Continue reading “Westboro Beach Update” →

Busy as Bees

Yesterday was World Bee Day, raising awareness about the contributions of bees to pollination of plants (including food crops). The Champlain Park Community Association volunteers have been busy planting the pollinator garden at the end of Carleton Avenue, and planting a mini-forest in the empty space east along Pontiac Avenue to Northwestern. Some 170 trees have gone in there. Beginning Saturday, we will be breaking up the gravel shoulder to the former Pontiac roadway, along the north edge of the woods, in preparation for fall planting of shrubs, trees and butterfly plants currently in backyard tree nurseries. Each of our 7 planters are being cared for by volunteer gardeners.

All activities are designed to beautify the connection between our community and the “Kitchi Sibi” (“Great River” in Algonquin), and are permitted by the NCC and the City.

Are you able to help? We need help watering plants, weeding in some locations, building chicken wire cages to protect saplings, etc. so please contact CPCATrees@gmail.com for details. Donations to the Association are also welcome as they help buy what volunteers can’t make (e-transfer to FinancesCPCA@gmail.com). Everyone can pitch in by bringing water to fill the rain barrels set up on a direct “bee line” to the beach.

[Pollinator Garden Area before and after Garden Created]
Pollinator Garden Area before (top) and after (bottom) Garden Created.

Calling all High School Students!

Do you need to log “volunteer hours” in order to graduate?

Would you like those hours to be spent outdoors, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air?

If so, then the Champlain Park Community Association is the partner for you. We need volunteers to help with greening of our neighbourhood (care for plants, digging gardens, maintenance in the Champlain Woods, etc.).

If interested, contact Daniel Buckles (daniel.buckles@gmail.com).

Planting Spots Available

Subject: Re: Planters flourishing
Date: Tue, 18 May 2021 10:32
From: Alexandra Evershed

Calling all gardeners!

Have you noticed the large planters at the north end of Champlain park that block off the de-paved area?

These are planted and tended by some of your neighbours. A couple of planters are available this year. As the adoptive parent of a planter, you would be responsible for filling it (herbs, vegetables, or colourful flowers) and tending it. Please reach out to Alexandra at alexandra@evershed.ca if you are interested.

Thank you!

[Planter with new Herbs]