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.
We’re moving into the fall, weather wise and with kids returning back to school. Covid is still with us but vaccinations are climbing and we’re adapting to the changing situation, still being vigilant. Your Community Association has your back. Let us champion your concerns as we work with our Councillor, Riley Brockington.
I am a mother, a writer, a public speaker on diversity and a champion for reforms in the public sector, and I spent 18 years as a strategic advisor on National Security. I look forward to working hard for Ottawa South and giving you the representation you deserve in Parliament. I will work for everyone, not just the well connected few. I am concerned about the way in which some developers have been allowed (by all levels of Government) to kick out low income tenants, and replace their homes with other residential developments outside of their price range. The NDP is committed to building half a million affordable homes, and will support the expansion of alternative options such as cooperatives. I promise to be an advocate on housing and food security issues in this riding, where 1 in 10 have experienced food insecurity during the pandemic. Too many people in our riding cannot afford dental care, mental health care, or the prescription medication they need. Only the New Democrats have a plan to cover you from head to toe. Finally, I am concerned about threats to our urban forests, and support the efforts to stop the destruction of forests on Airport lands. The NDP has a strong plan to conserve urban forests, protect biodiversity and combat climate change, starting by ending subsidies to fossil fuel companies. On September 20th, stand for change, and vote for Huda Mukbil, NDP. 
Hello, my name is Chylow Hall and I am a candidate for the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) in the Ottawa South riding. I was born and raised in Alberta. At an early age I joined the Army reserve and began my career within the telecommunications field as a Lineman. After several contracts with the military I began working for the private sector in the information technology (IT) field. This career path has provided me with many various working opportunities in several different work departments and locations throughout Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick. I currently reside in Ottawa with my 3 teenage boys aged 14, 16 and 18. I am also a small business owner. The reason that I am running for the PPC is that I am concerned about the future of Canada and the future of our children. I do not see any viable options within the federal political establishment other than the PPC. Their strong stances on, NO vaccine passports, NO lockdowns, freedom of choice, speaking out against Government authoritarianism and control is something that I personally feel very strongly about. We need a Government reset on all fronts (provincial and federal). It is important for me to stand firm on my convictions. If elected I will fight for the constituents who elected me, I am a person that wants to represent the people, respond to the people and provide the people with a voice! As this is what our current governments are lacking in politics today. 
I appreciate the opportunity to share ideas and commitments through this newsletter. As the candidate for the Conservative Party I have been hearing from residents about the financial and social pressures caused by the pandemic; their objections to being forced into an unnecessary federal election in the midst of the fourth wave of COVID-19; Canada’s trillion-dollar deficit and excessive spending during recent years and the escalating rate of inflation and its impact on the cost of essentials such as food, clothing and fuel.
Les has lived most of his adult life in Ottawa South. His children graduated from Charlebois and French language high school.
In this election, the majority of voters I have spoken with have identified four main concerns: low wages, desperate need for work, housing and dignity. With the incredible increases in living expenses, wages are just too low. Our position on increasing the minimum wage to $23.00/hour resonates with constituents as does our reduction of the work week to 32 hours with no decrease in wages based on 40 hours per week.
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.