Have winter fun with family, friends or colleagues and build snow angels until February 28 to support the The Snowsuit Fund of Ottawa. It’s free and there are fundraising prizes! Register at https://snowsuitfund.com/2020-snow-angel-challenge/ You can register as individuals, as part of a school or workplace challenge. Take pictures or videos and post on social media. Create your individual page for fund raising and challenge friends, family and colleagues on social media for a chance to win prizes.
According to the City draft Official Plan a 15-minute neighbourhood is where you can walk to get to the grocery store, where you can easily walk to frequent transit, and where children can safely walk to school. You can access most of your day-to-day needs within a 15-minute walk from your home, including when using a wheelchair or other mobility aids, on sidewalks or pathways.
The City Public Health department gets more specific, with the 5C’s of healthy communities with some community design features that promote healthy built environments.
Compact and Complete
○ A diverse and compact mix of housing options for all ages and incomes, with shops and services, access to healthy food options, schools, employment, public transit, and open green spaces that can promote walking and social connectedness by making it easy to get out and meet.
Connected
○ Safe, complete streets and transportation networks that promote walking, cycling and transit use, making it easy and pleasant to get around.
Cool
○ Parks, trees and green spaces provide shade and improve air quality, making the community cooler, and promoting active living and positive mental health.
Convivial
○ Attractive and lively public and community spaces where people can easily connect with each other and with day-to-day services make communities vibrant and livable.
The built environment is shaped by policies and regulations, planners, engineers, developers, governments, elected officials and engaged community members. As shown on the map, from a planner’s perspective the whole of our community association area, from the Plante Drive and the Airport Parkway to the east to Kimberwick Crescent and the Rideau River to the west, can be covered by three 15-minute neighbourhoods.
To the west, Quinterra and Hunt Club Woods are serviced by the commercial area on Riverside from Uplands to Rivergate Way. It has restaurants and greenspace but lacks food shops, schools, and is divided by the Riverside commuter route.
The Hunt Club Riverside Park Community Centre and adjacent shopping area are the focus for the central 15-minute walkable area. It is serviced by two bus routes. There is even a library facility although falling far short of providing full branch service.
The eastern area has schools, is within 15 minutes of the South Keys shopping district and rapid transit service. It is covered by the South Keys Secondary Plan in the draft official plan.
With the exception of that eastern area, the draft official plan does not anticipate all aspects of 15-minute walkable communities becoming a reality for our association area for many years, at least until the housing stock reaches the end of life. On the positive side the community is well served by greenspace.
How does the neighbourhood within a 15-minute walk of your home meet these criteria? By putting your address into the free app at https://app.traveltime.com/ you can review your own 15-minute walkable area. Do the facilities it offers meet your needs? A nearby school may not be significant if you are a senior. Let us know about your 15-minute walkable community and any improvements you would like by sending at email to info@hunt-club.ca/.
Can you find all of these skating rinks in Hunt Club?
Hint: There are 4 front or side lawn rectangular models and 2 in an open field/pond.
Hint #2: 3 of the rinks are in the Hunt Club Woods sector of our community; 2 are in the Owl Park east of McCarthy Rd sector; 1 is actually just outside of our community boundaries, so officially in Riverside Park.
Hunt Clubbites are readers! As a way to share their reading materials, skilled and creative residents have built and erected ‘Free Little Libraries’ throughout our Hunt Club community. These are basically large boxes with a door that shuts tightly, mounted on a post. People place books that they have already read in the box. Others come and take one of the books, often replacing it with one or more of their own which they have already enjoyed reading. The idea is to promote and nurture a reading community.
Here are the three ‘Free Little Libraries’ that I have spotted in our Hunt Club community: 3 photos attached.
Can you locate all three of them? (Hint: two are in ‘Hunt Club Woods’; one is in the ‘Owl Park Neighbourhood’ east of McCarthy Rd.)
Where would YOU like to see another ‘Free Little Library’ installed in our community?
Last year over 450 seed kits (with one package of seeds and one seedling in each) were given free of charge to Hunt Club residents. The event was called Get Growing Hunt Club. Thanks to funding from the Hunt Club Community Association and Councillor Riley Brockington once again, we are happy to announce there will be Get Growing Hunt Club 2021!
Get Growing is designed to help discover and support the joys of gardening and the benefits of growing our own nutritious food. We can grow salad greens in a pot in a sunny window, when the weather warms we can grow vegetables outside on a sunny doorstep, a balcony, small space or larger gardens. While it’s currently winter, it’s still fun to dream about growing our own salad greens or harvesting delicious beans, tomatoes or peppers in the summer and fall. There will be information on growing and tending vegetables and much more. If you’d like to stay current on the 2021 Get Growing Hunt Club event please visit the Hunt Club Community Association website, follow the HCCA on Facebook or Twitter and if you’d like to be on the list of those interested in receiving seeds/seedling please register at https://hunt-club.ca/getgrowing.
Please consider supporting the local seed growers and supplies who contributed to the event’s success last year: Greta’s Organic Garden, GAIA Organic Seeds, Lee Valley, Artistic Landscape Design Ltd and Green Thumb Nursery.
We know supplies will be limited and will do our utmost to provide to all who are interested. If you have any suggestions or comments about the upcoming program or would like to volunteer in some way please send an email to: getgrowing@hunt-club.ca
To plant a garden, is to believe in the future.
HCCA President Brian Wade and Councillor Riley Brockington picking up some seeds
HCCA has a new website – read all about it in this issue. It’s almost spring. Have you got your garden plan? Check out these articles: Get Growing Hunt Club: Year Two, The Maudlin Matilda McEwan Community Garden, A Community Garden and Pandemic Gardening – the Pigeon Patch for inspiration. Lots on environmental issues: More Tornadoes, City Stream Watch, Paul Landry Park. And there’s a whole lot more. Click on the links to read whole articles.
A website can often be one of an organization’s most essential communication tools. The Hunt Club Community Association’s website was in need of a modern revival—and that’s exactly what it received over that last year! As 2021 rolls in, so does the next phase of the new HCCA website. Thank you to web designer and HCCA Secretary Jason Dubue, and everyone who contributed to designing this essential communication tool.
The updated website now includes:
Event listings & News articles, timely-posted and open to comments
New “Meetings & Documents” section including:
Quick access to board meeting information and agenda
Over 40 years of Minutes from monthly board meetings
Membership application or renewal with secure online payments
Local Issues: Find out what issues we are trying to resolve
An expanded history of the Hunt Club area
Although there’s still more we want to improve, a future addition that we are excited to build, is a directory of local businesses right here in the Hunt Club area. If you are local, and interested in listing your company, small business, craft or services please email secretary@hunt-club.ca with your contact information and a summary of what you offer.
Don’t forget to look around our updated website ( hunt-club.ca ) and let us know what you think!
Friday, 22 September 2018. Early evening. I thought I was safe at home. Then suddenly out my front window, the howling wind tried to blow one end of my street to the other. In a few seconds, it was over. I’d have been terrified to see out of the back window the tornado which tore up trees in McCarthy Woods. Hunt Club was lucky, barely escaping the disasters in Craig Henry and Dunrobin.
An expert report to the City advises climate change will bring a heightened risk of extreme weather, including tornadoes, and cause Ottawa’s seasons to shift with shorter winters.
Climate change is real for us; it shows in local weather records.
Since the 1920s our average temperatures increased by 1.22 C. The rate is accelerating.
With our winters, warming doesn’t sound bad. We have fewer deep freezes. In the 1920s every year had “deep freeze” (<-30 C) temperatures, in the 2010s only one year.
But in the summer hot nights bring misery. Typically one hot night (>20 C) each year in the 1920s has increased to seven in the 2010s.
Even warmer winters have their downsides. Freeze-thaw cycles, causing potholes, have increased during the winter months, from five in a typical January in the 1920s to nine in the 2010s. The skating season will be shortened meaning challenges for Winterlude and the tourist business it brings to the City.
Climate models tell us more of this type of change is inevitable. While preparation can’t protect from the terror of a tornado it can mitigate some impacts. We can slow the rate of change by doing our part to burn less fossil fuel.
Have you seen this poster? I found it pasted on the side of a couple of mailboxes while out for a walk. It’s about Creative Connections, a virtual community art program for seniors. Read the poster for yourself.
What captured my interest is that it’s about painting endangered ocean species, a project created under the Ocean Bridge Ambassadorship program. What’s Ocean Bridge? It turns out it might hold an opportunity for a young person in our community.
“Ocean Bridge connects Canadian youth from coast to coast to coast empowering them to make a difference towards ocean conservation. Each year 160 youth (ages 18-30) form a national team engaged in co-creating and delivering service projects for their home communities and two immersive expeditions addressing Ocean Health and Ocean Literacy in Canada.”
Here’s what Sam, who leads Creative Connections had to say about Ocean Bridge.
“Ocean Bridge is a great opportunity to learn more about ocean conservation in Canada and be involved with initiatives that build real and long-lasting changes. Anyone can join, whether you’re a student, an individual working a full-time job, your background is in environmental science or your background is in English. It’s also really awesome for learning how to build initiatives on your own and getting support from mentors and a larger (Canada wide) community. Despite not having the opportunity to do many of the activities originally planned for this year, the Ocean Bridge team worked exceedingly hard to create a positive and impactful experience. I loved my time in this program and highly recommend it to anyone who is interested!”
If you are or know of someone in the community who might find this an interesting opportunity check out the website at https://bridge.ocean.org/.
For many years, my neighbour, Jim, and I had lamented the state of our yards. Slowly, dead patches were replaced by flowers, fallen trees by rock gardens, and decks appeared. However, the bane of our existence continued to be our boulevards. No amount of seeds or sod could stop the plethora of weeds from taking root and providing an unsightly mess each summer. Without lawn mowers, we had to rely on the kindness of neighbours or more primitive measures.
During those years, we had also talked about a garden. I have many fond memories of gardening as a child and worked on sustainable development and food security issues with the UN. Jim had a keen interest in trying his hand at urban agriculture. Despite our interest in food production, we simply didn’t have enough room or sunlight in our backyards to sustain it. Raised gardens were a possibility, but where would we put them? How would I care for them never being home? Jim became occupied with building a greenhouse (by hand!), and I concentrated on my flower garden. The universe, however, had different ideas.
Covid 19 Opportunities
2020 has been an interesting year to say the least. While it has had its share of negatives, it has also provided many opportunities to take stock of how we spend our time, and to make time for those activities many of us have been putting on the back burner. In a little corner of our community – Pigeon Terrace – one of those opportunities was the time to grow a wonderful garden. What became known as the Pigeon Patch not only provided a wonderful source of food and activity, but a means to meet neighbours, share stories, educate children, and provide respite in the face of a global pandemic. This is our story.
Enter COVID-19. In the space of a few weeks, many of us were working from home. Gyms, rinks and stores were closed. Limits were placed on social gatherings. In a stroke of luck, however, it was March. Spring was just around the corner and, with spring, gardens. We agreed that if there was ever to be a year to plant a vegetable garden, this would be it, and what better place for a garden than the sunny, weed-filled boulevard.
Making it Happen
The first step was to reach out to the city to ensure the garden would be allowed. After all, who wants to go through all of that work only to have it removed?! Despite many conversations, the guidance was ambiguous. In the end, we were told that as long as nothing permanent was installed on the boulevard, and the vegetation did not impede road safety, it would be allowable.
The next step: come up with a plan. I drew up a visual of my garden and began to source seeds and material (including Get Growing Hunt Club!). Jim started to turn up the soil, and had additional soil delivered. I added peat and manure to improve the condition of the soil. Jim had a soaker hose, which he was willing to install the length of our garden. We researched how to grow items that we had never attempted before. Fortunately, Ottawa has a great climate for growing vegetables (Zone 5a), and amazing resources for gardeners, new and old (refer to the end of this article for a list of some of our favourites). By the end of May, beds were prepared, and seeds and plants were planted.
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The Waiting Game
Have I mentioned, however, that patience is the enemy of a gardener? That first month can be frustrating, with hours spent weeding and foiling the attempts of squirrels to dig up seedlings, while seeds take their sweet time to appear. Even a good gardening playlist can find it tough to pick you up. This is a great time to remind yourself of the benefits of what you are doing. As they say, mindset is everything!
Over the months, the days got warmer, and plants appeared: radishes, beans, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, potatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Seedlings were booby-trapped with wooden skewers and plastic forks. Supports were added to keep plants off the ground and help them grow. Once plants were well-established, bales of straw were placed on the garden beds to help with weed control and water retention, and the time to weed went from hours to minutes. Jim made sure to water the bed deeply every morning, and I tried to get a handle on the powdery mildew that appeared. We enjoyed our first harvest the second week of July and, despite a bit of frost and snow, removed the last of the vegetables in early November! The amount of food surprised even us, and the food in my freezer will easily get me through any lockdown!
Benefits of Gardening
The benefits of gardening are well-documented but have faded into the background as societies become more urban and less connected to their food sources. Gardening is a source of wellness, learning, and sustainability. It is also a source of community and cohesiveness. Can’t make it to the gym? Gardening is a source of low-impact exercise that allows you to enjoy being out in the sun and fresh air. Kids are bored of online learning. Watch them light up as they start to recognize that little sprout is something they can eat. Struggling to make ends meet? Growing your own food helps stretch your dollar and provides food security for many. Feeling isolated? Tending to your garden allows you to meet your neighbours and share experiences that you may not otherwise have had.
We hope that our experience will inspire you to try your hand at gardening. If you are interested in growing your own garden, here are some simple rules to follow: 1) Start small: you want your garden to be enjoyable, and not a source of frustration; 2) Have a plan: taking the time to prepare your garden and grow the right things in the right place will set you up for success; 3) Grow what you eat: remember that little zucchini plant will be prolific come July; 4) Water. Weed. Check for pests. Rinse. Repeat; 5) Share your bounty, and enjoy the experience: your body, friends, and neighbours will thank you for it!
Looking to the Future
What is next for us? We’re expanding. The garden will be back next year, with modifications to what we grow (those mung beans took up a lot of space, and 400 tomatoes might be a bit much) and staggered planting. Jim’s greenhouse will be operational next season. We’ve also been asked to help and share our plans with neighbours who installed, or plan to install, their own gardens. Perhaps there will even be time to work with the city and others to review the bylaw and encourage this type of land use. With growing interest in health and wellbeing, the environment, and food security, this would be a wonderful opportunity for the City of Ottawa to expand its green initiatives and actively promote urban gardening!
While the garden has been put to rest for the season, we’re already thinking about next year. Feel free to stop by the Pigeon Parch and say hello.
Did you know that we have a beautiful creek winding its way through our neighbourhood? It’s called the Hunt Club Creek It flows from the Department of National Defense (DND) lands bordering Hunt Club Road to the Ottawa Golf Course, then comes up at Uplands Drive near Country Club Drive, continues past Gillespie Crescent to Riverside Drive and then past Rivergate Place through NCC lands right to the Rideau River. Check out details compiled by John Sankey on the HCCA website at https://hunt-club.ca/community/history/hunt-club-creek/
Hunt Club Creek
The Hunt Club Community Association has renewed its adoption of the Hunt Club Creek with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA). The Hunt Club Creek was originally adopted in 2013, under John Sankey’s Presidency, John has decided to step down from his role of stream watcher after a number of years of surveying the creek.
HCCA will be putting together a team of stream watchers in the spring. The HCCA participated in an official Stream Watch with the RVCA in 2019. These in-depth surveys are done every 6 years so the next one will not be until 2025. In the meantime, under the terms of the adoption, HCCA must complete a stream watch at least once a year. What does this involve? As suggested by the RVCA, this can involve walking or wading along the stream and observing the stream and banks and documenting any significant changes such as increased erosion or pollution from the previous year. Also, the stream watchers may bag and remove any minor refuse encountered along the way. This fall I walked the whole length of the stream, except the golf course portion and noticed the culvert leading under Hunt Club Road was totally blocked, resulting in the creek in that area being totally stagnant. I informed the city at 311 and Councillor Brockington and a service request was made resulting in having the culvert cleared.
Would you be interested in being a stream watcher for the Hunt Club Creek?
Contact me at: vp@hunt-club.ca.
Some good news: Our return box and hold lockers are now accessible once again at our Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre, with the following updated hours:
Monday to Friday from 7:30 AM to 8 PM
Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM.
This means that you can return any of your Ottawa Public Library borrowed materials here in our community, as well as pick up items that you have reserved and for which you have designated ‘Hunt Club Lockers’ as your pickup point.
Remember to bring …
a mobile phone with you to call the number posted on the main door of the community centre for someone to open the door to receive your returning items or to allow you access to pick up your new items from a locker;
a protective mask as per Ottawa Public Health regulations for public spaces; and
your library card to scan it in order to retrieve your held items.
Now … Imagine being able to walk to an actual library that would be as near as our community centre or our Hunt Club Centre (where the Metro and Shoppers Drug Mart are) – where you could:
drop off your books or pick-up reserved materials
sit down in a designated quiet space to read a book, a magazine or a selection of newspapers online or as hard copies
have rooms available for:
various discussion groups (ie, Canadian or world politics, arts, genealogy, community issues) or for ‘Storytime’ for toddlers,
for homework clubs, and so much more!
Have a place for culture and arts to flourish – this would change our community in such a positive way for the children, young families, youth, adults and seniors of all walks of life among us.
If you can picture the above features and would like to see improved library services in our community, please send an email letter expressing how you feel this would add value to our community to:
library@hunt-club.ca (that’s me, Christine Johnson) and I will then be in touch with you for ‘next steps’.
Please provide your name and street in Hunt Club where you live, then explain how a small library branch within walking distance from your home would contribute to you, your family and our community. Many voices with the same message become quite loud and together we can make a difference in achieving our dream of having our own little library branch! If you would like more information or need help with your letter writing, please email me:
To the west, Quinterra and Hunt Club Woods are serviced by the commercial area on Riverside from Uplands to Rivergate Way. It has restaurants and greenspace but lacks food shops, schools, and is divided by the Riverside commuter route.
