Let's Talk

Don't forget to check out the rest of the Barrhaven Independent Weekly Newspaper.

Friday 17 February, 2011

One of the very best things about my job is connecting with youth in Barrhaven and as the 23rd Nepean Geohunters Scout Troop can tell you that is not often easy to do.  The Troop meets every Monday, Police Services, Library (which I chair), and Public Health ALL meet Monday.  I never know what time the meeting will end so my commitment is always watered down and frustrating both at troop leader Dave Boertjes end and mine.  I was excited when looking at February 20th that I didn’t have a Board meeting!  I thought that would work and then realized of course it wouldn’t because it was “Family Day” which is why my calendar was clear.  Anyway I am looking at February 27th if Ottawa Police Services doesn’t go long or March 5th after Ottawa Public Library Board!  If you would like me to stop by to talk about community and government please ask especially if your group doesn’t meet on a Monday!

Mark your calendars for Saturday March 3, 10 - 12 in room 202 @ the Walter Baker Sport Centre  in Barrhaven.  We will be hosting a Planning session with information on the process and specifics for Barrhaven, hope to see you there.

2011 Census

Last week the first portion of 2011 Census data was released. Here are some highlights:

•             Ottawa’s population increased by 8.8% between 2006 and 2011.  The census reports a population of 883,391, an increase of 71,262 people over the last five years.

•             Ottawa’s population makes us the fourth largest city in Canada - behind Toronto, Montréal and Calgary. 

•             In 2011, the population of Ottawa-Gatineau census metropolitan area (CMA) was 1,236,324 representing a percentage change of 9.1% from 2006. The Ottawa-Gatineau CMA has the fourth largest population behind Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver.

• Barrhaven had the largest growth in Ottawa, the population of South Nepean reaching 72,259, which is a 31.3 % increase

•             The number of occupied private dwellings continues to grow at a faster rate than the City’s population. While Ottawa’s population rose 8.8% between 2006 and 2011, the number of occupied private dwellings increased 10.1%. The 2011 Census counted 353,244 occupied private dwellings, compared with 320,888 five years earlier.

•             Census data on occupied private dwellings and the associated population are based on “usual residents”. The concept of usual place of residence is necessary to ensure that residents of Canada are counted once and only once. Population counts do not include people who are temporarily living in Ottawa such as students attending school but live elsewhere, temporary workers (and their families) living elsewhere in Canada or from other countries.

•             Ottawa derived population estimates are not restricted to the same residency rules and post values that are typically higher than reported in the Census. Ottawa has estimated a population of 922,050 for mid-year 2011, about 4.4% greater than census values. Statistics Canada publishes a post-censal estimate that takes into account the undercount found in the census, this estimate typically results in a population that is about 3-4% greater than what is published from the Census. Bottom line, our estimates are very much in line with Census results.

Old Lansdowne/NEW Lansdowne
As you have likely heard by now, the phase 2 Site Plan for the New Lansdowne Park was released last week.  I strongly urge you to take a look at the stunning designs, which you can find by visiting ottawa.ca and clicking on ‘The New Lansdowne” image in the top banner.  Here’s another way to look at the new Lansdowne – in comparison the old

Lansdowne:

Asphalt:  Old=26.8 acres (Lansdowne’s total property is 38.6 acres)
New = 1.8 acres (accessible pathways through greenspace for pedestrians and cyclists, ramps and access lanes)

Park Space: Old= 6 acres (including the stadium playing field)
New = 18.5 acres (including public plazas)
Trees: Old=230
New = 880

Event Spaces: Old=Four (Aberdeen Pavilion, Civic Centre, stadium, Farmers’ Market)
New= Twenty (Bank Street Esplanade, Aberdeen Way, Lansdowne Way, residential courts, retail courts, the Event Square, Aberdeen Square (Farmers’ Market), the East Court, the Skating Court, the Great Porch, the Great Lawn, the Water Plaza and Beacon, Civic Demonstration Gardens, the Children’s Play Space, the Hill and Screen, the South Berms, the Stadium Plaza, the Stadium Field, Aberdeen Pavilion, Civic Centre)

Bicycle parking spaces: Old=32  
New=450 (1,970 on major event days when two bicycle corrals would be used)

Sidewalks and Pathways: Old=35 metres (approximate)               
New= 7.2 kilometres

Bench seating for the public: Old=20 benches
New= One kilometre of benches and seating walls

Public Art: Old=Three pieces (Thomas Ahearn Memorial Drinking Fountain; Memorial to the founding in Ottawa in 1914 of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Division; and the “Cows Fly Home” piece at the western entrance of the Aberdeen Pavilion)        
New= Five pieces (including two new major art installations: The Beacon and The Screen, plus retention of the three existing historic pieces)

City launches review of the pool enclosure by-law
The City of Ottawa is beginning a month-long period of consultations with industry stakeholders, safety organizations, community associations and residents on proposals to revise and update Ottawa’s pool enclosure by-law.

The pool enclosure by-law was enacted in 2001, primarily to protect small children from gaining access to private pools when unsupervised. The current by-law is focused on preventing children outside the property from gaining access to the pool area. Many of the new proposals are aimed at protecting children living within, or visiting the home.
The key proposal is to introduce four-sided pool enclosures where there is a gated fence between the home and the pool. Currently, the dwelling can serve as one of the sides of the pool enclosure, allowing direct access to the pool from the home. Additional proposals will deal with temporary enclosures, technical issues such as fence and gate specifications and unique requirements for hot tubs and above-ground pools. This requirement will not affect existing pool enclosures.

The proposed changes to the by-law, a discussion paper and links to provide your comments are available on the City’s website at ottawa.ca/poolenclosure. The consultation will conclude on March 9, 2012 and a report will be presented to Planning Committee in April. There will be a transition period before any changes take effect.

Fourth Quarter 2011 Performance Report for Our Ottawa Public Library
Every three months the Library updates us on its performance. Here’s how the library did in the last quarter of 2011:
•             Total circulation UP 2.8%
•             Circulation French materials UP 10.5% over 2010 and 27.1% over 2009
•             Total internet usage UP 7.7%
•             Electronic media downloads UP 198% and now represent 3.9% of first time circulation
•             Wireless internet sessions UP 73.2% over 2010 and 212% over 2009
•             Program attendance increased 11.1%

 Manotick and Riverside South Cooperative Nursery School Open House
Learning.  Playing.  Discovering.  Imagining.  The Manotick and Riverside South Cooperative Nursery School will be holding their Annual Open House on Tuesday February 21 from 5pm-7pm.  You and your child are invited to come and look around the classroom, meet some of the teachers and ask questions.  The Open House will be held at the Manotick location, 5572 Doctor Leach Drive, in the arena building.  For more information please visit www.manoticknurseryschool.ca or www.riversidesouthnurseryschool.ca .

Family Day schedule changes
Don’t forget, this Monday February 20 is Family Day, check the schedule for City of Ottawa services at www.ottawa.ca or my website www.janharder.com.

Winter in Brrrhaven
This coming Sunday the West Barrhaven Community Association (WBCA) will be host a Winter in Brrrrhaven event at Clarke Fields  from 3pm to 7pm.  At the event you will be able to enjoy a bonfire, sleigh ride, on and off ice games as well as free chili, hot dogs, hot chocolate, coffee and dessert. 

The WBCA will also be accepting donations to the new "Clarke Field Track Line" for the play structure in the park.  For more information please visit www.barrhavencommunity.com. Looks like the West Barrhaven CA are hosting a “warm-up” for their BIG Canada Day event at the same location!

Let me know!
As always I’m eager to know what you think about what you read in my article each week, so drop me a line at jan.harder@Ottawa.ca to let me know.

Friday 10 February, 2011

Plan to Attend a Planning Chat
Have you ever thought about the process that needs to be followed when a new development is proposed for your neighbourhood? Perhaps it is an infill project, a new plan of subdivision, something completely different from what you know.  Well if you are interested in finding out more MARK YOUR CALENDAR and join me for “let’s plan Barrhaven “on March 3, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in the Food Court of the Walter Baker Centre to learn more.

Lansdowne
This Tuesday Council received a briefing on the very exciting Lansdowne project. Architects and landscape architects working on the four pieces of the Lansdowne project − the urban park, the mixed-use area, the Horticulture building and the stadium and Civic Centre – have successfully integrated their work and created a beautiful design with strong connections to the surrounding neighbourhoods.

The heritage buildings, the multi-purpose stadium in the park with its bold and practical revitalization, and the new dynamic urban park that is integrated with the canal corridor, will be the visual centerpieces of the new Lansdowne. Also offering urban public plazas, a Farmer’s Market, a mixed-use retail district with residential condominiums and office space, and a skating court to extend the skating season for the neighbourhood the new Lansdowne will certainly offer something for everyone.

A series of reports on the work completed on the project since August of 2011 will be presented to the Finance and Economic Development Committee on February 16th and to Council on February 22nd.

Winter Warmth
We all know the economy isn’t where we would all like it to be, and meeting all of the expected and unexpected financial commitments that come our way can be tough nowadays. If you’ve recently had difficulty paying or are concerned about making your next payment of your natural gas bill, you may qualify to receive a Winter Warmth program annual one time grant.

For more information please visit www.enbridgegas.com/winterwarmth. You can also get information and apply for Winter Warmth assistance at The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre by calling 613-241-1573 ex. 307.

February Business Programming at the Ottawa Public Library
The Ottawa Public Library’s Business Services has launched an exciting new series of workshops for business owners this month.  A panel of experts will provide information on understanding financial statements, better branding your business and what you need to know about filing your business taxes.  All programs are free.  Here’s what’s still to come:

Understanding Financial Statements for Business Owners
Presented by Bruce Collie CGA
Wednesdays, February 15
Nepean Centrepointe Branch, 101 Centrepointe Dr.
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Brand Image:  The public face of your business
Presented by Loreto Cheyne, Lola Design
Wednesday, February 22
Nepean Centrepointe Branch, 101 Centrepointe Dr.
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Taxes for Small Business-- Sole Proprietors
Presented by Marlene Grant, CGA
Thursday, February 16
Nepean Centrepointe Branch, 101 Centrepointe Dr.
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
  
Please visit the program page at www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca to register. For more information, contact Info Service at InfoService@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca or 613-580-2940.

Tucana Park
The Tucana Park design has been initiated and we hope to invite the public to a public consultation meeting in March to review the concept plan and garner comments and recommendations.
We hope to complete the construction of the park this year in the late fall. This is dependent on a number of things including the weather that can restrict working on the park site.
For more information please check www.JanHarder.com regularly.

Winter snow clearing/parking
Here are a few reminders to help keep our streets and sidewalks safe this winter:

Sidewalks

For homeowners having their laneways cleaned by contractors, please make sure the contractor is not leaving snow on sidewalks.  
Not only will this ensure the safety of pedestrians on your street but the Use and Care of Roads By-law prohibits anyone from depositing snow onto a “highway” which by definition includes a city street or sidewalk. I see lots of neighbours simply pushing the snow from the laneway out onto the street.  If you are caught, you will be fined.

Parking

Though it is difficult with high density areas like in Barrhaven, please remember to be conscious of the narrowing of the roads after a snow fall when parking on residential streets. Also please remember that there is a three-hour parking limit only on most streets in Ontario between 7 am and 7 pm and of course when 7 cm or more is forecast by Environment Canada for the Ottawa area, parking restrictions come into effect across the city.

For complete details about winter parking please click here.

Skate Safe and wear your helmet during Winterlude
Speaking of safety, make sure your Winterlude fun is safe by taking part in the Skate Safe program. The Skate Safe tent is open on the Rideau Canal Skateway at the State Farm Zone at Concord.

Visitors to the Skate Safe tent will get assistance with helmet fittings, tips on helmet use and a free 15-minute “tips and tricks” skating session from staff and volunteers from Ottawa Public Health (OPH), Ottawa’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services department and ThinkFirst. The tent will be open Saturdays and Sundays during Winterlude, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., until February 20.

The Skate Safe program is a partnership between the City of Ottawa, the NCC, State Farm, the Ottawa chapter of ThinkFirst, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the Brain Injury Association of Canada. The initiative began in 2004 when the NCC approached Ottawa Public Health (OPH) and asked for assistance in addressing the growing number of skating injuries on the Rideau Canal Skateway.

This year, OPH will be hosting a contest to encourage Ottawa youth to wear a helmet while skating on the Skateway and at other City indoor and outdoor skating facilities. “Get Caught Wearing Your Helmet is just one more way that OPH is reaching out to youth,” said Dr. Isra Levy, Medical Officer of Health. “Making it fun by providing youth incentives to wear a helmet while skating will help us promote the important message that wearing a proper helmet is the right thing to do.”

For more information on Skate Safe, please visit ottawa.ca/health, or call the OPH information line at 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656).

City teams up with NCC to add green bins on Canal
Winterlude is not only safe but green this year. The City has teamed with the National Capital Commission to make Canada’s longest skateway and Winterlude a little greener this year by placing green bins around the confectionary rest areas along the Rideau Canal

The Green Bins are present at all the food, drink and rest areas located along the Rideau Canal. Skaters can put their food scraps, napkins and paper cups into the bins to continue their efforts to divert compostable waste from landfill – as they do at home, school or work.

For more information on using your green bin, please visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1.

2012 Barrhaven Run for Roger's House
Registration is open for the Barrhaven Run for Roger's House. This year's event will take place on Saturday, June 9, 2012.

Events include a 10k Race (timed), 5k Race (timed), 2.5k Family Run/Walk and a Tot Trot, with prizes for each of the top five Women’s and men’s winners of the 10 K run.
All proceeds are donated to Roger's House. Roger's House, located on the grounds of CHEO, provides pediatric palliative care with the objective of enhancing the comfort and quality of life for children and their families. 
To register please go to www.BarrhavenRun.ca. The earlier you register, the more you save.

If you’re not up to the run itself there are also opportunities to volunteer. Over 100 Volunteers are needed on race day.  To inquire about volunteering please email:  volunteers@BarrhavenRun.ca

Sponsors are also needed.  For full sponsorship opportunities please see the event website or contact:  sponsors@BarrhavenRun.ca

For more information about events like this and the latest community news please visit my website www.JanHarder.com , where you can sign up for my newsletter and check out the latest from my Twitter feed (@Harderja).

Friday 03 February, 2011

Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School Food Extravaganza!
As Ron Eade, Citizen Food Editor, told me, “Did you see the plates, as good as any high end restaurants!”  No kidding Ron, not only did all 7 courses look fantastic; the menu was extravagant and the servings all delicious.  Chef Kent Dyck does an amazing job at LDHSS and the kids have learned so much about food of course but so much more as well like value, and quantity, quality, health and service.  Trustee Donna Blackburn and I certainly did L-O-V-E the service and the food, excellent job everyone!

Speaking of food at the table next door to ours was the crew from South Nepean Rotary and here’s a heads up for their signature event...A Taste of Barrhaven.  Mark your calendars for May 28th!

Outdoor skating rinks
Whether you have a rink in your backyard or enjoy the community outdoor one you may have noticed that it is a tough job keeping the ice in good shape given the miserable weather.  Many say we would be better off with several feet of snow instead of the freezing rain.  Please offer your help to your community association to get the rinks back into shape. And don’t forget if your high school student needs volunteer hours I have lots of ideas for them, give me a call at 613 580-2473 or email jan.harder@ottawa.ca.

Teen Tech Week video contest
The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) will celebrate technology and teens during Teen Tech Week (TTW), from March 4-10. TTW is an initiative aimed at teens who are interested in the Library’s non-print resources. During this week, OPL wants to raise awareness about all its digital offerings, including e-Books, audio-books, OPL blogs and the OPL app, by launching its second annual video contest.

Contest Details:
Teens 13 to 18 - Create a one-minute video on Youtube about your favourite book. It can be a book trailer, a parody, a review, a dramatization of your favourite scene, or anything related to your book of choice.

Submissions will be accepted from March 4 to March 31.  The grand prize winner will be awarded an Apple iPad!

For more information including rules and regulations please visit www.biblioottawalibrary.ca

City’s March Break Camps: Kid-size adventures start here!
School’s out for a week of fun, and across the city there are over 100 action-packed March Break camps in sports, arts, water fun and more!

Take to the ice with hockey, skating and curling camps. Try horseback riding, indoor soccer or rock climbing. Wow family and friends with talents developed in computer, magic or movie camps. Star on stage in acting, singing and dance camps. Get messy with clay, paints and glue. Work on your leadership skills and make new friends.
Ottawa’s largest selection of camps comes with enthusiastic and trained leaders. Our programs offer top value and quality you can trust.

Find your neighbourhood adventure and register online at ottawa.ca/marchbreak

To use the City’s online registration system, available at https://apps102.ottawa.ca/MyAccount you need a family PIN and individual barcodes for each family member. To get a PIN visit a local recreation facility, Client Service Centre, or call the touch-tone registration system at 613-580-2588 (Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.).

If you have previously provided Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services with your email address, we can email your account details to you. Our new PIN & Barcode lookup tool, which you can access by clicking on ‘You have forgotten your bar code or PIN?’ link at https://apps102.ottawa.ca/MyAccount, will help you retrieve the information.

City Seeks Young Artists Young at Art 2012 Applications Now Available
The City of Ottawa invites young artists to enter Young at Art 2012, the citywide artist-juried exhibition for youth. Applications are now available for young Ottawa artists between 12 and 19 years of age.

Young at Art provides creative and talented youth an opportunity to showcase and celebrate their artistry in a citywide event. Works selected for Young at Art 2012 will be displayed in Ottawa community galleries and recognized for outstanding work at awards presentations in the east, west and central areas of the city.
Application forms and guidelines are available online at ottawa.ca/youngatart. Forms are also available at community centres, Ottawa Public Library branches and by contacting Mike Taylor, Young at Art Coordinator at 613-580-2424, ext. 29288 or miketaylor@ottawa.ca.

The deadline for Young at Art 2012 submissions is Friday, March 4, 2012 at 4 p.m.

Nominations sought for Bruce Timmermans Awards
The City of Ottawa is seeking nominations for the annual Bruce Timmermans Awards for individuals and organizations who demonstrate a genuine commitment to cycling in our community.

Nominations can be submitted by e-mail to travelwise@ottawa.ca and must be received by February 17.

The Bruce Timmermans Cycling Awards program was created by the City of Ottawa in honour of Bruce Timmermans, a long-time cycling educator and advocate, an active member of the Ottawa Bicycle Club and a founding member of Citizens for Safe Cycling. Bruce worked tirelessly to promote cycling and safety for cyclists.

Two awards are presented each year at the end of May recognizing outstanding contributions in the encouragement of cycling. One award is presented to an individual and the second to an organization.
More information is available at ottawa.ca/bta

Hydro work at Greenbank and Food Basics Mall
Thanks to some residents who brought it to my attention, I have recently learned that work is being conducted by Hydro Ottawa within the existing substation yard, located at 905 Greenbank Rd.

Notifications failed to be submitted to residents prior to commencement of construction, however Hydro Ottawa has been in contact with a few neighbouring residents in an attempt to schedule a meeting soon. 

Hydro Ottawa explained the meeting is required to discuss the construction duration, type, etc. and the final landscape plan of the hydro Ottawa owned property. The work being conducted includes new foundations for MV electrical equipment, decommissioning and demolition of existing foundations and new electrical connections. The project is required in order to add additional capacity to the Barrhaven region creating operational flexibility as well as increase reliability.

A communication letter will also be drafted and delivered to the affected residents of Barrhaven. Minimal power outages will be required for this work, if any. However I have alerted the management at the Walter Baker Sports Centre who have already been impacted by an outage.  I don’t want you inconvenienced and I certainly don’t want to lose revenue.

The project is scheduled to extend into September. However does not expect the noise experienced by some residents over the last few weeks will not be present for the length of the project.

Thank you Edna Ullett
Last week community members, friends, elected officials and more gathered at Carleton Lodge to say thank you and farewell to Edna Ullett.
Edna Ullett contributed 30 years of outstanding service as both a dedicated volunteer and
President of the Auxiliary at Carleton Lodge. Her kindness and dedication will be missed – Thank You Edna!

Vines, Volunteers and Victory
Many of you backing onto the Cedarview or Jockvale Roads corridor know the headaches you have had due to vandalism/crime by so called graffiti artists. Unfortunately the fences being covered in graffiti are on resident’s private property. The graffiti by-law, not only outlines where graffiti is illegal (on all city property not designated a “legal graffiti wall”) but it requires that property owners remove graffiti from their own property within a minimum of seven days after receiving notice from the City.

As clean up during the winter is particularly difficult, I am organizing a spring community clean-up event that I hope you will consider attending, whether or not you are one those residents who have graffiti on their property (through no fault of their own) as it will be a great community building event.

The clean-up will not only include cleaning of the current graffiti but prevention measures as well, like planting shrubs or ivy along the wall. These types of initiatives, which have been successfully piloted in other areas like Greenboro, not only prevent graffiti but beautify the area for everyone.

Hopefully with your help we’ll claim victory over neighbourhood graffiti. Of course my FIRST choice will always be that the Ottawa Police Services capture and punish those who commit this property damaging crime. For more information on the larger issue you can also visit  http://ottawa.ca/graffiti or my website www.janharder.com as well.

ServiceOttawa- get online, not in line!
Speaking of websites, if you’ve visited Ottawa.ca this week you will have noticed it has gotten a new look and a lot of enhancements including the new ServiceOttawa gateway.
The ServiceOttawa Program is a citizen-focused approach to transforming how the City engages, interacts with, and provides services and information to citizens, businesses and clients. The program will standardize and consolidate current service management processes, providing citizens with streamlined services that are easy to find and access via multiple service-delivery channels such as ottawa.ca, 3-1-1, in-person and on mobile devices.

ServiceOttawa is a five-year, $79-million initiative, which will implement technology and business process changes to provide better services and generate ongoing annual savings of $40 million by 2014. The program’s budget is approved by City Council on an annual basis. By the end of 2011, the City will have invested $40.2M for savings of approximately $15M annually.

For this step in the ServiceOttawa plan, the enhanced site and ServiceOttawa gateway now makes it easier for residents and business owners to conveniently access City services and information online, 24/7 instead of in person or over the phone. From the comfort of your home computer you are now able to complete 250 service transactions through the ServiceOttawa gateway including online forms, some payments, and program registrations. Examples include:

• Book and pay for last-minute ice time
• Request a garbage and recycling calendar
• Make a by-law or parking complaint
• Request road maintenance
• Register for classes and activities
• View photos, floor plans, and videos of rental facilities
• Check the status of a service request online
• Provide input on the service experience through the automated survey process
• Experience the new look and feel of ottawa.ca that is more client-friendly
• Find information more quickly with more client-friendly language and improved search results

The top service transactions that can be completed online are:

• Report an issue with green bin collection
• Report an unauthorized vehicle parked on private property
• Report a vehicle that has been parked longer than the allowed time limit
• Pay a parking ticket
• Report Pothole on the road
• Register for recreation classes and activities
• Request a garbage and recycling collection calendar

You can also follow up on your service request online.  You will receive a service request number when completing a service transaction online. Using this tracking number and your email for authentication, you can see if your request is open or closed as well as the estimated response through the ServiceOttawa gateway on ottawa.ca.

This is a lot of value for residents all across the city.  The investment for the interim web design and launch, and development of the final web design was approximately $260k.
Over the course of the next two years, more service requests will be added online, and the look and feel of the website will become completely mobile friendly, and targeted to specific audiences to better meet the needs of Ottawa’s community.

Let me know!

Let me know what you think of the recommended changes to Ottawa’s smoking by-law and of course how do we afford to maintain our aging water/sewer infrastructure.

And don’t forget information on other community news and events is one click away at my website www.janharder.com , where you can also sign up for my e-newsletter and follow me on Twitter (@harderja).

Friday 27 January, 2011

A Warm Heart in Barrhaven for Polar Bears
Eight- year-old Olivia Clement of Barrhaven is inspiring others to get creative for a good cause.

Olivia handmade and painted clay models of animals and sold them to friends and family to raise $200.00 for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)’s “Arctic Home” campaign. Through the “Arctic Home” campaign Coca Cola matches all donations made to the fund until March 15, 2012, up to $1 million USD. This means that Olivia’s donation was increased to $400.00!

Funds raised will go toward WWF’s polar bear conservation work – for their survival today and into the future.

Olivia will be presenting her fundraising efforts through to her school, hopefully moving others her age to stand up use their imaginations and also do something wonderful to help a cause they believe in.

WWF staff was so impressed with Olivia's efforts and imagination that they will be posting her story in their 'Community Panda Spring news letter'.

Way to go Olivia!

For more information on the “Arctic Home” campaign please visit iCoke.ca.

Road Conditions
No doubt about it folks our roads staff are having a heck of a time trying to keep up with the rain, freezing rain and just plain old rain!  Here is what Road Supervisor West District Jeff Akeson had to tell me Tuesday morning this week.

“The roads are like this all over the city let alone this area. We have deployed the graders this morning so all our residential streets should be ploughed and hopefully with the scrapping this will help break up the ice build up on the roads. We have been sanding / salting relentlessly for the past 7 days (day & night) to help alleviate the icy roads. With the temperatures going up this material has created slushy roads, it’s definitely been an uphill battle but hopefully we will get ahead of it by scrapping and plowing the streets today. After the graders have been through their beats we will be sanding / salting the streets again.”

Call 3-1-1 if you notice clogged drains or particularly difficult locations.

Winter in Brrrrhaven
The West Barrhaven Community Association (WBCA) will be holding a Winter in Brrrrhaven event at Clarke Fields on Sunday February 19th from 3pm to 7pm.  While still in the planning stages the WBCA hopes to have a bonfire, sleigh ride, on and off ice games as well as free chili, hot dogs, hot chocolate, coffee and dessert.  The WBCA will also be accepting donations to the new "Clarke Field Track Line" for the play structure in the park.  For more information please visit www.barrhavencommunity.com. Looks like the West Barrhaven CA are hosting a “warm-up” for their BIG Canada Day event at the same location!

Rink of Dreams Finally a Reality
Mayor Jim Watson; Cyril Leeder, President of Senators Sports and Entertainment; Danielle Robinson, President of the Sens Foundation; and Claude Allain, Vice-Chair at Large, Hockey Canada Foundation, officially opened the Rink of Dreams this week.  
The 12,500-square-foot refrigerated ice surface located in Marion Dewar Plaza at Ottawa City Hall will be open for skating until March and serve as a community space during the spring and summer months. Given the weather this week it is a coup indeed to have it running.  It looks amazing.  If you are downtown do come and check it out.

OC Transpo is the convenient, stress-free ticket to take you to the NHL All-Star Game and festivities
Speaking of hockey, don’t forget that OC Transpo is the convenient, stress-free ticket for hockey fans to take them to all 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend festivities from Thursday, January 26 through Sunday, January 29.

In addition to the all-star game, the weekend presents plenty of other attractions and festivities for hockey fans of all ages – including Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair and the Canadian Tire Junior Skills competition.

For a full up-to-date list of 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend festivities, visit the Ottawa Senators website, and use the Travel Planner at octranspo.com for details and a schedule on how to get there. All events are accessible by transit.

Regular and Connexion 400 service schedules are available at octranspo.com or by calling 613-741-4390. Riders may also get automated schedule information up to six days in advance by calling 613-560-1000 or texting 560560 plus their four-digit bus stop number.

For more transit information, contact OC Transpo at 613-741-4390 or visit octranspo.com.

Human Library this Saturday
Don’t forget to ‘check-out’ an interesting person this Saturday. The Ottawa Public Library, the Canadian War Museum and CBC Ottawa have partnered to host a Human Library event on Saturday, January 28, 2012, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ten years ago this “phenom” took place in Denmark.  Now libraries around the world are offering this opportunity to “chat with a book”. Human Libraries provide an exciting opportunity for the public to connect one-on-one with individuals who have diverse life experiences, stories, and knowledge. Just like borrowing a book from a local library, the user can “check out” a human book and have a conversation for approximately 20 minutes.

Over 60 people from the National Capital Region have volunteered to be a “book” and share their stories. Visitors to the Human Library will be able to converse with individuals such as: 
·         An Algonquin spiritual advisor
·         An OC Transpo bus driver
·         A Canadian Forces Officer (who has a school named after her in Afghanistan)
·         A child protection worker

The Human Library event will take place at six locations in Ottawa.  The closest one to Barrhaven is Nepean Centrepointe at 101 Centrepointe Drive or for a very special “loan” attend the Canadian War Museum at 1 Vimy Place. For more information, please visit BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca/HumanLibrary.

You can also participate in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag  #HLOtt.

Help shape the City of Ottawa Archives strategic plan
The City of Ottawa Archives invites residents to complete a brief online questionnaire in order to help inform its strategic plan for the next five years.

The Archives recently moved into the new James Bartleman Archives and Library Materials Centre on Tallwood Drive. The questionnaire requests your feedback on this new facility, as well as the programs and services offered by the Archives. Your input will help make the Archives a community meeting place and ensure that its services meet your needs.

Please visit ottawa.ca/archives before February 24, 2012 to complete the questionnaire.

While you’re online please don’t forget  information on other community news and events is one click away at my website www.janharder.com , where you can also sign up for my e-newsletter and follow me on Twitter (@harderja).

Teen Zone at RED (Ruth E. Dickinson Library Branch)
Please let your tweens and teens know that I am shooting for an official opening before the end of February for Barrhaven’s exciting Teen Zone.  The kids are going to love it!  I am sure that groups from sports teams to scouts and guides, school groups and just friends are going to love going to the library.  Expect to hear more news soon on this “neat” project!

Friday 20 January, 2011

Last Sunday morning bright and early I headed downtown to City Hall.   The day was cold but glorious, the snow fresh and brilliant and as I came along the Rideau Canal Skateway quite frankly I was in awe of how very picturesque it was.  I thought perhaps today it will open and later that day I heard that indeed the NCC had blessed the opening of the “world’s longest skateway”.  I also noted that NCC staff were working feverishly on the canal north of Pretoria Bridge and I see that the snow plowing is complete and the ice has been flooded and looks ready. 

This is great news.  In a City that counts heavily on visitors and the revenue that is generated at Winterlude it is very important that the canal be “fit to go”.  More good news, it looks like the “Rink of Dreams” in front of City Hall will be ready just in time for NHL All-Star weekend and Winterlude...happy days indeed!  Here’s hoping the ice stays in shape and that your families have an opportunity to get out this weekend and often...Beaver Tails and new Chalets await you on your visit.

And in Barrhaven our outdoor rinks need more volunteers.  Let my office know at 613 580-2473 if you can help out at a rink near you.

Food For Thought
The Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School’s (LDHSS) second annual ‘Food for Thought’ Dinner will be held on January 30th this year. The gala event held in the LDHSS Atrium celebrates its Culinary Arts program, with students from the program working alongside nationally renowned chefs.   The chefs donate their time and expertise, and proceeds from the dinner will benefit the culinary arts program, the school library and an international cause – this year proceeds will benefit a breakfast program at a school in Jamaica.

A five course, Italian themed ‘Chef’s Tasting Menu’ will be offered at 6pm. Each chef will design one of the courses, along with a matched non-alcoholic beverage.  Students from the Grade 10 Culinary Arts classes will prepare each dish, under the direct supervision of our celebrity chefs.  Students from the Grade 11 Culinary Arts classes will serve the meal. 

Tickets are $65 each and can be reserved by calling the school (613.843.7722 x 2005) with a credit card number or visiting the school with a cheque or cash.
For more information please visit ocdsb.ca/Pages/Events_FoodforThought.aspx

Kiss tobacco goodbye during National Non-Smoking Week
On Monday, Mayor Jim Watson declared this week National Non-Smoking Week in Ottawa, which will run until Saturday.

The theme of this year’s National Non-Smoking Week is “Breaking up is hard to do” – Ottawa Public Health (OPH) encouraged people to “Kiss tobacco goodbye”. The launch event also highlighted the smoking cessation programs offered by OPH and community partners.

There are approximately 102,000 people in Ottawa, or 14.5 per cent of the population who smoke.

Throughout National Non-Smoking Week, OPH will be presenting Smoke-Free Champion awards to individuals, community associations and institutions that have made outstanding contributions towards the health of residents and making Ottawa more smoke-free.

Even after this week ends, there are many cessation supports available to help get you or someone you care about kick the habit.  Whether you are looking for individual or group programs, online tools, text messaging, phone support, contests, workshops or nicotine replacement therapy, the right tools can all be found in one place: ottawa.ca/quitsmoking.

You can also call 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656) or connect with OPH on Facebook and Twitter (@ottawahealth) for the latest public health information.

I Love to Play Hockey
Thanks to the launch of a new program this week local children who can’t afford to buy hockey equipment or take hockey lessons will now have a chance to lace up their skates and hit the ice.

“I Love to Play Hockey” is designed for children aged 10 to 15 and provides them with skates, a hockey helmet, hockey gloves, hockey stick, a jersey and a series of lessons over four weeks on outdoor rinks, followed by a fun wrap-up tournament.

The participants, 60 in total, were identified for the program by local community associations representing priority communities in Ottawa. The City is providing the coaches, ice time on outdoor rinks, programming and facilitates the partnerships.
“I Love to Play Hockey” is in memory of Barrhaven’s Eric Leighton, 18, an avid hockey player who also raised money to help less fortunate children play sports. Eric died on May 26, 2011 as a result of injuries from an explosion in an automotive shop class at Mother Teresa Catholic High School. Through the “I Love to Play Hockey” program, Eric’s memory lives on in the children and youth playing the sport.

This hockey program builds on the existing “I Love to Skate” program, which equips children aged 6 to 12 with skates and skating lessons. This program is made possible through the generosity of Canadian Tire Jumpstart, a national charitable program that helps financially disadvantaged children participate in organized sports and recreation activities. Additional funds were provided by the Leighton family, who chose Jumpstart as a recipient for donations made in Eric’s name.

Let’s tell the world what makes Ottawa such a Great Place!

Do you have a favourite public space, neighbourhood or street in Ottawa you would like others to know about? The Canadian Institute of Planners’ (CIP) Annual Great Places in Canada competition is looking for online votes and nominations.

With just a few simple steps you can help put our great city on the map and your “Great Place” can be in the running:
•             Go to GreatPlacesInCanada.com.
•             Nominate your own favourite location by submitting an entry with a photo or video
•             You can also vote for your favourite locations including ones in Ottawa
•             Nominations will be accepted until January 31, 2012
•             Voting will take place until February 29, 2012

The competition is open to everyone with great prizes to be won. Semi-finalists will be named in early April and winners will be announced at the end of April 2012.
Great Places in Canada is on Facebook and on Twitter (@GreatPlacesCA) where they will provide regular updates on the contest.

The competition is sponsored by CIP to recognize the work of professional planners across Canada and to celebrate the great places we are fortunate to share in this vast country.

For more information, please visit GreatPlacesInCanada.com.

Friday 06 January, 2011

Happy New Year Barrhaven!

2011 has been a very busy year so I thought it would be appropriate to take a moment and reflect. This past year was a great one in many ways for the City of Ottawa and we should all have good reason to be very proud of where we live and our accomplishments together. 

For starters, we received many accolades and recognition from outside the City, including being named one of the world’s best cities for quality of life and personal safety. We were again rated as the best city to live in Canada by MoneySense magazine. We were ranked as one of the most bike-friendly cities worldwide. Our drinking water was recognized as among the safest in the world, our air was found to be the purest of all southern Ontario cities and the City of Ottawa was listed among Canada’s Top 100 employers.

We accomplished much to earn these ratings and to improve the quality of life for residents today while planning and building with vision for the future. Here are just a few of the many highlights from 2011:

• Council approved the 2012 Budget with lowest tax increase in five years at 2.39 per cent. For the owner of an average home assessed at $304,800, the 2012 budget will mean a property tax increase of $75 for the year. This will allow the City to proceed with much-needed city-building infrastructure projects. “Ottawa on the Move” will see roadwork and bridge repair, sidewalk upgrades, sewer and culvert improvements and cycling infrastructure investment across the length and breadth of Ottawa.

• the Southwest Transitway extension, a 4-km stretch between the Fallowfield and Marketplace transit stations in Barrhaven, was completed, providing needed new transit services in Ottawa’s fastest growing community.

• a new $51-million, 130,000-sq.-ft. recreation complex is being designed and scheduled to open in south Barrhaven likely August 2014.

• the expanded Fallowfield Park & Ride in Barrhaven was completed. The lot can accommodate 570 additional cars for a total of 1,665, allowing more residents of South Ottawa neighbourhoods to park their cars and get on the bus.

• recreation fees were frozen

• $14 million in new funding was allocated to combat homelessness and provide more affordable housing

• the economic development strategy was revamped with increased funding

• there was a record amount of investment for recycling initiatives

• Council approved a framework for a long-term waste handling agreement with Plasco, placing the City on the cutting edge of residential waste management by adding a fourth R – recover – to the environmental regime of reduce, reuse and recycle and extending the life of the Trail Road landfill.

• the City of Ottawa is a leader in implementing smart salt practices on winter roads and sidewalks to achieve environmental benefits, reduce winter maintenance costs and extend the life of our infrastructure.

• revitalization of Arts Court and the Ottawa Art Gallery was confirmed

• three companies were shortlisted to bid on Light Rail Transit (LRT)

• the first-ever Seniors’ Summit was held at City Hall

• the stunning new downtown Ottawa Convention Centre opened

• the first segregated cycling lane in a downtown in Ontario was built on Laurier Avenue. It’s a big hit with cyclists.

• redevelopment of Lansdowne Park began with demolition of the south-side stands.

• Council approved the Rink of Dreams, a City Hall landmark that is being built mostly with private funds, courtesy of the Ottawa Senators Foundation.

• we have just broken ground for the Kanata North Recreation Complex on Innovation Drive in Kanata.

• OC Transpo continues to make important investments in its fleet and its driver training to ensure that customers continue to see service enhancements in the system:

• since July, the fleet has been 100% accessible – all high floor buses have been replaced with low-floor models. The fleet is also now 100% air-conditioned – much appreciated by passengers on those hot summer days.

• the Next Stop Announcement System is in full operation to help all customers, including those who are visually impaired or are deaf and hard of hearing.

• the operator training regime at OC Transpo is widely recognized as a best practice in the transit industry.

• The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) invested smartly in its places and spaces and technology making its services easier to use for everyone:

• The Ruth E. Dickinson branch reopened in June following many accessibility and layout improvements including a new Borrower Services counter on the ground floor, a 24-hour exterior book drop, a new program area, and upgraded accessible washrooms. This renovation was thanks to $550,000 from the federal, provincial and municipal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

• the new City of Ottawa Archives and Library building, recently named the James Bartleman Archives and Library Materials Centre, opened.

• a pilot project to host children’s birthday parties was launched, making it the first large public library in North America to do so. The project, which will run until May 2012, is offered in three OPL branches (Ruth E. Dickinson, Orléans and Greenboro). There are four party themes to choose from: Digging for Dinos, Fun with Furry Friends, Under the Sea and Everything Princess.

• a mobile website and an app for both the iPhone and Android were launched. This means that whether you use Blackberry, Android, Apple or Windows, a tablet or a phone, you can use OPL’s mobile website or one of its apps to access library services.

With all of the successes in 2011, I anticipate great things from 2012.

Friday 23 December, 2011

Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas and thank you for contributing to Barrhaven being the #1 growth area in the City of Ottawa. Our community is very much about family.  We have grandparents living in our retirement homes and long term care centres or new condos and recent university grads who grew up in Barrhaven buying their first homes here while their parents are trading down to something smaller perhaps to best spend free time they never had! Family, friends and good neighbours; that’s the mosaic of who we are.

We live in a place of fast-paced change and as I look around Barrhaven I find it all very exciting.  Many residents are newcomers both to Canada and/or to Barrhaven and we see that in our schools, our stores, our Walter Baker and Ruth E. Dickinson library, our places of worship and on our sports fields.  Recently I have been involved in a project with a culinary class at Longfields Davidson Heights Secondary School and I believe the kids told me that the student population comes from 80 countries!   

Ottawa now has its own Operation Red Nose. Between now and New Years, if any of you can get involved and spend part or all of an evening helping to keep the streets safe all while raising funds for the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa  please do contact the coordinator Dave van Vlaanderen at david@rednoseottawa.com to sign up and he will run you through the process. Teams usually go in packs of three so perhaps bring family or friends with you! To date, Operation Red Nose Ottawa has raised almost $4,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa and hope to double that by New Years Eve.

Recently a resident of Stonebridge was asking about the plans for the Jockvale Road Widening.  I thought more than one person was likely interested. Starting the spring of 2012 construction will begin on the widening of Jockvale Road from Paul Metivier Drive to Cambrian Road.  This coming spring we intend to relocate the gas main and twin watermains currently underlying the Jock River.  Once that is complete we will start the construction of the western most of the two bridges we will construct. Bridge construction is expected to start in July 2012 and be completed by the end of the year. 

While the bridge construction is underway, a new storm sewer system will be constructed from the Jock River southerly to Cambrian Road.  Jockvale Road will be widened to the west so that traffic can be switched over to the new bridge. Once traffic is switched to the new bridge, the old bridge will be demolished and new bridge will be constructed in its place.  Construction of the second bridge will occur in 2013 after which the remaining road works and landscaping will be completed in 2013. Intersection modifications will occur at both Cambrian/Golflinks and at Riverstone/Abetti Ridge.

Congratulations to MPP Lisa Macleod for turning her Christmas breakfast into a fundraiser for the Barrhaven Food Cupboard.  It was a very fun event at the Barrhaven Legion last Saturday.  I believe that many people don’t realize that within our own community there is a great need by more families than you would think.  If you have something to contribute it is best to do so at our local grocery stores.

Here are some changes and cancellations you’ll need to know as you enjoy the coming days.

Holiday season schedule changes

Client services:
Ottawa City Hall and all seven Client Service Centres will be closed on Monday, December 26, Tuesday, December 27, and Monday, January 2. The Metcalfe Client Service Centre will be open on Wednesday, December 28 (instead of Tuesday, December 27). Business will resume as usual on Wednesday, December 28.
The City’s Provincial Offences Court, located at 100 Constellation Drive, will also be closed on Monday, December 26, Tuesday, December 27, and Monday, January 2. Business will resume as usual on Wednesday, December 28.  Call 3-1-1 for urgent matters requiring the City’s immediate attention.

Garbage and recycling:
Curb side green bin, garbage, recycling, and leaf and yard waste collection will take place on its regular scheduled day the weeks of Monday, December 26 and Monday, January 2, with no changes to the collection schedule.
Multi-residential garbage and recycling container collection will take place on its regularly scheduled day the weeks of Monday, December 26 and Monday, January 2, with no changes to the collection schedule.
The Trail Road Landfill site will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Christmas trees:
Please refer to your collection calendar for the Christmas tree pickup schedule. Christmas trees will be collected the same day as your regular garbage day.

Transit service:
OC Transpo will operate on a reduced schedule December 25 to January 7. On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, service will operate on a regular Sunday schedule. On Boxing Day, December 27, and January 2, a Saturday schedule will operate. From December 28 to 30 and January 3 to 6, service will operate on a reduced weekday schedule. Special school services will not operate from December 26 to January 6, except supplementary service on Routes 4 and 111 to Carleton University, which will resume January 4. Call 613-560-1000 or text 560560 plus your four-digit stop number for automated schedule information. For more transit information, holiday schedules and travel planning, phone 613 741 4390 or visit octranspo.com.
The Transit Information Centre (613-741-4390) will be open every day, including Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Boxing Day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The OC Transpo Customer Relations Centre (613-842-3600) will be closed December 26, 27 and January 2, and will close at 4 p.m. from December 28 to 30.

Recreation services:
Recreation facilities will be operating on modified schedules during the holiday season, including modified swimming, skating and fitness schedules. Most recreation facilities are closed and public swimming, public skating and fitness classes are cancelled on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Please check with ottawa.ca or the facility of your choice for details, as some exceptions will apply.
Most registered programs at swimming pools, community centres and arenas will not run during the holiday season, however, clients should confirm this with the facility hosting the program, as some exceptions will apply.

Cultural Services:
Most programming at arts centres, archives, galleries, museums and theatres will not be offered on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. However, clients should check with ottawa.ca or their facility to confirm holiday hours, as some exceptions may apply.

Library services:
All branches and departments of the Ottawa Public Library will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Branches and services usually open after 3 p.m. on Saturdays will close at 3 p.m. on December 24 and 31. Branches and services will operate normally from December 27 to 30.

Well Baby Drop-In:
Central team drop-in closed on Monday, December 26, Tuesday, December 27 and Monday, January 2

Feed your green bin over Christmas and the Holiday Season
The City of Ottawa is encouraging residents to think green this winter by filling up green bins so that organic waste is used to feed the land rather than the landfill. Residents can toss holiday leftovers into the green bin including turkey, popcorn, paper plates and napkins. Organic wreaths and tree boughs may also be placed in the green bin.

Holiday recycling tips
Cut down on waste at your holiday party by using your best dishes, glassware and cloth napkins. If you use paper plates, cups and napkins please place them in your green bin. Gift boxes, paper gift bags, non-metallic wrapping paper, and Christmas cards are all recyclable and should be placed in your black box with other fibre materials. Wooden orange crates, foil gift wrap and plastic ribbons and bows do not belong in recycle boxes or the green bin. Put them in the garbage.

When you have had enough turkey, place your holiday food scraps in your green bin and put your tree boughs, Christmas wreaths and dead poinsettias in the green bin. Put crumpled newspaper in the bottom of your green bin or line it with a paper bag to prevent the contents from freezing to your bin.

12 Days of Holiday Fire Safety Campaign
These tips have been developed to prevent the most common types of home fires that occur during the holiday season. They include:
Day 1: Water fresh Christmas trees daily.
Day 2: Check all sets of lighting before decorating to ensure they are in good condition.
Day 3: Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every floor of the house.
Day 4: Make sure you have working carbon monoxide alarms.
Day 5: Make sure everyone knows how to get out safely if a fire occurs.
Day 6: Use extension cords wisely.
Day 7: Give space heaters space.
Day 8: When you go out, blow out all candles.
Day 9: Keep matches and lighters out of sight and reach of children.
Day 10: Watch what you heat! Stay in the kitchen when cooking.
Day 11: Encourage smokers to smoke outside.
Day 12: Keep a close eye on anyone in your household who consumes alcohol while cooking or smoking.

There are many ways to protect your family and home from fire. During this busy time of the year, it is easy to let one’s guard down and that’s when a fire can happen. Consider these holiday fire safety tips to ensure your family has a safe and happy holiday season.
For more information on these and other tips go to ottawa.ca/fire.

Friday 16 December, 2011

The holidays are fast approaching and you can see the hustle and bustle of the season everywhere you look.

Hanukkah begins at sunset on Tuesday, December 20, this year and ends at sunset on Wednesday, December 28. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of Barrhaven’s Jewish residents a Happy Hanukkah.

Feed your green bin over Christmas and the Holiday Season
As you all begin to spend time with family and friends a reminder to think green this winter by filling up green bins so that organic waste is used to feed the land rather than the landfill.

You can toss holiday leftovers into the green bin including turkey, popcorn, paper plates and napkins. Organic wreaths and tree boughs may also be placed in the green bin.
Over the winter months from December to March, green bin collection takes place every two weeks. Weekly green bin collection will begin again in April 2012.

Please note, no plastic bags – even biodegradable bags – are permitted in the green bin.
And you may have noticed a large ad asking for aluminum foil. There’s a hot market for this product and you don’t have to wash that throwaway foil, just toss it in the blue bin.
For more information and holiday recycling tips, please visit ottawa.ca\recycle.

Young poets and authors - On your mark! Get set! Write!
Looking for a fun holiday project to fill in those off-school hours? The Ottawa Public Library’s 17th annual Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest is underway. This contest, for aspiring young poets and short story authors, is open to writers between the ages of 9 and 17. They are invited to submit poems and short stories in English and/or French. The contest deadline is Monday, January 30.

Participants can win awesomeprizes which will be presented in the spring. For contest details, visit www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca or contact InfoService at 613-580-2950 or InfoService@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca 

This contest is sponsored by the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association. They annually publish pot-pourri, an anthology of the winning poems and stories.
pot-pourri also makes a great gift. Visit the Friends of OPL website at www.OttawaPublicLibraryFriends.ca to place an order.

Ottawa Sustainability Fund Calls for 2012 Grant Applications
If you’re involved with a registered charitable organization, please note the Ottawa Sustainability Fund (OSF) is accepting applications for grants of up to $5,000 to develop innovative projects which will improve Ottawa’s sustainability.

Organizations may enter into a partnership, a limited partnership, business trust or contract with another entity specifically for the execution of the applicant’s project –a total of two grants of $5,000 will be awarded.

All applications must be submitted using the OSF’s funding application form. Full instructions and the application form are available on the OSF web site at www.osfund.ca.

Deadline for applications is midnight, Monday January 9, 2012. To make a donation to the OSF or more information on the Fund, please visit www.osfund.ca.
Donations can also be made online through the Community Foundation of Ottawa at https://payment.csfm.com/donations/cfo/index.php.

Mini-Mammoth Book Sale
The Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association (FOPLA) are holding another Mini-Mammoth Book sale in support of the Ottawa Public Library this Saturday. FOPLA sales make it easy to support your local library and stock up on your holiday reads for a fraction of the cost.

The sale will take place on Saturday, December 17th from 10am to 2pm at 100 Tallwood Drive. This is the new Ottawa Archive and Library Technical Services building.
Here are a few of the great deals you can expect to see:

• CDs and fiction will be 10 for $1
• Videos, cat and dog books, and children’s books will be 5 for $1
• Non-fiction books will be $1 each

Admission and parking are free, but parking is limited so you might need to park a block away at the Centrepointe library/Ben Franklin Place (100 Centrepointe). If you use public transportation, the OC Transpo 94 and 95 buses stop at Tallwood and Woodroffe, just outside of our big yellow building. All visitors must sign in and out of the building.
For more information on FOPLA please visit www.ottawapubliclibraryfriends.ca

What did you think when you heard there was a watermain break on Woodroffe north of Hunt Club on Sunday?  Well I know many of you were curious so here is some info about that break.  It is good to know that it had nothing to do with the “big pipe” break earlier this year. There are 3 watermains located on Woodroffe Ave and Hunt Club Rd:

• 1220 mm concrete watermain located on the west side Woodroffe
• 610 mm concrete watermain crossing Woodroffe, north of Hunt Club
• 305 mm ductile iron watermain located on the east side of Woodroffe

The watermain break that occurred on Sunday was located on the 305 mm ductile iron north of Hunt Club Road.  It was installed in 1974 and has a cathodic protection system to minimize the effects of corrosion.  The cause of the failure is suspected to be linked to an abandoned manhole frame that was found sitting directly over the watermain. This frame was uncovered during the excavation and has since been removed.

Corrosion plays a large role in the deterioration of watermains and this is why the City has invested in cathodic protection systems in order to reduce the rate of corrosion and prolong the service life of metallic watermains.

Half Moon Bay Lights up the Night
A reminder to Half Moon Bay residents; Mattamy Homes is holding a fantastic contest for residents in the Half Moon Bay community. Residents who dress up their home for the holidays will be entered to win a 43" Samsung Flat Screen TV.
I will be touring the neighbourhood judging each decorated home and the winner will be announced on December 22nd. 

It’s not too late to get your flu vaccine
One season no one wants to greet is flu season, but it comes every year just the same.  Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is reminding us that it is not too late to get a flu vaccine. Since September, OPH has distributed nearly 326,000 doses of the flu vaccine to hundreds of vaccine providers across the city such as doctors’ offices, community health centres and walk-in clinics. Getting the flu vaccine is safe, free and the most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu.

Seasonal influenza, or the flu, is easily spread from person-to-person, often by a cough or a sneeze. On average, people who get the flu are bed-ridden from seven to 10 days. The flu vaccine is recommended for all people aged six months or older that live, work or study in Ontario.

Along with getting the flu vaccine, it is important that residents take these precautions to keep themselves and their families healthy:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, or hand sanitizer
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your arm, not your hand
• Stay at home if you are sick

For more information please visit ottawa.ca/flu or call Ottawa Public Health Information at 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656).

OC Transpo
Finally, in response to some questions from Barrhaven OC Transpo users that I’ve received recently, staff have provided me with some information I thought some of you may find interesting:

Route 177
Furthermore, as transit planning details are finalized, Route 177 will eventually continue from Kilbernie directly to Greenbank, bypassing Dundonald and reducing the overlap some residents have noted.

Rider Friendly Transit Initiatives
Regular transit riders may also be interested to know about a number rider friendly transit initiatives, if they don’t already. These include:

You can also click on the links included for more information or visit us at www.octranspo.com.
•         Get real-time bus arrival information from your phone! Text 560-560 for bus arrival times (more info). 
•         Get mobile travel planning via your smartphone or tablet on at octranspo.mobi.
•         Sign up to receive alerts by e-mail or text for specific bus routes, cancelled trips, elevator status etc. at www.octranspo.com/alerts.

Whether or not you take OC Transpo, drive, walk or bike you’ll also want to sign up for my regular e-newsletter to get all the latest community news and information. You can do so by visiting my website www.janharder.com and entering your email in the field at the top of the page.

One week left before the big day, support our local businesses please.  From my family to yours “Merry Christmas”!

Friday 9 December, 2011

Unbelievably we are just two weeks away from Christmas weekend! I hope you’re all enjoying the holiday season no matter what you celebrate this time of year, I know the mood has certainly hit my grandchildren, my office and City Hall. From my home to yours I extend a very Merry Christmas and a bright and shiny New Year.

27th Annual City of Ottawa/OC Transpo Food Drive
As you know, this is the time of year when families in need in Ottawa have the greatest need. 

This year marked the 27th Annual City of Ottawa/OC Transpo Food Drive to help the Ottawa Food Bank. On Monday Santa and his helpers – managers representing Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore and selected Your Independent Grocer stores and OC Transpo – rolled their Santa bus to the Ottawa Food Bank for the ceremonial delivery. OC Transpo busses delivered 87,000 items of food and non-perishable items and more than $16,000 in cash and food vouchers to the food bank. Though the success of this program every year should be celebrated I ask that if you haven’t yet made a donation to our BARRHAVEN food bank this year to please do so.

Salvation Army Christmas Kettles
Another important way to help those in need this holiday season is to throw a little spare change into the Salvation Army kettles you see everywhere. You can even help fill the kettle online now by visiting http://fillthekettle.com/. By donating online you can also get a tax receipt for your donation.

Funds raised through the kettles, help provide direct, compassionate, hands-on service to 1.7 million people each year in Canada. What is very special about donating to the kettles is that each kettle location is organized and managed by a local Salvation Army unit. The funds raised stay in the community in which they were donated and are used to support local Salvation Army programs for people in need.

Berrigan and Longfields
Speaking of community, I have a few updates on some local matters for you. Regarding the intersection of Berrigan Drive and Longfields Drive, we will be starting the preliminary design work early in January once we have hired a consultant (we are in the process of getting one on board now).

This preliminary design assignment should be completed in April/May.  If we can find some funds in 2012 to undertake detailed design in the Summer/Fall (we’ll be in a better position to know in a few months if we have some funds from completed projects that came in under estimate this year to complete detailed design), then we would be ready to go to tender if funds for construction are approved in the 2013 Capital budget.
I asked if the warrant weighted the fact that the intersection is near schools high and it has been confirmed that yes indeed it would rank quite high on the list of warranted intersections therefore we would most likely be fully funded for construction in 2013 capital budget.

Claridge Drive
To update all those wondering about the condition of Claridge Drive, I’ve spoken with the contractor and they have re-instated those areas where trenches were dug to install services to the best extent that they can this time of year. They are now also using hot tar/asphalt to provide temporary sidewalk re-instatement, as concrete cannot be used this time of year. They will be back in the spring to finally repair those areas.  The roadwork will also be redone in the spring where the contractor will resurface those portions of the roadway that were excavated for service installations.

The contractor did apply the requisite asphalt depth, in fact more than is typical for this project. I know this is little consolation for you since the road is pretty bumpy but please know I am working on getting a solution for you.

A week ago I met with a number of skateboarders.  Not surprisingly the move of the skate park in Barrhaven from one side of Longfields to the other was not good.  In this city it never ceases to amaze me why we don’t engage the users before we make decisions.  This is the case as well with business matters ALL the time.  Consult the business community; it’s not rocket science. The good news is that fix is a priority for Mayor Watson and we are “on it” so to say.  In the case of the skateboard park if you have been around for a while likely you recall when the park was in the parking lot at the Walter Baker and it was awful.  Both the community and the park users welcomed the move to Longfields. We did a lot right.  We asked the users what they needed and how it should be laid out and it worked. 

In this latest move we didn’t and it doesn’t.  So a good size group of skateboarders met with Mike Russett (city staff) and I.  My, oh my did we learn a lot and now we have a follow-up meeting set for December 15th.  Stay tuned for news on skateboard parks in Ottawa soon.

LDHSS culinary class
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of judging a culinary competition at Longfields-Davidson Heights S.S. in Barrhaven.

The competition was assigned by teachers to grade 11 culinary arts students who were challenged to come up with a gourmet food cart/truck concept and rationale to would convince Ottawa that the food cart phenomenon is worth embracing. The concepts the students came up with were creative and tasty!  Great job Chef Kent and your students who participated; it was great fun and the food was fabulous.  Visit http://bit.ly/slO16b to read an article by another judge, Citizen’s Food Editor Ron Eade.

The West Barrhaven Community Association Pancake Breakfast with Santa
The West Barrhaven Community Association will be holding a pancake breakfast with Santa on Saturday December 10th at Larkin House Community Building on Larkin Dr. All proceeds from the breakfast going towards a Track Line for Larkin Park.

This project is being spearheaded by 2, 11-year- old girls who last year succeeded in raising funds for a track Line at Burnett Park on Sherway Dr.

On the day of the ribbon cutting for the Burnett Park line the girls said they wanted to keep going to have a track line at every park in the WBCA catchment area.  So far for this park they have raised $2,000.00. 

Please stop by the Larkin House Community Building Saturday December 10th, 2011 from 9- 11am to support this great cause. The cost of the breakfast is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for kids 6 – 12 years old (kids 5 and under are free).
Protect your investment – drain your rain barrel

Finally, just a reminder that if you haven’t done so already, please take a few minutes to winterize your rain barrels in preparation for the coming freezing temperatures. The barrel should first be disconnected from the downspout - so it doesn’t refill during fall rains or with melting winter snow - and then completely drained. Disconnected downspouts must be positioned to drain away from basement walls and neighbouring properties. Many in Barrhaven are new to the use of rain barrels following this year’s water ban and so I thought this info would be helpful.

Keep in touch via email: jan.harder@ottawa.ca or phone: 613 580-2473 and web: www.janharder.com.

Friday 02 December, 2011

Your Urgent help is needed: Please help our Nepean Raiders
The Nepean Raiders Minor Bantam B Hockey Team White has the chance to win a three day all expenses paid trip to Edmonton, Alberta in December 2011 to cheer on Team Canada at the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championships, but they need your help to do it.

In order to win the team needs as many people as possible to support them as many times as possible by voting for them in a the The TIM-BR MART World Junior Hockey Video Challenge, which asks teams to make a video  that proves their team and community has the most team spirit. The “Spirit-Raiser” is simple.  The winner of this contest is determined by vote.  The most votes win.
The Nepean Raiders are the only Ottawa team entered in this contest within a field of 28 teams nationwide so please ask your friends and family from across the city to vote for our team today.

You can check out the Nepean Raiders’ video called Nepean Raiders Hockey Team Spirirt: A story of discovery and vote here.

Or cast your votes on the go by texting v160 to 33255. 

Vote multiple times for this video but not more than once per hour online and not more than five times via text.

This is a chance of a life time for these 13 year olds so please help them by voting as many times as you can before  Sunday December 4, 2011, when the contest closes.

The Barrhaven Business Improvement Area (BBIA) Annual General Meeting (AGM)
As always the BBIA meeting proved informative and I do believe saw a record attendance.  Councillor Desroches and I are always pleased to participate in and work with Barrhaven’s strong business group.  Colin White our Senior City Planner was most informative in providing insight into “where Barrhaven is growing” and Councillor Desroches provided additional input on Riverside South and also introduced the City’s Invest Ottawa program which is exciting indeed.  You can expect more information on Invest Ottawa soon.

I do want to congratulate Chair Ken Ross and his team for all their successes this year in promoting Barrhaven.  Many people don’t know the vast amount of work Patrick Creppin in particular but the BBIA in general puts into Barrhaven’s Santa Parade, the annual contribution to Barrhaven’s Canada Day, the Spring Shopping Spree, and so much more. 
I hope you are not getting sick and tired of me saying this but it is clearly so important to support our local businesses.  In fact the most recent update on the Barrhaven Business analysis shows that 7 out of 10 of you do the bulk of your shopping in Barrhaven, thanks!  I hear that Tommy & Lefebvre Sports store is opening this weekend in the old LCBO location at Barrhaven Town Centre mall.  For more information about the BBIA, please visit www.barrhavenbia.ca

Condo living
Last Sunday I ran into Carol and Bob Martin at Ross’ Your Independent Grocery store.  For a couple of years the Martins like other couples asked me time and again when condos were coming to Barrhaven.  Well guess what, they are here in a very big way now and the Martin’s couldn’t be more excited with their top floor, ultra modern Ampersand condo and the June move-in date.  Of course they are also very excited about their first grandchild, a baby boy, due Christmas Day.  If you are of an age with Larry and I and looking to stay in Barrhaven but in a smaller place with “no” upkeep and elevators Barrhaven certainly has lots to offer. Carol thanked me for suggesting they check these places out; to say they are excited is an understatement. 

Calling all Friends of the Nepean Choir and Choral Music Lovers
The Nepean Choir will be presenting "SING GLORIA" the first performance in their series of "Three Friday Evenings of Choral Music" and their annual Christmas performance on Friday December 9, 2011. The Performance will begin at 7:30 pm at Woodroffe United Church, 207 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa. 

This event will feature a performance of Vivaldi’s GLORIA – a beautiful arrangement featuring guest musical accompanists, guest soloists and the voices of the Nepean Choir. In addition the choir will also be singing traditional and new arrangements of seasonal favourites and will give viewers the opportunity to sing along with some of your favourite Christmas songs.

The event will feature special guest soloists and instrumentalists to make this a truly entertaining and memorable Nepean Choir Christmas Performance.
The tickets are $20 per person ($10 – age 12 and under). To order tickets please email nepeanchoirauditions@gmail.com or call 613-226-5853. More information is available at www.nepeanchoir.ca

Reminder  - A Window on Christmas craft sale is this Saturday
Just a quick reminder, the 201st Nepean Rangers (Girl Guides) is hosting their annual craft sale at the Walter Baker Sports Centre this Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm in the upper concourse. 
This sale is a fundraiser for some of the Rangers and a few Pathfinders (next level down from Rangers) who will be going on an international trip next summer to Europe.  The girls going on this trip have done several types of fundraising already such as a garage sale, bottle drive, face painting at the Barrhaven Canada Day festivities, cookie selling, etc., so please support them and pick-up a few Christmas gifts at the same time!

Reminder – Green Bin collection now bi-weekly
I thought it best to remind you as we were caught off guard at our home this week that green bin pick-up has changed to bi-weekly over the winter and will continue until March 2012. Please refer to your collection calendar, available at www.ottawa.ca/garbage_recycle/garbage/collection_calendar for your neighbourhood schedule.

Walter Baker Sports Centre Upper Gym Grand Reopening
This week-end the upper gym of the Walter Baker Sports Centre will reopen. The 2,583 sq. ft. gym has been closed since November 14 for repairs and renovations.  Members and new clients will be welcomed back on Saturday December 3 and can expect to see new state-of-the-art resistance machines, new benches for free weight users, state-of-the-art barbells, fresh paint, improved quality lighting and more space to move around. 
To celebrate these improvements, the Walter Baker Sports Centre fitness facility has organized a grand re-opening on Saturday December 3rd from 9 – 4pm where potential members can schedule tours of the facility, receive one-on-one review of his/her fitness goals and objectives and receive a complimentary pass upon the purchase of a membership.  All members who hold either an all-Inclusive membership or weight and cardio membership are also entitled to receive a free introductory fitness program designed by one of our personal trainers, a free follow up consultation and will also receive a courtesy call after one month’s time to ensure that the client is satisfied with his/her program and services. 

The Walter Baker Sports Centre is located at 100 Malvern Drive, off Greenbank Road.  Contact Kristy Kilcup, Fitness Coordinator at (613) 580-2424 x 30326 for more details.

 

Friday 25 November, 2011

Well it’s official, Christmas is just one month away from today!

Congratulations to the Barrhaven Lions Club and the Barrhaven Business Improvement Area and in particular Patrick Creppin for his tireless work on the15th annual Santa Claus Light up the Night Parade – what a success it was! On behalf of the community, thank you to all the parade organizers and participants for giving us such a wonderful kick off to the season. It was Mayor Watson’s first Barrhaven parade and I know that he was amazed at the excellent turnout!

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, getting some days off, or a personal combination of any of those, I hope you are enjoying the season and all of the activities leading up to December 25th.  Here are a few things to look for in Ottawa:

The Mayor’s Annual Christmas Celebration
The Mayor’s 11th Annual Christmas Celebration is on Saturday, December 10th from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park. 
This is always a fun celebration and will include a visit with Santa, crafts in Santa’s workshop, carousel and train rides, face painting, music and live entertainment plus some tasty treats sponsored by BeaverTails and Papa Jack popcorn.

To help those in need, and to share in the spirit of the holiday season, admission to this sponsored event is a non-perishable food donation to the Ottawa Food Bank. 
More information for this event will be released in coming weeks so please keep checking ottawa.ca and my website www.janharder.com for details.

Barrhaven Lions Club Children’s Christmas Party
If you can’t make it downtown that day the Barrhaven Lions Club is once again organizing its annual Children’s Christmas Party to be held in the Barrhaven Legion, Branch 641,3500 Fallowfield Road on Saturday, December 10th.
The doors will open at 10:00 am and the event will include entertainment from Paddy Stewart, a visit from Santa and Mrs Claus with Mrs Claus reading some Christmas stories, a children’s sing song led by Shirl Kennedy, munchies and party favours for the children.

Tickets are free (though donation of a non perishable food item is appreciated) but limited so please pick up your tickets at the Legion early.

Changing Seasons, Changing Light from the Goulbourn Jubilee Singers
Goulbourn Jubilee Singers and JJ’s will present “Changing Seasons, Changing Light”, this Saturday, November 26 at the Stittsville United Church at 6255 Fernbank Road from 1:30- 7:30pm.

Directed by Linda Crawford and accompanied by Doll Creelman, this musical performance will reflect on the Winter Solstice, as well as the Christmas season. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 Seniors/Students. For tickets or further information call Charlotte at 613-825-3357, or visit www.gjsingers.com.

A Window on Christmas Craft Sale
Please don’t forget that the 201st Nepean Rangers (Girl Guides) are hosting their craft sale at Walter Baker Sports Centre next Saturday December 3rd. The sale, titled “A Window on Christmas” will take place from 10am - 4pm in the upper concourse and 50 tables have been sold to vendors. 

The sale is a fundraiser for some of the Rangers and a few Pathfinders (next level down from Rangers) who will be going on an international trip next summer to the Guide lodge in London, England for one week and the Guide chalet in Switzerland for another week with the possibility of a few days in Paris tacked on at the end. 
The girls going on this trip have done several types of fundraising already such as a garage sale, bottle drive, face painting at the Barrhaven Canada Day festivities, cookie selling, etc.  

Gift Giving
On a related note, since many of you will now be starting your holiday shopping I just wanted to remind you to shop local. Barrhaven businesses are some of the best in the city at supporting their community but they cannot do so without the patronage of those same communities. Help keep your community healthy by supporting our local businesses.

If however you are staying away from traditional gift giving this year here are a few suggestions for some greater good gifts:

• World vision gifts: Want to make a real difference by providing farm animals, sports equipment, blankets etc. to children in impoverished countries while showing your loved ones you thought of them this holiday season? Visit www.worldvision.ca/gifts or call 1-800-844-7993 for some great and unique gift ideas.
• Plan Canada: Similar to world vision, Plan Canada offers a wide variety of gifts for those less fortunate around the world including gifts in support of the Because I am a Girl campaign. Visit www.plancanada.ca/giftsofhope or call 1-800-387-1418 for more.
• WWF: Have a little one or animal lover on your list? WWF Canada offers adorable wildlife adoption gifts that come with a plush toy, a personalized adoption certificate, collector card, a recycled gift bag and details on the work this gift will help support. Visit wwfstore.donorportal.ca to get one.

Take care everyone, winter seems to be creeping ever closer.  Keep informed by checking out my website www.Janharder.com and be sure to sign up for my e-newsletter and check out my live Twitter feed @harderja on the site if you haven’t already.

 

Friday 18 November, 2011

Light up the Night Santa Claus Parade
Believe it or not the Barrhaven Lions and the Barrhaven Business Improvement Area Light up the Night Santa Claus Parade will take place this Sunday! The parade departs from Beatrice Drive at Chapman Mills Drive and follows Strandherd Drive at 5:30 pm. At the time of writing this the weather man called for showers but as we all know the prediction can change quickly, so please check the forecast before you leave to make sure you’re properly dressed.

Remembrance Day Barrhaven 2011
I hope many of you were able to attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the new memorial wall at John McCrae Secondary School.  It was a beautiful Remembrance Day service and very well attended.  The school did an amazing job and should be commended for it.  There were a number of students who placed poppies on a black board that was then hoisted to the top of the school – spelling “we remember” in honour of all of the fallen soldiers, from all wars.  It was very touching and I was proud to be a part of it. 

Thanks also to Barrhaven Royal Canadian Legion Branch 641 for the excellent post service entertainment and refreshments.  Next year Remembrance Day is a Sunday so no doubt we will have even greater attendance.

A Window on Christmas Craft Sale
The 2001st Nepean Rangers (Girl Guides) are once again hosting a craft sale at Walter Baker Sports Centre. This year the sale titled "A Window on Christmas" will be held on Saturday, December 3 from 10am - 4pm in the upper concourse and 50 tables have been sold to vendors. 

Organizers explain that the sale is a fundraiser for some of the Rangers and a few Pathfinders (next level down from Rangers) who will be going on an international trip next summer to the Guide lodge in London, England for one week and the Guide chalet in Switzerland for another week with the possibility of a few days in Paris tacked on at the end. 

The girls going on this trip have done several types of fundraising already such as a garage sale, bottle drive, face painting at the Barrhaven Canada Day festivities, cookie selling, etc.  

Barrhaven Lions Club Children’s Christmas Party
The Barrhaven Lions Club has announced it will once again organize its annual Children’s Christmas Party, which will be held in the Barrhaven Legion, Branch 641, and 3500 Fallowfield Road on Saturday, December 10th, 2011.

The doors will open at 10am with Paddy Stewart providing the entertainment starting at 10:30am.   Following the entertainment there will be a visit from Santa and Mrs Claus with Mrs Claus reading some Christmas stories.  This will be followed by hot dogs and other munchies with juice and soft drinks.  This event will round out with a children’s sing song led by Shirl Kennedy.  There will be a small party favour for each child upon leaving.
Due to the size of the hall the number of tickets will be limited so these will be available for pick up at the Legion on a first come first served basis.  Entrance will be permitted with a ticket only so In order to avoid disappointment please pick these up early. There is no charge for the tickets but the donation of a non perishable food item is appreciated.

Cambrian Road paving
If you live and drive in the area of Cambrian Road likely you are aware certain sections of the recently repaved Cambrian Road failed.  The situation has been investigated and it appears the subsurface in the areas where the pavement failed were not pulverized but instead the old roadbed was present.  Due to the differential surface conditions, the pulverizing equipment did not grind the low areas in the road which correspond to the failed sections.  Likely by the time you read this the road will have been re-pulverized and repaved in the failed sections to ultimately correct the situation. 

Half Moon Bay Road
Speaking again about the Half Moon Bay area you should know that City staff has figured out a way to allow Half Moon Bay on the Mattamy side to meet Half Moon Bay Road on the Tamarack side.  A four-way stop will be required.  If you drive in the area you know that sight lines are not good along this stretch.  The work cannot be completed this year as Mattamy still has work to do underground.  Don’t think though the project is behind schedule however as this road was not scheduled to be built until the realignment of Greenbank including the new bridge and western relocation no earlier than 2016.

Free flu vaccine clinics continue
Flu season is coming and Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is continuing to offer free flu vaccine clinics. OPH began be holding clinics in October and will hold 33 clinics in total at locations across the city until mid-December. Last year, the average reported wait time for OPH clinics was only nine minutes.

The flu vaccine is also available at doctors’ offices, community health centres and walk-in clinics.

Seasonal influenza, or the flu, is easily spread from person-to-person, often by a cough or a sneeze. On average, people who get the flu are bed-ridden from seven to 10 days. Everyone is at risk. Protect yourself and your loved ones from getting sick by getting the flu vaccine. It is safe, free and recommended for all Ontario residents over six months of age.

Please note that some clinics require an appointment, which can be made in advance at fluclinicsottawa.ca or by phone at 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656) from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you’re looking to visit a clinic in the area OPH will be at Mother Teresa Catholic High School (440 Longfields Dr., Nepean) from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 30.

Winter Overnight Parking Regulations
Winter overnight parking regulations are in effect throughout the city from November 15 to April 1, permitting the City to clear the way for you. This means that you cannot park on City streets between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. when a snow accumulation of 7 cm or more is forecast by Environment Canada in the Ottawa area. This includes any forecast for a range of snow of more than 7 cm, for example 5 to 10 cm. Vehicles that remain parked on the street during an overnight parking restriction will be ticketed and could be fined. On-street parking permit holders are exempt from this restriction.

When Environment Canada forecasts a snow accumulation of 7 cm or more, the City automatically initiates an enforcement of winter overnight parking restrictions. To inform residents and motorists, a special advisory is issued to the local media announcing that an overnight parking restriction is in effect. All special advisories are posted online in the City's newsroom. Enforcement of winter overnight parking restrictions will continue each evening until snow clearing is completed and the City issues a special advisory indicating that the overnight parking restriction has been lifted.

Opening of the Rideau Valley Health Centre this week.
A welcome to the Rideau Valley Health Centre (RVHC), which opens this week at 1221 Greenbank Rd (at Berrigan Drive)!

The Grand Opening of the new over 15,000 square foot RVHC will take place on Friday, November 18th, 2011 at 8:30 am. According to the facility’s website www.rvhc.ca, the new centre will be home to 10-12 doctors, and will house a separate Urgent Care centre to handle all but the most serious emergency cases.Other health services available in the Centre will include a Pharmacy, Diagnostic Imaging facilities and the Ottawa South Diabetes Education and Support Team.

Bullying Awareness Week
Tomorrow is the last day of bullying Awareness Week. This year’s theme for the week was "Stand Up! (to bullying)"  and I hope if that you have children or teens you will take this opportunity to do just that by talking to your children and learning more about the issue. A good place to start is to go online and visit www.bullyingawarenessweek.org.

 

Friday 11 November, 2011

Week-end Barrhaven traffic in the area of Strandherd and Greenbank just got worse.  While we say, "welcome" to Future Shop and are excited the doors are open, traffic just got a whole lot busier.  Yes indeed the difference is tangible.  The already crazy volumes of vehicular traffic are going through the roof.  I have asked staff to monitor the volumes.  Staff had agreed to do counts next year before and after the Strandherd Bridge opening but now I have asked they take some immediately with more next year.

Have you been in to “Five Guys Restaurant” (Five Guys Burgers and Fries) yet?  The line-ups are long but the food is great (particularly those fries) and the staff are fun.  You can find it beside the new Starbucks on Greenbank Road beside the Sobey’s Mall. I continue to hear good things about this new burger spot!

The Barrhaven Crossing Mall on Fallowfield Road is booming!  The parking lot is full all the time.  Certainly The Works, Dr Gord Young’s re-located Optometrist office and retail eyeglass store, plus the BEER store and the Greenbelt Medical Clinic have really brought a lot of traffic to this mall and a lot of business as well.  It is good to see the increase in business at this twenty-some year old mall.

I have been doing my best to stay on top of the on-going construction at Greenbank and Malvern.  It is causing major headaches for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicular traffic.  Enbridge is the company doing the work.  The roundabout at Cambrian and Greenbank is now complete minus the landscaping and hallelujah Greenbank south of there to Dundonald is open as well.  I believe that Greenbank from Barnsdale to Cambrian will be fully re-opened around November 17th.  Traffic continues to be the biggest complaint my office receives in Barrhaven.  Fortunately we have great staff working with us on traffic issues and I know many of you know them by name.

You will see improvements for pedestrian access for folks living in Barrhaven Mews on Strandherd Road. This work will sustain pedestrian safety until the road is reconstructed to a four-lane urban arterial standard.  An examination was made as to possible interim improvements for pedestrians from the new development of Barrhaven Mews along the south side of Strandherd Drive to the Home Depot site and Jockvale Road intersection. 

The main problem is that the existing stormwater drainage culvert structure is very narrow and it would have to be widened at some expense.  An option was looked at that would see this structure lengthened to the south, where it leads into the Kennedy Burnett stormwater management facility, to the ultimate length and size needed for the eventual four lane Strandherd Road.  This would also include putting in place new storm sewers along this section of Strandherd Road leading to the stormwater facility.  With the road ditch removed and structure lengthened a sidewalk could be constructed in its ultimate location and then at a later date the road lanes could be added.  The cost estimate for this option proved to be very high, about $900,000, and staff were asked to look at another option that would include a temporary pedestrian traffic signal and use of permanent pedestrian facilities on the north side of the road to provide safe access east to the signalized Jockvale Road intersection.  This would also solve the problem of safe crossing to and from the OC Transpo stop on the north side of the road.  This traffic signal and north side pathway work is what is now being constructed per the approved funding in the 2011 budget.  The new pathways will be winter maintained and the two sections leading to Harthill and Opal will have separate pathway lighting, as the adjacent street lighting would not provide adequate illumination.

When Strandherd is rebuilt to a four lane urban standard there will be full pedestrian access on the south side and the need for this temporary detour to the north side would no longer be required.  The timing of the ultimate Strandherd widening from Jockvale to Fallowfield/Highway 416 is still several years away but efforts are being made to see if can occur earlier given the continued growth in the area and the opening of the new Strandherd-Earl Armstrong Bridge that is expected late next year.

Who knew there was a By-law 2005-207 section 34(11) that survived amalgamation that put the onus on you to keep your lawn light burning?  In fact I was told years ago that we had no way of forcing people to replace their bulbs so I would write letters to individuals and I would write two or three times in my local articles asking people to take responsibility.

Here is the meat in the By-law.  All artificial lighting standards, fixtures and connections installed in yards shall be kept in a safe condition, good working order and in good repair.  These agreements were put in place with the developers in order to reduce the city’s cost for street lighting. A subdivision agreement remains registered on title to a property and it is binding on any and all owners of a particular property forever. The subdivision agreement obligations that run with title affect most if not all areas in Barrhaven where we have these “lawn lamp” situations. In most cases where these lawn lamps are the only “street-lighting” the subdivision agreements include these clauses. There are also perpetual property-owner obligations that are registered on title through subdivision agreements with the City.

The subdivision agreement is a legal document that is registered on title which includes clauses requiring property owners to maintain operating “lawn lamps” to provide illumination of the street front area. The City has ability and an obligation to enforce these agreements as well as the relevant provisions of the Property Standards By-law to ensure the safety and security of the neighbourhoods where these “lawn lamps” provide street illumination.

There is a provision in our Property Standards By-law that would require a property owner to ensure that all exterior artificial light fixtures are in working order. We have enforced this provision in the past in many areas of the City and have not had any negative feedback; in fact, to my knowledge we have never had to issue a charge and also received compliance.
Goulbourn Jubilee Singers and JJ’s will present “Changing Seasons, Changing Light”, Saturday, November 26, 2011, Stittsville United Church, 6255 Fernbank Road, 1:30pm and 7:30pm. Directed by Linda Crawford and accompanied by Doll Creelman, this musical performance will reflect on the Winter Solstice, as well as the Christmas season. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 Seniors/Students. For tickets or further information call Charlotte at 613-825-3357, or log unto www.gjsingers.com.

Just a reminder that the 2nd Annual Stonebridge Ladies Night Out will be held on November 16th, from 7-10pm at the Stonebridge Golf and Country Club
The event promises to be exciting featuring some of the amazing products and services available in your own backyard and just in time for Christmas Shopping Season! Here are some great reasons to attend:

•   Admission is only $1 and all proceeds are donated to charity
•   20 Fabulous door prizes, each valued at over $50
•   Sample all sorts of wonderful products
•   Hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available
•   You will be supporting the women that live, work and play in our community

The intent of this event is to showcase local home-based businesses in our community and encourage shopping in Barrhaven.  The inaugural event in November 2010 was a huge success with over 170 attendees and 21 vendors, and we have just sold out of vendor tables for this upcoming event!
For more information please visit www.stonebridgeca.com.

And please don’t forget the Barrhaven Lions and the Barrhaven Business Improvement Area celebrate Light up the Night Santa Claus Parade will take place on Sunday, November 20th  at 5:30 p.m. It departs from Beatrice Drive at Chapman Mills Drive and follows Strandherd Drive. 

For reminders on all upcoming events and news in your community, why don’t you sign up for my bi-weekly e-newsletter? You can do so by entering your email address in the field at the top right corner of this page, it’s that easy.

 

Friday 04 November, 2011

Here in Barrhaven from all accounts Hallowe’en was awesome.  So many decorated their homes and handed out tasty treats.  I know my little trick or treaters made out like bandits!  We remarked that the treats were a “step up” this year.  Likely come Valentine’s Day we will throw the rest out as like you we ration the sweets. 

Late breaking news in Barrhaven the Longfields Drive skateboard park should be open in its new location across the street this weekend.  I hope the weather holds for the kids to appreciate the new location.  Weather certainly has been lovely this week!

Also I regret to say that Greenbank Road closure will stay in effect for one more week.  The contractor experienced severe delays due to unexpected rock in the soil.  I am allowing the closure on Greenbank Road from Cambrian to Dundonald until Monday November 7th only.  The piece south of Dundonald to Barnsdale will re-open Friday November 18th.  The City apologizes for the delays and I know how incredibly challenging it has been for everyone to move into and out of your communities with the ongoing construction. 

Here are a few of the activities happening around Barrhaven:

Stonebridge Ladies Night Out
The 2nd Annual Stonebridge Ladies Night Out will be held on November 16th, from 7-10pm at the Stonebridge Golf and Country Club

The event promises to be an exciting night featuring some of the amazing products and services available in our own backyard, just in time for Christmas Shopping Season! Here are some great reasons to attend:

•   Admission is only $1 and all proceeds are donated to charity
•   20 Fabulous door prizes, each valued at over $50
•   Sample all sorts of wonderful products
•   Hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available
•   You will be supporting the women that live, work and play in our community

The intent of this event is to showcase local home-based businesses in our community and encourage shopping in Barrhaven.  The inaugural event in November 2010 was a huge success with over 170 attendees and 21 vendors, and vendor tables have just sold out for this upcoming event!

For more information please visit www.stonebridgeca.com.

Barrhaven United Church Christmas Bazaar
I will certainly attend the Barrhaven United Church Christmas Church Bazaar this Saturday, November 5th from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm.

Attendees can look forward to:
• Chance to place an order for our World Famous Meat Pies
• Silent Auction
• Delicious Baked Goods
• Book Table
• Gift Baskets
• Crafters & Vendors Tables
Lunch Served from 11am – 1pm (it is delicious)

The church is located at 3013 Jockvale Road, admission and parking will be free. For more information please call 613‐825‐1707 or visit www.BarrhavenUnited.org

Fall into Fashion
The Rotary Club of South Nepean is asking the community to Fall into Fashion on Sunday November 6th at the Court at Barrhaven on Longfields Drive at Strandherd from 1:30 – 4:30pm.

This will be the 3nd annual Fall Into Fashion, and this year the funds raised will be devoted to Friends of Hospice Ottawa.

Fashion guru Sid Cratzbarg, owner of Accessories by Sid and a regular guest on CBC and A News in Ottawa, will deliver the latest in fashion advice.  Come to learn to dress to the nines and get ready for a sizzling afternoon of fun.

The afternoon will include wonderful food and deserts from the Court at Barrhaven kitchen, wine, free makeovers, hair stylist consultations, raffles and much more.
For more information please and tickets please visit www.fallintofashion.ca

Mark your calendars - Santa Claus Parade
Planning is in full swing for the Annual "LIGHT UP THE NIGHT" Parade organized by the Barrhaven Lions Club and the Barrhaven Business Improvement Area.
The parade will take place on Sunday, November 20th at 5:30 pm Departing from Beatrice Drive (at Chapman Mills Drive) so please mark your calendars.
For more information on the parade, sponsorship or to register a float please visit www.barrhavensantaclausparade.com

Manotick/Riverside South Coop Nursery School Auction
Get your holiday shopping done early!  The Manotick and Riverside South Cooperative Nursery Schools are holding their annual online auction November 24-27.  Many items, gift certificates and services have been donated by local businesses and nursery school parents and are being auctioned off to the highest bidder. 

Some of the items being auctioned are museum passes, spa gift certificates, restaurant gift certificates, theatre and sports tickets, a set of husband and wife wills, gift baskets, and much more!  To see a complete list of items and how to bid, please visit the schools’ websites www.manoticknurseryschool.ca or www.riversidesouthnurseryschool.ca

All proceeds go to support the schools. 

If you regularly read this column, you’ll know very well that I make it my goal to inform the community about news and events happening in our community here (and of course on my website www.janharder.com and through my enewsblast, which you can sign up for on my site). So if you know of an event or have something to share please let me know by emailing my office at april.duffy@Ottawa.ca or calling 613-580-2473.

We are in the stretch drive to Christmas everyone; please do support Barrhaven stores who support us every single day.

 

Friday 28 October, 2011

Happy Hallowe’en Barrhaven!
There are certainly many things for both young and old kids to do this weekend; here are a few fun activities you may want to check out:

Trick or Treat with the Mayor
On Saturday, October 29th, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Mayor will host his fifth annual Halloween event in support of the Ottawa Food Bank's Baby Supply Cupboard. 

Those that join the fun at City Hall start by trick or treating through the haunted house in the Heritage Building, enjoy ghoulish tales in Andrew Haydon Hall and decorate your very own pumpkin in the pumpkin patch. Join the Mayor for a safe Halloween Party in Jean Pigott Place!

Admission is a non-perishable donation to the Baby Supply Cupboard.

The Baby Supply Cupboard targets the most vulnerable members of our society—infants and toddlers whose parents lack the resources to adequately provide for them.  This program makes expensive items such as formula, baby food and diapers available these families in need.  

Please visit www.ottawa.ca/city_hall/mayor_council/mayor/halloween_en.html for more information

Fiery Faces Fundraiser
The Fiery Faces Fundraiser is a great opportunity to help the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa and enjoy an amazing Hallowe’en sight as well.

You can visit the Club at 2825 Dumaurier Avenue and see a fantastic display of jack o’lanterns created by the community every evening until Hallowe’en. You can also participate by dropping by the club and carving a pumpkin or just dropping off some carved or un-carved pumpkins.  Since this is a fundraiser, you can also drop off a donation of any amount or purchase a sponsor pumpkin for just $25.

The club will also be holding a Family Fun Day on Saturday from noon to 5 pm. Kids are welcome to wear their costume and participate in the many activities planned.

For more info please visit www.fieryfaces.com

Running Scared Family Walk and Run
Just a reminder that on October 29th the first Annual Running Scared Family Walk and Run to benefit the Canadian Diabetes will be held.  The walk/run will begin at 10am at River Run Park.    There is a family walk (1km) as well as both 10km and 5km to choose from, and since the run is just before Halloween costumes are encouraged for all participating. 

For run information and registration please visit www.EnjoyYourMove.com.

Saunders Farm
First of all congratulations and thanks go to Saunders Farm to honour their $5,000 fundraising contribution in honour of Jamie Hubley, just wonderful. Don’t forget it’s officially Haunting Season at Saunders Farm until Hallowe’en night. You can purchase advance tickets at Ross’ Your Independent Grocer and save $2.00 each ticket. 

Saunders Farm is open 6pm-9pm on Hallowe’en Nights (Oct 24-Oct27, Oct 31), 6pm-10pm on Friday Night, 10am-10pm on Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday. Please visit www.saundersfarm.com for more info.

Valley View Little Animal Farm

Those of you with little ones may also want to drop by Valley View Little Animal Farm to see the Singing Chicken Show, the Little Animal Barn, the Old Farm Museum and all the other many attractions the farm offers.

Valley View Farm is open weekdays 9:30 – 3 and weekend’s 9:30 – 4. During this last weekend in October Valley View Little Animal Farm will also have pumpkin painting. For more information you can visit www.vvlittleanimalfarm.com.

 

As a safe healthy and fun alternative to giving out candy the City of Ottawa has announced a new option just in time for Halloween—Trick or Swim! discounted tickets for leisure swims at City pools. The tickets, at $10 for 10 tickets, are a great deal and are sure to bring smiles on every little goblin and ghouls face this Monday.

The tickets, for children and youth ages 3 to 15, can be purchased in packets of 10 at City of Ottawa swimming pools and are valid from November 1 to the end of December 2011.

If your own little ones are heading out this year, please take a moment to read these safety tips from the Canadian Red Cross with your children before you go:

• Costumes should be light-colored and flame resistant with reflective strips so that children are more easily seen at night.  (And remember to put reflective tape on bikes, skateboards, and brooms, too!)
• Costumes should be short enough to avoid tripping.
• Remind children to keep away from open fires and candles. (Costumes can be extremely flammable.)
• Use face paint rather than masks or things that will cover the eyes.
• Remind children to walk, slither, and sneak on sidewalks - not in the street.
• Explain to children that calls should be made along one side of the street first and then the other, and that it's best to cross the street only at intersections or crosswalks.
• Remind children to look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks, and low-flying brooms.
• Provide yourself or the children with a flashlight to see better and to be better seen.
• Have children plan their route and share it with you and the family. 
• Trick or Treaters should travel in groups of four or five.  Young children should be accompanied by an adult.
• Visit homes that have the porch light on.
• Make sure children know they should accept treats at the door and must not get into cars or enter the homes or apartments of strangers.
• Remind children not to eat their treats and goodies until they are examined by an adult at home.  And candy should not be eaten if the package is already opened. Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.
• Set agreed-to boundaries with your children.  Explain the importance of staying within them and arriving home on time.

I hope you and your family have a safe and Happy Hallowe’en if indeed it is a holiday you celebrate. 

Friday 21 October, 2011

As Barrhaven is the fastest growing area of the city, I’m sure it’s no surprise that I have three construction items to tell you about this week:

Construction at Greenbank Road north of Cambrian Road
Please be advised the installation of a gas main at Greenbank Road north of Cambrian Road is planned to begin on Oct 24 and is expected to last for approx. 3-4 weeks.
Conditions that apply to this work are:

• Maintain one lane in each direction in the AM (7-9 am) or PM (3:30-5:30 pm) peak periods.  Maintain a minimum of one lane during off-peak periods.  Provide traffic control persons as required.  The roundabout at Cambrian/Greenbank must continue to operate with one counter clockwise lane. 
• traffic control persons are to provide priority to transit vehicles when flagging traffic.
• All turning movements at intersections to be accommodated at all times.
• All travel lanes to be available during non-work times.
• Monitor traffic conditions and adjust work schedule and/or location to minimize any unreasonable delay to traffic.
• Maintain pedestrian access and provide pedestrian detours if necessary.
• Maintain local access at all times.
  

Water discolouration
Late last week the City commissioned a new watermain link to service the communities of Barrhaven and Riverside South.  This watermain is designed to provide a second major supply line to the community, mitigating the need for the type of water restrictions experienced earlier this year.

Commissioning of the pipe increased water flow in the pipes and suspended iron sediment causing discolouration.  Staff quickly closed the new link and carried out pipe flushing in the affected area.  Please note that while the water was discoloured it was still safe to drink.  The City will take every reasonable action to minimize water discolourization as it brings this important piece of infrastructure into service.

OCtranspo and Road constructions at Cambrian Road and Kilbirnie Drive
For those of you wondering what happened to the bus stop at this intersection please be advised that Transit Design Staff have assured me OC Transpo plans to have this stop reinstated by the end of next week. 

There’s much more than construction happening in your city though, and there are a number of ways you can get involved and/or have your say. Here are just a few such opportunities happening now:

Attention – Ottawa Youth!
Be heard and have your say by attending the Let’s Chat Youth Café.
The Ottawa Police Service and the Ottawa Police Services Board is hosting a Let’s Chat Youth Café because they want to hear from you!  Come join a real police-youth conversation and explore the questions and issues that matter to you and your friends in small group table chats.

Here are the details:
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
6-8pm
Nepean Sportsplex – Hall A
1701 Woodroffe Avenue

Ottawa’s Older Adult Plan – There’s still time to get involved
If you’re a regular visitor of my website www.janharder.com  you’ll know the City is holding community consultations, as part of developing the City’s Older Adult Plan. The Mayor’s Seniors Summit, which was held on October 3rd, was an opportunity to launch this important initiative and affirm the City’s commitment to seniors.

During the months of October and November, older adults, heck let’s just call ourselves Seniors, will have the opportunity to participate in a consultation survey. I urge you to have a look at www.ottawa.ca/seniors or call 613-234-4666, ext. 303 or pick up a paper copy at any “client service centres”.

Applications available for 2012 Non-Renewable Community Project Funding
If you are involved with a non-profit community organization, please note that your organization is invited to submit applications for new projects that address emerging community needs and support the priorities of the Community Project Funding Program.
2012 Non-Renewable Community Project Funding is available for projects that:

• Increase neighbourhood capacity to enact positive and sustainable change in planning, service delivery, improve health and/or improve safety in accordance with neighbourhood-defined goals
• Promote the healthy development of children and youth (0-18 years) and their development of competencies through recreation, leisure, cultural and arts activities
• Increase participation of seniors in physical activities and community life to promote successful aging
• Support inclusion of people who are low income, at risk, isolated or otherwise marginalized and promote quality of life for the full diversity of citizens through activities such as literacy, employment, physical activity and/or participation in cultural programs
• Promote conditions of equality on the basis of race, ethnicity, income, gender, official language and ability

The application deadline is Thursday, December 1 at 4 pm and an information session will be hosted at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive in the Chamber on Tuesday November 1st from 5 to 7 pm.

Reminder:  please answer when you see Origin-Destination on your call display

Just a reminder the city’s Origin Destination survey continues until November 25.  During the 10 weeks of the survey professional interviewers will call thousands of randomly selected residents on both sides of the Ottawa River to gather information about daily travel patterns.

The survey takes about 10 minutes and the data collected will be used to update the Transportation Master Plan, the Official Plan and the Development Charges Bylaw, influencing decisions for years to come.  It will also be used in strategic-transportation planning studies aimed at improving road, bridges, transit services and cycling and pedestrian facilities in the National Capital Region.

The interviews are voluntary and confidential. They take place Tuesday through Friday, between 4:30 and 9:30 pm. and on Saturday, between 10 and 5 pm. Questions are asked in either English or French. Results of the survey are expected to be available by summer 2012.

Please visit the my website www.janharder.com  regularly to find out more ways to get involved and keep up to date on development in the area (and be sure to sign up for my e-newsletter and check out my live Twitter feed if you haven’t already).   
Last night when I arrived home after the October Ottawa Public Library Board meeting, my grandson Jonah yelled out, “Nana is that you?  Can you come up and kiss us goodnight?”  And of course if you know me you know there is nothing I would rather do.  So up the stairs and into Jonah’s room I go and I ask, “Who’s that hiding under those covers?” and Jonah calls out, “Someone who loves you!”  Does is get any better? I don’t think so!

Friday 14 October, 2011

If you have been to my website www.janharder.com and had a look at my Latest News page, had a look at  my Twitter feed @Harderja recently or are signed up for my bi-weekly newsblast, you’ll know there is a lot happening this month.

Running Scared Family Walk and Run
The 1st Annual Running Scared Family Walk and Run to benefit the Canadian Diabetes Association will be held on October 29th.  The walk/run will begin at 10am at River Run Park.    There is a family walk (1km) as well as both 10km and 5km to choose from, and since the run is just before Halloween costumes are encouraged for all participating. 
For run information and registration please visit www.EnjoyYourMove.com.

Artists of Stonebridge Art Show
Before your calendar gets completely booked-up, please do reserve some time to drop by the Stonebridge Country Club on Sunday, October 30th (10 am to 4 pm). Come see what residents of Stonebridge are up to in terms of artwork!

The group is hosting the 2nd "Artists of Stonebridge" art and sale event.  In addition to viewing some fabulous art and having an opportunity to purchase some Christmas presents for friends and family or for your own home, just attending will put you in the running for door prizes and you will enjoy the refreshments. Last year’s event was very busy with over two hundred people in attendance. 

If you are interested in catching a sneak peak check out art work currently on display at the two RBC Branches off Strandherd Drive (one at Woodroffe, the other at Cedarview) until mid-October. 

To join the Visual Artists of Stonebridge displaying acrylic, oil, watercolour, pen and  ink, encaustic, pastels and  mixed media email theartistsofstonebridge@gmail.com.

Kids Lit Gala
Take note of this excellent event for you and your children or grandchildren! Ten local children’s authors will read from their works and hold an autograph session at the 11th annual Kids’ Lit Gala on Tuesday, October 18 at 7 p.m. in The Chamber at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Dr.  Enjoy the featured presentations by Wallace Edwards, Rachna Gilmore, Tom Henighan, Lou Hood, Kate Jaimet; Jenn Kelly, Andrée Poulin, Paul Roux, Adrianna Steele-Card and Max Turner.

The evening gives children the chance to meet their favourite author and find out what it is like to be children’s book writer and illustrator. This event is organized by the Ottawa Children’s Literature Roundtable (OCLR), supported by the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) and sponsored by Capital Parent.

For more information about the event please contact InfoService at 613-580-2490 or InfoService@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca or visit www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca.

Cul-De-Sac Parking
In parts of Barrhaven in particular those built in the 80’s and early 90’s bubbles (at end of streets) and large centre courts are fairly common.  Unfortunately when you live on a street with one of these your on-street parking is very restricted and so some park in the middle of the bubble or court.  Unfortunately, parking in the middle of a cul-de-sac is contrary to both the traffic and parking by-law and the method of parking per the Highway Traffic Act. Changes to provincial legislation would be required before any consideration towards allowing parking in the middle of a cul-de-sac can be undertaken.  Allowing the parking to occur otherwise could place the City in a position of liability should a situation requiring emergency vehicle access occur.

As an example, on Vesta Street the turning basin diameter is approximately 33m which should be sufficient to allow construction of a central median and maintain adequate roadway widths for traffic around the circle (a one-way traffic circulation regulation would be recommended to prevent problems with “direction of travel” aspects of the regulations and to ensure safety and consistency with drivers expectations) as well as parking. The central median thereby would facilitate opportunities to park by formalizing the parking position and giving a place to install signs that are required to provide the legally specified exemption to the regulations.

Here’s the “rub”. There is no funding for this sort of investment and in fact development charges that may have contributed back when these communities in Barrhaven were built are long gone. However staff  has told me that they will do up a quick sketch and develop a ballpark cost estimate based on the sketch.  They’ll also determine the number of parking spaces that can be accommodated by the installation of such an island.  Please note that this would only be possible at locations where there is sufficient room within the bulb of the cul-de-sac to provide such an island and still maintain emergency vehicle access around it.  Perhaps this is something that could be considered as part of the Neighbourhood Traffic Improvements Program, what do you think?

Ottawa Children's Gala
Ottawa Children's Gala is scheduled for January 21st. This is the only kind of gala of this type in Ontario and it was a huge hit last year, selling out with 450 people in attendance. Funds are being raised for a program here in Ottawa called 'Ottawa ThinkFirst', which is for the prevention of head and spinal injuries to children in our communities.  Please visit www.OttawaChildrensGala.com for more information.

Skateboard Park
Unfortunately the transfer of the skateboard park on Longfields Drive to the other side of the street has not gone seamlessly and on this past beautiful weekend the skateboarders were left with nowhere to skate and I am  really sorry for that.  I have been pushing really hard to ensure the “boarders” were not disappointed and it is unfortunate that a failure in the system at the City to deliver projects seamlessly has occurred.  Here is what I received from the project manager:
“The intent is to explore all options to have the skate park reinstalled this fall, however at this point, given the internal purchasing procedures, the current date and timelines needed for completion of reinstallation works, plus the unknowns associated with the weather, I cannot confirm that the skate park will be reinstated and reinstalled this fall. The current plan is to get the tender out for bids ASAP.  After the contract is awarded, the contractor would then be asked to accelerate the reinstallation for completion this fall - we can more effectively and specifically negotiate with the contractor directly after the contract is awarded. The tender documents are to be completed this week, with a target of posting the tender next week.  Once all administrative timelines for the tender are confirmed, I will provide a detailed update on the reinstallation stage of the project”.  

Again, I apologize because I do know how much this skateboard park is enjoyed.  Having said that staff was alerted January 2010 that the City was developing the lands all around the skate park!  Why more than a year and a half  later do I have to push this; it should have been taken care of—seamlessly.

Nepean Ringette Association
Nepean Ringette Association (NRA) will once again be hosting its annual tournament from Thursday November 17th until Sunday November 20th, 2011.  For four years now 110 teams from across Canada, including local teams, have competed in this event. Arenas across Nepean and Ottawa will feature this fast paced, skill based Canadian invented game. Walter Baker and Nepean Sportsplex Community Centers will act as home base arenas. Ringette is a wonderful way to meet new friends, skate like a fiend and enjoy a great sport. parents, consider bringing your daughter to check it out and introduce her to what will likely become her new passion. If you like hockey, you are gonna love ringette.  I know I always enjoy the games.  Just seeing the comradry, team effort, and hard work puts a smile on my face every single time.

Please visit the Nepean Ringette Association website for more information www.nepeanringette.ca

What a grand weekend we had this Thanksgiving.  Three record-breaking temperatures three days in a row, wow! I sure hope that is not a portent of an “evil” winter to come.  And now as we approach Christmas please do remember to shop BARRHAVEN all you can!

Friday 07 October, 2011

Our youngest grandson Robert was laying out his hockey cards last week and he asked his mom, “Is this one the Guinea Pig Jets?” Big brother Jonah said, “No Rob that’s the Winniepig Jets!”  It’s hockey season in Barrhaven and our little hockey nuts are playing in Nepean Minor Hockey and action at home is picking up.  No matter the time of day or the location in our home, balls are bouncing off walls.  They switch playing goalie in full gear.  Papa works up quite the “sweat” defending his net. 

Last week I told you THE WORKS had opened in Barrhaven and now this week there’s more news.  Pier 1 imports opened in the original Nygaard location across from Loblaws.  A new Starbucks opened beside Barley Mow on Greenbank and Five Guys Burgers and Fries opens soon right next door.  Of course you know that Bed Bath and Beyond opened.  Did you know that Window Coverings By Wayne Chaif (custom window coverings) is opening soon at 1 Jockvale (Pete and Gus mall)? 

Traffic at Longfields Drive and Berrigan Drive
There will be another traffic count conducted at the intersection of Longfields and Berrigan within the next couple of weeks.  Once staff has analyzed the data, I will know more on where this location stands in regards to meeting the warrants necessary for signalization.  Many counts have been taken, all very close to meeting the warrants so I’m very hopeful that we are almost there.  The preliminary design of this intersection will begin this Fall so that when it does meet the warrants it will be ready for the detailed design and construct.

Lawn light maintenance
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your neighbourhood is to maintain your own property. I have recently heard from concerned residents in the community regarding lawn (post) lights on private properties not being maintained by property owners. As the responsibility for the maintenance of these lawn lights is that of the homeowner, I would like to remind residents with one of these lights on their property of the importance of keeping these lights working. 

While it isn't illegal to keep your lawn lights dark, it is a safety risk to do so. A well-lit street is a safe street so please keep this in mind. Lighting your lawn light is an important safety measure you can take to protect your community and your personal property and family.

Picking up after your pooches
I’ve also heard from a resident lately about some dog owners not picking up after their dogs. A gentle reminder here that picking up after fido is not only the law but also it keeps your neighbourhood clean and safe for everyone.

The city asks that all dog feces be brought home and flushed down the toilet to the sewer system or disposed of in the regular garbage provided it is wrapped in absorbent paper, it is sealed in a leak proof garbage bag and it is put out in small quantities of not more than 10% by volume of the garbage.

Free Car Seat Clinics offered by Ottawa Public Health
One of the reasons I serve on the Ottawa Board of Health is to ensure that child car seat safety is a guarantee, that we have sufficient resources so that every mom/dad, nana/papa, etc., can make sure the car seat their loved one sits in is installed safely.  I know that for many of you, like I, this is really important.
At the moment, car seat clinics are being offered once a month at various locations throughout the City. Ottawa Public Health  invites you to attend the next car seat inspection clinic taking place at Jack May car dealership, 3788 Prince of Wales Drive, on October 22 from 9 until 1 pm. For more information on the clinic, the schedule of clinics offered or to register for a clinic, please visit: www.seatsforkidscanada.com/home.html.  Thanks Jack May!  We need more, much more, we need to move a hundred car seats through at every session but it is going to take funding.  Who is more important in your life I ask?  I know my answer, what about yours?

Also, additional information on car seat safety and a Car Seat Safety Quiz are available at www. ottawa.ca/health_safety/living/injury/child/car_seat/index_en.html.
Thanksgiving week-end is here again and that means the summer is officially over.  I want to thank you all again for your solid support to ensure our drinking water was safe-guarded during the unexpected water ban from April to late June.  I am going to bet that even though we will have no water pressure issues next year, I will bet that those of you that purchased rain barrels are going to use them next year.  Thanks again for doing your part.

We all have many reasons to be thankful.  I am thankful that I have had the honour to serve all of you for some 14 years now; together we have been a good team.  There continue to be surprises and opportunities in Barrhaven and there will be challenges.  As a City I think we are getting better and while it has taken a decade there was much work to do given the forced amalgamation of so many cities and townships plus the Region. 
Most of all I am thankful for my family.  They will always be my very first priority and I thank God every day for the “gift” of my beautiful grandchildren.  They make my heart sing!

Friday 30 September, 2011

As I mentioned previously, an application for a Zoning By-law Amendment has been submitted for 3102-3130 Woodroffe Avenue.  The planner and I have received a number of comments from residents and we do thank you for providing your remarks.  For those of you who have asked specific questions, Mary Ellen Wood is working on responding; however it will take some time so we appreciate your patience.

Planning staff and my office will be organizing a Community Information Session for mid-November to provide residents an opportunity to review/discuss the proposal, receive additional feedback from residents and provide clarification on the planning process.  Mary Ellen will provide written notice including details on when and where the meeting will be held once a date is set. 

If you have not already done so, please ensure you have provided your complete mailing address to her at MaryEllen.Wood@Ottawa.ca and she will include you on the distribution list for notification of our Information Session.  Again this meeting will not be scheduled earlier than mid-November.

The WORKS at 3500 Fallowfield Road opened on Wednesday.  Food was free but donations were accepted and all proceeds were given to the Barrhaven Food Cupboard, congratulations.  If you have never visited the WORKS, check it out.  In this brand new location owners have adopted a truly “Nepean” theme.  Check the walls for lots of artefacts like the encased Nepean bell donated by Mayor Watson or the Nepean Heritage plaque near the front door I contributed.  Special thanks to the Barrhaven Glass Shop in the Riocan Mall that kindly tapered the Walter Baker Sports Centre damaged sign to save the Nepean and the bell so look for that imbedded into the wall as well.  Stuntman Stu and Angie donated a microphone from MAJIC and CHEZ created a billboard with tickets from all kinds of old band performances that maybe some of you attended!  Anyway the food is awesome, the decor is interesting and the staff are friendly, give it a try!

You can also head on down to the farm for some fall fun. It’s officially Haunting Season at Saunders Farm on Saturday until Hallowe’en night. You can purchase advance tickets at Ross’ Your Independent Grocer and save $2.00 each ticket.  Activities include Giant Jumping Pillows, the March of the Monsters Parade, daytime haunted hayrides for kids, wagon rides, The Classical 7 Ring Labyrinth Maze, and much, much more. 

Saunders Farm will be open Friday Nights: 6pm-10pm, Saturdays: 10am-10pm, Sundays: 10am-5pm as well as 10am-10pm on Friday Oct 7,  10am-5pm on Thanksgiving Monday, and 6pm-9pm on Hallowe’en Nights (Oct 24-Oct27, Oct 31). Please visit www.saundersfarm.com for more info.

Your little ones will also want to go to Valley View Little Animal Farm to see the Singing Chicken Show, the Little Animal Barn, the Old Farm Museum and all the other many attractions the farm offers. Valley View Farm is open weekdays 9:30 – 3, week-ends 9:30 – 4 and all holiday Mondays. If you can only go once this season you may want to wait until the last weekend in October when they will also have pumpkin painting. For more information you can visit www.vvlittleanimalfarm.com.

If you love apples and all the many yummy deserts and dishes you can make with them, you may want to plan a visit to Applehill Fruit Farm soon. The farm offers pick-your-own or pre-picked and free wagon rides. Varieties available include local Lobo, MacIntosh, Empire, Cortland and Spartan apples.  You may want to call ahead to make sure you can pick apples on the day you plan to visit. For contact and other information please visit http://applehillfruitfarm.com.

Lastly, don’t forget about the Mayor’s Hallowe’en event when planning your October family fun. On Saturday, October 29th, from 5:00 -7:30 pm, the Mayor will host a Halloween event in support of the Ottawa Food Bank's Baby Supply Cupboard.  This program provides expensive items such as formula, baby food and diapers to families in need.  

The evening will start at the Elgin Street entrance of the Heritage Building where trick-or-treaters will walk through a spooky cemetery and make their way into the haunted house.   From the Heritage Building, trick-or-treaters will be guided to Jean Pigott Place for  a fun-filled Halloween party.  Story-telling (in Andrew Haydon Hall), pumpkin decorating (in Festival Control Room) and more trick-or-treating outdoors on Marian Dewar Plaza will ensure a memorable evening for everyone while supporting a very worthwhile cause. 

In the coming weeks, more information on the event will be available, please visit the my website www.janharder.com  regularly to get all the details (and be sure to sign up for my e-newsletter and check out my live Twitter feed).

My grandchildren love these events - they are family traditions. I hope to see you all there making your own family memories as well.

Friday 16 September, 2011

Barrhaven is as busy as ever. From public meetings to international aid projects, here are your highlights for this week:
 
Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Application for 146 Mountshannon Drive
As you may know, there is currently a proposed Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Application for 146 Mountshannon Drive, which is the parcel of land next to Mulligan Park.  The property is currently designated “Low Density Residential” which permits detached, semi-detached dwellings, street, block and stacked townhouses. The applicant is proposing to amend the designation to “Mixed Density Residential”, which would permit low-rise apartments.

The property is also currently zoned R3Z[1193], which permits detached, semi-detached dwellings and multiple attached dwellings. The applicant is proposing to rezone to an R4F zone, permitting both multiple attached dwellings and low-rise apartments, to permit the construction of 22-street townhouses and 9 low-rise apartment buildings with 160 units.

The public is invited to attend a public meeting regarding this application on:

Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 7pm
St. Luke Catholic Elementary School
60 Mountshannon Drive

If you live in the area of this development I encourage you to attend the meeting.

For additional information, please contact the representative handling this file in the Planning and Growth Management Department at 613-580-2424, ext. 16482 or via email at MaryEllen.Wood@ottawa.ca

Reminder: Open House This Tuesday September 20th
Just a reminder that City Councillor Steve Desroches and I will be holding our annual Fall Open House this Tuesday from 5 – 7:30pm at the Walter Barker Sport Centre Upper Concourse.

The open house is your one-stop-shop for all your community concerns, providing you with an opportunity to speak to your councillor and several city staff members from many departments including:

• Traffic Safety
• Planning and Growth Management
• Hydro Ottawa
• Bylaw Services
• Ottawa Police Service
• and so much more!

 City officials will also be attending the Fall Open House looking for public feedback on:

• Barrhaven South Recreation Centre
• Onassa Springs Subdivision Revision
• There will also be displays from a number of city services such as
• Longfields Development
• Ventanna Park

For more information please contact my office at 613-580-2473 or carol.valpy@ottawa.ca

Development at Woodroffe Avenue and Deerfox Drive
Though it is just the early stages a new development application for the corner of Woodroffe Avenue and Deerfox Drive has been received.  The first four homes facing Woodroffe north of this intersection have been purchased by the developer Domicile Developments Inc.

Domicile is proposing to build a 154-multi-unit, stacked townhouse development with below-grade parking on these lands municipally known a 3102, 3112, 3120 and 3130 Woodroffe Ave.  In order to proceed they are requesting a Zoning By-law Amendment from the city to allow for stacked homes.

More information on this development will be available as the amendment request proceeds and of course public consultation is a given. For more information please call 613-580-2424, ext. 16482 or email at MaryEllen.Wood@ottawa.ca

Safe pedestrian crossing for at Andora Avenue
Final approval has been granted to allow a new pedestrian signal to be installed at this corner. Pedestrians will finally have safe crossing across Strandherd.

Although the road modifications are still conceptual at this time and the detailed design of the road modifications will be subject to the City’s design review process, the work will likely include: the installation of a pedestrian crossing signal and roadway lighting; the installation of a new sidewalk on the north side of Strandherd Drive from Andora Avenue to Jockvale Road; a new multi-use pathway with lighting from Harthill Way to Strandherd Drive at Andora Avenue, and will include a new multi-use pathway from Harthill Way to Strandherd Drive approximately 250 metres west of Jockvale Road.

The City intends to complete the work in the fall of 2011.

Milk Bag Power
A few residents have contacted my office to tell me about a great project several Barrhavenites are participating in – making multipurpose mats out of milk bags for use in third-world countries.

Volunteers are busy cutting plastic milk bags into strips and then crocheting them into bug resistant, easy-to-clean sleeping mats for people in Haiti who have lost their homes in the earthquake. Doctors without Borders use these mats to wrap medical supplies in, so the shipping is free. Once there the mats are given out to needy families.
Wendy, a retired school librarian, is behind the project. She has several schools involved, as well as two Independent Grocers (Riverside Drive and Grant Carmen Drive) collecting bags.

Helen a member of the Good Shepherd Barrhaven church leads a team of crocheters at her retirement home.  Helen has invited Wendy to come to Good Shepherd Barrhaven this Sunday to explain the use and need for these mats. Wendy will teach attendees after the service how to cut and crochet these beautiful and very environmentally friendly mats.
The group invites anyone interested in helping out with this very worthwhile cause to join them on Sunday either for the service or after it (approx. 11 am) at the Ecole Elementaire Catholique Pierre Elliott Trudeau 601 Longfields Drive Barrhaven. For more information please call 613 823 8118.

Friday 09 September, 2011

The kids are back in school, the weather is cooling and if you’re like many, you’re filled with the urge to put your nose to the grindstone. There are a number of things you can do this busy fall season to make sure your city is working with you in mind, here are my top four things you can do today:

1. Stop by the Barrhaven/Riverside South Open House

Riverside South City Councillor Steve Desroches and I invite you our much anticipated Fall Open House.

A one-stop-shop for all your community concerns, the Fall Open House will provide you with an opportunity to speak to your councillor and several city staff members from many departments.

The Open House is on Tuesday, September 20th from 5 – 7:30pm at the Walter Baker Sports Centre Upper Concourse.

For more information please contact my office

2. Help shape the 2012 Budget

On Wednesday Mayor Jim Watson launched a unique way for residents to share their ideas about the upcoming budget.

The Mayor has created a special email address budget2012@ottawa.ca where you can submit your ideas. I strongly encourage you to make your opinion heard right away.
“budget2012@ottawa.ca is another way we are soliciting feedback from residents and maintaining our engagement with taxpayers,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “It’s important that we connect with residents on all levels, so in addition to hosting four community meetings across the City, we are also going to be utilizing web-based options as well.”

All emails shared with Mayor Watson will be considered during the budget deliberation process.

With the adoption of the first report of the Long-Range Financial Plan in June, City Council endorsed a budget strategy that sets the increase in the municipal portion of the tax bill to a maximum of 2.5% per year.

“I made a commitment to keep taxes below 2.5%, which is something this council achieved during the 2011 budget,” added Mayor Watson, “and I am looking forward to hearing from residents how we can continue to do so in 2012 and beyond.”

The creation of this email address coincides with the release of 2012 Proposed Budget Timetable and Process by the City Treasurer, which recommends that the City’s 2012 draft operating and capital budget be tabled with Council at its regularly scheduled meeting of October 26th. 

3. Take Part in the Fall Cleaning the Capital Campaign

Last week, the City of Ottawa and Cleaning in the Capital exclusive corporate partner Tim Hortons, officially launched the sixth annual Fall Cleaning the Capital campaign.
The campaign set a record in 2010, with the spring and fall campaigns having a combined total of 91,305 participants in 1,429 projects. More than 157,000 kilograms of litter was collected last year, building on the grand total of more than one million kilograms of collected litter since the campaign began in 1994.

This year’s campaign runs from September 15 to October 15 and there is still time to get involved as registration continues until October 15.

I invite you to participate in the Fall Cleaning in the Capital Campaign to help keep our city clean, green, and free of litter and graffiti.  With your help Barrhaven can be the cleanest ward in the City.

Volunteers who register their cleanup projects are eligible to win prizes donated by campaign sponsors. Prizes include Tim Hortons coffee brewers, hotel getaways, tickets to local sporting events and restaurant gift certificates. For more information and to register, visit ottawa.ca/clean or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).

4. Get Up-to-date on Community News

If you haven’t yet had a look at the rest of my site, like the Latest News page, or signed up for my bi-weekly e-news blast (sign-up is at the top right corner of this page) or checked my Twitter feed (top left hand side of this page), there’s no time like the present. As your number one link to City Hall I take keeping you up-to-date on happenings in your community very seriously and strive to get news out to you when it happens.

Here are a few updates on projects happening right now:

Andy Moffitt Trail on Berrigan Drive is nearing completion. The final work should be completed by this week.

The round-a-bout at Cambrian Road and Greenbank Road is close to completion. The surface was paved last week (outer curbs have been installed) and was about 75% complete.

The construction of the Half Moon Bay Park will begin towards the end of September. The consultant was late in providing details for the tender package and the suppliers were late in responding to his requests. Consultants and City staff on vacation over the summer also contributed to delays in the process.  We are all looking forward to the commencement and eventual completion of this project.

Pursuant a resident inquiry regarding speeding on Cambrian Road as well as the lack of driver compliance with the two all-way stops on Cambrian Road, police enforcement has been requested. Speed display boards have been scheduled as a reminder to drivers to travel in a respectful manner in this area and will be deployed as soon as possible giving consideration to previously requested locations and with priority given to upcoming school-related sites.

Spot speed surveys conducted on Cambrian Road confirm an average speed of free-flow traffic of 51 km/h with the majority of drivers travelling between 43 km/h and 58 km/h. These speeds are on the low-end of normal, especially as Cambrian Road is designated as an arterial roadway in the Transportation Master Plan.

As to the lack of compliance at the two all-way stop controlled intersections, pavement markings supplementing the stop signs cannot be applied until the final pavement is applied and this should follow completion of the roundabout currently under construction at Greenbank Road.

Friday 02 September, 2011

Here’s what happening heading into the Labour Day week-end:

No school crossing guard for Claridge at Fairlop
Unfortunately there will not be a school crossing guard this year at the corner of Claridge Drive and Fairlop Way. Staff completed a review for this year’s adult school crossing guard program and of the 42 locations reviewed, 18 locations met the council approved warrants to implement a guard.  Since the city tries to implement the warranted locations as quickly as possible, it requests funding for 10 new guard locations each year in advance of doing reviews.  As a result of this, staff can only install 10 out of the 18 locations until September 2012 when they receive funding for the remaining 8 locations. 

The warrant evaluates each location and produces a score based upon the site conditions, volume of children, compliance to posted speed limits and stop controls in the area.  When comparing the intersection of Claridge at Fairlop to the other 18 locations, it ranked 15th among them so this would fall into the list for implementation in September 2012. 

Barrhaven Sports and Recreation Complex RFP date set
We’re one step closer to a completed Barrhaven Sports and Recreation Complex. The Request for Proposal (RFP) dates have been set.  Key Dates for this RFP are:

• Issue to MerX (Canada's electronic contract tendering service) – Monday August 29, 2011
• Bidder’s Conference – Monday Sept 12, 10am
• End of Questions – Friday Sept 16
• Final Addendum – Monday Sept. 19
• Closing – Thursday Sept 22

Please note that closing dates occasionally get extended if questions from proponents warrant additional time.

Considerate composting
Composting is a great both for the environment and your garden, but recently I have heard from a few residents the smell wafting from some home composting systems is lessening their enjoyment of their own backyards. To be clear, they are speaking about home composting and not the city’s Green Bins.

If your compost is smelly - your compost should look and smell like rich soil -  this a sign that your composting process has gone wrong and I urge everyone with a composting unit to not let this happen. Our back yards are not big in the burbs and so what we do in our yard affects those living around us.

For information on how to be a good neighbour while being a good environmentalist read up on how to mitigate compost odour while optimizing your compost fertilizer. A few good sites I’ve found to get started are: www.compost-bin.org and www.ecocycle.org
 
No U-turns
Drivers please note that there has been a no u-turns sign posted at the corner Fallowfield Road and Strandherd Drive.  This change was at the request of a resident who witnessed unsafe turns at this intersection. After investigating the situation, the city’s traffic staff agreed and posted the sign.

Tree planting and delivery in Barrhaven
The City’s tree planting and delivery programs in Barrhaven were postponed this spring due to the water ban but planting and deliveries will resume this fall. Here are the fall schedules for both the Trees for Tomorrow delivery program and tree planting programs:
Trees for Tomorrow deliveries:

• Notifications to residents will be mailed Monday, August 29th
• Deliveries will begin the week of September 12th’

Tree Planting

• Notifications to residents will be mailed the week of September 19th
• Tree planting will begin the week of October 3rd

Greater Nepean Chamber of Commerce AGM
The Greater Nepean Chamber of Commerce will be holding their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday September 13th.

The AGM will take place at the CenturionCentre at 7 am over breakfast. The Chamber welcomes members and non members alike and promises to have a surprise guest speaker and expect great news from its auditors.

To register please visit www.nepeanchamber.com or call 613.828.5556

Ottawa Fat Cats’ Baseball
The Fat Cats have qualified for the Intercounty Baseball League playoffs for the first time in franchise history! The team is “in deep” and down 2 – 0 in games in the playoffs.  I am planning to get out to a game this weekend.

I encourage you to catch a game. You can watch game three and four of the Fat Cats’ final round against the Brantford Red Sox this week-end:

• Game 3: Saturday, September 3rd @ 7:05pm at The Ottawa Stadium
• Game 4: Sunday, September 4th @ 2:05 at The Ottawa Stadium

Ticket prices are very reasonable for a whole afternoon of fun. Adults can see a single game for $14, seniors and students can see the games for $10 and children 6-12-years old only need to pay $8 for a single game. You can also get $2 off each ticket by purchasing them online. Kids under six, military members and veterans can get in for free!
For more information and tickets please visit www.ottawafatcats.com

Ruth E. Dickenson Branch Renovations
Last Friday was the official reopening ceremony of the Ruth E. Dickinson Library branch. The branch underwent a $550,000 renovation project in June funded by all three levels of government through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The renovations improved the overall accessibility in the branch, service points, book returns and public areas.

This is the second renovation in recent years. In the fall of 2008 renovations including a new ground floor entrance, modifications to the stairways exiting onto the entrance ramp and two self-checkout units took place.

You may have noticed work continuing on the front entrance recently. This is because, the initial project completion was deemed unsatisfactory by the City and so the contractor was forced to redo the work. The city is not paying for this replacement work.
The Ruth E. Dickinson Branch is increasingly busy – circulation in May 2011 was 14.3% higher than in May 2010. 

For more information on your library please visit www.biblioottawalibrary.ca.

 

Friday 26 August, 2011

I was sitting on the porch over the weekend fixing a pair of pants and someone asked me, “You sew?”  Around our home the kids know to leave clothes with holes at Nana’s door as one way or day or another I will fix the tear, sew on the button, change the zipper, put in a new pocket, etc.  Poor Jonah with his boney little knees is constantly walking around with seam to seam tears across the knees of all his pants.  And eventually the clothing is returned and Nana has done her job.
 
I of course come from a generation of home economics students where only the girls could attend to learn Canada’s Food Guide or sew an apron and more but then again co-ed gym or health was a far away possibility.  Funny how such memories crowd the brain from little more than a comment from someone.  But then again I thought, “I used to darn my dad’s socks”.  Sometimes I think we live in such a throwaway world and I suspect there are few in Barrhaven who darn any socks or keep pieces of material to patch this or that and fewer still who would think they had the time to.  Life’s skills have changed.
 
Here are a few more, less gradual, changes you will soon see in our neighbourhood:

Claridge Drive and Beatrice Drive

 The Ottawa Community Lands Development Corporation (OCLDC) is looking to sell the parcel of land at 159 Claridge Drive (at Beatrice Drive) for future residential development.

The OCLDC had originally set aside that parcel for community use as part of the larger Longfields community development, unfortunately the Anglican and Lutheran Churches that had expressed an interest in jointly purchasing and building on the lot; withdrew their offer in April, due to budget limitations.

Since then, the OCLDC hasn’t received any other offers for the land for use as a community or institutional facility, and so it is going ahead with an application to amend the zoning by-law to allow residential uses.

The proposed re-zoning would be comparable to the zoning of the surrounding neighbourhood, allowing a range of housing types while ensuring buildings are compatible with, and respectful of, the existing neighbourhood’s character and scale.

Residents surrounding the area will have plenty of notice of the zoning amendment. I urge you once again to visit my site www.janharder.com frequently and sign up for my e-newsletter to stay abreast of development news.

Skatepark to Move

For those of you with children and teens that use the Barrhaven skatepark please note the park will be moved across the street onto Longfields Drive. This will not affect the parking at the South Nepean Park.  This move won’t happen overnight just wanted you to know that staff is thinking about the development coming soon and wanting to make sure the kids still have a place to skate!

Lansdowne Live Project

Last week the Finance and Economic Development Committee (FEDCO) received and debated a number of issues related to the Lansdowne Partnership Plan including the revised project schedule and spending plan.  I am sure it will sail through Council.

OPL introduces Android app and mobile website
The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) has just introduced a mobile website and an app for Android phones.  Whether you use Blackberry, Android, Apple or Windows, a tablet or a phone, you can use OPL’s mobile website or one of its apps to access library services.
The first phase of OPL’s mobile beginnings was introduced last February with the release of its iPhone app. Here’s what the app lets smart phone users to do:

• Search the catalogue
• Manage their account including placing holds, renewals etc.
• Download eBooks and Audiobooks
• Access databases that offer mobile options
• Register for programs
• Find a branch

U-Turns at Fallowfield Road and Strandherd Drive

 Please note that following a request by a resident and an investigation by staff, the Traffic Department has posted a “u-turn” sign at the intersection of Fallowfield and Strandherd.  

Official Re-Opening of Ruth E. Dickinson Barrhaven Library Branch at the Walter Baker Sports Centre

Load the kids into the wagon or van and head on over to our Barrhaven library if you are reading this article prior to the afternoon of Friday August 26th. We will be celebrating the re-opening of the Ruth E. Dickinson branch following a $550,000 renovation project. The renovation project was funded by all three levels of government through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to improve overall accessibility in the branch, service points, book returns and public areas.
The celebration will kick off at 1pm with the Mayor and other VIP’s saying a few words followed by cake and refreshments.
Children’s programming will then follow throughout the afternoon, including a visit from Gisesle from TVOKids at 2pm and a performance by Magician Chris Pilsworth at 3:15pm. See you there.

 

Friday 19 August, 2011

As September creeps up on us there are a lot of preparations for the busy autumn season happening already. Here are a few fall projects you may want to get involved in:

Calling all Musicians

The Barrhaven Community Concert Band is looking for dedicated amateurs who love to get together once a week to play music. They require clarinets, flutes, trumpets, trombones, tenor / alto / baritone sax, French horns and percussion.  No audition is necessary; however, members should be able to read music and play a concert band instrument. The group will play under the direction of Stephen Szabo, the music teacher and band conductor at John McCrae S.S.

When:  Thursday evenings 7 - 9 pm (Commencing September 2011)
Location:  John McCrae Secondary School Music Room
Adult Annual Fees are $100/per year, Students are welcome at $50.00 and can earn community service hours
For more information or to sign up you can go to www.barrhavencommunityconcertband.com  or email info@barrhavencommunityconcertband.com

Helping children return to school with their head held high

The month of September is drawing near, and with it come back-to-school preparations. For thousands of local children living in low-income families, this can be a difficult time as it is just another reminder of what they don’t have. 

The Christmas Exchange has a new School Supplies Assistance Program to help ensure that children from these families return to school with necessities such as backpacks, lunch kits and the required three pairs of shoes (in-door, out-door and gym). Along with their partners, Giant Tiger and The Best Tools for School, the organization is working towards providing families in need with either school kits or gift certificates for their school-aged children.

• Gift Certificate for $40 worth of school essentials
• $30 school essentials kit Junior (kindergarten to grade 6)
• $40 school essentials kit Senior (grades 7 to 12)

Over 2,500 children in Ottawa have already asked for help, 350 more are being helped by other organizations and many more are expected to come forward in the coming weeks.
Please donate online at www.christmas-exchange.com.

Fall Cleaning the Capital

It’s time once again for the annual Fall Cleaning the Capital campaign, which runs from September 15th until October 15th.  Early Bird registration begins on Monday, August 15th.  I invite you to get involved to help keep our city clean, green, and free of litter and graffiti.  With your help Barrhaven can be the cleanest ward in the City.

Every year, entire communities – including schools, neighbourhood organizations and associations, businesses, families, friends and individuals take part in the Cleaning the Capital challenge. A record 91,305 participants made the 2010 edition of Cleaning the Capital the most successful campaign to date!

It’s easy to take part.  All you have to do is select a cleanup location where litter or graffiti has accumulated.  It can be a park, woodlot, ravine, shoreline, bus stop, pathway, schoolyard or any public property requiring tidying up.
This season, please remember to “leave the leaves” in open areas, where they will be mulched.  Mulching returns the leaves’ nutrients to the soil.  However, you may remove leaves from areas where mowers cannot be used, including along fence lines, play structures and landscaped areas.

Once you have chosen your cleanup location, you can register online at ottawa.ca/clean or by calling 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). The registration form also includes a section for our Cleanup Starter Kits.  Should you wish to receive a kit, please indicate the type (litter or graffiti) and select a pick up location nearest you. Please allow at least nine days from the date of registration before picking up your Cleanup Starter Kit.
Together we can help keep Ottawa clean, green, graffiti-free and litter-free.

WestPoint Village

Though this is not a fall project, I have some good news for those of you who live in the WestPoint Village on Lamplighters Drive that I couldn’t wait to share.
Claridge has confirmed the adjustment of the structures was to start last week, which means that final lift of asphalt should follow by next week.

I know some of you in this community have also been wondering about trees, and I ask you all to not give up.  The City has a policy about planting in leda clay, which is the soil where you live – it says that no trees can be planted, but we are currently revisiting this policy.  Look across Cedarview and what do you see?  Homes built in early to mid 80's with trees 25 years old or so.  I am working on this issue with staff and other councillors and hope to get back to you all with good news soon.

Until then have a wonderful week.

 

Friday 12 August, 2011

Here’s what everyone is talking about this week:

Barrhaven on the Green stone fence repairs

A whole bunch of people have written or talked to me about the decrepit stone fence announcing the gateway to “Barrhaven on the Green”.  Here’s an update on costs associated with removing the stone and building a regular wooden fence to replace it.  The cost for removing the wall is about $3,500.  The cost of a wooden replacement fence is about $2,500.  The total is therefore about $6,000.  We don’t have development charges for this area, our policy states we don’t maintain “gateway” features and I don’t have that kind of money in my office budget.  But even so because we were Nepean, this stone fence is on a resident’s property and so it is presumed he would have to “foot the bill”.  I don’t think so.  So folks once Greenbank is finally widened a sound attenuation fence will be built and the stone fence will be removed.  Until that time the City will take it away as it falls apart.  I hope to save the Barrhaven on the Green letters to place on the new fence.

Wild Parsnip a threat like Giant Hogweed

A big thank you to Barrhaven resident Gail who brought an important safety issue to my attention this week. Last summer, the city issued a warning about the Giant Hogweed in Ottawa and its dangerous properties when in contact with human skin. 

Last week Gail pulled out an unknown weed in her garden, which didn't match the Giant Hogweed's description.  Although she tried to be cautious, the weed touched her left arm and a couple of days later, she developed a few blisters in that spot. 
After doing research on the Internet, Gail discovered the weed was a Wild Parsnip. 

Wild Parsnip, just like Giant Hogweed, is dangerous when it gets onto people's skin and then is exposed to sunlight, leading to burn blisters. The weed itself does not look like Giant Hogweed but looks more like Queen Anne's Lace, but with yellow/greenish flowers. 

For more information on this weed, www.ontarioweeds.com has a great article on the Wild Parsnip along with graphics and photos. You can also find a similar article on Giant Hogweed on the site. I urge you to check them both out and be cautious when plucking weeds and walking in wild grassy areas.

All Valuables Removed cards

As you may know, the Ottawa Police Service launched a new prevention initiative to help reduce theft from vehicles in our city.  The launch received incredible support from the media, community partners and residents, and Ottawa Police Service continues to receive requests for information and "All Valuables Removed" warning cards. 

All Valuables Removed warning cards are designed to remind vehicle owners they have an active part to play in preventing these crimes.

The card is placed on the windshields of vehicles in an identified area by Ottawa Police volunteers.  They are designed to alert vehicle owners to the risk of theft and contain helpful tips on how to keep vehicles and possessions safe.  The cards are also designed to be displayed by vehicle owners on the inside of the driver’s side window to display the message, “All Valuables Removed” – letting would-be-thieves know not to bother searching the vehicle and alerting others to take the same precautions.

Warning cards are available at Community Police Centers, information desks, and by request at pia@ottawapolice.ca.

By getting informed and getting involved – being aware of factors that might make vehicles more attractive to thieves and vandals – we can work together for a safer community!

More information is available at www.ottawapolice.ca/en/crimeprevention/safetyandpreventiontips/roadsafety/safety_theft_prevention.aspx

Language Line

All City of Ottawa call centers now have the ability to use Language Line. Language Line is a real time translation service which allows callers to receive service in 170 different languages. This new service offers fast, reliable and professional language help every time a client calls, and ensures that they can be served in their language of preference. The implementation of this new service demonstrates the City’s commitment to inclusive client service, by eliminating barriers and simplifying communications with clients, employees and business partners.

Language Line will help the City better reflect the language needs of our diverse population, and allow new Canadians to access City services and information independently.

For more information on Language Line you can visit the language line website at www.languageline.com or, for information on your community please visit my website at www.janharder.com. There you will find a link to my Twitter feed and newsletter sign up as well as the latest news from your city and your community. 

 

Friday 05 August, 2011

Meeting rooms across the city have been more empty than usual this week, but there are many projects and events in the works behind the scenes. Here are a few highlights from the list of projects at both the city and in the community:

Kingfisher Lake First Nation Evacuees Returned Home
With a final flight departing from Ottawa Monday morning, all the residents of Kingfisher Lake First Nation, evacuated last month due to forest fires in Northern Ontario, have returned to their community.

If you recall from last week’s Let’s Talk, on July 21 and 22, the City responded to a request by Emergency Management Ontario to assist with the evacuation of the residents. The City received 287 residents, who were settled at Algonquin College's student resident facility.

During the evacuees' stay in Ottawa, a number of City services were engaged to assist the Kingfisher Lake residents including: Security and Emergency Management which coordinated the City’s response; Paramedic Service for health assessment and triage; Public Health for support; Emergency Social Services to meet, register and support evacuees; Transit to provide transport; Public Works to transport baggage; Corporate Communications to deliver timely information to the media and public; 3-1-1 call service centre to respond and direct public inquiries including donation information; Police to escort and provide security and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services for daily cultural and recreational activities.

The City also worked closely with other government agencies, community partners and volunteer organizations, including the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition, Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, ODAWA Native Friendship Centre, Minwaashin Lodge, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.

The City, aboriginal organizations and community partners acknowledge the overwhelming generosity shown by Ottawa residents who made donations and offered to volunteer time and support to this effort. On behalf of all of them and myself, thank you.

Possible Road Modifications for Strandherd Drive at Andora Avenue

For the folks who live in this Mattamy Strandherd Meadows community leaving their homes particularly to walk to a bus stop, to shop, to parks etc has been perilous. Well, pursuant to By-law No. 2006–483, the City of Ottawa is providing notice to the public of its intention to approve road modifications at the following location in accordance with the authority under By-law No. 2011-28:

Strandherd Drive at Andora Avenue

• Installation of a pedestrian crossing signal and roadway lighting.
• New sidewalk on the north side of Strandherd Drive from Andora Avenue to Jockvale Road.
• New multi-use pathway with lighting from Harthill Way to Strandherd Drive at Andora Avenue, and a new multi-use pathway from Harthill Way to Strandherd Drive at approximately 250 metres west of Jockvale Road.

For more information, please contact Mike Giampa, 613 580-2424 extension 23657.

Ruth E. Dickenson Official Re-Opening Ceremony
The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) will be holding the official re-opening ceremony of the Ruth E. Dickenson library branch at 100 Malvern Drive on September 2. On behalf of the OPL, as its Board Chair and as your Councillor, I would like to invite you and your family to take part in the event.

The official celebration to thank the organizations that contributed to the project will take place at 2:00 p.m. and should wrap up at 2:30 p.m. Refreshments will follow and children’s programming will then take place throughout the afternoon.

The branch improvements included enhancements to the overall accessibility of the branch, 24/7 book returns from the exterior of the building, moving the borrower services counter to the ground floor, adding a new programming area and upgrading all public washrooms to meet current accessibility standards.

The Infrastructure Stimulus Fund (ISF) was a key contributor with an amount of $750,000 shared by federal, provincial and municipal governments to cover costs of these improvements to the branch, one of seven library locations that benefited from this funding.  I hope you like the changes and yes, I know this is the Friday at the start of Labour Day weekend but I hope that those of you in Barrhaven will come out.  Expect more details in the next few weeks.

Barrhaven Lions Club Fun Day
On the heels of the RED library event here’s some great news. This year, on Labour Day Monday, September 5th the Barrhaven Lions Club is proposing something a little different.  The Lion’s event will be aimed at providing something for the family with a focus on kids.  The Lions Club will offer all events for free as a thank you to the community for its support over the past 30 years.  A donation from the Lions Club will still be given to the Muscular Dystrophy Association due to their long-standing relationship with the Fun Day and Jerry Lewis.  After missing only one year, this great family event is back.  Plan on joining our Barrhaven Lions.

Weather permitting, the event will be held at the parking lot outside of Ross' Independent Grocer, which is located close at the corner of Greenbank Road and Strandherd Drive.  It will start at 11:00 a.m. through to 2:00 p.m.  Attendees will find a number of bounce rides by Circus Delights, the Barrhaven Lions Club train, face painting and finger printing and performers at the event.  For the older generation a space will be reserved for a limited number of vehicles to hold a “Trunk Sale” where garage type items can be sold.  The Lions have also invited local police and fire fighters to show off their vehicles and share some of their experiences.  Refreshments will be offered on site to be charged at cost.

The Lions Club is also making space available for area community associations so you can learn more about this great community that we live in and also what’s going on, what is planned and if you are interested, how you can become involved.

For more details please contact Dave Voisey at (613) 825-4371 or dvoisey@rogers.com.

 

Friday 29 July, 2011

It has been quite awhile since I mentioned my wonderful grandchildren but needed to share a conversation they had with their Dad with all of you.  As a group they said, “Daddy how much money do you make?”  “Well Daddy says, I make a good salary but the government takes about half of it.”  “What does the government do with all your money?”  Daddy explains about various programs and services that he figures Mary at 8, Jonah at 7 and Rob at 5 can relate to.  After soaking all this in, the kids looked at each other, turned to their Dad and said, “Does the government ever thank you?”  Out of the mouths of babes comes the simplest of truths. 

And now on to my regular article, if you recall, last week I turned things around a bit and let your fellow residents decide what I would write about in my Let’s Talk article (if you don’t recall just scroll down to find last week's article). Since then, Barrhaven local Justin has asked me to bring another issue to light here, and it’s one I think deserves notice.

Justin, like some others in our community, lives parallel to a major roadway and has a backyard with access to that road.  This would be great except that people unknown to him think that it is ok to use his garden path, which runs from his driveway to his gate, as a public passageway to the main road.

Trespassing on private properties just to use them as access points for major roads is unacceptable, and also opens up the possibility and fear of theft and of course liability issues.

While Justin is wise enough to lock is gate, which as he explains makes things a little bit difficult at times, I hope readers will please take note and think how safe they would feel if they had strangers regularly trying to trespass on their property to save a minute or two. 
While we are thinking of others, I would like to ask anyone who may have anything of use to displaced persons to please consider donating those items today.

The City has responded to a request by Emergency Management Ontario to assist with the evacuation of First Nations residents as a result of forest fires in Northern Ontario. The evacuees are from Kingfisher Lake First Nation, a fly-in community located 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. Last week the City received 286 evacuees. Those residents are settled at Algonquin College’s student residence facility and are expected to remain there for two weeks.

The City’s Emergency Social Services department is now working closely with community associations and volunteer organizations, including Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, Odawa Native Friendship Centre, Minwaashin Lodge and the Salvation Army to provide social services and support activities for evacuees.

The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition is accepting donations for the residents, who are among thousands displaced from their homes as a result of the forest fires. Donations can be dropped off at the Odawa Native Friendship Centre located at 12 Stirling Avenue between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. during weekdays.

The Coalition is also seeking volunteers to help out with their efforts related to the evacuation.

For more information on how you can help, contact Wendy Lanouette, coordinator of the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition at (613) 882-8139 or email at wlanouette@aboriginalcanada.ca.

On a completely unrelated note, I would like to let you know that parking in Ottawa is about to get a little easier.  The Public Works Department announced last week that after a successful Request for Proposals process the Pay-By-Phone System contract has been awarded to Verrus Mobile Technologies Inc., owners of the PayByPhone brand.

The new Pay-By-Phone System will allow customers to initiate and extend parking sessions using their cellular phones, the internet and mobile applications, and have the associated cost automatically charged to their credit card. The system will also feature an optional text message reminder to notify users when their parking session is about to expire.  Customers who wish to extend the length of their parking sessions can do so without returning to their vehicles but will be limited to the maximum duration permitted under local area parking restrictions.  For example, patrons will not be permitted to extend the duration of their parking session beyond two hours in an area with a maximum two-hour time limit.  In addition, all detailed account information will be available to customers on-line 24/7.

The Pay-By-Phone Parking System will also provide the City’s Parking Control Officers (PCOs) with real-time access to short-term parking customers’ payment status as well as parking permit databases in the City’s non-gated off-street surface parking lots. 
All on-going operating costs will be covered by Verrus Mobile Technologies Inc. and recovered from user fees of $0.25 per transaction.  Minor additional charges may apply for optional services such as reminder notices.  These charges are standard practices within the industry.  Parking rates are not changing to pay for these service improvements.  Verrus is a major provider of Pay-By-Phone Parking System services with over three-million customers signed up to use its services in over 100 cities and towns worldwide including Vancouver and Winnipeg.

The new Pay-By-Phone System will be launched by the end of September 2011.
I hope your summer is going well as we approach the mid summer long weekend. 

 

Friday 22 July, 2011

Rather than choosing the topics I felt were the most newsworthy this week I’ve switched things up a bit and let you decide. Every week I get several questions and comments from conscientious residents on a number of topics that aren’t always covered in the headlines but are still noteworthy. Here are a few I’ve received recently:

Road Safety Rules for Kids on Bikes
Barrhaven resident Brian asked last week if I could send out a caution for parents regarding road safety. Brian became concerned after twice witnessing incidents involving two different sets of boys not following the rules of the road. Both cases happened in Barrhaven and in both cases the children could have been seriously injured if it hadn’t been for the attentiveness of the drivers involved.

Thankfully Brian noticed that all the children were wearing safety helmets, but as he points out parents need to do more than put a helmet on their children to protect them from serious injury while bike riding. I ask all parents to click here for more information.

U-Turns at The Fallowfield Road and Prince of Wales Drive Intersection
During the work on the Woodroffe watermain repair John from Barrhaven emailed me about his concerns witnessing eastbound U-turns at the Fallowfield Road and Prince of Wales Drive intersection noticing that the signal timing favours Prince of Wales during the PM peak hours.

As city traffic operations  staff explained, during the Woodroffe watermain project north/south volumes on Prince of Wales increased significantly. As such, the duration of the southbound green display time during the PM peak hours increased and at times produced significant eastbound queues on Fallowfield. Thanks directly to John’s inquiry, using the Fallowfield and  Merivale Road traffic monitoring camera, staff began to closely monitor eastbound queuing at the Fallowfield and Prince of Wales intersection making signal timing changes as required in an effort to alleviate eastbound queuing and eastbound U-turn movements.

Now that the Woodroffe watermain project is complete and southbound lanes on Woodroffe Avenue are reopened, staff is once again revising signal timing at several area intersections to reflect changing traffic patterns and volumes. 

Concrete Splash Pads
Barrhaven resident Sal, who frequently visits Barrhaven’s splash pads with family, contacted me to express some concerns about splash pad surfaces being made of concrete.  Sal wondered if the city has ever considered covering the surface with a cushioned plastic or other softer material.

Taking his concerns to the staff responsible for parks it was explained to me that the use of rubbers, plexi-pave, or other such materials is not recommended in accessible locations such as splash pads for many reasons.  The materials are subject to premature failure due as many such surfaces are porous (and therefore would be easily damaged by the amount water and heavy use our splash pads receive) and are also far less resistant to vandalism, wear and tear and winter conditions. 

Regarding the safety of using concrete, not only is it the recommended surface from design and safety authorities, it represents the least risk of slip and fall.   When you have wet surface with children running on it the primary concern is that they have a sufficient surface that is least risk of slip.

Since staff has no other practical choice but to use concrete, the mix that is used is quite different from what is used in a sidewalk. A blend with finer materials is used and the surface is finished much differently so that it doesn’t hurt feet but maintains sufficient coefficient of friction.  Though it would be hard when you fall on it none the less, the city does make sure little feet are safe while standing and walking on it in bare wet feet.

Pedestrian access to Strandherd and Jockvale Community
Finally several residents from the Mattamy Homes on Strandherd have been wondering about the development of the pathway from the north side of Strandherd between the Jockvale intersection and Andora and Opal.

l have been advised by staff that work has been on-going to complete the final engineering design for the pathway connections and pedestrian signal. The final design is now nearly finished and the tender should be out within the month. This means that construction should take place and be completed between late-August to early-October this year.

For More
I regularly share news items like these with residents when they occur. To stay in the loop please visit thiswebsite, follow @harderja on Twitter and sign up for my e-newsletter (the sign-up is available at the top right-hand corner of this site). 

 

Friday 15 July, 2011

Every spring I hear talk about the slow summer months, but each year the warm weather seems to bring with it a stir of activity and my office is as busy as ever. Here are just a few of the many things happening in Barrhaven right now:

Woodroffe Water Main Project
Water levels within the reservoirs are normal and the system is very capable of meeting the demand in the areas concerned in our community, halleluiah!

Final construction work is proceeding as planned. The base layer of asphalt has been placed on Woodroffe, therefore one lane of southbound traffic will be re-opened Tuesday (July 12th). Once traffic is switched back to the southbound lane, the turning restrictions at Hunt Club will be removed. The final asphalt layer will be ongoing as well as concrete work in the median. The concrete work will impact traffic on the adjacent lane but all work, including final clean-up should be completed by the first week of August.

Cut Through Traffic on Hornchurch Lane
My office is working with city staff to come up with a solution to the short-cutting problem on Hornchurch Lane.

City staff have stated the only way to address the issue is to prohibit the movement during one or more of the peak periods, depending on which time period is more problematic. Unfortunately, turn restrictions will also affect residents living on Hornchurch as they cannot be exempted. These movements would include the northbound left-turn from Longfields Drive and the eastbound right-turn from Berrigan Drive to Oakwell Drive.

One possible solution is to install “No Through Traffic” signs at the Longfields entrance to Hornchurch and also from Berrigan side at Oakwell.

Half Moon Bay Park
Work is getting under way on the Half Moon Bay neighbourhood park. The park plan is at tender.

Last week I held a meeting at the park with residents concerned about traffic.
City traffic staff will be holding a meeting with residents in a few weeks to go over parking issues. Please visit the Latest News page often and sign up for my newsletter via at the top of the page (right-hand corner) to stay informed.

Mountshannon Drive Development by Richcraft
The Planning and Growth Management (PGM) Department has received an application for Site Plan Control for 146 Mountshannon Drive from Richcraft Homes.  You may recall that previously Richcraft had requested an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment for this same property.

The revised plan proposes 22 freehold street-townhouse units fronting on to Mountshannon and 160 condominium units distributed in nine low-rise apartment buildings as well as 224 surface parking spaces for apartment buildings and individual driveways accessing Mountshannon for the on-street townhouses.  The units that “side” on to Daventry will be at a height compatible with the townhomes that exist on Daventry. 
This proposal asks for fewer units than originally requested in the first application.  You will notice a sign on the property.  The PGM Department will also be accepting comments from you. City Planner Mary Ellen Wood is available at 613-580-2424 ext. 16482 or email MaryEllen.Wood@Ottawa.ca. A meeting will be held in September.

New Catholic Elementary School Announcement
Alison Baizana, the Ottawa Catholic School  (OCS) Board Trustee for Barrhaven/Gloucester - South Nepean announced recently that OCS has received funding confirmation from the Ministry for the new elementary school in South Nepean (at Cambrian and Kilbirnie, close to the new Sportsplex), which will open in 2013.
Also planned for that property are a municipal recreation centre, outdoor sports fields and a fire station.

Cambrian Road Information

• Cambrian from Cedarview to Future Greenbank (approximately 1 km east of Cedarview):  This road section is not currently subject to any improvement under a subdivision agreement, or Capital Growth project.  Therefore the next pavement rehabilitation will be scheduled under a future resurfacing project.  Pre-engineering work (boreholes, traffic data, etc) will commence this year so we can develop the scope of work and prepare a cost estimate (high order estimate would be $400k - $500k).  The road is in very poor condition and we would like to schedule construction as soon as possible but funding for the next couple of years will be a challenge. 
  
  This road is identified in the Ottawa Cycling Plan as a Community Cycling route and we would include paved shoulders (subject to PGM confirming need).

• Cambrian Rd from Future Greenbank to existing Greenbank:   This road section has been rebuilt already as part of the development in the area.  Top lift paving has not been completed at this time.

• Cambrian Rd from Greenbank to Jockvale (700 m):  There is a registered subdivision agreement clause with Monarch that requires construction of this stretch of Cambrian to a two-lane urban standard for completion in 2015 through a Front Ending Agreement, with repayment in 2016.  Further widening to 4-lanes will require an Environmental Assessment, and that has not be initiated as of yet.  This road section is in poor condition (not as bad as the section closer to Cedarview) but there is one localized very poor section at the Cambrian-Kilbernie intersection that could use some patching.  Given the backlog of road needs across the network and limited funding, we may not resurface this road before the reconstruction.

Our list of resurfacing candidates has a value of over $150M.  There are many other roads that are not on the list, but I don’t doubt should be.  I respond to hundreds of enquiries each year with virtually all of them related to justifiable needs.  Public Works staff also identify roads that require substantial repairs and are difficult/costly to maintain.
Although Cambrian Rd is considered a high priority, I cannot commit to the resurfacing schedule at this time.  When we get closer to Draft Budget time, I will have a better idea of which projects will be put forward to go to construction next year. You should know however that all roads in Barrhaven ward slated for resurfacing this year have been further delayed.

Cobblehill Park in West Barrhaven

I’ve heard from a few residents wondering what will be happening to the parcel of land at the corner of Cedarview Road and Cobblehill Drive.

Back in 2005, during phase 1 of the development, the developer, DCR Phoenix was planning to use the land to provide all required parkland for their subdivision and Claridge's subdivision to the north.  However this plan fell through and Claridge eventually provided their own park, leaving DCR Phoenix providing more than required parkland.  DCR Phoenix addressed this when they registered Phase 2, by entering into a subdivision agreement with the city to allow residential development on the portion of the lands directly behind the homes on Anjana Circle.  The rest of the lands are still to be built into a park. The temporary pond is to be replaced with a park once the relocation of the Foster pond is completed.

Last week DCR Phoenix told me they have had our pre-consultation meeting with city staff to discuss the development. It is their intention to link a single loaded road off Cobblehill Drive up with the current Anjana Circle. They anticipate they will be adding another 17 single family units on this block. Within the next week DCR Phoenix hopes to make a joint application for subdivision approval as well as the requested zoning amendment from open space to residential. As the land is currently zoned "O1 - Parks and Open Space", both documents require public consultation. Residents will be circulated notification of the applications and a sign will go up on the property. Through this circulation process the residents will have an opportunity comment on the applications. The city is also required to hold a public meeting.Once again I urge you to visit the Latest News section of this site for continued updates on this and other community news.

 

Friday 08 July, 2011

If the weather prediction is true we are in for another great week-end folks. The weather was certainly fantastic for Mattamy’s Canada Day last week. Another big thank you for the volunteers, organizing committee and many sponsors who made this year’s celebration better than ever! For photos and more from the Canada Day Celebration check out www.canadadaybarrhaven.ca

While you are online please also have a look at www.choosingourfuture.ca the website for The Choosing our Future project. An interactive online Have a Say! campaign is running on the site until July 14, 2011. Share your views about sustainability and how you personally will take action towards a more sustainable future. You can also provide ideas that could be used by the project partners to move from planning to action. The campaign allows you to post an idea, comment on other ideas and vote for ideas you like. By participating, you have a chance to win an iPAD or several other prizes (one entry per person).

While there, be sure to check out the two minute Choosing our Future video to inspire your thinking on how we can create opportunities for a strong, healthy and prosperous tomorrow. Help us spread the word about our sustainable future by sharing it with your family, friends and colleagues! The video is available on ChoosingOurFuture.ca and on YouTube. For more information, please e-mail info@choosingourfuture,ca.
The City’s proposed new economic development plan is also available online as it was discussed Thursday at the Finance and Economic Development Committee and will be considered by Council on Wednesday (to view the report click here). The plan proposes a number of targeted and measurable investments to support economic development in Ottawa in the coming years.

Work on the plan began in July 2010, when Council approved Partnerships for Prosperity, a five-year economic development strategy, and directed staff to prepare an implementation plan. Since then, the City has engaged its many stakeholders to identify priorities and develop a concrete list of economic development activities for 2011 and beyond. As part of the 2011 budget deliberations, Council approved an increase of $2 million for economic development priorities, which represents a 57 per cent increase over the 2010 budget.

If approved, this economic development strategy will lead to $5.5 million in annual investments targeted to various economic development projects and initiatives, including:

• Working with OCRI to create Invest Ottawa with an investment of $1.55 million in 2011 and increasing to $2.265 million by 2012. Invest Ottawa will be focused on attracting investment and expanding and retaining businesses in key industry sectors including green energy, aerospace and defence, photonics, life sciences, digital media, and film and television. Invest Ottawa will be launched in the fall of 2011;
• Developing a joint major events attraction office in partnership with Ottawa Tourism with an investment of $505,000 in 2011 and increasing to $550,000 in 2012. This office will be mandated to attract and support large-scale cultural and sports events that have significant positive benefits for the local economy;
• Using Invest Ottawa to increase support for film and television production in the city, an underdeveloped component of our creative economy;
• Growing local business talent with an investment of $1.4 million to enhance entrepreneurship programming, which includes the creation of a business incubation space; and,
• Increasing support to Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) as local economic development agents.

I hope you take a minute to browse more of my site during your online journey this week before you get out there to enjoy the sunshine. Besides the recently added live Twitter feed and e-newsletter sign-up (scroll up to find these), I will also be posting my web-friendly Let’s Talk article right here each week so you will never have to miss a beat.