Hunt Club Community Association

Community

Puppy Walking for the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind

Posted on by Sue McCarthy

Hello, my name is Kim and I am a Puppy Walker for Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind (CGDB).  You may have seen me around the neighbourhood walking Pebbles, who is a 16 month old Golden Retriever.  Pebbles has been living with my family since she was 4 months old.  She came to us as a friendly, rambunctious puppy – which she still is!  As part of the Puppy Walking program it is our job to help raise her to be a well mannered dog that has been socialized in as many different environments as possible.  That has been a challenge during Covid but Pebbles comes with me to as many places as possible.  Whether that be grocery shopping, going to appointments, or just running general errands.  The goal of a volunteer Puppy Walker is to help the dog get ready before they go to formal training at the Guide Dog Centre.  Typically puppies are placed in volunteer homes between 8-12 weeks old.  And will stay with that family for 12-18 months.  Pebbles has attended obedience classes run by CGDB and we meet with the program co-ordinator around once a month so they can check on her progress and help problem solve any issues we may be having.

Pebbles is the second dog that we have been Puppy Raising.  In March of 2020 the black lab that we had for the previous 18 months went in for formal training.  It was very hard to say goodbye to Dahlia.  But we knew she was destined for greatness!  And we were very proud that Dahlia successfully completed her training and started working as a Guide Dog in March of this year.  It was a bittersweet moment when we got to see her one last time before she started working.  But she was still the same sweet dog that loved getting belly rubs from everyone that she meets!  If you ever see me out walking with Pebbles while she has her training vest on then please do not approach or try to engage her.  It takes a lot of mental focus for a dog to learn what is expected from them.  And once they are working it could be dangerous to the client if the dog is not 100% focused on them.

Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind was founded in 1984 and does not receive any government funding.  They rely on donations from the public, often through fundraisers.  They provide Guide Dogs to clients across the country and Mobility Dogs in the Ottawa area.  If you’re wondering how you can help please check the CGDB website https://www.guidedogs.ca for volunteer opportunities and fundraising initiatives.

Thank you from Pebbles and all the other future Guide Dogs!

 

 Pebbles                                                             Dahlia

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS / GRADUATES:

Posted on by Sue McCarthy

You need a résumé: it is the document that tells employers about your qualification for a job and showcases how you could be an asset to a company. It contains your name and contact information, employment objective, education, experience, skills, achievements or interests.

A résumé shows your work history by date order, listing your last job first. If you have not had a job before, highlight your skills and expertise for specific jobs. A one-page résumé is recommended.

References: ask 2 teachers for references; get full name, telephone number and email.

Job Search: look for department stores, supermarkets, drugstores and other businesses within 10-15 minutes travel distance from your home. Go to each location, greet a staff member and hand in a résumé. If a company uses application forms, take the form home, read it carefully, complete it and return it with your résumé on the same day.

Interview answers: If you are applying for your first job, use the skills you learned during your Co-op placement to answer interview questions. Be honest and upbeat, show your ability to fit in as part of a team. Share positive experiences about sports, musical performance, poetry or helping classmates.

Attire: wear comfortable sneakers and casual summer clothing and neutral nail polish.

Ladies: no low-cut V-neck tops, spaghetti strap top, or blouse that exposes your belly button.

Gentlemen: no identifiable logo on t-shirts, no low-cut jeans with knees or underwear exposed.

For more details and examples see my website: http://www.lynettejosephsankey.ca/student.html

 

GetGrowing Hunt Club 2021

Posted on by Sue McCarthy

It’s all over except for the growing.  For the second year in a row, gardeners in Hunt Club were invited to sign up to receive a free seedling, package of vegetable seeds and an information pamphlet through GetGrowing Hunt Club.  This year 250 seed kit packages were delivered door to door.  The value of produce that can result from this locally grown harvest is $16,000!  That’s a lot of nutritious green beans and carrots and tomatoes!   As the growing season stretches in front of us, watch the Hunt Club Community Association Website, follow us on Facebook and Twitter , share pictures of your garden and learn of local initiatives such as opportunities to share excess produce.

GetGrowing Hunt Club is funded by the Hunt Club Community Association and City Councillor Riley Brockington.  We are grateful to our sponsors: Lee Valley Tools, Richmond Nursery, BWYL Group and Riocan.  And none of this would be possible without the many volunteers working with dedication and spirit during the COVID 19 pandemic.  All of it was done to deliver the promise of fresh locally grown produce to doorsteps in our ‘hood.  Thank you one and all!

Butterfly Puddling Station

Posted on by Sue McCarthy

On sunny summer days after rain, we may see butterflies gathering around the edges of mud puddles in nature. Have you ever wondered why? Butterflies get most of their nutrition from flower nectar but they need moisture. They also re-mineralize their bodies by bathing in mud puddles which are rich in salt and minerals.

If you wish to enjoy the sight of butterflies in your garden this season, help them by providing a butterfly puddling station. You can easily make it yourself! For this quick project you can use a bird bath which you may already have or just a larger-size terra cotta saucer with some gravel, and a couple of rocks on which the butterflies can land to sip mineralized water. If you do not have a terra cotta saucer at hand, use a plastic saucer. Either way, the saucer should have a raised edge so that butterflies can land easily. Fill the saucer with sand and a bit of manure compost, mix it together, and add water until the sand is wet. Place the saucer either in a bird bath, on a large flat stone or on the soil. Make sure to refill with water when the sand gets dry. Watch a step-by-step video on how to make butterfly puddling station.

Butterfly Puddling Station

Also, on the top of your puddling station (for example, at one corner), you can place another smaller-size saucer with fruits (ripe or overripe) such as banana, sliced apples, oranges or other. Butterflies and other insects will love it.

Be Cool

Posted on by Sue McCarthy

Ottawa is a great place to live, but nobody chooses it for the climate. Summer heat and winter cold are stressful. We look forward to warmth in January and get too much of it in July. Here are tips for living more comfortably when the thermometer climbs.

Know the weather conditions beforehand. There’s plenty of weather information via the media and short-term forecasts are very accurate. Plan activities accordingly. Listen for heat warnings from the City and know places where you can cool off.

Hunt Club has two splash pads, at Owl Park and McCarthy Park. Two others are nearby south of Walkley. Arnett Park is west of McCarthy and Stanstead Park to the east. Mooney’s Bay beach is close by.

Wear light clothing, which reflects the sun’s rays, and sunscreen. Be especially careful if you are susceptible to sunburn. Limit exposure and be sure to reapply sunscreen after going in the water.

Avoid exercising at peak hours of heat, or exercise in an air-conditioned gym. Plan outdoor exercise during the early morning or evening. If competing in an event during the heat of the day acclimatize your body to conditions in advance.

Drink fluids regularly. We perspire and lose water to cool off. If your mouth feels dry it’s a sign of dehydration so drink plain water and plenty of it. Infants, children, and the elderly need to be especially careful not to become dehydrated. Sports drinks may be appropriate to replace electrolytes if exercising for an hour or more.

 

 

The Highs and Lows of Hunt Club

Posted on by Sue McCarthy

Do you recognize this place in our community? Hunt Club Creek flows into the Rideau River, just upstream from the rail bridge and the lowest point in Hunt Club, about 76 m above mean sea level.

Reach it from a trail that winds beside the creek from the north end of Rivergate Way. There’s easier access from Old Riverside Drive north of the train tracks.

Just over 1 Km from the lowest point is the highest — at 112 m — on the grounds of the Hunt and Golf Club. While there is no public access, adjacent Riverside Drive rises to 107m. The ground ascends to 119m at the airport.

Another high point in our community is north of McCarthy Road, from the Quarry Coop to Huntview Condominiums rising to 106m.

Find out the elevation where you live at https://en-ca.topographic-map.com/maps/q4e/Ottawa/

 

National Volunteer Week

Posted on by Sue McCarthy

It’s National Volunteer Week (Apr 18 – 24). With so many issues happening—especially during a pandemic, the world could use more helping hands. A single volunteer can change a life, just imagine a whole community. Whether it’s taking time to collect goods for a food bank, deliver supplies to doorsteps of the vulnerable, looking after kids, taking someone to a medical appointment, or even sharing letters or creative pieces with senior homes. Every little deed collectively adds up to make a big difference.

In studies, results found that people who volunteer tend to have higher self-esteem and overall well-being. The more you connect with your community, the higher your confidence grows. It opens up opportunities to meet new friends or neighbours, and provides a positive experience to add to your resume. It can also provide a large amount of satisfaction and appreciation for what you have in life.

In recognition of the volunteers who provide their care and compassion, we wish everyone a happy National Volunteer Week. We encourage you to perform even a small gesture whenever you can. Thank you!

 

Check out Volunteer Canada’s website
Volunteer Week

Hunt Club High Rises

Posted on by Sue McCarthy

Do you know the high rises in our community? You may be surprised; they’re spread out from east to west.


Starting in the east at 136 Darlington Private is this 11 storey, 80 unit high rise built by Tamarack in 2005. It’s known as The Landmark, officially Ottawa-Carleton Standard Condominium Cooperation No 697.

There’s information on amenities and sale prices through the years here.

 

 

Centrally located in our area are two rental buildings at Uplands and Paul Anka Drives, serviced by buses on two routes, close to shopping and the community centre.

Gilboa Place Apartments at 3301 Uplands Drive is on the northeast corner of the intersection and comprised of two offset blocks. There are 1 and 2 bedroom units with rents from $1,350 per month inclusive of heat, hydro and water. There’s further information from District Realty.

 

 

On the northwest corner, at 3360 Paul Anka Drive is 12-storey Royalton Place. The footprint is three wings with studio,1 and 2 bedroom units which rent from $1,250 to $1,475. Find out more from the rental agent.

Air conditioning is not mentioned as a feature of these buildings.  Before you rent, ask residents and look for comments about the building and facilities on social media.

 

At the Rideau River end of our Hunt Club community are two luxury condominium high rises together known as Riverside Gate. At 3590 Riverdale Ave, OCSCC 667 was registered under the Condominium Act in 2003. It has 149 units. Its twin, oriented at right angles, is 3580 Riverdale Ave. OCSCC 769 was registered under the Condominium Act in 2007 with 144 units. There’s information on these properties here.

 

 

You may have noticed something unusual in the previous photo — unusual that is for Hunt Club — hydro lines on poles. They cross Riverside Drive north of Uplands on a slant, a remnant of the time when they ran alongside the Bowesville Road. This photo, taken from where the road crosses the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club shows the hydro wires still present with Riverside Gate seen in the distance. And there’s another high rise on the left.

 

 

Unlike the others, it’s commercial, occupied by IBM since they acquired Cognos in 2007 for $5 billion. At 3755 Riverside Drive, there are two towers. The larger 10-storey 180,000 sq. ft. building constructed in 2000 connects to the original six-storey tower, erected in 1985, by an elevated walkway.

 

Hazardous Driving in Hunt Club

Posted on by Sue McCarthy

Dangerous speeds were recorded each day by the Uplands Drive radar speed sign in 2020. Four in every hundred vehicles exceeded 60 Km/hr.

The chart shows the daily maximum values. Over the year the average highest daily speed was 82 Km/hr.  On 23 days reckless drivers blew past at twice the speed limit—that’s stunt driving under the Highway Traffic Act, penalties for which include 6 demerit points, a fine of $2,000 to $10,000 and other penalties.

What was the irresponsible person recorded at 130 Km/hr on 5 July thinking? We don’t know who it was, what they were driving and under what conditions, only that they were being extremely reckless. The radar speed board does not have a camera so, short of someone with miraculous investigative powers, we’ll never know.

There’s more to dangerous driving than exceeding the speed limit. If you’ve ever slid across an intersection or off the road during freezing rain you know how hazardous it can be. City traffic statistics show accidents are over four times as likely during freezing rain events.

Black ice is deceptive, occurring when water vapour in the air freezes directly onto a cold surface —that’s why there are warnings about ice on the road surface of bridges, especially those over water where humidity is higher. Watch out for cold clear nights when the temperature drops rapidly. Still not convinced of the danger? Check out “black ice” videos on YouTube.

Combining radar speed and weather data shows that each additional centimetre of snow recorded increases adherence to the speed limit by 1 percent. Snow also marginally reduces traffic volume on Uplands. On cold winter days, traffic moves on average a bit more slowly.

Overall the data show a large majority of drivers on Uplands drive within the speed limit, Three-quarters of all vehicles approach the sign within the 50 Km/hr speed limit, and 85 percent travel at less than 53 Km/hr. A few recklessly ignore it. Keep yourself and others safe by observing speed limits, slowing down and being extra careful in adverse weather.

A photo radar pilot project is now underway at nine school locations, none of them in Hunt Club. Given these findings, should the City extend the project to other locations to deter and catch dangerous drivers?

 

Build Your Own Little Free Library

Posted on by Sue McCarthy

We’ve got four of these already in Hunt Club, but I’ve only found three! One in the sector between McCarthy Rd and Plante Drive, and two in the Hunt Club Woods sector. Apparently there is a third one there on Singer Place. I’ve looked for it, but can’t see it. If you find it, please post it here. So far, none in Quinterra-Woods (West of Riverside Drive) nor in Hunt Club Estates (between Hunt Club Rd + the Hydro Right-of-Way and McCarthy Rd).

So, why not erect a whole bunch more of these free little libraries throughout our community? We know we are a reading community without our own public library branch, so this is one way we can share our love of books with one another, all within walking distance.

If you are of the ‘handy person persuasion’, here are instructions to build and install your project:

https://littlefreelibrary.org/build/

Looking for more inspiration? You will find all kinds of other ideas to inspire your project here:

https://littlefreelibrary.org/little-free-libraries-shoestring-budget/

Councillor’s Corner

Posted on by Sue McCarthy

Dear Hunt Club Neighbours,

My office continues to field a number of questions about COVID vaccines. The combined efforts of Ottawa Public Health and the City of Ottawa are leading the local vaccination campaign.

Starting the first week of March, vaccinations began for those 80+ or adults with chronic home care needs, who live in 7 at-risk neighbourhoods.  Priority will be given to these adults in other high risk neighbourhoods, where the prevalence of COVID is significantly higher than other neighbourhoods.   A section of our community, classified in the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, as “Hunt Club East – Western Community” will be identified as a priority community and should be called on soon.

Once the priority, at-risk neighbourhoods are vaccinated, a general call across Ottawa will be made for all 80+ year olds and adults living at home and receiving chronic home care.

Thank-you for your patience, we are almost there.  Once the 80+ cohort is vaccinated, the next cohort, 75+ will be called, descending by age to the next cohorts.   Ottawa Public Health is using age as the most pressing criteria to prioritize vaccinations within the general population, as data clearly indicates that older adults have a more serious chance of death or hospitalization if they acquire COVID.

Please visit the Ottawa Public Health website at https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-health-topics/covid-19-vaccine.aspx for updates on when the next communities and/or age groups will be called upon.

If you have not yet registered, please subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter, by contacting my office.

Sincerely,

Riley Brockington

City Councillor, River Ward

Riley.Brockington@Ottawa.ca

613-580-2486

Pen Pals to Seniors

Posted on by Sue McCarthy

The seniors at a nearby residence have been feeling isolated during the pandemic. Family and friends have not been able to visit very much and outings have been restricted.

In February, HCCA’s  Valentine’s for Seniors initiative was embraced with much excitement, as staff handed out the cards dropped off by our wonderful community neighbours.

“We passed (the cards) out on Sunday during lunch time and everyone was so excited and felt special receiving so many cards. It really meant a lot. One of our residents actually wanted to know if she could write a letter back to them to thank them personally?”
— Danielle Barnard, Retirement Living Consultant, Chartwell Bridlewood Retirement Residence.

The HCCA has coordinated again with the residence to initiate a Pen-Pal Program with our community.

Would you like to be a penpal for a lonely senior? 
To begin, please mail the following information for the staff at the retirement residence, and they will match you to a senior. 1) Your name, 2) address, 3) describe your hobbies and interests.

Please mail or drop off a letter to

Re: Pen-Pals to Seniors
Chartwell Bridlewood Retirement Residence
3998 Bridlepath Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, K1T 4H4

Community is about connections.
Let’s help each other!

 

Hunt Club Community Association (HCCA)
3320 Paul Anka Drive, Ottawa, ON K1V 0J9
info@hunt-club.ca

  • Visit our Instagram page.
© 2026 Hunt Club Community Association. All rights reserved.