Councillor Jan Harder

Latest News

Keep your children A1Secure in your vehicle at all times
Wednesday May 15, 2013

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) and its partners want to make sure children passengers are safe by following three easy steps.

Today, at l’Hôpital Montfort ,Deputy Mayor Steve Desroches; Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health; Mrs. Lucille Perreault, vice-president, Clinical Services, Hôpital Montfort; Josée Bessette, regional planner, Ontario Ministry of Transportation; and Inspector Murray Knowles, Ottawa Police Service, unveiled the new city-wide A1Secure child passenger safety campaign.

The campaign was made possible thanks to collaboration between Ottawa Public Health, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and the Safer Roads Ottawa program (SRO). SRO is a leading community partnership between Ottawa Fire Services, Ottawa Paramedic Service, Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa Public Health and the Public Works Department.

“The City of Ottawa is pleased to see this partnership working collaboratively to reduce injuries and save the lives of our young children”, states Deputy Mayor Desroches. “This partnership will help raise awareness of the proper use of car seats and direct residents to available resources such as A1Secure.ca, a website designed here in Ottawa.”
The campaign asks all parents to think A1Secure for every car ride:

Armpit level for harness chest clip.
1 finger space only between harness straps and the child’s chest.
Secure child car seat to vehicle according to the child car seat’s user guide.

“Motor vehicle collisions are a leading cause of death for children in Canada”, said Dr. Levy. “A properly installed car seat can reduce the risk of serious injury or death by as much as 74 per cent and we highly recommend that parents think A1Secure for every car ride.”

“Car seat safety is of the utmost importance for us at Hôpital Montfort. That’s why we are happy to participate in the A1Secure’s program and value very much the training and resources provided by Ottawa Public Health,” states Montfort’s Dr. Moreau.
“The intent of this campaign is to educate parents and caregivers on A1Secure’s three basic steps to installing their child’s car seat and also, very importantly, properly securing their child in the car seat,” stated Josée Bessette, of theOntario Ministry of Transportation.

For more information on the A1Secure campaign and car seat safety videos visit A1Secure.ca or call the Ottawa Public Health Information line at 613-580-6744. You can also follow OPH on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and now on Pinterest.

Fireworks By-law will be enforced Victoria Day weekend
Tuesday May 14, 2013

The City reminds residents who are planning to use fireworks this Victoria Day weekend to practice caution and comply with the Fireworks By-law to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday.

With the increased fire risk from the recent warm and dry weather, Ottawa Fire Services also extends the word of caution when using any other kind of ignition source, such as candles or barbeques.

The City’s Fireworks By-law outlines the rules around fireworks use. Anyone planning to have fireworks displays over the Victoria Day weekend should do so in a safe and courteous manner.

Consumer fireworks may be discharged on the day of, the day before or the day after Victoria Day. They must be discharged by someone 18 years or older, and on private property, with permission of the property owner. The fireworks display must not cause danger or nuisance to any person or property.

It is also important to note that the sale of consumer fireworks, except on Victoria Day and the seven business days immediately preceding Victoria Day, is prohibited.

Display fireworks, such as those on Parliament Hill and smaller-scale versions at public parks on Victoria Day weekend, may only be discharged by someone over 18 who holds a permit issued by the Ottawa Fire Chief. Applications for these permits must be submitted 30 days before the intended display.

Firecrackers are prohibited from being used or sold in the City of Ottawa or Province of Ontario. Anyone selling, purchasing or using firecrackers within the City of Ottawa is in violation of the Fireworks By-law as well as provincial law.

Please review Ottawa’s Fireworks By-law on ottawa.ca for further details.

Residents wanting more information or having questions about the Fireworks By-law can contact 3-1-1.

City honours exemplary transit employees
Tuesday May 14, 2013

sdfThe City of Ottawa today recognized the selfless actions of 15 OC Transpo employees for going above and beyond the call of duty to provide aid and comfort to residents in need at the 23rd annual Transecure Awards.

“Today we recognize 15 individuals for their selfless acts of heroism and kindness,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “On behalf of the City of Ottawa, a heartfelt thank you goes to every employee who strives to make our city better and safer to live in, work and play.”

OC Transpo employee Cesar Calderon was named the 2012 Transecure Employee of the Year. Mr. Calderon was recognized for his role in helping two individuals in a dangerous situation. The Transecure program is a community watch program on wheels, with OC Transpo employees looking out for the safety of all people by notifying emergency services, assisting individuals in distress and offering a safe haven in any OC Transpo vehicle.

Mr. Calderon, who is a Para Transpo bus operator, was working on the evening of September 3, 2012, when he risked his own safety to help two individuals who were in considerable danger. While working in the Taché Boulevard and Booth Street area, he noticed two men using white canes walking in an area with no sidewalks and no safe means of passage. After parking his bus and informing his passengers onboard, Mr. Calderon crossed four lanes of traffic to reach the men. He introduced himself as a Para Transpo operator and offered assistance, then safely guided them back across several lanes of traffic and up the hill to a bus stop. Mr. Calderon returned to his bus and continued on his route.

“This year’s Transecure recipients remind us of the collaborative efforts to make our buses, streets and communities safer places,” said Coucillor Diane Deans, Chair of the Transit Commission. “The dedication to residents’ well being shown by these individuals make OC Transpo one of the safest transit systems in North America.”

For more information on the programs OC Transpo has in place to make transit safe and secure, please visit octranspo.com.

Residents can now view and vote for their favourite Apps4Ottawa submissions
Tuesday May 14, 2013

App submissions are now open for residents to view and vote for their favourites in the Apps4Ottawa contest. The apps are designed for smart phones, mobile devices or personal computers. Voting ends May 31.

To vote, citizens can go to Apps4Ottawa.ca and register. The app submissions are categorized into four themes: On the Move, Having Fun, Your City and a brand new category for Data Analysis and Visualizations.

Information for each app is on the website, outlining its functionality and capabilities.
The winning apps will be announced at a ceremony this June .Cash prizes will total $38,000 with the top prize in each category set at $3,000. There will also be prizes for Silver and Bronze in each category, plus one prize each for the best student app and the people’s choice app, which will be based on the public’s votes. There are also prizes for the top Microsoft 8 apps.

Microsoft is the title sponsor for the Apps4Ottawa competition and category sponsors include Nova Networks, Oracle, TELUS, and CGI. Smart Cell, Ideavibes, Decisive Technologies and Cisco have also provided support to the contest.

To vote and view the app submissions, visit Apps4Ottawa.ca.

Roadwork begins at Nicholas Street and Laurier Avenue
Tuesday May 14, 2013

Construction work begins tomorrow at the Nicholas Street and Laurier Avenue intersection. The activity will include the relocation of traffic-control signals and associated work. Most of the work will occur off the roadway with short-term, right-turn lane closures occurring as required; there may also be work in the evening hours.

Beginning May 21, additional construction and lane closures will be in place on Nicholas Street, both north and south of Laurier Avenue. Laurier Avenue, between Nicholas Street and Waller Avenue, will be impacted. There will be no daytime impact on the Transitway. A majority of the work is scheduled during evening hours but the public should expect midday lane closures during this period.

This work is being done in preparation for the re-alignment of a short section of the Transitway. Before work to the East Tunnel portal of the Confederation Line can be started later this summer, the existing Transitway, south of Laurier Avenue, must be re-aligned along the east side of Nicholas Street. To accommodate the construction, traffic at Nicholas Street and Laurier Avenue will be shifted to the west.

Commuters are advised to plan ahead for delays and longer commutes. To reduce congestion, the public is encouraged to use transit, walk or cycle within the city. The City of Ottawa offers the public tips and tools for road travellers. Information is available on ottawa.ca.
Variable Message Signs are posted in the vicinity of this construction activity and will notify road users of traffic impacts. The realignment is expected to be completed by early July.

Further information will be shared with the public in advance of construction. Additional information about the project and ongoing roadwork is available on ottawa.ca.

Intermittent lane closures on Carling Avenue
Friday May 10, 2013

The westbound lane on Carling Avenue between Woodroffe Avenue and Alpine Avenue will be intermittently closed to accommodate road rehabilitation work from Monday, May 13 until Friday, June 14.

This resurfacing project requires milling and the repaving of the road. Different operations require segments of the lane to be closed. Sections will be closed for hours each day during this period. Motorists are advised to exercise caution when travelling through this area.

For further information about construction projects in Ottawa and for travel tips to ease disruption during work please visit ottawa.ca.

Fourteen children recognized at 9-1-1 Awards
Friday May 10, 2013

Fourteen of Ottawa’s most courageous and quick-thinking young residents were honoured at the City of Ottawa’s 15th annual 9-1-1 Children’s Achievement Awards, presented today at Ben Franklin Place.

The 9-1-1 Children’s Achievement Awards, in partnership with Bell Canada, are celebrated every year during Emergency Preparedness Week. Established in 1994, the award recognizes children under age 12 who effectively use the 9-1-1 service.

Mayor Jim Watson was joined by Councillor Mark Taylor, Chair of Community and Protective Services Committee, and Councillors Jan Harder, Keith Egli, Peter Clark, Maria McRae, Stephen Blais and Steve Desroches to present awards to recipients, who all called 9-1-1 when faced with an emergency.

“Every day, we all work together to make the community safer than it was yesterday, and we can rest assured that even our young residents are doing their part,” said Mayor Watson. “These fourteen individuals demonstrated a maturity beyond their years when they made the right call and are outstanding examples for our community.”

The City continues to reach out to all residents—not just children—on how and when to use the 9-1-1 service. The service should only be used for emergency situations. Misuse of the 9-1-1 system or accidental calls can result in delays in responding to real emergencies.

“I would like to thank and congratulate our fourteen young recipients today for using the 9-1-1 service so effectively and acting as role models to both their peers and the entire community,” said Councillor Taylor. “Even though each of their situations were unique, their decisive actions prove that they care very deeply for their loved ones and their community.”

Also in attendance were Fire Services Deputy Chief Kim Ayotte, Acting Paramedic Deputy Chief of Special Operations Brent Winchcombe, Ottawa Police Superintendant Mike Flanagan, Security and Emergency Management Chief Pierre Poirier and Bell Canada Regional Director Sandy Clement.

City Council approves Accountability Framework
Wednesday May 08, 2013

City Council has approved the remaining pieces of the City’s Accountability Framework, as recommended by the City’s Integrity Commissioner, Robert Marleau, continuing its commitment to making municipal government more transparent and accountable to the public.

The Code of Conduct for Members of Council, Gifts Registry, Council Expense Policy and Community, Fundraising and Special Events Policy, in addition to the existing Public Disclosure of Office Expenses, Integrity Commissioner and Lobbyist Registry, constitute the most comprehensive set of integrity guidelines and practises implemented voluntarilyat the municipal level in the Province of Ontario.

The final pieces of the City Council’s Accountability Framework, as approved by City Council, include:

Code of Conduct for Members of Council: The Code is based on the view that elected officials make decisions with an open mind, with concern for the public good and not personal benefit, and without giving preferential treatment to family, friends and supporters. The Code emphasizes that elected officials should be seen to be open about the manner in which they perform their role as Members of Council, with proactive disclosure being an important tool to increase public trust. The Code will also apply to citizen members of the Transit Commission and Built Heritage Sub-Committee with respect to City business.
Gifts Registry: Members will disclose all gifts, benefits and hospitality received which individually exceed $30 from one source in a calendar year. Event tickets of a value exceeding $30 will also be disclosed, listing who attended with the Member or, if donated, to whom or to what organization the ticket was donated. Disclosures will be listed quarterly on ottawa.ca.
Council Expense Policy: Will guide how Members of Council spend their Constituency Services Budgets. It reflects current practices and reinforces the existing rules and restrictions surrounding Corporate/Purchasing Cards, as well as a Member’s personal liability with respect to any budget overages and strengthens accounting practices based on audits in other jurisdictions. It also includes adding public disclosure for all City-related business travel, establishing a 3.5% cap for donations and prohibiting contributions to other City-funded programs and services except by Council motion.
Community, Fundraising and Special Events Policy: A new, formal policy to govern Member events and Members’ benevolent (charitable) activities. It codifies current accounting practices for specific, sponsored events and prohibits the solicitation or acceptance of donations or sponsorships from a lobbyist, or their clients or employees of the client, with active registrations in the Lobbyist Registry without pre-approval from the Integrity Commissioner. It establishes procedures surrounding third-party organized charitable events sponsored by a Member, and provides additional guidelines for municipal election years, while requiring the annual disclosure of sponsorships and expenses related to some specific Member-organized events.

The framework reflects extensive consultation with every Member of Council and other integrity officials, as well as collaboration with the City Clerk and Solicitor and his staff.
The Code of Conduct and its companion pieces will take effect on July 1, 2013.

New food vendors to add flavour to Ottawa's streets
Wednesday May 08, 2013

The City of Ottawa gave people visiting City Hall’s Marion Dewar Plaza a taste of what’s coming to Ottawa streets this year by showcasing some of the 18 new cart and truck food vendors that will be located at various locations across the city.

“Ottawa is becoming renowned for our wide variety of restaurants, and as a dynamic and vibrant city,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “Today, we wanted to give people a taste of the great street food that will be offered this year by our new food vendors. And at the same time, this Street Food Showcase gives people a flavour of some of great activities that will be going on at City Hall all year long.”

The new vendors are the result of the City launching its Street Vending Program last fall, where 61 applications were received and reviewed by volunteer experts. It was the first time since 1996 that the City has added new street vendor licenses.

“We were very grateful of our volunteer panel of experts,” said Community and Protective Services Chair, Councillor Mark Taylor. “The business plans and the menus of the applicants were reviewed by the panel and in three short months the vendors have taken their concept from vision to reality. Today we tasted the results and they are amazing – excellent quality and diverse menu selections that will be well received by our residents and visitors.”

The volunteer selection panel was made up of five members representing the Ontario Restaurant, Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA), Canadian Culinary Federation (Ottawa Branch), Savour Ottawa, Just Food and Ottawa Public Health.

The 18 new vendors will begin selling their food in the next few weeks at various locations across the city. To see the new vendors and their locations, visit ottawa.ca.

Alive@25 Draw Winner Announced
Monday May 06, 2013

Congratulations to Joy Forbes who won the draw for the summer gift basket displayed at Councillor Harder's table during the Alive@25 community event on Saturday!

Councilor Harder will be having another draw at the Nepean Sportsplex's 40th Anniversary Celebrations on Saturday June 8th so drop by her table at that event to enter!

For details about the Nepean Sportsplex's 40th Anniversary Celebrations, please click on Upcomming Events.

Lighting Up Ottawa-Gatineau Orange for Melanoma Monday
Monday May 06, 2013

At sunset today, the Heritage Building at Ottawa City Hall and a prominent work of art at Gatineau City Hall will be illuminated in orange lights to show solidarity with cities across Canada. Light it Orange for Melanoma Monday puts the spotlight on skin cancer in support of the Canadian Dermatology Association’s efforts to prevent and detect skin cancer.

“In 2011, an estimated 36,160 new cases of skin cancer were diagnosed in Ontario, of which seven per cent (2500) were melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer,” said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, a skin cancer survivor himself. “In the City of Ottawa, melanoma is now the fourth most common form of cancer diagnosed in youth and young adults. The good news is that skin cancer can be prevented and treated successfully when diagnosed early.”

“The City of Gatineau is pleased to participate in this initiative, which aims to raise awareness among citizens to the danger of skin cancer. In Quebec, it is estimated that fifteen people die each month of melanoma, the most deadly skin cancer. Since February 11, 2013, it is prohibited in Quebec for persons under 18 years of age to attend tanning salons. To underline its support for the fight against melanoma, Gatineau will illuminate the artwork Edroesfero in orange, which overlooks the Hall des Nations in the Maison du Citoyen, Gatineau’s city hall,” said the Mayor of Gatineau, Marc Bureau.

In 2009, the World Health Organization classified ultraviolet radiation (UV) emitting devices, such as tanning beds or lamps, as causing cancer in humans. Furthermore, studies have shown that indoor tanning before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma skin cancer by 75 per cent.

“Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun and indoor tanning causes premature wrinkling, eye damage, a weakened immune system and skin cancer,” states Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health.

Bill 30 was recently introduced in the Ontario legislature receiving strong support from all parties. If passed, the new regulation will help protect Ontario youth from skin cancer and will increase public awareness of the serious health risks associated with indoor tanning. Six other Canadian provinces, including Quebec, have introduced or passed similar regulations. The Ottawa Board of Health has sent a letter of support to the provincial government, advocating for legislation to ban youth under 18 from using indoor tanning equipment.
To protect against UV rays when outdoors this summer, remember to:

Reduce exposure – avoid prolonged exposure to the sun
Cover up – wear a hat with a wide brim to protect your face, ears and neck and wear sunglasses that provide 100 per cent UVA and UBV protection
Seek shade – limit your time in the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., do outdoor activities under a tree, umbrella or in the shade of a building and create shade by planting trees or by using partial roofs, awnings and gazebo tents
Use sunscreen – choose a sunscreen and lip balm that blocks UVA and UVB rays with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher

Enjoy the skin you’re in, no tan required.
For more information about how to protect yourself from ultraviolet radiation, please visit ottawa.ca/health or call 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656). You can also connect with Ottawa Public Health on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and now on Pinterest.

City showcases what's on the menu on Ottawa's streets in 2013
Monday May 06, 2013

Mayor Jim Watson and Community and Protective Services Chair, Councillor Mark Taylor will be joined by special guest, James Cunningham, host of the Food Network’s popular T.V. show Eat St., to present Ottawa’s Street Food Showcase at Ottawa City Hall. The event will display some of the 18 new cart and truck food vendors that will be located at various locations around the city.

Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Time: 12:30 p.m. – speeches and photo op

Location: Marion Dewar (Festival) Plaza at Ottawa City Hall
110 Laurier Avenue West

People attending the event can contribute $10 to the Shepherds of Good Hope to receive a bracelet that will allow them sample some of the menu offerings of the new vendors. The Street Food Showcase will run between 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. The same vendors will also provide samples at the Writer’s Festival that will take place at City Hall in the evening.

Youth speak! Let's listen, then act: Community Meeting of the Ottawa Board of Health
Monday May 06, 2013

Today, the Ottawa Board of Health is leaving City Hall and heading out into the community to host a meeting about health issues facing today’s young people. Members of the public and the media are invited to hear youth speak about the health topics that matter to them, and to learn about public health programming that addresses youth issues.

“This meeting is about giving young people a forum to share their points of view about health issues that are important to them and learning how they are engaged in youth-focused health programs,” said Councillor Diane Holmes, Chair of the Ottawa Board of Health. “I’m honoured that they will be sharing their experiences with us.”

The first part of the meeting will profile Photovoice, an innovative contest that offers youth the opportunity to document their community’s strengths and challenges through photography. Awards will be presented to the first, second and third place winners. An extensive gallery of contest photos will be on display.

“The photos are powerful illustrations of issues that youth are dealing with everyday: in school, at home and in their community,” said Kayla Ackehurst-Richard, last year’s Photovoice winner. “Photography is a great way to see a young person’s perspective on issues, like mental health, bullying and active transportation.”

Following the awards ceremony, Joanne Lowe, Executive Director of the Youth Services Bureau, Dr. Alison Freeland, Associate Chief of Psychiatry of the Royal, as well as Alex Munter, CEO and President of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, will be providing an update on a new and innovative treatment program for youth with recurring and complex mental health issues. Alex Munter will also take the opportunity to discuss the Healthy Kids Strategy, which forms part of the evening’s agenda.

As well, Ottawa-area youth will be presenting their stories about how they have been empowered to improve the health and well-being of their peers.

The Board of Health meeting is at the Jim Durrell Centre, 1265 Walkley Road. Doors open for the Photovoice gallery at 6 p.m. and the Board meeting will commence at 6:30 p.m.

For more information on Ottawa Public Health (OPH) programming for youth, please visit ottawa.ca/health or call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744. You can also follow OPH on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Pinterest.

Data Collection Process Testing - May 6 to 24, 2013
Friday May 03, 2013

The Ottawa Police will begin a limited test of the collection process for the
Traffic Stop Race Data Collection Project from May 6 to 24, 2013. About 40 officers will participate in the test. The data collected will not be used in the overall study.

"This testing phase is designed to confirm that the systems developed with the York University Team experts and community members will function properly in the field," said Inspector Pat Flanagan, who is leading the project.

The project continues to be on track for a June launch.

"We mutually agreed with the Ontario Human Rights Commission and community members that the test was an important step prior to a full launch of the project at the end of June," said Dr. Lorne Foster of the York University Research Team that has been hired to act as experts on the project.

For more information on the Traffic Stop Race Data Collection Project, to send your comments or subscribe to updates, please visit ottawapolice.ca/race.

You can also email the project team at racedata@ottawapolice.ca or reach them by phone at 613-236-1222, extension 3471.

Construction season ramping up in Ottawa
Friday May 03, 2013

During the summer months, the City of Ottawa will see major construction and renewal across the City. In preparation for the Confederation Line transit project, additional projects are underway this summer to reduce future road impacts. This work includes the construction of municipal buildings, road and bridge improvements and the widening of several roads, including Highway 417.

Residents will be notified in advance of the official start of construction and will be kept up-to-date every step of the way.

As the construction period begins, the City will experience impacts to traffic and mobility. In particular, the work to widen Highway 417 from Nicholas to the 417/174 split will cause lane reductions on 174 from west of Blair Road to St. Laurent Boulevard in late May. In addition the closure of the Lees Avenue on-ramp to allow work on the Transitway structure on Highway 417 will commence in mid June. Residents will be notified in advance of the official start of construction.

Work is being done in an organized fashion and the City has systems in place to manage construction-related traffic disruptions and help the public travel to their destinations.
Commuters should consider alternative modes of transportation, including transit, carpooling, cycling or walking. If possible, residents should speak with their employer about shifting hours of work to spread out peak traffic.

Constant and accurate transit and traffic information will be provided at ottawa.ca, on Twitter, and through the media. Residents can also seek information by calling 3-1-1 or visiting a Client Service Centre. Additional online tools for commuters will be announced in upcoming months.

Permanent and mobile variable message signs will be installed to inform motorists of road closures, lane reductions and other traffic changes. OC Transpo will be adding trips to provide more capacity from Orleans during the 417/174 construction and is already operating a replacement bus service during the summer shutdown of the O-Train for its expansion.

For more information on the upcoming projects, including the Confederation Line transit project or for information about how the construction will affect residents, visit ottawa.ca.

Update on the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge project
Thursday May 02, 2013

The City of Ottawa has received an updated completion date for the Strandherd Armstrong Bridge project, submitted by the bonding company, The Guarantee Company of North America, which delays the delivery date of completion to September 2014.

There are several issues which have contributed to the delay in the construction work. These issues include the delayed delivery of the arches and the complex nature of the welding work and preparatory work for the Rideau River launch of the bridge. Collectively these factors have resulted in a setback in the construction schedule.

“I am disappointed by the news that further delays are impacting the completion date for the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge and the inconvenience this is causing to the residents of Ottawa,” said Gloucester South Nepean Councillor Steve Desroches. “This bridge will bring countless benefits to the residents in my community once complete.”

Work on the bridge is over 70% complete and measures remain in place to ensure its completion. The major portion of the welding work is now complete and the next major construction milestone will be to launch the bridge across the Rideau River this summer. Following this launch, the concrete for the bridge deck will be poured in spring 2014 with the final works to follow. The bridge is now scheduled to be open to traffic in September 2014.

The safety of the City’s infrastructure is a top priority and the City is diligently overseeing this project. A performance bond is in place which ensures that this bridge will be delivered at no additional cost to Ottawa taxpayers because of the delay. The contractor will be charged liquidated damages effective September 1, 2013, the original contractual date of completion.

Are you ready? Pledge to Prepare during Emergency Preparedness Week
Thursday May 02, 2013

The City of Ottawa challenges residents to answer the question, “Are you ready?”, by pledging to prepare for an emergency in one small way each day of Emergency Preparedness Week, May 5 to 11, 2013.

During the week, residents are encouraged to take the ‘Pledge to Prepare – Do One Thing’ challenge. Each day of the week, do one thing that can better ready a response to an emergency, and then Tweet about it using #areyouready.

Whether it’s putting together an emergency preparedness kit, making a plan for your pets or teaching your children how to use 9-1-1, there are plenty of simple and inexpensive ways to better ready yourself for an emergency.

Throughout the week, City staff and volunteers will host free information displays about the Are You Ready program at various locations. For locations and tips go to ottawa.ca/areyouready.

Demonstrations
Join the Ottawa Paramedic Service for a free CPR demonstration in Jean Pigott Place at Ottawa City Hall on Tuesday, May 7 between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Talk with staff or find out more on how to register for a certification course.

For more tips and daily challenges, join the discussion @ottawacity on Twitter, using #areyouready, and share how you’re taking part in the challenge.

The best protection in an emergency is knowing what to do. For more information, ideas and display locations, visit ottawa.ca/areyouready.

Youth speak! Let's listen, then act: Community Meeting of the Ottawa Board of Health
Thursday May 02, 2013

On May 6, 2013, the Ottawa Board of Health will be leaving City Hall and heading out into the community to host a meeting about health issues facing today’s young people.

Members of the public are invited to hear youth speak about the health topics that matter to them, and to learn about Ottawa Public Health and community programming that address youth health issues.

The meeting will take place at Jim Durrell Centre (1265 Walkley Road).

6:00 p.m. – Photovoice gallery: youth will be present to talk about their photos
6:30 p.m. – Photovoice winners announced
7:00 p.m. – Update by Youth Services Bureau, The Royal and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) about the recently launched Bridges Project
7:15 p.m. – Youth speak! Let’s listen, then act: presentations by Ottawa youth
7:45 p.m. – Healthy Kids Strategy presentation.

Following the awards ceremony, Joanne Lowe, Executive Director of the Youth Services Bureau, Dr. Alison Freeland, Associate Chief of Psychiatry of The Royal, as well as Alex Munter, CEO and President of CHEO will be providing an update on a new and innovative treatment program for youth with recurring and complex mental health issues. Alex Munter will also be on hand to discuss the Healthy Kids Strategy, which forms part of the evening’s agenda.

As well, Ottawa-area youth will be presenting their stories about how they have been empowered to improve the health and well-being of their peers.

Household Hazardous Waste Depot on May 4
Monday May 01, 2013

The City of Ottawa would like to encourage residents to dispose of their waste in the safest and most environmentally friendly way.

The City is pleased to host a one-day mobile Household Hazardous Waste Depot on Saturday, May 4, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rideau Carleton Raceway, 4837 Albion Road.
Household hazardous waste includes the following items:

Aerosol containers
Propane cylinders
Disinfectants
Fluorescent bulbs/tubes
Fire extinguishers
Fertilizers and pesticides
Mercury switches/thermometers
Needles and syringes
Pharmaceuticals
Paints and coatings
Oven and window cleaners
Pool chemicals
Batteries (automotive/household)

For a complete listing of acceptable household hazardous waste, please visit ottawa.ca. Residents are reminded that this depot is for household waste only (maximum 100 litres). No commercial waste will be accepted.

To keep our waste collection operators and our environment safe please do your part by safely disposing of hazardous household waste such as used needles, pesticides and pool chemicals.

If you are unable to attend the depot, some materials can be easily recycled every day. Items such as paint, oil, compact fluorescent bulbs and rechargeable batteries can be returned to a participating local retailer any day of the week during regular operating hours.

For more information on waste management and recycling, visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).

Ottawa Police Service provides personal safety tips regarding swarmings
Monday May 01, 2013

With the arrival of warmer weather, the Ottawa Police Service Robbery Unit is once again reminding people to be vigilant with respect to personal robberies, swarming and thefts.
Through the first 4 months of 2013, the robbery unit has received 37 reports of personal robberies, a decrease of 38 % or 23 incidents. During the same period, 84 swarmings were reported, an increase of 1 % or 1 incident.

Smartphones, Iphones, and other electronic devices continue to be desirable to thieves. In many cases, the phones or devices have been openly displayed before the offence occurs. The suspects swarm the victim and take the device or other items, or often simply catch the victim by surprise, grab the device, and flee.

The Ottawa Police Robbery Unit recommends the following safety tips concerning these potentially violent incidents:

*     Be alert to your surroundings and avoid isolated areas, in particular after dark and when withdrawing money from ATMs;
*     Travel with multiple friends whenever possible;
*     Be wary of inadvertently displaying possessions such as cell phones and other electronic devices; and
*     Let someone know where you are going and when you can be expected home.

Should you become a victim of a swarming or personal robbery, the following steps are recommended:
*     Do not resist your attackers, they may be armed and this could lead to serious injury or death;
*     Try and memorize their faces, clothing and license plates if they leave in vehicles;
*     Call 911 as soon as possible, or if you are around an OC Transpo facility look for an emergency call box; and
*     If you are a student and are robbed at school or by someone from your school, report the incident to the office and to the Ottawa Police Service.

Anyone with information with respect to such a robbery, or any other robbery, is asked to contact the Robbery Unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5116 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS) or toll free at 1-800-222-8477.

Ottawa Police to host prescription medication drop off on May 11
Monday May 01, 2013

Do you have bottles of old or unused prescription medications sitting in your medicine cabinet?

Ottawa Police will be participating in a province-wide public safety initiative to encourage Ontario residents to dispose of old and unused prescription medication in a secure, environmentally-friendly manner.

Ottawa Police will be hosting a free Prescription Drug Drop Off Day for citizens wishing to dispose of outdated, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Drop offs can be made anonymously by removing or blacking out the labels.

DATE:            Saturday, May 11, 2013
TIME:       10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
LOCATION:         1683 Merivale Road (Toys "R" Us parking lot)

"Prescription drug abuse can lead to increases in a wide spectrum of violent acts and property crimes. This initiative is another way we can reduce the threat to public safety in a secure manner," said Staff Sergeant Mike Laviolette, head of the Ottawa Police Drug Section.

The Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA) prohibits anyone from possessing oxycodone or any other prescribed medication without a prescription. It is a criminal offence to offer or sell a prescribed medication to another person. Purchasing another person's prescribed drugs is also illegal.

Prescription drug misuse is the use of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. Common prescription drugs being misused are opioid pain relievers (such as oxycodone), anti-depressants, and stimulants. Recent studies indicate 24 per cent of teens reported misusing prescription medications at least once within the previous year. Most of the teens took the medication from their family home.

You can help keep children, families and our community safe!

Prescription Drug Drop-off Day is proudly supported by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), the Government of Ontario, and Public Safety Canada.

O-Train shutdown begins; Improved service expected 2014
Tuesay April 30, 2013

Construction of the O-Train Service Expansion Project has officially begun, as City staff commemorated the start of the service’s 18-week temporary shutdown.

Mayor Jim Watson was joined by Councillor Diane Deans, Chair of the Transit Committee and John Manconi, General Manager of Transit Services at Carleton University O-Train station this afternoon.

“This expansion is a critical component of transit plans and will make a big difference in accommodating users during this period of change as we anticipate the Confederation Line,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “It is the start of the big improvements we will see in transit and how we serve our customers in forthcoming years.”

The O-Train will be temporarily shut down from April 27 to Sept. 2 to complete major upgrades as part of the service expansion. This includes the addition of two passing tracks and upgrades to the current signal system, O-Train stations and the Walkley Train Yard. To limit inconvenience, general lifecycle maintenance work will be done during this period, namely work on Sawmill Creek Bridges and the Dow’s Lake tunnel. During this summer period, O-Train ridership is approximately 40 per cent of fall and winter ridership levels.

This $59-million project will bring improved service to customers in 2014 once training, testing and commissioning of the new trains and system are completed.
“When the O-Train was launched in 2001, initial ridership was 5,100 to 6,400 customer trips per day. Now, ridership is 12,000 trips per day and is expected to rise by thousands.” said Councillor Deans. “The temporary shutdown is a stepping stone towards better service for all users.”
During the construction period, a replacement bus service and alternative routes will accommodate all customers. OC Transpo route 107 will run parallel to the O-Train route between South Keys and LeBreton Stations, and will be more frequent than O-Train service during peak periods.

Regular O-Train service will resume on Sept. 3, in time for the fall semester at Carleton University.

Thinking about a City fitness membership? Try It first!
Friday April 26, 2013

The City of Ottawa is offering free passes that will allow you to try out our fitness facilities and various classes. The Try It! campaign runs from April 29 to May 5 and allows residents to participate in aquafitness, cycling and group fitness classes or work out in City fitness centres free of charge.

Don’t miss this opportunity to check out participating fitness facilities or try a Bootcamp, Zumba or Yoga class. With facilities located in your neighbourhood and reasonable prices, the City of Ottawa makes healthy living convenient and affordable.

Visit one of the following facilities to set up your free membership access card:

Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex - Orléans
François Dupuis Recreation Centre
Goulbourn Recreation Complex
Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre
Kanata Leisure Centre
Nepean Sportsplex
Pinecrest Recreation Centre
Plant Recreation Centre
Ray Friel Recreation Complex
St-Laurent Complex
Sawmill Creek Community Centre and Pool
Splash Wave Pool
Walter Baker Sports Centre

Try before you buy and discover a new and healthy you! For more information, visit ottawa.ca/tryit.

Police urge public to 'mind their valuables'
Friday April 26, 2013

The Ottawa Police Service is advising the public to 'mind their valuables' and change behaviour to prevent crimes of opportunity that may increase with warmer weather.

"People spend more time outside in warm weather and that includes would be thieves," said Chris Rheaume, Central District Community Inspector. "Garages, sheds, homes and vehicles are frequently left unlocked and that presents the opportunity for someone to steal."

By changing your behaviour when it comes to putting valuables out of sight and locking up, you can reduce the risk of being targeted for theft.

Ensure your garage, shed, home and vehicle are always locked, even when you are home.
Ensure car windows and doors are closed tightly or locked.
Park facing the street and in a well lit area so that anyone tampering with your vehicle is more noticeable.
Ensure that bicycles are stored out of sight and locked.
Don't leave valuables in your vehicle, such as personal identification, vehicle registration, insurance certificates or credit cards, etc. Even loose change can make your vehicle a target.
Place an "All Valuables Removed" card on your car to help remind you to remove valuables before leaving your car and also deter would-be thieves.
Report any incidents of theft to Ottawa Police at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300

For more crime prevention tips click here.

City-wide spring burn ban in effect
Tuesay April 23, 2013

Ottawa Fire Services is placing a city-wide burn ban into effect immediately to prevent the rapid spread of fire due to grass and brush fires. This ban will remain in place until conditions improve and the green grass starts to show through dead tall grass. This winter left more debris (fallen tree branches, leaves, etc.) on the ground than in previous years, which increases the risk of fire spread.

All open air fires are prohibited during a fire ban even for those properties that have a burn permit. There will be zero tolerance enforcement during the open air burning ban.

Reduce your risk around the home
Residents are encouraged to take advantage of weekly yard waste collection and use the following tips to prevent grass and brush fires:
• Clear all combustible materials such as tree limbs, leaves and other dry materials away from buildings and propane tanks
• Keep BBQ propane tanks at least 3 m from buildings.
• Wood piles should stored a safe distance from the home
• Trees should be pruned to create a good vertical separation from the ground
• Clear out any accumulated dry/dead debris from property

Cigarettes
Carelessly discarded cigarettes continue to be a major cause of grass fires during these dry periods. Smokers are reminded to please use care when butting out. Do not throw lit cigarettes out vehicle windows.

waste disposal
Place all yard waste for pickup in compostable paper bags, garbage cans or cardboard boxes
Ensure containers and bundles weigh no more than 15 kg (33 lbs)
Place any extra leaf and yard waste in the green bin
Tie all branches in bundles of less than 1.2 m (4 ft) in length and 60 cm (2 ft) in width
Individual branches should be less than 10 cm (4 in) in diameter
Leave grass clippings on the lawn
Leaf and yard waste will not be collected as regular garbage
more information on yard waste disposal visit ottawa.ca

Young at Art 2013 – On display at galleries citywide
Tuesay April 23, 2013

Some of Ottawa’s best young artists will be recognized at Young at Art 2013 exhibitions and awards ceremonies to be held at community galleries citywide. Works selected for Young at Art 2013 will be displayed beginning April 24, 2013. Prizes for outstanding work in various categories will be presented at separate awards nights for the east, west and central areas of the city. This year, in honour of the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Chaplain’s first voyage up the Ottawa River, youth artists were encouraged to submit artwork that expresses the theme of “Exploration.”

East
Exhibition
Date: April 26 to May 20, 2013
Location: Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Boulevard, Trinity Art Gallery, Lower Level

Reception and Awards Night
Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Location: Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Boulevard, Harold Shenkman Hall, Lower Level
Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m.

West
Exhibition
Date: April 24 to May 10, 2013
Location: John Mlacak Centre, 2500 Campeau Drive, Kanata Civic Art Gallery

Reception and Awards Night
Date: Sunday, May 5, 2013
Location: John Mlacak Centre, 2500 Campeau Drive, Halls C & D
Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Central

Exhibition
Date: April 27 to May 21, 2013
Location: Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive, Atrium and Centrepointe Theatre galleries

Reception and Awards Night
Date: Monday, May 13, 2013
Location: Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive, The Chamber,
Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Young at Art is a juried art exhibition for artists between the ages of 12 and 19 that celebrates a 17-year history since its inception. For the eighth consecutive year, Young at Art highlights the work of young artists citywide.

Overnight closure of 417 eastbound off-ramp at Maitland
Tuesay April 23, 2013

Motorists are advised the Highway 417 eastbound off-ramp at Maitland will be closed from 11pm on Thursday, April 25, 2013, until the morning of April 26, 2013.

Crews will be excavating a portion of the ramp to deactivate an unused watermain. Within the next few weeks, the off-ramp will be closed again for crews to complete the process.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation will have signage to inform motorists of the closure.

Preferred western LRT route protects Byron Linear Park and parkway
Monday April 22, 2013

The preferred proposed route for the western extension of Ottawa’s light-rail service has been identified by the City of Ottawa after hearing community concerns over the possible loss of greenspace and disruption of west-end neighbourhoods.

“The Richmond Underground proposal would protect the Byron Linear Park and keep LRT off the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, while giving neighbourhoods easy access to the Confederation Line,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “We’ve listened to residents’ concerns and examined every alternative to find a viable, affordable route to take the Confederation Line to the west as we plan the second phase of our world-class light rail transit line.”
In June of 2012, City Council directed that further work be done on the 15 possible corridors that could extend light-rail service beyond the limits of Confederation Line, from Tunney’s Pasture to Baseline Station.

After thoroughly reviewing all options, including two additional possible route solutions that were derived from an independent peer review, the City has identified a preferred route: the Richmond Underground. This route protects the Byron Linear Park by going under Richmond Road, preserves residents’ access to the parkland and pathways along the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway and the Ottawa River shoreline and will improve and enhance both network and local transit service with the addition of two new transit stations at Cleary and Woodroffe.

As part of this review, all possible Carling Avenue corridors have been ruled out as impractical, inconvenient for commuters and too costly. In total, the City has evaluated 18 possible corridors to extend light rail train service to the west.

“This is innovative transportation planning that responds to community concerns by keeping park space and avoiding the disruption of private property to the greatest extent possible,” said Councillor Keith Egli, Chair of Transportation Committee. “I’m pleased that our planners have been creative in coming up with good alternatives for the public and our Council to consider and I look forward to their feedback.”

In response to Council direction, staff worked with the NCC to refine the evaluation criteria for the possible routes such that it gave careful consideration to interests and long-term planning objectives of both the City and the Commission to ensure factors such as the impact on cultural landscapes and symbolic character of the Capital, walking and cycling access and connectivity, and the need to mitigate the effect of City infrastructure on federal lands.

In addition, the work done since June 2012 included an independent peer review of the Parkway, the northern corridors, and Carling options, performed by transportation experts Capital Transit Partners (CTP).

On Thursday, April 25, 2013, a Public Open House on the western corridor alignment study is being held at Ottawa City Hall, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

After receiving public and stakeholder feedback, a report with the final recommended route will go to Transportation Committee on June 5, then rise to City Council.

The approved corridor will be included in the current update of the City’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP).

Cleaning the Capital launches 20th year of community cleanups
Monday April 22, 2013

Today, celebrations were held to recognize the 20th year of keeping the city clean through the Tim Hortons Cleaning the Capital. Residents joined Mayor Jim Watson, Tim Hortons and City Councillors in celebrating the start of this year’s city-wide spring campaign, taking place April 15 to May 15.
To kick off the campaign’s 20th year, a Harlem Shake video featuring Mayor Watson, Tim Hortons, and 40 Cleaning the Capital participants was debuted at the launch at Marion Dewar Plaza.
“It’s through the many sponsors and thousands of volunteers every year that Ottawa continues to become an even cleaner and greener city,” said Mayor Watson. “To launch the 20th year of the campaign is certainly something to commemorate together.”
For 19 years, thousands of Ottawa residents have been improving their communities by working together to help clean the nation’s capital. This includes neighbourhood associations, schools, business, families and friends all working together to pick up litter and remove graffiti throughout the city. In 2012 alone, there were 88,706 volunteers who participated in over 1,440 cleanup projects across the city. Since 1994, over 1.4 million kilograms of garbage has been collected from public spaces through Cleaning the Capital.
“The amount of garbage that’s been collected by Cleaning the Capital volunteers over the past 19 years could fill 150 garbage trucks,” said Councillor Egli. “Every contribution counts. Bit by bit, we continue to make Ottawa a cleaner place to live.”
Cleaning the Capital is made possible by Tim Hortons, the campaign’s title sponsor, and the many media and corporate sponsors who play a major role in the campaign’s success.

“Tim Hortons is committed to making a positive difference in the community. Through Cleaning the Capital, we can join and support Ottawa residents in cleaning up the areas where we live, work and play,” said Nadia MacDonald, Tim Hortons Regional Marketing Manager of Eastern Ontario.

Register a cleanup project today at ottawa.ca/clean or by calling 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). Litter and graffiti cleanup starter kits are available to registered participants upon request.

The Harlem Shake video can be viewed online at ottawa.ca or on YouTube.

Public Open House Thursday for Western Light Rail Transit Corridor
Friday April 19, 2013

Ottawa residents are invited to take part in an open house regarding the planning and environmental assessment study for the proposed Western Light Rail Transit Corridor (WLRTC). The goal of this study is to identify the most effective way to build on the Confederation Line, which is the first phase of LRT currently under construction, and bring service west to Baseline Station.

This open house will provide an overview of the study progress to-date, including the alternative corridors and their evaluation. Public participation in the study is valued and important.

Date: Thursday, April 25, 2013
Time: 6:30 to 9 p.m., presentation at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Jean Pigott Place
City Hall (110 Laurier Avenue West)

This study is considering alternative options and designs for a final alignment which would form part of the City’s Transportation Master Plan, which is being updated this year. Increasing transit use and providing higher quality transit service are also goals for this study.

The study area stretches between Bayview and Baseline Stations and includes the O-Train, Lincoln Fields Station and an area bordered by the Sir John A Macdonald Parkway and Carling Avenue. More information on the WLRTC study is available on the City’s project web site at ottawa.ca.

Comments can be sent by e-mail, regular mail or fax using the following contact information:
Kornel Mucsi, PhD, P.Eng.
Program Manager, Transportation Strategic Planning
110 Laurier Avenue West, 4th Floor
Fax: 613-580-2578
E-mail: Kornel.Mucsi@ottawa.ca

OC Transpo implements new spring service April 21
Tuesday April 16, 2013

Starting Sunday, April 21, OC Transpo will introduce spring service improvements and the return of the Rack & Roll program, with bike racks reinstalled on close to 500 buses.
Effective Saturday, April 27, O-Train service will be suspended to undergo major upgrades and will be replaced by a temporary bus route.
Spring service highlights include:

• New service to Saint Paul University and Ottawa East on Route 16, which will be rerouted to travel along Main Street, instead of via Hawthorne to Elgin Street.

• Improved service for commuters in Kanata with the extension of some peak period trips on route 93 in Kanata North and a new morning trip on Route 96A from Scotiabank Park & Ride.

• Service to the Ottawa Hospital General Campus, currently provided by Route 5X, will be replaced by Route 16.

• Schedule adjustments on Routes 153 and 157 for improved convenience.

• Resources will be reallocated on school services, including the 600-numbered routes, to better match ridership levels. Some routes will have trips added, while some routes will have cancelled trips, including Route 173 which will no longer serve Cedarview Public School.

• Seasonal frequency reductions on Routes 4, 111, and 129 to coincide with the end of the academic year at Carleton University and la Cité collégiale.

O-Train Closure
O-Train service will be suspended from April 27 until September 2, when ridership levels are lower, for major upgrades in preparation for expanded service in 2014. The project includes two additional siding tracks for passing trains, signal upgrades and station improvements, as well as general maintenance work.

A temporary bus route will replace the O-Train from April 27 to September 2. Route 107 will travel between South Keys and LeBreton Stations, making limited stops along the route. The frequency and hours of operation will be similar to O-Train service. Riders should use the online Travel Planner or call 741-4390 to find the best alternative bus route while the O-Train is not running.

University Students
Students at Carleton University, the University of Ottawa and Saint Paul University are reminded that their U-Pass expires April30. While no longer valid as a fare, from May through August the U-Pass can be used as a photo ID card if paired with a paper adult monthly pass. Full- time students 19 and younger can purchase a discounted student pass which are only accepted with an OC Transpo Student Photo ID. The U-Pass, which has no age limit, is not valid as a photo ID card for students age 19 and under.

Schedule information is available 24 hours a day, up to six days in advance, by calling 613-560-1000 or texting 560560 plus the four-digit bus stop number. For more details, travel planning assistance, routing information and new timetables, customers should call OC Transpo at 613-741-4390 or visit www.octranspo.com.

Calling all youth! $500 up for grabs in OPH Photography contest
Monday April 15, 2013

Youth aged 12 to 19 are invited to enter the Photovoice contest that is running until April 19. Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is encouraging Ottawa youth to submit photos about health issues that they care about in their community. Submissions can be entered in one of two categories: Active Transportation or General Health Issues. There are many prizes to be won including a grand prize of $500 in cash. Youth have five days left to submit their photos.

In 2012, Ottawa Public Health received over 170 photo entries in our inaugural Photovoice contest. These stunning photos haven been on display at various public spaces around the city and were used to inform youth programming at OPH. The 2012 photos can be viewed on the new OPH Pinterest page.

All participants of the Photovoice Youth Photography Contest are invited to the May Board of Health meeting for the announcement of the 2013 winners and to view the beautiful gallery of this year’s submissions. For the first time, the Board meeting will be held in the community at Jim Durrell Arena on May 6 at 6:00p.m. There will be door prizes. All residents are invited to attend.

For more information on the 2013 Photovoice Youth contest, including full contest rules go to ottawa.ca/health or call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744. You can also follow OPH on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Pinterest.

Oral Birth Control Recalled by Health Canada – Alysena 28
Friday April 12, 2013

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is drawing the attention of women, primary and other health care providers that Health Canada has issued a Type 2 recall of the oral contraceptive (birth control pill) Alysena 28. Women affected by this recall are urged to contact their pharmacist or primary care provider.

Officials have been alerted that the Apotex Inc. product lot LF01899A may contain two rows (14 tablets) of placebo (sugar) tablets. Correct packaging should contain one row of placebo tablets (7 tablets) and three rows of active contraceptive tablets (21 tablets) in the blister pack.

The effectiveness of the Alysena 28 product to prevent pregnancy may have been reduced therefore there is a potential risk of unplanned pregnancy associated with this recall. It is necessary for any woman who uses any birth control to find out if they are affected.

We recommend that all women who use this brand of birth control use a non-hormonal (barrier) method of contraception, such as condoms, as an interim measure until they obtain medical advice. If you believe you are affected by this recall, please call or visit the pharmacy where your prescription was dispensed, visit your primary care provider or visit one of OPH’s Sexual Health Centres.

Wholesalers, distributors and retailers in the following provinces have been affected by this recall: Ontario, Quebec, British Colombia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

More information about this recall is available on Health Canada and Apotex, the drug manufacturer, websites.

Organizations and residents can order free condoms online through the Sexual Health Centre.

For more information on birth control or healthy sexuality visit ottawa.ca, or call the OPH Information Line at 613-580-6744. You can also follow OPH on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook and now on Pinterest.

Reminder: Lane reductions on Jockvale Road
Friday April 12, 2013

Jockvale Road will be reduced to a single lane this Saturday and Sunday near the Jock River Bridge. Motorists are advised to exercise caution when travelling through the area and obey all traffic control signals.

Next weekend, Jockvale Road near the Jock River Bridge will be closed completely from 7 p.m. Friday, April 19 until 6 a.m. Monday, April 22. Traffic will be required to use either Greenbank Road or Woodroffe Avenue. Local residents will still be able to access homes and businesses in the area.

The Jockvale Road widening project is a $23.975 million project that will widen Jockvale Road to a four lane divided roadway from south of Paul Metivier Drive to Cambrian Road, including a new multi-lane roundabout at the Cambrian/Jockvale/Golflinks intersection. The project also includes the replacement of the existing Jock River Bridge with two new structures. For more information visit ottawa.ca.

The Jockvale Road widening is an Ottawa on the Move project, which advanced $340 million of capital projects to be completed from 2012 to 2014. Ottawa on the Move is about keeping our community and economy moving forward through strategic investments in a number of transportation, water, and sewer projects to build a better city and create jobs.

Response to Asking a lot of children
Thursday April 11, 2013

Today the EMC published a column titled Asking a lot of children (viewable here: http://bit.ly/ZjIFzd) Councillor Harder offered this response, submitted as a Letter to the Editor today:

Dear Editor,
If I was a reporter writing a column belittling the work of a group of young students, like the column Asking a lot of children published in your paper today, I certainly would have bothered to interview some of them or their teacher.

I was surprised to read how little the unnamed author thought of the students’ intellectual interests in this article. Though, in his/her defence, he/she likely didn’t bother to learn that the students went out in the community to find out what the people in Barrhaven were talking about. The topics included traffic, graffiti, litter, loneliness in seniors, and the topic they chose, finding good employees.

What skills did they learn researching this topic they found interesting? In addition to the skills the Learning Partnership website lists, which include; Enhance critical and creative thinking; Cultivate the spirit of adventure and enterprise, risk and reward, and sense of satisfaction that come from transforming an idea into reality; Promote self-reliance through transforming an idea into reality; Experience collaboration and team work; Develop project and time management skills; Develop leadership and collaborative skills (ability to lead a team and work within a team); the students furthered the experience putting their own stamp on it and picked up additional skills. For example the students made a great video inviting the community to Friday’s launch, learning video creation skills. By donating the proceeds to Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Ottawa they develop their interest in helping others. Lastly the project certainly allowed the students to learn more about their community as illustrated by their methods of choosing a topic and gathering data.

I was happy to come out to their 2013 Entrepreneurial Adventure launch event on Friday to show my support of their efforts and I applaud Carol Aubrey, the teacher of the Grade 4 class at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Barrhaven for such leadership, and I congratulate the kids for taking on a project that clearly required a great deal of hard work, which even the author of your column rightly recognized.

Your author was also right in that it would be interesting to know what parents and students think of the program and it would be interesting to follow up with them in a few years... it’s just too bad we don’t have any reporters diligent and interested in the program enough to bother doing so.

Thank you,
Jan Harder
City Councillor – Barrhaven

City's Transit Commission names new citizen member
Wednesday April 10, 2013

The City of Ottawa’s Transit Commission has appointed Mark Johnson to the citizen member position.

“I would like to welcome Mark Johnson as our newest Transit Commissioner,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “Our transit system will be playing an integral role in moving our city forward over the next few years. Mr. Johnson and our citizen transit commissioners provide a community perspective and personal expertise to continue improving our transit system.”

Mr. Johnson’s two-year appointment follows a successful recruitment process that took place earlier this year to replace the position that was previously held by Cyrus Reporter.

“Speaking on behalf of all our Transit Commission members, I look forward to working alongside Mr. Johnson,” said Councillor Diane Deans, Chair of the Transit Commission. “His dedication and passion along with his professional and volunteer experience will contribute to the development of a safe, efficient and customer-focused transit system.”

Mark Johnson’s Biography
A resident of Ottawa’s Barrhaven Ward, Mr. Johnson is a strong believer in environmental sustainability and public service. He sits on the board of directors of the Canadian Celiac Association as well as that of the organization’s Ottawa Chapter, and has extensive experience in strategic and organizational communication, social media, stakeholder and media relations, environmental and health communication, professional writing and diplomacy. He holds an honours B.A. in political science and is nearing completion of an M.A. in communications from the University of Ottawa. Mr. Johnson is a federal civil servant working in Gatineau, and a daily user of public transit.

Phoney sales-pitches prompt City warning
Wednesday April 10, 2013

The City of Ottawa is warning residents to be vigilant of door-to-door salespeople making false claims about the quality of City drinking water.
The City has received several complaints from residents who have been contacted by salespeople of water-filtration or treatment systems and provided incorrect information pertaining to water quality. The City reminds residents that Ottawa’s drinking water is completely safe and of the highest quality, which is ensured through rigorous and ongoing testing.

In addition, residents are reminded that City employees do not contact residents to sell products or services. Except for emergency situations, any visits that may require access to homes or businesses by City staff are scheduled in advance. Residents are also provided with advance notice of projects that may impact them. All employees requesting access to homes have City-issued photo identification cards. Residents who are directly contacted by persons claiming to be City employees for City business are asked to check identification, and, if concerns remain, contact the City prior to allowing access. Residents are also asked to report any suspicious, unsolicited calls or visits.

The drinking water delivered to City residents exceeds all federal and provincial health-based water-quality guidelines and standards. Ottawa’s drinking water has already been rated by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) as being among the safest in the world.
As recently as this year, the Chief Drinking Water Inspector for Ontario again recognized the quality of Ottawa’s drinking water. The City has an extensive drinking water quality analysis program and posts all of these results on our website, www.ottawa.ca.

City moves ahead with five-year review of Official Plan
Wednesday April 10, 2013

Council today approved moving forward with the City’s Comprehensive Five-year Review of the Official Plan.

Public consultations will continue as the City drafts an Official Plan Amendment and residents and business people provide further feedback on proposed measures.
Upcoming consultation includes rural outreach through ward meetings, more online feedback specifically from rural residents and information outreach through the Rural Connections e-newsletter.

A proposed Official Plan Amendment will be tabled early this summer along with the proposed networks and implementation plans for Transportation Master Plan, Cycling Plan, and Pedestrian Plan projects. The City’s Infrastructure Master Plan will be tabled for consultation in the fall.

An online consultation campaign, soliciting residents’ views on improvements to the cycling and pedestrian networks, will begin in late April.
There will be public open houses in the fall and then Planning Committee and Council will consider the final amendment.

A community consultation panel and developers’ panel are being consulted throughout.
The City has focused on 12 themes in the review to find practical ways to advance sustainable, affordable development.

Among the proposals:

• The urban boundary would not change. The City has determined there is enough land for residential and employment development at least until 2031.
• Within the current urban boundary the City would study and change boundaries to employment areas and Mixed-Use Centres to make sure they appropriately support business development.
• The City would emphasize the design elements of development by putting design policies into the main part of the Plan and requiring design consideration in Community Design Plans.
• There would be clearer rules for where highrises are permitted.
• Development around transit corridors and stations would be further encouraged.
• Mapping of sand, gravel and bedrock areas would be done to ensure they are protected for future development but taking into consideration the concerns of residents who live nearby.
• Rural residential development will be channelled to growing the villages within their existing boundaries. The creation of new rural estate lots ─ large lots outside of the villages ─ will no longer be permitted.
• A strategy for water and wastewater servicing of villages would be developed.
• The proposed Official Plan changes include taking the Macdonald-Cartier International Airport out of the Greenbelt and using some of these lands for economic development.

The review process has had an unusually large amount of public engagement for an Official Plan review. There was a well attended project launch with two large public events. An online survey about the review resulted in 8,063 participants answering some or all of the questions.

Please Note: Upcoming Lane reductions on Jockvale Road
Friday April 04, 2013

Jockvale Road will be reduced to a single lane on Saturday April 13th and Sunday April 14th near the Jock River Bridge. Motorists are advised to exercise caution when travelling through the area and obey all traffic control signals.

The following weekend, Jockvale Road near the Jock River Bridge will be closed completely from 7 p.m. Friday, April 19 until 6 a.m. Monday, April 22. Traffic will be required to use either Greenbank Road or Woodroffe Avenue. Local residents will still be able to access homes and businesses in the area.

The Jockvale Road widening is an Ottawa on the Move project. Ottawa on the Move advanced $340 million of capital projects to be completed from 2012 to 2014 and is about keeping our community and economy moving forward through strategic investments in a number of transportation, water, and sewer projects to build a better city and create jobs.

Ottawa celebrates one year of expanded smoke-free spaces and quit-smoking services
Tuesday April 02, 2013

Today marks the first anniversary of the City of Ottawa’s expanded smoke-free spaces. For one year 1,200 parks, 1,100 municipal properties, four beaches, the Byward and Parkdale Markets and all bar and restaurant patios have now been smoke-free. The Ottawa Police Services, Ottawa Public Library and Municipal Campground Authority followed suit by making their outdoor spaces smoke-free.

“Whether you’re at a City park, beach, or at a restaurant patio this summer, you will be able to enjoy yourself without the dangers of second-hand smoke,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “The City of Ottawa is proud to be a leader in providing smoke-free spaces for our residents and visitors.”

The expansion of smoke-free spaces was designed to protect non-smokers and children from second-hand smoke, and to reduce smoking rates. Smoke-free outdoor spaces help prevent asthma attacks and decrease the risk of people developing cancer, respiratory illness and heart disease.

“We are pleased to see that, in addition to festivals held on City property, other major festivals such as Bluesfest are adopting a smoke-free approach this summer,” said Councillor Diane Holmes, Chair of the Ottawa Board of Health. “The elimination of second-hand smoke at large outdoor events will protect the health of employees, volunteers and attendees.”

“It is very encouraging to see such a high level of public support for the smoke-free outdoor spaces,” says Councillor Mark Taylor, Chair of the Community and Protective Services Committee. “Making these outdoor spaces smoke-free promotes healthier residents, a cleaner city and smoke-free kids.”

As part of Ottawa Public Health’s (OPH) Let’s Clear The Air strategy, OPH has also increased quit-smoking services to the general public. Targeted programs are also being offered for municipal staff, hospitality workers, food bank users, the GBLT community, young adults and construction workers. With its valued partners, OPH offers various formats for helping residents quit smoking, including presentations, phone support, individual counselling and group programs.

“We are seeing that guests are happy with the smoke-free patio by-law,” said Mike Ziola, Chair of the Ottawa Chapter of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association. “Our industry is constantly evolving and this is a change we have embraced in response to what patrons want.”

If you need help quitting smoking, please visit ottawa.ca/quitsmoking, call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744 or email healthsante@ottawa.ca. For helpful tips and information, you can also follow OPH on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.

For more information regarding the expanded smoke-free regulations, or to report a smoking violation, please visit ottawa.ca/smokefree or call 3-1-1.

City of Ottawa releases 2012 Municipal Drinking Water Systems Summary Report
Tuesday April 02, 2013

The City of Ottawa has released the 2012 Municipal Drinking Water Systems Summary Report for the seven residential drinking water systems within the City limits. Under the Safe Water Drinking Act, an annual summary report must be circulated to all members of City Council by March 31 of the following year.

“Ottawa’s drinking water is exceptional,” said Mayor Watson. “Ensuring the quality and safety of our City’s drinking water is a responsibility that everyone at the City of Ottawa takes seriously.”

The reports provide Councillors with an in-depth review of the performance of the City’s drinking water systems in 2012, with particular focus on regulatory compliance. Among the issues reviewed are drinking water quality, drinking water demand, drinking water quality monitoring and reporting as well as other regulatory matters including operator certification and training. Also included are the results from the detailed Drinking Water System inspections performed by the Ministry of the Environment.

For 2012, six out of the City’s seven drinking water systems received a perfect 100 per cent score across the board. The Greely – Shadow Ridge Well System which is operated by the City but owned by Donwel Land Inc., received a rating of 96.8 percent due to two incidents of sustained water use during the summer which exceeded the system’s maximum daily flow rate. The quality of drinking water was not affected. The Shadow Ridge system services approximately 125 homes in the south of Ottawa.

“The summary report makes it clear - Ottawa residents enjoy the highest quality water,” said Councillor Maria McRae, Chair of the City’s Environment Committee. “City staff perform over 130,000 tests annually on our drinking water. We are dedicated to providing our residents with the safest drinking water in the world.”

This information supplements the 2012 Annual Report information for each drinking water system already available on the City’s website, ottawa.ca.

Library offers programming series for adults this spring
Tuesday April 02, 2013

The Ottawa Public Library is hosting an array of specialized programming for adults and adults 50+ this spring.

Topics include health and wellness, poetry, personal finance, computers and technology, hobbies, writing as well as home and garden.

The Library enlisted the following experts as program partners: Multicultural Arts for Schools and Communities (MASC), Hazeldean Family Chiropractic Clinic, Ottawa PC Users’ Group, Home Instead Senior Care, RBC, Across Ottawa Home Staging, Retire‐at‐Home Services, and Life in Transition, OC Transpo, Ritchie’s Feed and Seed, PureMed Naturopathic Centre, Master Gardeners, Consider it Done Downsizing, AccuChex Inspections, BMO Nesbitt Burns, Alta Vista Chiropractic and Massage Clinic, Entraide Budgetaire, Finding Your Flow Art Therapy, Colours Jewellery and the Kent Chiro-Med Wellness Clinic.

Online registration is required to attend these free programs. For a complete list of programs, visit www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca/programs. For more information, contact InfoService at 613-580-2940 or InfoService@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca.

Future female firefighters invited to July training camp
Thursday March 28, 2013

Young women have until May 17 to register for the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a firefighter.

Camp FFIT (Female Firefighters in Training) is a week-long day camp for young women between the ages of 15 and 19, and this year runs from July 22 to 26. It is operated in partnership by Ottawa Fire Services and Fire Service Women Ontario – a non-profit organization of career and volunteer women from across the province.

Participants will receive basic firefighting training from women who are fulltime and volunteer firefighters with Ottawa Fire Services and from neighbouring municipalities, as well as students from La Cite Collegial and Algonquin College’s Pre-Service Firefighter programs.

Participants in the past have learned skills in team-building, basic pump and ladder operations, auto extrication and how to use self-contained breathing apparatus. This year’s program will also give young women experience with simulated kitchen and car fires at the Ottawa Fire Services training facility, climbing a 30-metre (100-foot) aerial ladder and hands-on firefighting experience.

To qualify, you must:
Be female between the ages of 15 and 19
Be in good physical condition
Have a positive attitude
Participate in all activities and classes
Possess a valid OHIP or Provincial Health Insurance Card
Agree to follow all rules and regulations
Complete an application form including an essay

Camp FFIT not only provides young women an opportunity to learn about being a firefighter, but also about physical fitness, being a team-player and possessing a strong work ethic. More importantly, it helps provide the self-confidence to explore a career in one of the most reputable public service professions in the world – firefighting.

For more information on Camp FFIT, visit ottawa.ca or email campffit@ottawa.ca.

Winners of Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest Announced
Wednesday March 27, 2013

The winners of this year’s Awesome Authors youth writing contest, which ran from December 2012 to February 2013, were announced last night in The Chamber at Ben Franklin Place.

Prizes were handed out to honour Ottawa-area youth between the ages of 9 and 17 who submitted poems and/or short stories in French and/or English. Local authors Brenda Chapman, Michel Lavoie and JC Sulzenko judged the submissions.

The winners’ works will be included this fall in pot-pourri, an anthology of short stories and poems published by the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library (FOPLA). To pre-order a copy of pot-pourri, call 613-580-2424 ext.14383.

The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) holds the contest annually, with sponsorship from FOPLA.

Congratulations to the winners from Barrhaven who were:

POETRY (English)

Ages 12-14

1st place:
Mikaela Fournier-Moar – Age 12, Fear
Cedarview Middle School

Honourable Mention:

Mikaela Fournier-Moar – Age 12, For 25 Moments

Cedarview Middle School

POETRY (French)

9-11 ans

3rd place:
Jean-Noël Roy – 11 ans, Fête du Canada hypnotique
École élémentaire publique Michaëlle-Jean

Carleton Ravens men's basketball team honoured
Wednesday March 27, 2013

The winners of this year’s Awesome Authors youth writing contest, which ran from December 2012 to February 2013, were announced last night in The Chamber at Ben Franklin Place.

The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) holds the contest annually, with sponsorship from FOPLA.

OPL congratulates Ottawa’s newest Awesome Authors for their writing excellence! The following list, organized by writing category, includes each winner’s name, the title of their winning work, their age group, their standing and the school they attend.

Carleton Ravens men's basketball team honoured
Wednesday March 27, 2013

Mayor Watson and members of Council today saluted the Carleton University Ravens men’s basketball team for winning yet another Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championship.

The incredible Ravens basketball program, led by coach Dave Smart, has won an astounding nine CIS national men’s basketball championships in the span of the last 11 seasons.

The Ravens downed the Lakehead University Thunderwolves 92-42 in the championship game at Ottawa’s Scotiabank Place on March 10, setting a record for the largest margin of victory in a CIS national men’s basketball final.

Mr. Smart was named the CIS coach of the year for the third straight season, becoming the first head coach to be honoured with three consecutive coach-of-the-year awards.
Ravens guard Philip Scrubb collected the CIS most outstanding player award for the second straight year.

Paint It Up!
Tuesday March 26, 2013

Crime Prevention Ottawa, in partnership with the City of Ottawa, is launching the fourth year of the Paint It Up! youth engagement mural program.

Funding is available for outdoor mural projects that support graffiti prevention, community safety and the beautification of Ottawa neighbourhoods through youth empowerment and community arts. Projects must contribute to a clean, safe and beautiful city by engaging neighbourhoods and youth in a constructive learning process to create murals to prevent or deter graffiti.

For more information, please visit http://www.crimepreventionottawa.ca, to see the program guidelines, an application form and a news release. You may also want to consult the report on the successful 2012 projects featured on our website.

Applications must be postmarked, e-mailed, or received by 4 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2013.

Seventh annual Mayor's Rendezvous marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of LeDroit newspaper
Monday March 25, 2013

Mayor Jim Watson and 200 members of the Francophone community today celebrated at the Mayor’s seventh annual Francophone Rendezvous, the 100th anniversary of LeDroit newspaper, one of the most enduring and key media organizations in our National Capital Region.

Mayor Watson acknowledged the critical role LeDroit has played over the years in news reporting and coverage of issues impacting the Francophone community, and used the opportunity to make a special proclamation acknowledging the newspapers’ status and role in the community.

“LeDroit newspaper has been a pillar of the Francophone community for the last 100 years. We are proud to highlight the existence of this great daily newspaper in Ottawa’s Francophone landscape”, said Mayor Watson.

Special guests at the annual Francophone Rendezvous included a number of local politicians, community leaders and Mr. Jacques Pronovost, President and Editor of LeDroit newspaper, as well as LeDroit’s reporters, editors and former contributors.

Mr. Pronovostsaid: “LeDroit is proud of its Franco-Ontarian roots, proud of the commitment of its staff over the last hundred years to defending the rights of Francophones, and it is still just as committed today to defending and promoting the use of the French language in Ontario and in the National Capital Region. LeDroit is also proud of taking part in cultural, social, economic, and political life in Ottawa and in eastern Ontario by keeping French-speaking citizens informed every day and by putting their legitimate concerns at the forefront of the news.”

March 27, 2013 will be the pivotal point in celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of LeDroit which was founded on March 27, 1913.

“Like many Ottawa residents, reading LeDroit is part of my daily morning routine and the paper continues to be current, modern and relevant with an electronic version which is regularly viewed by close to 20,000 people every week, which is impressive”, added the Mayor.

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Ottawa Public Library to announce winners of Awesome Authors contest
Monday March 25, 2013

The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) will announce the winners of the Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest on Tuesday, March 26 in The Chamber at Ben Franklin Place.

Prizes will honour Ottawa-area youth between the ages of 9 and 17. The young authors submitted poems and/or short stories in French and/or English to the OPL. The contest ran from December 2012 to February 2013.

Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: The Chamber, Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Dr.

For more information visit www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca or contact InfoService at 613-580-2940 or InfoService@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca.

Library offers special programming during National Poetry Month
Monday March 25, 2013

The Ottawa Public Library is hosting a series of six poetry programs in April.

Poetry Workshop with Peter Richardson
Nepean Centrepointe, 101 Centrepointe
Saturday, April 6, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Poetry Garage with Sandra Ridley
Rosemount, 18 Rosemount
Saturday, April 13, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

À vos plumes: Atelier de création littéraire
Orléans, 1705 Orléans
Le samedi 13 avril, de 14 h à 16 h

Poetry Workshop with David O’Meara
Carlingwood, 281 Woodroffe
Saturday, April 20, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Poetry Workshop with Stephen Brockwell
Alta Vista, 2516 Alta Vista
Saturday, April 27, 1:00-4:00 p.m.

National Poetry Month Reading
Readings by: Stephen Brockwell, Christine McNair, David O’Meara, Peter Richardson and Sandra Ridley
Main Library, 120 Metcalfe
Wednesday, April 24, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

City of Ottawa earns Triple-A credit rating
Tuesday March 19, 2013

The City of Ottawa’s Triple-A credit rating was reconfirmed yesterday by international credit agency Moody’s Investors Service, a leading provider of credit ratings, research, and risk analysis.

“I am very pleased that Moody’s has recognized the work done by our City government, not just to manage the City’s finances today, but to invest prudently in the future,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “This shows that we are on the right financial track and living within our means.”

Using financial data and projections from 2011, a report released yesterday by Moody’s states: “The City of Ottawa’s Aaa debt rating and stable outlook is based on a history, and continued practice, of prudent financial management and stable economic base. The City has generated a string of strong fiscal outcomes over the past several years, which reflects fiscal discipline and a commitment to long-range financial planning.”

The report acknowledges the City’s upcoming major infrastructure projects such as the Confederation Line and Ottawa on the Move, and states that the financial planning around both initiatives, make the debt “manageable” and are unlikely to alter the City’s credit profile materially.

“The Moody’s report recognizes the City’s adherence to a long-term capital plan to ensure that debt levels and debt servicing costs remain modest,” said City Treasurer Marian Simulik. “Council has made financing the City’s future responsibly a priority. Together, we have accomplished that goal.”
Other highlights of the report:

Ottawa’s rating is at the higher end of Canadian municipalities, whose ratings typically range between Aaa and Aa2.
Ottawa displays strong governance and management characteristics.
The City benefits from a strong stable economy with personal incomes, retail sales levels and unemployment rates that outperform provincial and national averages.

Ottawa residents can see the report on the Moody’s website.

OPL Board approves construction contract award for the West District Library
Monday March 18, 2013

The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) Board has awarded the construction contract for the West District Library to R.E. Hein Construction (Ottawa) for approximately $6.9M (including HST and contingency).

“We are thrilled to be one step closer in completing this project,” said Jan Harder, Chair of the OPL Board. “R.E. Hein Construction has a proven track record in construction of public spaces in Ottawa, and we know they will do a fantastic job with this new branch.”

On November 15, 2010, following a series of public presentations and discussions with community associations and partners, the OPL Board approved the selection of the existing Beaverbrook branch, attached to the Mlacak Centre Complex, as the preferred location for the new West District Library. A two storey addition and renovations to the existing facility will expand the 10,691 sq ft branch to 24,000 sq feet.

“The Kanata North community has been growing at a rapid pace,” said Councillor Marianne Wilkinson, who is also a trustee on the OPL Board. “This expanded branch is much-needed and welcomed, and we are excited to watch the changes over the coming year.”

The Beaverbrook branch closed on February 17, 2013 and reduced library services are being provided through a Depot located at the Beaverbrook Centre, 2 Beaverbrook Rd. Construction on the West District Library is anticipated to begin on March 25, 2013. The planned completion date is August 2014.

R.E. Hein Construction has been a leader in the ICI sector (Industrial/ Commercial/ Institutional) of the construction industry since 1988. Recent work includes the James Bartleman Archives and Library Materials Centre, the Canal and River Buildings at Carleton University, and the Hillel Lodge Long Term Care Centre.

OPL is the largest bilingual (English – French) public library system in North America. Serving more than 900,000 residents, OPL helps build a strong, vibrant, and sustainable community by supporting literacy and life-long learning, fostering inspiration and enjoyment, and connecting people to each other and the world.

For more information about the Ottawa Public Library, visit www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca or contact InfoService at 613-580-2940 or InfoService@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca.

Ottawa Public Health gives youth a Photovoice
Monday March 18, 2013

This morning, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) officially launched the second Photovoice Youth Photography Contest at Holy Trinity Catholic High School. The contest encourages Ottawa residents aged 12 to 19 years to submit photos about health issues that affect youth in their community.

“Ottawa Public Health wants to hear from Ottawa’s youth. We want to see each neighbourhood and community through their lens,” said Councillor Mathieu Fleury, member of the Ottawa Board of Health. “We are looking forward to seeing the various submissions and hope many young residents will take this opportunity to voice their opinions through photography.”

The Photovoice contest runs from March 18 to April 19. Submissions can be entered in one of two categories: Active Transportation or General Health Issues. There are many prizes to be won, including a grand prize of $500 in cash.

In 2011, Ottawa Public Health received over 170 photo entries in the inaugural year of their Photovoice Contest. Photos from that contest were on display at various public spaces around the city and were used to inform youth programming at OPH.

“I was thrilled to participate in the Photovoice contest last year,” said Kayla Ackehurst-Richard, last year’s Photovoice contest winner. “Grab your camera and let your photos do the talking. You want to see change? You want to make our city a better place to live? This is your chance to be heard.”

Along with the photographs entered into the contest, youth are asked to send a short caption in the language of their choice to describe the health issue(s) in their photo.
All participants of the Photovoice Youth Photography Contest are invited to the May

Board of Health meeting for the announcement of the 2013 winners and to view this year’s submissions. This special Board meeting will be held in the community at Jim Durrell Arena on May 6. All residents are invited to attend.

For more information on the 2013 Photovoice Youth Photography Contest, including full contest rules, go to ottawa.ca/health or call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744. You can also follow OPH on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.

Nominations now being accepted for the Order of Ottawa and the Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching
Monday March 18, 2013

Nominations are now open for the Order of Ottawa and the Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching and may be submitted online at ottawa.ca/orderofottawa.

The Order of Ottawa recognizes the professional achievements and outstanding service of up to 15 of Ottawa’s most deserving individuals each year. Any resident of Ottawa who has made a significant contribution in a professional capacity that has been of benefit to our community may be nominated.

The award was first proposed by Mayor Jim Watson in his State of the City address in January 2012, with the first investiture of 15 worthy Ottawa citizens held on November 22, 2012. This prestigious award is intended to recognize those who have made significant contributions, through their professional endeavours, to life in the city in any of the following areas: arts and culture, business, philanthropy, health care, education, public service, labour, communications and media, science, sports and entertainment and other fields that benefit Ottawa.

The Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching, which will be presented at the Order of Ottawa awards ceremony in late 2013, recognizes the contribution of an amateur coach who best exemplifies the qualities of leadership and commitment that have been the hallmarks of Brian Kilrea’s career. Mr. Kilrea is a retired hockey head coach, general manager and player, and is best known for his 35-year association with the Ottawa 67’s. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, has played and coached in the NHL and, with more than 1,000 career victories, he is the most successful coach in junior hockey history.

Nominations for the Order of Ottawa or the Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching may be completed online or by filling out nomination pamphlets which are now available at your local community centre, public library or any client service centre. The deadline for nominations is Friday, September 13, before midnight.

More information on both awards can be found online at ottawa.ca/orderofottawa.

Nominations by immediate family members, self-nominations, and posthumous nominations will not be accepted. Elected municipal, provincial and federal officials are not eligible to be considered for this award while they are in office.

Ottawa Police brings safety message to Ottawa residents for St. Patrick's Day
Friday March 15, 2013

The Ottawa Police Service encourages Ottawa residents who participate in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations this weekend to do so safely, responsibly and in accordance with all laws.

The number one priority for Ottawa Police is public safety for everyone. All appropriate measures are in place to ensure that public safety is maintained in Ottawa.
Liquor License Act offences will be strictly enforced – “In short: leave it at home!”

Register now to celebrate 20 years of Cleaning the Capital
Friday March 15, 2013

The City of Ottawa and Tim Hortons are pleased to announce the annual Spring Cleaning the Capital campaign, which will take place from April 15 until May 15.
Spring Cleaning the Capital is a city-wide event that brings together neighbours, communities and friends to help keep Ottawa beautiful.

Early bird registration is now open for the event. Volunteers who register their cleanup project during this period, which takes place between March 15 and April 14, have a chance to win one of many early bird prizes donated by our generous sponsors. Regular registration ends May 15th.

Registration is quick and easy. First, select a cleanup location, such as a park, ravine, shoreline, bus stop, pathway or any public area requiring tidying up. Projects can include litter pickup or graffiti removal. Then go to ottawa.ca to register for the cleanup. Following the event, submit an online cleanup report by May 31 to be eligible for more prizes from our sponsors.

Cleanup starter kits for litter pickup and graffiti removal projects are available to all registered volunteers upon request. Litter pickup starter kits include: disposable vinyl gloves, garbage bags as well as leaf and yard waste bags. Graffiti removal starter kits include graffiti removal wipes and gloves. All kits come with helpful project and safety information to guide your cleanup project.

This is a great opportunity for families and friends to work together on community cleanup projects that help make Ottawa clean, green, graffiti and litter free. Cleaning the Capital is also an excellent way for high school students to earn their community volunteer hours.
Since the program’s inception n 1994, over 856,000 volunteers have participated in 13,100 cleanup projects throughout the city. As a result, an estimated 1.48M kilograms of waste have been removed from public spaces by participating individuals, student groups, community associations, businesses, friends and families.

Easter schedule changes
Thursday March 14, 2013

The City of Ottawa would like to remind residents of the following schedule changes for Friday,
March 29 (Good Friday), and Monday, April 1 (Easter Monday).
Client services:

Ottawa City Hall and all seven Client Service Centres, including the Government Service Centre located at 110 Laurier Avenue West, will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday. Business will resume as usual on Tuesday, April 2.
The City’s Provincial Offences Court, located at 100 Constellation Crescent, will also be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday. Business will resume as usual on Tuesday, April 2.
The City’s 3-1-1 Contact Centre will be open for urgent matters requiring the City’s immediate attention. Call 3-1-1 or 613-580-2400 to speak to a customer service representative. For persons living with a hearing-related disability, call (TTY: 613-580-2401).

Garbage, green bin and recycling collection:

There will be no curbside green bin, recycling or garbage collection on Good Friday and Easter Monday. Good Friday’s pick-up will take place on Saturday, March 30 and Easter Monday’s pick-up will take place on Tuesday, April 2. The collection of green bin, garbage and recycling materials will be delayed by one day for the week of April 1.
There will be no multi-residential green bin and recycling container collection on Good Friday. Good Friday’s pick-up will take place on Saturday, March 30 and Easter Monday’s pick-up will take place on Tuesday, April 2. Recycling container collection and green bin will also be delayed by one day for the week of April 1. However, multi-residential garbage container collection is not delayed and collection will take place on its regular scheduled day.
The Trail Waste Facility is closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Parking:

All City of Ottawa parking regulations and restrictions will apply during this time.

Transit services:

OC Transpo will operate a Sunday schedule on Good Friday. On Easter Monday there will be minor weekday schedule reductions and the cancellation of all school routes numbered in the 600s and supplementary school trips. Call 613-560-1000 or text 560560 plus your four-digit bus stop number for automated schedule information. For more information, holiday schedules and travel planning, phone 613-741-4390 or visit octranspo.com.
OC Transpo Sales and Information Centreswill be closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday with the exception of the Rideau Centre office, which will be open Easter Monday from
8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The OCTranspo Information Centre (613-741-4390) will operate from 8a.m. to 9p.m. on Good Friday and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Easter Monday,
The OC Transpo Customer Relations Department (613-842-3600) will be closed Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Recreation services:

Many pools, fitness centres and some arenas will be open on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday for public swimming, skating and fitness classes with modified schedules. Please check withottawa.ca or the facility of your choice for details.
Many registered programs at swimming pools, community centres and arenasare cancelled on Good Friday and Easter Monday, however, clients should check with their facilityto confirm, as some exceptions will apply.

Cultural services:

Billings Estate National Historic Site and Cumberland Village Heritage Museum are open for Easter events on Saturday, March 30, however, Pinhey’s Point Historic Site will be closed.
Arts centres, archives, galleries and theatres will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday. However, clients should check with ottawa.ca or their facility to confirm as some exceptions may apply.

Municipal child care services:

City-operated Child Care Centres are closed onGood Friday and Easter Monday.

Ottawa Public Library:

All branches, departments and services of the Ottawa Public Library will be closed March 29 (Good Friday), March 31 (Easter Sunday) and April 1 (Easter Monday). They will operate as usual on Saturday, March 30.

Ottawa Public Health:

Ottawa Public Health Information Line (OPHIL) and Aids-Sexual Health Info Line – Closed
Sexual Health Centre and Satellite Clinics – Closed
Site program – Site office at 179 Clarence Street will be closed on March 29 (Good Friday) and Monday, April 1 (Easter Monday), however, the site mobile van will be operating on a regular schedule from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Dental Clinics – Closed
Well Baby Drop-in – Closed

City's sledding hills closed for the season
Monday March 11, 2013

The City of Ottawa has closed its 56 approved sledding hills for the season due to the mild conditions, rain and lack of snow. The public is urged to keep personal safety in mind and remain off the sledding hills.

It is unlikely that the sledding hills will be opened until next season. Sledding hill notifications are available on-line at ottawa.ca.

App submissions are now being accepted
Monday March 11, 2013

The City’s Apps4Ottawa contest, sponsored by Microsoft Canada, is accepting app submissions from today until May 12, 2013.

Over the last two weeks, residents and City staff have shared their ideas of what types of apps they would like to see created. Developers can browse through suggested ideas at ottawa.ca. These ideas and suggestions are meant to help developers decide what type of app to build.

Entries will be judged on usefulness, support of City priorities, ease of use or understanding, inventiveness, and ease of access. Apps can be designed for smart phones, mobile devices, or personal computers. Prizes will be awarded in four theme categories: On the Move, Having Fun, Your City and a brand new category for Data Analysis and Visualizations.

Cash prizes will total $38,000 with the top prize in each category set at $3,000. There will also be prizes for Silver and Bronze in each category, plus one prize each for the best student app and the people’s choice app, along with prizes for the top Microsoft 8 apps. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in June.

Category and in-kind sponsors include Nova Networks, Oracle, TELUS, CGI, Smart Cell, Ideavibes, Decisive Technologies and Cisco.

To submit your app, visit Apps4Ottawa.ca. For more information, including contest rules, visit ottawa.ca or Apps4Ottawa.ca.

Ottawa Public Health Tackles Problem Drinking
Monday March 11, 2013

Today, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) released a plan to deal with problem drinking in the Capital.

“Though so-called ‘hard’ drugs are often the focus of attention, the most commonly misused substance in Ottawa is actually alcohol,” said Dr. Vera Etches, Associate Medical Officer of Health. “Research indicates alcohol misuse causes a greater burden of illness and death than other drugs and that is why we’ve chosen to take steps to raise awareness of its dangers and to further enhance our efforts in tackling problem drinking in Ottawa.”

A recent epidemiological scan of substance misuse found that alcohol leads to approximately 110 deaths and 970 hospitalizations among adults each year in Ottawa. These are due in large part to injury, mental health conditions, and chronic conditions such as cancers of the digestive system and heart disease. The scan also found that Ottawans’ drinking habits are consistently higher than the provincial average. One quarter of Ottawa adults and almost three quarters of young adult males reported heavy or frequent binge drinking in the past year, and one-in-three adults exceeded the recommended weekly limits set out by Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines.

Given these findings, OPH will be strengthening its efforts to reduce problem drinking and its associated harms by:

Building resilience in children and youth through services to parents and school age youth;
Promoting a culture of moderation by raising awareness of Canada’s Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines and expanding partnerships with agencies and organizations working with young adults;
Increasing access to treatment and referral services by promoting self-screening tools and reaching out to primary care practitioners and improving contact with vulnerable populations.

“Canada has new guidelines about low risk alcohol consumption and our primary goal is to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol misuse. These new guidelines educate on maximums for daily and weekly drinking, standard drink sizes, and when not to drink such as during pregnancy,” said Dr. Etches. “OPH recognizes that addressing substance misuse, including alcohol and drugs, requires a whole-community approach and OPH will continue to work at bringing together agencies and individuals from all sectors, to address the growing needs of this community.”

Dr. Etches went on to say: “Our efforts in addressing problem drinking will stay true to four key pillars for addressing substance misuse: prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement.”

Released today, OPH’s report and technical documents, which will be tabled at the Ottawa Board of Health’s next meeting, scheduled for Monday, March 18, 2013. For more information and details on Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines, visit Healthy Ottawa.

For more information on healthy sexuality go to ottawa.ca/health or call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744. You can also follow OPH on Twitter and Facebook.

OC Transpo operates revised schedules for March Break
Friday March 8, 2013

OC Transpo service will operate on a reduced weekday schedule during the March Break (March 11 to 15) when schools are closed.

Bus arrival times may be adjusted slightly compared to the usual weekday schedule, and during rush hour most routes will have one or two fewer trips. All school routes numbered in the 600s and special school trips on regular routes will not operate. The O-Train schedule will be unchanged.

Holiday schedules are available at www.octranspo.com.Automated schedule information is also available 24 hours a day by calling 613-560-1000 or texting 560560 plus your 4-digit bus stop number.
For more information and travel planning assistance, call OC Transpo at 613-741-4390 or visit www.octranspo.com.

Reminder: 4225 Strandherd - Proposed Draft Plan of Subdivision Application Public Info Session Today
Thursday March 7, 2013

Interested in this important piece of Barrhaven Employment lands? A public information session to get an overview of the application and chat with Planning staff is being held tonight (Thursday, March 7) from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Walter Baker Sports Centre (Upper concourse). Click here for more information about the session. See you there!

City seeking public input on commemorative naming proposal
Thursday March 7, 2013

The City of Ottawa’s Commemorative Naming Committee is conducting public consultations on a proposal to name the outdoor rink at South Nepean Park, 700 Longfields Drive, ”Ted Hay Rink”.

The City has been asked to name the outdoor rink at South Nepean Park in Barrhaven, “Ted Hay Rink” in recognition of the late Edward “Ted” Hay’s (1957-2011) many contributions to his community.

Ted Hay played, coached and refereed hockey in Ottawa for 40 years. He was particularly devoted to the Nepean Minor Hockey Association (NMHA), the Nepean Girls Hockey Association (NGHA) and local men’s hockey. Ted was known to not only prepare his players for hockey, but also for life, emphasizing fair play and sportsmanship.
View the online proposal for “Ted Hay Rink”. Comments on this proposal must be received no later than Friday, April 5, 2013.

World Health Organization recognizes Ottawa's commitment to becoming an Age-Friendly City
Wednesday March 6, 2013

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially designated the City of Ottawa as a member of its Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities as a result of the collaborative commitment and planning efforts of the Council on Aging of Ottawa’s community-based Age Friendly Ottawa initiative and the City.

“Older adults are respected and vital members of the Ottawa community. This international designation recognizes the City’s ongoing commitment to meeting the social and infrastructure needs of our older residents now and in the future,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “The World Health Organization’s designation is a significant achievement and a testament to the incredible work to date by the City and its community partners.”

As a WHO Age-Friendly City network member, Ottawa joins an international group of cities and communities that have committed to creating physical and social urban environments to promote healthy and active aging and a good quality of life for older residents. Network membership allows the City of Ottawa to access international age experts and be part of collaborative activities between other age-friendly cities and communities.

“The City’s Older Adult Plan is a significant initiative that demonstrates that Ottawa is a community that values the contributions of older adults, offers opportunities for active living, and provides supports that are responsive to the diverse needs of older residents,” said Councillor Mark Taylor, Chair of the Community and Protective Services Committee. “The plan will enhance the quality of life for older residents in our community in ways that address their priorities and values.”

As part of the Older Adult Plan, the City has published the Older Adult Activity Guide, which is dedicated to promoting the many recreational services and programs offered by the City to older residents. The release of the guide is in direct response to the feedback the City received during the consultation process that resulted in the creation of the Older Adult Plan. The hard copy guide will be available at City recreation facilities across Ottawa.

“Cities and communities around the world are adopting an age-friendly approach to improving existing services and planning for the future in order to promote active and healthy aging,” said Louis Plourde, Executive Director, Council on Aging of Ottawa. “We are thrilled to be working with the City to make Ottawa increasingly responsive to the social, economic and environmental needs of our aging citizens.”

City Council approved the Older Adult Plan on October 24, 2012 as a forward-looking and co-ordinated approach to addressing the specific and evolving needs of Ottawa’s older residents, while introducing a long-term vision of a community that values, empowers, and supports older persons and their quality of life. Due to an aging demographic, Ottawa’s older adult population will more than double over the next 20 years.

For more information about Ottawa’s Older Adult Plan and the Older Adult Activity Guide visit ottawa.ca.

Teen Tech Video Contest starts soon
Monday March 4, 2013

The Ottawa Public Library’s (OPL) annual Teen Tech Week (TTW) video contest is back. Teens 13 to 18 can participate by creating a one-minute video about a favourite book.

The video can be a book trailer, a parody, a review, a dramatization of a compelling scene, or anything related to their book of choice. Teens must upload their videos on YouTube between March 10 and April 7 to compete for the grand prize: an Apple iPad. The iPad is compatible with OPL eBooks and with the wireless connections at all 33 OPL branches.

This year, contest partner SAW Video will provide prizes, including a video workshop, and have committed to having one of their cinematographers as the guest judge.

The video contest kicks off this year’s TTW, which takes place March 10-16. TTW highlights public libraries being about much more than books; OPL’s digital offerings include eBooks, downloadable music from Freegal, OPL blogs and apps.

The top 10 finalists will be announced, and their videos screened, at an Awards Night & Video Screening on Thursday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. in The Centrepointe Studio Theatre, 101 Centrepointe Drive. A wild card prize will be drawn from all the submissions. This event is free and open to everyone.

To view the red carpet pictures from last year’s event, go to the OPL’s Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpo-opl/sets/72157629884697421/

For more information about the contest, including the rules and regulations, visit www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca/Teens or contact InfoService at 613-580-2940 or InfoService@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca.

City aims to improve how it engages the public
Friday March 1, 2013

The City of Ottawa is reaching out to residents this spring in order to improve how staff consults with individuals and groups on important issues.
Guidelines to improve how City staff engages the public are being drafted and the City needs to know:

what you think.
where you want to be reached.
how you want to be consulted.

There will be four bilingual community consultation sessions held between March 25 and April 16. For those who cannot attend a consultation session but still want to contribute, a survey and ideas campaign will be available on ottawa.ca between March 25 and April 19, 2013.
All community consultation sessions run from 7 to 9 p.m.

March 25: City Hall (Colonel By Room)
110 Laurier Avenue West
April 3: Orleans Client Service Centre (Room 340)
255 Centrum Boulevard
April 10: John G. Mlacak Community Centre (Hall D)
2500 Campeau Drive
April 16: Walter Baker Sports Centre (Food Court)
100 Malvern Drive

To register for one of these sessions, go to ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 or visit any Client Service Centre.

For more information on public engagement at the City of Ottawa go to ottawa.ca.

Special Advisory: Overnight Parking Restriction Lifted
Thursday February 28, 2013

Snow clearing operations on City of Ottawa streets have been completed following the recent snowfall. As a result, the overnight parking restriction is now lifted for Ottawa.
Another overnight parking restriction may be issued in the event of an Environment Canada forecast of 7cm or more for the Ottawa area.

The City’s priority for snow clearing is to ensure that streets are clear and safe for motorists, public transit, pedestrians and cyclists. Please note that overnight parking is not permitted at any time in City of Ottawa facility parking lots.

Sign up for the City’s Winter Parking e-Alerts or Twitter notifications to be in the know about snow. You will receive notification each time an overnight parking restriction is in effect, if the restriction continues over more than one night and when the restriction has been lifted. The service is free and you can unsubscribe at anytime. Sign up today at www.ottawa.ca

For more winter parking information, please visit www.ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).

City and Tim Hortons celebrate 2012 Cleaning the Capital contributors
Thursday February 28, 2013

Mayor Jim Watson, Councillor Keith Egli, Chair of the Transportation Committee, Councillor Marianne Wilkinson, and Bill Houldsworth of Tim Hortons celebrated the efforts of 2012 Cleaning the Capital participants and sponsors at a ceremony at City Hall this morning.

“Year after year, I’m proud to see so many people actively caring for their neighbourhoods and this year is no exception,” said Mayor Watson. “It is important to thank all the volunteers and the many sponsors who make Cleaning the Capital a success and now we can work to build on this enthusiasm on a year-round basis, as I suggested in my recent State of the City remarks.”

Every year, the spring and fall events attract more than 86,000 participants who give back to their communities through litter pick-up and graffiti removal projects. Since 1994, Cleaning the Capital participants have collected over 1.5 million kilograms of waste from Ottawa’s parks, bus stops, woodlots, ravines, shorelines and pathways.
“Cleaning the Capital creates a tangible difference we can instantly see. We appreciate all the participants and sponsors that contribute their time and efforts towards creating a cleaner and healthier city,” said Councillor Egli.

“Tim Hortons is proud to be a long-time sponsor of the Cleaning the Capital campaigns and we are dedicated to supporting this valuable initiative to keep our communities beautiful,” said Tim Hortons restaurant owner Bill Houldsworth. “We look forward to the campaign’s continued success to combat litter and graffiti through community cleanup projects across the city.”

The 2013 Spring Cleaning the Capital will be taking place April 15 to May 15. Participants can register online starting March 15.

The 2013 Tim Hortons Ottawa Cleaning the Capital will mark 20 years of the initiative. The Cleaning the Capital team was the recipient of the 2012 Keep America Beautiful Award for their litter prevention efforts and their ability to engage community members in the Cleaning the Capital campaigns. This annual award celebrates achievements in litter prevention, waste reduction and recycling, beautification and community greening projects or programs.

Special Advisory: Overnight Parking Restriction in Effect
Wednesday February 27, 2013

Environment Canada has forecast snow accumulation of 7 cm or more for the Ottawa area. As a result, overnight parking restrictions are now in effect from 1a.m. to 7a.m. across Ottawa. This overnight parking restriction will remain in effect until the City announces it has been lifted.

During an overnight parking restriction, vehicles are banned from parking on any city street so that crews can clear them easily and effectively. Vehicles that remain parked on the street during an overnight parking restriction will be ticketed. On-street parking permit holders are exempt from this restriction. Please note that overnight parking is not permitted at any time in City of Ottawa facility parking lots.

The City of Ottawa’s priority for snow clearing is to ensure that streets are clear and safe for motorists, public transit, pedestrians and cyclists.

For more winter parking information, please visit www.ottawa.ca.or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).

Seasonal openings and closures at City of Ottawa parks
Wednesday February 27, 2013

Most of the City of Ottawa’s outdoor skating rinks will close for the season on Thursday, February 28.

Some rinks will remain open as long as conditions permit. For information on which rinks remain open, visit ottawarinkconditions.ca, contact the Seasonal Recreation Office at 613-580-2590, or send an email request to Seasonalrecreation@ottawa.ca.

The refrigerated ice surfaces at the Rink of Dreams and Ben Franklin Place are expected to remain open through to mid March, weather permitting. Check ottawa.ca or ottawarinkconditions.ca for updates.

The City’s 56 approved sledding hills also remain open. Outdoors enthusiasts are invited to sled while weather and hill conditions permit and to keep personal safety in mind while sledding.

Approved sledding hill locations and safety tips are available on ottawa.ca.

Jatinder Chadha receives the Mayor's City Builder Award
Wednesday February 27, 2013

Mayor Jim Watson, with Barrhaven Ward Councillor Jan Harder, today presented the Mayor’s City Builder Award to Jatinder Chadha for his tireless volunteer work and outstanding contributions to the community as a volunteer, fundraiser and advocate for new Canadians.

Since 2000, Mr. Chadha has been organizing many community events in the National Capital Region to galvanize the South Asian community and assist members of the community to become acclimatized to Canadian culture, providing advice and guidance.
Mr. Chadha, a Project Manager with Transit Services at the City of Ottawa, is the founder, producer and host of the television program Desi Ottawa on Rogers Television.
He has also spearheaded other benevolent efforts, raising $10,000 in contributions for relief of the Haitian earthquake in addition to organizing collection drives for the Ottawa Food Bank.

The Mayor’s City Builder Award is a civic honour created by Mayor Watson to recognize an individual, group or organization that has, through outstanding volunteerism or exemplary action, demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to making our city a better place today and for the future. This may include lifelong service, outstanding acts of kindness, inspiring charitable work, community building or other exemplary achievements. Individuals, groups or organizations may be nominated by members of City Council or the public. The award is presented at the beginning of each City Council meeting.

City employees lauded for contributions to United Way/Centraide
Wednesday February 27, 2013

At City Council today, Mayor Jim Watson congratulated City employees for their contribution of $486,596.78 to the United Way/Centraide campaign of 2012.

“City employees have raised close to $4 million over the past seven years to the United Way/Centraide campaign,” said Mayor Watson. “On behalf of Council and particularly Councillors Mathieu Fleury and Mark Taylor who worked directly on this year’s effort, I wish to thank employees for their continued generosity and support of United Way/Centraide and the vital programs, services, and initiatives it provides to improve the lives of Ottawa residents in need.”

Mayor Watson joined Councillor Fleury, Councillor Taylor and Campaign Chair Dan Chenier, General Manager of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, to reveal this year’s campaign total during a ceremony today in Andrew S. Haydon Hall at City Hall.

“City employees have stepped up once again by donating their talents, organizing events, volunteering and encouraging colleagues to be part of the United Way/Centraide campaign,” said City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick. “It’s due to this engagement that the City of Ottawa is able to make a lasting contribution to the United Way/Centraide.”
Mr. Michael Allen, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way/Centraide Ottawa, also praised City employees for their efforts.

“We especially want to thank the nearly 2,000 City employees who have pledged to contribute to the United Way/Centraide not just during the campaign, but year round,” said Mr. Allen. “City employees through their donations and hard work have greatly contributed to United Way/Centraide once again this year, helping to create a better life for everyone in our community.”

Statistics Show Barrhaven Expanding Rapidly
Tuesday February 26, 2013

Results from Statistics Canada’s 2011 Census broken down by City of Ottawa wards were brought to the City’s Planning Committee today and they reveal booming growth in the west, remarkably in the Barrhaven area.

Four of the five wards that experienced the highest growth over the 2006 Census – Barrhaven (26.2 per cent growth), Kanata North (30 per cent growth), Stittsville (36.3 per cent growth), Cumberland (29.8 per cent growth) and Gloucester- South Nepean (54.7 per cent growth) – are from the south/west portions of the city and all are suburban areas. Overall, the City of Ottawa has seen a net growth of 8 per cent between 2006 and 2011.

The neighbourhood of Barrhaven stretches across both Barrhaven ward and into Gloucester South Nepean ward, which have experienced a 26.2 per cent and 54.7 per cent growth respectively.

“Given that this growth has occurred in just four short years, in a relatively small area, and the data is already two-years-old, it’s no mystery that Barrhaven is changing quickly, and I will continue to press for timely completion of infrastructure projects in the communities I serve,” said Councillor Harder. “Barrhaven has seen tremendous growth over the past five years and the city must ensure this growth is managed with proper infrastructure in place.”

Councillor Harder encourages residents to participate in the ‘Building a Liveable Ottawa’ survey currently underway by the City of Ottawa to determine where the City should be focusing its infrastructure dollars in the coming years. When completed, the Building a Liveable Ottawa 2031 project will set the directions, policies and affordability priorities that will influence the future of the city for years to come. The survey is available online at Ottawa.ca until Friday, March 1st, 2013.

The 2011 Census provides data on population, age and sex, family and household structure, languages, marital status and dwelling type. For more statistics like these and a snapshot of Barrhaven by the Numbers please visit janharder.com/census2011.

Mayor Watson and Councillors get a first glimpse as the new Lansdowne takes shape
Tuesday February 26, 2013

Mayor Jim Watson and members of City Council toured Lansdowne today to see how the reconstruction is advancing. They were joined by the City’s Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) partners to see the progress of construction, and helped pour some of the concrete for the floor at the new south side stands.

“In just four months so much progress has already been made,” said Mayor Watson. “It’s exciting to see how much closer our vision for a revitalized Lansdowne is to being fully realized. Seeing the foundation walls, floors and columns we walked through today makes the final completion of this project so much more tangible.”

“It’s very exciting to see the progress that’s been made at Lansdowne over the last few months,” said Roger Greenberg, a partner in OSEG. “The new south side of the stadium is already 20 feet out of the ground, the north stadium and Civic Centre renovations are well underway, and foundations for the retail and entertainment district are, by-and-large, in place. Kudos to our general contractor, Pomerleau, and all the trades people who are shaping the new Lansdowne. Keep up the good work!”

Among the construction activities occurring at Lansdowne today, Mayor Watson was able to view: the ground level of the south stands where the main floor and beams are being poured and the foundations are complete, ongoing work to update the roof of the north side stands and the first section of the new underground parking garage that will serve as the foundations of the retail buildings in the urban village. Also included on the tour was the new foundation of the Horticulture Building, which was relocated last fall.

“Construction is proceeding very well,” said Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager, Planning and Infrastructure. “We’ve had a great team effort with our partners and have made great strides to advance this project. The overall project is on schedule and will enhance the long-term sustainability and community enjoyment of this important historical site.”

As part of the construction, the City, OSEG and the contractor Pomerleau Inc. are working together to find innovative ways to streamline construction activities. One of the key elements, a mobile concrete plant, will produce enough concrete to fill 65 Olympic-sized swimming pools over the course of construction. The plant decreases truck traffic on area roads, and also helps to reduce the fuel consumption of vehicles transporting concrete, equivalent to removing the emissions of over 400 cars per day.

Other initiatives include staged excavations so that soil can be removed from one area and used as backfill in another, reducing the environmental impacts from transportation, and reusing construction material when possible. For example, some of the steel support beams from the Horticulture Building will be used in the urban park construction.

“There’s a real excitement in the air when you see all that’s been accomplished so far at Lansdowne,” said Mayor Watson. “I look forward to even more activity as construction of the urban park gets underway this spring.”

The urban park will feature a Great Lawn to rival the size of Parliament Hill’s, a multipurpose refrigerated ice rink, an orchard, children’s play area and water feature and five art installations. The City is currently in a tender process to select a contractor for the park construction.

Lansdowne construction updates are available at ottawa.ca/newlansdowne or by following the City of Ottawa on Twitter @ottawacity, #Lansdowne.

City and Tim Hortons announces 2012 Cleaning the Capital results
Tuesday February 26, 2013

Mayor Jim Watson, Councillor Keith Egli, Chair of the Transportation Committee, Councillor Marianne Wilkinson, and Bill Houldsworth of Tim Hortons, will celebrate the achievements of 2012 Cleaning the Capital participants and sponsors at a City Hall ceremony.

Campaign results will be announced, as well as the winners of the spring and fall “Ward Awards”. Ward Awards highlight communities with the highest Cleaning the Capital participation and are given to their respective Councillors. Since 1994, Cleaning the Capital participants have collected over 1.5 million kilograms of waste from Ottawa’s parks, bus stops, woodlots, ravines, shorelines and pathways.

Date: Thursday, February 28, 2013
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Location: Andrew Haydon Hall (Council Chambers), Ottawa City Hall
110 Laurier Avenue West

The Cleaning the Capital Team will also be congratulated during this event for having received the 2012 Keep America Beautiful Award for its litter prevention efforts and ability to engage residents in improving their environment through the Cleaning the Capital Program.

Apps4Ottawa goes national
Monday February 25, 2013

The City of Ottawa today announced it will be holding a second Apps4Ottawa contest. The new contest will feature a similar prize structure as the first contest but will be opened up to all Canadians for entry. Microsoft Canada is the contest’s title sponsor while other technology companies have agreed to be category sponsors.

“By making this a Canada-wide competition, we are encouraging developers from across the country to create apps that are unique, helpful and fun to use for residents and visitors to the nation’s capital,” said Mayor Jim Watson. "The City is also pleased to have the strong support of the local and national technology sector in bringing this program to the public."

Until March 10, residents are asked to submit their ideas and comment on others at ottawa.ca. These ideas and suggestions will help developers decide which apps to build, based on which ideas seem most popular and useful. Starting March 11, 2013, developers can start submitting their apps. The deadline for apps submission is May 12, 2013.

“Basically, we’re crowdsourcing,” said Councillor Tim Tierney, Chair of the IT Sub-Committee. “We’re encouraging residents to visit ottawa.ca to help guide the process for developers by submitting ideas for the types of apps that they might want and to comment or build on other ideas. We have been asking staff for their ideas over the last two weeks, and by adding this dialogue with residents, we feel it will help developers decide which apps are most needed and preferred by residents and the City.”

Entries will be judged on usefulness, inventiveness, originality and ease of access and use. Apps can be designed for mobile phones, desktop computers or websites. Prizes will be awarded in four theme categories: On the Move, Having Fun, Your City and a brand new category for Data Analysis and Visualizations.

Category and in-kind sponsors include Nova Networks, Oracle, TELUS, CGI, Smart Cell, Ideavibes, Decisive Technologies and Cisco.

Ottawa is one of the leaders in the open data movement in Canada. Currently, there are 63 data sets and 121 data files available to on ottawa.ca.

For more information, including contest rules visit ottawa.ca.

Demand will be high for spring and summer recreation activities
Monday February 25, 2013

– It’s time to check out the thousands of classes the City of Ottawa has to offer in the 2013 Spring-Summer Recreation eGuides. Both the Recreation eGuide and Mon cyberguide francophone des loisirs are now online at ottawa.ca.

Registration for swimming and aquafitness classes begins online and by touchtone phone (613-580-2588) Monday, March 4 at 10 p.m. and in person at City recreation facilities Tuesday, March 5 during regular business hours.
Registration for all other classes including summer camps begins online and by touchtone phone Wednesday, March 6 at 10 p.m. and in person at City recreation facilities Thursday, March 7during regular business hours.

High volumes of online registrants are expected throughout the first week of registration, particularly the first evening, which could result in a longer registration experience than usual.

Ottawa residents are encouraged to review the list of classes and summer camps and registration procedures now to ensure they are ready to enrol in their favourite classes in a timely manner. Anyone registering will need a client barcode and a family PIN (Personal Identification Number).

For registration
To register you will require a client barcode and family PIN numbers. You can get one by:

Visiting a recreation facility or Client Service Centre.
Calling 613-580-2588 Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (except on statutory holidays) and follow the prompts.
Create your family account online.

Forgot your Barcode or Family PIN?

Account information can be emailed to you, if you have previously provided your email address. Use the PIN and Barcode lookup tool to retrieve the information.
Call 613-580-2588 Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (except on statutory holidays) and follow the prompts.
Visit a recreation facility or Client Service Centre.

The City provides an impressive selection of affordable programs for all ages at convenient locations – everything from swimming and fitness, to dance, martial arts and even dog training – there’s something for everyone! Choose from Ottawa’s largest selection of day camps full of neighbourhood adventures for your child.

Information about classes can only be viewed online. Residents who do not have access to the internet at home or at work are encouraged to visit City recreation facilities or libraries with public internet access, or visit service centres or recreation centres where customer service staff can help with registration.

Reminder:Coffee House is TOMORROW
Friday February 22, 2013

Want to learn more about the new Barrhaven South Recreation Complex? Have an opinion on how our communities and city should grow? Already interested in participating in the Building a Liveable Ottawa review but want to know more?

If yes, this Coffee House is your opportunity to have a coffee, learn about these projects and chat with local City Councillors.

The Coffee House will take place on Saturday, February 23, 2013 from 10am-12pm at the Walter Baker Sports Centre (Main Lobby).

See you there!

Mayor Watson welcomes Rideau Transit Group to Ottawa
Friday February 22, 2013

Mayor Jim Watson, accompanied by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Ottawa—Orléans M.P. Royal Galipeau and local Members of Provincial Parliament, officially welcomed Rideau Transit Group (RTG) to Ottawa today.

Today’s ceremonial signing event officially signalled the end of the planning and negotiation phase. Elected leaders from all three levels of government met to officially pass the shovel to RTG’s senior leadership to signify the beginning of the initial construction activities. On Tuesday, February 12, 2013, the City and RTG successfully concluded negotiations and achieved the Commercial and Financial close of the contract to design, build, finance and maintain Ottawa’s new Confederation Line light rail transit system.

Premier Kathleen Wynne, on her first official visit to Ottawa, was pleased to see the designs and details of the RTG plan. “Investing in public transit is fundamental to our future prosperity,” said Premier Wynne. “I am proud of the Ontario Government’s investment in Confederation Line, which is an excellent example of how transit infrastructure projects can help build our communities and our economy.”

Representing the Government of Canada, Ottawa—Orléans MP Royal Galipeau highlighted the city-wide benefits of the project. “The new east-west LRT corridor is an important job-creating project that will make public transit faster, safer and more convenient for workers in Ottawa. LRT will bring tremendous benefits to our City and the local economy, including thousands of new jobs, and we are pleased to see the project moving forward.”

Mayor Watson noted that RTG has already begun hiring local project staff. “The Confederation Line Project is going to give a big boost to Ottawa’s economy,” said Mayor Watson. “As we move into construction we can expect to see significant hiring, particularly in trades and skilled labour. The Confederation Line will provide many high quality full-time jobs during construction and will strengthen the City’s competitive advantage once completed.”

Gerry Grigoropoulos from the Rideau Transit Group noted that “Approximately 80% of all work will be completed locally. In addition, we will be developing educational opportunities and apprenticeships with local colleges and universities to improve local skill development. We are not only building a transit system we are building community partnerships that will last the next 35 years.”

Funding for the Confederation Line is being provided by the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Ottawa. The Government of Canada is contributing $600 million through the Building Canada Fund. The City will also allocate up to $192 million of its federal Gas Tax Fund transfers to this project. The Government of Ontario is contributing $600 million. In addition, the City will allocate $287 million of Provincial Gas Tax receipts to the capital infrastructure. The remaining project budget funds will come from development charge revenues and transit reserves.

City to launch second Apps4Ottawa contest
Friday February 22, 2013

The City of Ottawa is set to launch its second public contest to develop applications from open data.

The goal of the contest is to encourage entrepreneurs, agencies, students, IT professionals and others to create innovative new apps and visualizations that use open data to improve access to City information and services for residents, visitors, and businesses. .

Currently, there are 63 data sets and 121 data files available on ottawa.ca.
Date: Monday, February 25, 2013
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: IT Sub-Committee, Champlain Room, Ottawa City Hall
110 Laurier Avenue West

Mayor Jim Watson, Councillor Tim Tierney, and a representative from Microsoft Canada, along with other sponsoring organizations will be available for interviews following the launch.

City celebrates excellence in heritage conservation
Tuesday February 19, 2013

Today, the City of Ottawa recognized outstanding achievements in heritage conservation at the 2011-2012 Ottawa Architectural Conservation Awards.

“The Ottawa Architectural Conservation Awards showcase the outstanding restoration and conservation of the City's heritage buildings, while supporting the City’s vision of healthy, liveable and economically viable communities,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “I’m delighted to congratulate this year’s award winners and to thank the volunteer jury which evaluated all the entries.”

A jury of heritage professionals considered the submissions and selected this year’s winners. Awards were presented in four categories: Restoration (returning a heritage resource to its original form, material and integrity), adaptive reuse (modification of a heritage resource to contemporary functional standards while retaining its heritage character), additions (addition to a heritage building) and other (engineering works, landscape restoration).

“The quality of the submissions received for this year’s Ottawa Architectural Conservation Awards was outstanding and I congratulate all applicants for their efforts toward preserving Ottawa’s built heritage,” said Barrhaven Councillor Jan Harder, Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee and Chair of the Ottawa Build Heritage Advisory Committee. “The award-winning projects show that, with creativity and care, Ottawa’s heritage resources can be preserved, restored and rehabilitated to meet the needs of today and keep them viable into the future.”

The recipients of this year’s Ottawa Architectural Conservation Awards are as follows:
Award of Excellence – Restoration
Butler House
1 Kindle Court

Award of Merit – Restoration
Hog’s Back Park Building Conservation

Excellence – Addition
Captain Fraser House
3856 Loggers Way

Excellence – Other
Rideau Hall Ceremonial Greenhouses

Merit – Other
Hintonburg Park

Merit – Adaptive Re-Use
Vincent Massey Park Buildings
Vincent Massey Park

Further information on these projects is also available on the City’s website at ottawa.ca.

Reminder:Coffee House
Tuesday February 19, 2013

If yes, this Coffee House is your opportunity to have a coffee, learn about these projects and chat with local City Councillors.

The Coffee House will take place on Saturday, February 23, 2013 from 10am-12pm at the Walter Baker Sports Centre (Main Lobby).

See you there!

Reminder:Family Day Holiday schedule changes
Friday February 15, 2013

The City of Ottawa reminds residents of a range of schedule changes for the Family Day Holiday on Monday, February 18 relating to Client Service Centre hours, the 3-1-1 Contact Centre, Provincial Offences Court, garbage and recycling, transit service and transit information, Ottawa Public Health, recreation and cultural services, municipal child care services, and library services.

For complete details, please visit ottawa.ca

Street food diversity added to the menu this spring
Friday February 15, 2013

Beginning in May, Ottawa will welcome 18 new and exciting food choices to the city's streets. Following on the City’s commitment to promote small business opportunities in the local community, these new trucks and carts will increase street food vendor options for residents and tourists alike.

“Ottawa will have a full range of street food options from appetizers to desserts,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “Regardless of your culinary preference, there will be new options for you to discover from Ottawa’s enhanced street food scene!”

Last fall, City Council approved the New Street Food Vending Program that provided for the opening of up to 20 spaces for new and diversified menus. A total of 61 applications were received and reviewed by a selection panel. These new options are in addition to the existing 44 licensed truck and cart food vendors.

“Food vendors can be so much more than their current stereotypes,” said Councillor Mark Taylor, Chair of the Community and Protective Services Committee. “I’m thrilled to see these diverse and interesting options added to Ottawa’s great existing food culture.”

The volunteer selection panel that reviewed the applications was made up of five members representing the Ontario Restaurant, Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA), Ottawa Branch of the Canadian Culinary Federation, Savour Ottawa, Just Food and Ottawa Public Health. Vendors were chosen based on the proposed menu, business plan, level of vendor experience and the overall contribution to Ottawa’s street food scene.

The City of Ottawa is pleased to announce the following successful applicants:
Trucks

Benjamin Baird: Ottawa “Streat” Gourmet – Fresh, local and seasonal ever-changing menu – North side of Queen, west of O’Connor
Layne Belcher and Mathew Hinds: Urban Cowboy – Texan street food – East side of Bank, north of Glen
Peter G. Bowen: Health conscious foodie friendly locally sourced cuisine – East side of Olmstead, south of Montreal Rd.
Mario Burke: Ad Mare – Fish and seafood – South side of Slater, east of O’Connor
Steven Dupras & Glen Galbraith: TURN rotisserie + kitchen: Turn yourself on to Ottawa's best food truck! – North side of Argyle, east of O’Connor
Mathew Gregoire & York Entertainment: Ragin’ Cajun – West side of Bank, north of Clemow
Jacqueline Jolliffe: Stone Soup Foodworks – Creative blend of local soups, tacos and sandwiches – East side of Spadina, north of Wellington
Jake Thomas: Dosa Inc. – South Indian crepes – South side of Somerset, west of Lyon
Jason Tran: Chow Down – Asia snacks and meals – North side of Byron at Woodroffe
Kin Tran: Asian-Fusion with a twist – North side of Gloucester, east of Lyon
Tim Van Dyke: LUNCH – Fresh and local ingredients in wholesome soups, salads and sandwiches – North side of Albert, east of Lyon

Carts

Wasi Choudhry: Olive Green – The South Asian food experience – location to be confirmed.
Rodney Cummings: Royi Fruta Bar – Baked empanadas and fruit drinks – East side of Elgin, north of Laurier
Gavin Hall: BOBITES: Best Organic Bites – Organic baked potatoes with seasonal toppings – East side of Metcalfe, south of Sparks
Tarek Hassan: Gongfu Bao – Chinese steamed Asian buns –East side of Elgin, south of Slater
Hana Jung: Roan Kitchen – Authentic Korean cuisine – West side of Bank between Albert & Slater
Brian Nolan: SPOON – frozen yogurt– East side of O’Connor, south of Sparks
Ulises Ortega: Churritos – Churro (traditional Mexican treats) – West side of O’Connor, south of Sparks

The 2013 street food season will be officially launched in May. For more information on the Street Food Vending Program, please visit ottawa.ca.

City seeks applicants for Transit Commission and Port Authority
Friday February 15, 2013

asdfasdfThe City of Ottawa is seeking volunteer representatives to sit on the Transit Commission and the Mohr’s Landing / Quyon Port Authority for the term ending November 30, 2014.
For more information on eligibility, roles and responsibilities and the application process, please visit ottawa.ca or contact Diane Blais at 613-580-2424 ext. 28091 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or e-mail diane.blais@ottawa.ca.

City to honour the best in architectural conservation
Friday February 15, 2013

As part of its celebration of Heritage Week, the City of Ottawa will recognize outstanding achievements in heritage conservation at the 2011/2012 Ottawa Architectural Conservation Awards, which will be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2013.

The awards were juried by a group of three heritage professionals including conservation architect Mark Brandt of Mark Thompson Brandt and Associates Architects, Leslie Maitland, architectural historian and president of Heritage Ottawa and Mary MacDonald,

Manager of Heritage Preservation Services with the City of Toronto.
Date: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Arts Court Studio
2 Daly Avenue

Family Day is the perfect time to practice your escape plan
Friday February 15, 2013

While Ottawa residents consider activities they can do on Family Day, the City of Ottawa urges all residents to spend a few minutes on an activity that will help protect the entire family.
Family Day is an ideal time for everyone in your household to sit down and discuss how to get out of your home in the event of a fire. Having an escape plan is considered part of the seven steps every family should take to prepare for emergencies.
Most fatal fires occur at night when everyone is asleep. All households should have working smoke alarms and many have carbon monoxide alarms. However, it’s important that people know what to do when the alarms go off.
Working as a family to create a home fire escape plan is key to ensuring a speedy and safe exit from your home. Some simple steps to include in your plan:

Draw a floor plan of your home, identifying all escape routes from each room. Identify all possible exits (doors and windows) and make sure they work. Have two ways out of each area, if possible.
Determine who will be responsible for helping young children, older adults or anyone else that may need assistance.
Get low and go. Make sure everyone knows that if they are caught in smoke, they should get low and go under the smoke to the nearest safe exit.
Choose a meeting place outside, such as a tree or a lamp post, where everyone can be accounted for.
Call 9-1-1 from outside the home, from a cell phone or neighbour’s home.
Once out, stay out. Never re-enter a burning building.

You may have only seconds to safely escape your home during an emergency. Practice your escape plan and make sure everyone can get out quickly. To find out more about escape planning and fire services, or to review the seven steps to emergency preparedness, visit ottawa.ca.

Ottawa Public Health asks youth to "Sex it Smart"
Thursday February 14, 2013

Today on Valentine’s Day, Councillor Mathieu Fleury, a member of the Board of Health, and Dr. Vera Etches, Associate Medical Officer of Health, launched Ottawa Public Health’s (OPH) Sex it Smart youth condom campaign in Eaton Court at the Rideau Centre.

The Sex it Smart campaign aims to increase awareness of proper condom use and its importance in reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through improved condom distribution and better promotion of healthy sexual relationships among youth.

"Youth played an essential role in the creation and implementation of this campaign,” said Councillor Fleury. “Youth were involved in developing a plan, designing the logo as well as the campaign’s ‘look and feel’. This is an important and exciting campaign for our city.”
A key component of the campaign is its website, where organizations and residents can now order free condoms online. The sexitsmart.ca website is also mobile friendly and features an Ottawa condom finder, STI prevention and proper condom use messaging.

An organization can go to the website, click “Get Some”, complete their order and pick it up at the Sexual Health Centre at 171 Clarence Street within three to five business days
A resident can go to the website, click “Get Some”, fill out their information and order details, and a ‘Sex it Smart’ condom package with accompanying health messaging will be mailed to them

“Lack of condom use is the top risk factor among individuals diagnosed with an STI,” said Dr. Etches. “In Ottawa, over a quarter of sexually active 15 to 19 year olds did not use a condom the last time they had sex. We hope this campaign will decrease this number and reduce the transmission of STIs."

For more information on the Sex it Smart campaign, visit sexitsmart.ca.
For more information on healthy sexuality go to ottawa.ca/health or call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744. You can also follow OPH on Twitter and Facebook.

Airport Parkway to temporarily close at Hunt Club for overpass installation
Thursday February 14, 2013

The Airport Parkway will be closed between Hunt Club Road and Brookfield Road beginning Friday February 15 at 11 p.m. until Saturday February 16 in the morning.
The overnight closure will allow crews to install the overhead formwork for the pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Airport Parkway between the Hunt Club community and the communities of South Keys and Greenboro.

Digital message signs will be in place to inform motorists of the closure and detour signs will be set up directing people to use Brookfield Road, Riverside Drive, Hunt Club Road and Bank Street.

Confederation Line Project Agreement finalized
Wednesday February 13, 2013

Yesterday the City of Ottawa finalized the Project Agreement with Rideau Transit Group (RTG) to design, build, finance and maintain Ottawa’s new 12.5-kilometre Confederation Line Light Rail project as well as widen Highway 417 from Nicholas Street to Highway 174.

Following a review of Rideau Transit Group’s proposal in December, Ottawa City Council voted unanimously to approve the project and to execute a project agreement with the Rideau Transit Group. Today marks the commercial and financial close of the Confederation Line project and the beginning of the construction phase.

“Today achieves the end of one long and challenging journey, but also the beginning of another,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “The City is grateful to our partners in the Provincial and Federal governments, most specifically Infrastructure Ontario and the National Capital Commission, without whom we would not have achieved such a spectacular result. With procurement now complete, I look forward to working with our new partners in the Rideau Transit Group to turn an inspirational vision into an enduring legacy of light-rail public transit in our City.”

Construction will begin this spring and will include the start of the widening of Highway 417 between Nicholas Street and Highway 174. Work will also begin at the Maintenance and Storage Facility on Belfast Road. RTG will also continue work on completing its designs, hire local sub-contractors and project staff and commence the work necessary to start excavation of the 2.5-kilometre tunnel under downtown Ottawa.

Construction of the Confederation Line will generate over 3,200 direct person-years of trades employment, 700-person years of highly skilled technical staff employment and 375 person-years of engineering employment in the Ottawa area. These direct jobs will create a multiplier effect in the local economy, which is anticipated to generate over 20,000 person years of indirect employment over the construction period.

The final project agreements related to the Confederation Line project are currently being prepared for posting on Ottawa.ca. They will be made available next week to coincide with a ceremonial event between the City and Rideau Transit Group.

City releases first multi-year Water and Wastewater Rate Budget
Tuesday February 12, 2013

The City of Ottawa today released its first multi-year Water and Wastewater Rate Budget following the direction laid out in the Long Range Financial Plan IV of February 2012. It recommends 7% water and sewer rate increase for 2013 and 2014 – $47 for the average household – to cover the rehabilitation and replacement of aging water and sewer infrastructure.

“We all know that the City needs to be proactive in the renewal of our City infrastructure,” said Councillor Maria McRae, Chair of the City’s Environment Committee. “These draft budgets strike a responsible balance between renewing aging infrastructure and ensuring ratepayers get best value for their dollar.”

Aging water infrastructure is prevalent in many cities across the country. In Ontario, the City of Toronto and the Region of York has each approved rate increases of 9% for 2013 and many of the annual rate increases across Ontario are in the 8% to 10% range.

In addition to supporting the operating budgets of the departments that provide Ottawa’s drinking water, wastewater and storm water programs, the draft 2013 and 2014 Water and Wastewater Rate Budgets also provide capital funding to infrastructure renewal projects including:

Ottawa River Action Plan projects aimed at improving the health of the Ottawa River, including the design and construction of the Combined Sewage Storage Tunnel;
Design of major water transmission links, including the Orleans Reliability Link; and
Ottawa on the Move projects that integrate road, water and sewer projects across the city.

Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre intervenor funding available to community groups
Monday February 11, 2013

Community groups interested in receiving intervenor funding to provide technical expertise to assist with the peer review of the Environmental Assessment process for the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre, are requested to submit proposals to the City of Ottawa.

A copy of the Application Form can be obtained by contacting Grace.O’Keefe@ottawa.ca or at (613) 580-2424 ext 13147.

In order to assist community groups to participate in the peer review of the Environmental Assessment, Ottawa City Council has allocated a maximum of $50,000 in total for interested organizations to obtain technical expertise on the issue.

The completed application form is due by Friday, March 22, 2013 and must include the following:
• Community group name
• Group leader and contact information
• Group mandate information
• A list with 50 group member names, addresses and signatures indicating they support the application
• A detailed list of technical experts (engineers, geologists, lawyers, surface water experts, etc.) and estimated costs the group plans to hire with the funds.

Winter in Brrrhaven this Sunday
Monday February 11, 2013

Winter in Brrrhaven will take place this Sunday February 17th from 3pm to 7pm at Larkin Park (76 Larkin Drive) this year.

Come out for a sleigh ride, bonfire, tug-a-war, waiter/waitress races, games, rock-and-skate, the first annual Barrhaven chili cook-off and more.

Enjoy free chili, hot dogs and warm drinks. Donations will be accepted for the barrhaven family resource centre.

Sponsors include Ross' Your Independent Grocer, Royal Oak, Broadway Bar & Grill, Boston Pizza, Greenfields Pub, and Quality Entertainment.

Mayor Watson to host Family Day Skating Party on the Rink of Dreams
Monday February 11, 2013

Bring your loved ones for a festive Family Day Skating Party on the Rink of Dreams at City Hall hosted by Mayor Jim Watson, in collaboration with the Ottawa Senators Foundation, the City’s Winterlude partners, and Ottawa Public Health (OPH). The party will feature some of your favourite mascots, delicious beaver tails, free hot chocolate, compliments of Ottawa’s BeaverTails Pastry, and free soup will be provided by Le Muffin Plus restaurant. The event will also promote the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship coming to Ottawa in April, 2013.

Winterlude wraps up on Sunday, February 17, but the fun continues on Family Day (Monday, February 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Our beloved Ice Hogs are making a final appearance before hibernation and there will be food, music and fun for the whole family. Participants are encouraged to bring your families, your skates and helmets, and a non-perishable food item for Ottawa’s Food Bank.

OPH will take part in the festivities alongside partner Thinkfirst.ca, Ottawa Chapter, providing assistance with helmet fitting, “tips and tricks” on helmet use, and information on the importance of wearing a helmet when skating.

The Rink of Dreams features LED lighting, a heated change hut and picnic tables and benches. It operates annually from November to March from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week and serves as a community space during the spring and summer months.

Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre intervenor funding available to community groups
Monday February 11, 2013

A copy of the Application Form can be obtained by contacting Grace.O’Keefe@ottawa.ca or at (613) 580-2424 ext 13147.

The Ministry of the Environment has approved Terms of Reference for Taggart Miller to undertake an Environmental Assessment for the construction of a Resource Recovery Centre which includes both a waste diversion facility and a landfill. The location of a site for this centre will be determined through the Environmental Assessment process.
In order to assist community groups to participate in the peer review of the Environmental Assessment, Ottawa City Council has allocated a maximum of $50,000 in total for interested organizations to obtain technical expertise on the issue.

Reminder: Family Day schedule changes
Monday February 11, 2013

The City of Ottawa would like to remind residents of the following schedule changes for Family Day (Monday, February 18).
Recreation services:

Rink of Dreams, located on Marion Dewar Plaza at Ottawa City Hall, is open on Family Day for the Mayor’s Annual Family Day Skating Party, weather permitting.
Most recreation facilities will be modifying their hours of operation on Monday, February 18. There may be changes to schedules and program cancellations in order to provide special programming for the Family Day holiday. Additional swimmingand skating sessions will be offered at many sites. Please check schedules at ottawa.ca or with the facility of your choice.

Client services:

Ottawa City Hall and all seven Client Service Centres, including the Government Service Centre located at 110 Laurier Avenue West, will be closed on Family Day, February 18. Business will resume as usual on Tuesday, February 19.
The City’s Provincial Offences Court, located at 100 Constellation Crescent, will also be closed on Family Day. Business will resume as usual on Tuesday, February 19.
The City’s 3-1-1 Contact Centre will be open for urgent matters requiring the City’s immediate attention. Call 3-1-1 or 613-580-2400 to speak to a customer service representative. For persons living with a hearing-related disability, call (TTY): 613-580-2401.

Garbage, green bin and recycling collection:

There will be no curbside green bin , recycling or garbagecollection on Family Day. Family Day’s pick-up will take place on Tuesday, February 19. In addition, the collection of green bin, garbage and recycling materials will be delayed by one day for the week of February 18. For curbside collection enquiries, refer to the collection calendar tool.
There will be no multi-residential green bin and recycling container collection on Family Day. Family Day’s pick-up will take place on Tuesday, February 19. Collection will also be delayed by one day for the week of February 18. However, multi-residential garbage container collection is not delayed and collection will take place on its regularly scheduled day during the week of February 18.
The Trail Road landfill site is closed on Family Day, Monday, February 18.

Transit service:

OC Transpo will operate a revised weekday schedule with minor reductions on Monday, February 18. Special school trips and school routes numbered in the 600s will not operate. The $7.75 DayPass will be valid as a Family DayPass. Call 613-560-1000 or text 560560 plus your four-digit bus stop number for automated schedule information. For more information, holiday schedules and travel planning, phone 613-741-4390 or visit octranspo.com.
OC Transpo Sales and Information Centreswill be open from 7a.m. until 6p.m. on February18, except the Rideau Centre office, which will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
The OCTranspo Telephone Information Centre (613-741-4390) will be open from 7a.m. to 9 p.m.

The OC Transpo Customer Relations Department (613-842-3600) will be open from 8a.m. to 5:30p.m.

Cultural services:

Billings Estate National Historic Site and Shenkman’s Arts Centre are open for Family Day events.
City of Ottawa Archives, arts centres, galleries, theatres,Cumberland Heritage Village Museum and Pinhey’s Point Historic Site will be closed on Family Day. However, clients should check with ottawa.ca or their facility to confirm holiday hours, as some exceptions may apply.

Municipal child care services:

City-operated Child Care Centres are closed onFamily Day.

Library services:

All branches, departments and services of the Ottawa Public Library will be closed on Family Day, Monday, February 18. Regular hours will resume Tuesday, February 19.

Ottawa Public Health:

Ottawa Public Health Information Line (OPHIL) and AIDS line – Closed
Sexual Health Centre – Closed
Site Program – Site office is closed, however, the site mobile van will be operating on a regular schedule from 5 p.m.to 11:30 p.m.
Dental Clinics – Closed
Well Baby Drop-in – Closed

SPECIAL ADVISORY: Overnight Parking Restriction Lifted
Saturday February 09, 2013

Snow clearing operations on City of Ottawa streets have been completed following the recent snowfall. As a result, the overnight parking restriction is now lifted for Ottawa.

Another overnight parking restriction may be issued in the event of an Environment Canada forecast of 7cm or more for the Ottawa area.

The City’s priority for snow clearing is to ensure that streets are clear and safe for motorists, public transit, pedestrians and cyclists.

For more winter parking information, please visit www.ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).

Issued at 10:30 a.m.

Special Advisory: Overnight Parking Restriction in Effect
Friday February 08, 2013

The City of Ottawa’s priority for snow clearing is to ensure that streets are clear and safe for motorists, public transit, pedestrians and cyclists.

For more winter parking information, please visit www.ottawa.ca.or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).

Issued at 08:30 a.m.

Hockey Day in Ottawa – Game On!
Thursday February 07, 2013

Lace up your skates and head out to your neighbourhood rink this Saturday, February 9, for the 5th Annual Hockey Day in Ottawa, now generously sponsored by the Ottawa Sun.
Join friends and neighbours and enjoy a game of pick-up hockey and skating while showing support for your community volunteers who work hard all winter to maintain your local rinks.
Date: Saturday, February 9, 2013
Time: 1 to 3 pm
Location: any one of the City’s outdoor rinks
The City would like to remind residents to dress appropriately for the weather and strongly recommends the use of helmets and applicable safety equipment.
Come on Ottawa, let’s show the rest of Canada what a city that lives and breathes hockey really looks like!

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City of Ottawa releases 2012 Municipal Drinking Water Systems Summary Report Tuesday April 02, 2013

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Future female firefighters invited to July training camp Thursday March 28, 2013

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Carleton Ravens men's basketball team honoured Wednesday March 27, 2013

Carleton Ravens men's basketball team honoured Wednesday March 27, 2013

Paint It Up! Tuesday March 26, 2013

Seventh annual Mayor's Rendezvous marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of LeDroit newspaper Monday March 25, 2013

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Ottawa Public Health gives youth a Photovoice Monday March 18, 2013

Nominations now being accepted for the Order of Ottawa and the Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching Monday March 18, 2013

Ottawa Police brings safety message to Ottawa residents for St. Patrick's Day Friday March 15, 2013

Register now to celebrate 20 years of Cleaning the Capital Friday March 15, 2013

Easter schedule changes Thursday March 14, 2013

City's sledding hills closed for the season Monday March 11, 2013

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Fireworks By-law will be enforced Victoria Day weekend
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City honours exemplary transit employees
Tuesday May 14, 2013

Residents can now view and vote for their favourite Apps4Ottawa submissions
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Intermittent lane closures on Carling Avenue
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Fourteen children recognized at 9-1-1 Awards
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City Council approves Accountability Framework
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New food vendors to add flavour to Ottawa's streets
Wednesday May 08, 2013

Alive@25 Draw Winner Announced
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Youth speak! Let's listen, then act: Community Meeting of the Ottawa Board of Health
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Are you ready? Pledge to Prepare during Emergency Preparedness Week
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Youth speak! Let's listen, then act: Community Meeting of the Ottawa Board of Health
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Ottawa Police Service provides personal safety tips regarding swarmings
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O-Train shutdown begins; Improved service expected 2014
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Thinking about a City fitness membership? Try It first!
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Police urge public to 'mind their valuables'
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City-wide spring burn ban in effect
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Young at Art 2013 – On display at galleries citywide
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Overnight closure of 417 eastbound off-ramp at Maitland
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Cleaning the Capital launches 20th year of community cleanups
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Public Open House Thursday for Western Light Rail Transit Corridor
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OC Transpo implements new spring service April 21
Tuesday April 16, 2013

Calling all youth! $500 up for grabs in OPH Photography contest
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Oral Birth Control Recalled by Health Canada – Alysena 28
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Reminder: Lane reductions on Jockvale Road
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