2022 in Review

January started with COVID lingering but having peaked in late December. Medical services were jammed and there were long queues for rapid COVID tests.

February saw three weeks of chaos in downtown Ottawa as a motley assembly of “truckers,”  nominally protesting restrictions placed on their freedom in response to the COVID pandemic, disrupted residents, clogged streets, and closed businesses. On 14 February the federal Emergencies Act was invoked to end the occupation.

At the March HCCA Board meeting there was debate about the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force which had the objective of addressing the housing supply crisis and getting homes built faster. The Board was divided between protecting the interests of existing homeowners and providing housing for a growing population.

In April two Association members, Christine Johnson and Linda Sabine, started a once a week 45-minute “Storytime for Toddlers” session at the Hunt Club Riverside Park Community Centre (HCRPCC). In the fall, staff of the Ottawa Public Library joined in once a month. The initiative continues. Registration is required.

May brought a new word into our vocabulary, Derecho.  On May 21st, no areas were spared with uprooted trees and other damages. Particularly hard hit were the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club and the area immediately east, both of which lost thousands of trees,. However, prior to the storm there had been a distribution of seeds in the Get Growing Hunt Club initiative, led by Barb Shea for its third year. A total of 234 seed kits were distributed focusing on Ottawa Community Housing, Seed kits included two seedlings and two seed packets. The potential harvest if all were planted was over $17,000.

A provincial election on Thursday 2 June resulted in a Doug Ford led Progressive Conservative government being re-elected. Local Liberal MPP John Fraser was re-elected.

July saw the initiation of an Association petition to improve library services in Hunt Club. Over 300 signatures were collected. Christine Johnson, a Past President, continued lobbying the Library Board throughout the year,

In August,  citizen complaints grew  about increasingly brazen coyote attacks on family pets in the neighbourhood of the Southern Nature Corridor and McCarthy Woods. Some animals that appeared to have lost fear of humans were subsequently trapped and humanely euthanized.

On Saturday 17 September, thanks to the efforts of a host of volunteers, under the leadership of Lynette Joseph-Sankey, Matt Page, and John Sankey a very successful Fall Festival, blessed by mild weather, was held at the HCRPCC . Lots of activities were available for children. There were stands from the community, including free tree seedling distribution by Ecology Ottawa. The event was supported by donors, and elected officials from all levels of government.

The City headed to the polls Monday, 24 October andand elected Mark Sutcliffe as the new mayor. All incumbents, including River Ward Councillor Riley Brockington, were returned along with seven Councillor newcomers,

HCCA held an AGM and election on the 7th of November at which Audrey Bélanger- Baur was elected President. Directors elected and subsequently named to the Executive are Mary Nduati (Vice President), Brian Wade (Treasurer), Patrick Morton (Secretary), and Peter Brimacombe (Past President). Other directors are: Carl Fannin, Fiona Bailey, Melissa Maclsaac, Peter Foulger, Piero Narducci, Sabrine Barakat and Zane Oueja.

In December the area’s only postal outlet at the Quickie Convenience Store at 3332 Mccarthy Rd was closed. HCCA wrote to MP David McGuinty to point out that as a result Canada Post was not meeting its service standard.