River Ward City Councillor Maria McRae's Report to Hunt Club Community
Organization 1 March 2010
2869 Gibford Drive - Update
On February 17, 2010, the Committee of Adjustment granted the application for a Minor
Variance from the Zoning By-law to permit an increase in height to 19.5 metres for the proposed
hotel, whereas the By-law permits a maximum height of 11.0 metres.
The Owner intends to construct a new 48.5 m x 18.2 m, 98 suite, 6-storey hotel. The existing
commercial building located on the property will be demolished or relocated in accordance with
the By-law.
2010 Civic Events Funding Program
I would like to invite the HCCO and any interested community organization to apply for funding
under the 2010 Civic Events Funding Program, to provide one to two-day civic events with free
admission that foster civic pride and develop community cohesion.
These events are linked to and celebrate a civic/statutory holiday (i.e., Victoria Day, Canada
Day), are held in a specific geographic district in Ottawa, and encompass a broad range of
activities (family entertainment).
Maximum Allocation: $2,000
Application Deadline: March 24,2010
Application forms are available at City of Ottawa Client Service Centres or by visiting
www.ottawa.ca/communityfunding. For more information, please feel free to contact my office at
613-580-2486.
City Outdoor Rinks: Closed for the Season
The City of Ottawa's outdoor skating rinks are closed for the rest of the season. They were
scheduled to close on Sunday, February 28, 2010, but warm weather conditions caused the rink
to close a few days early. The City's 236 outdoor rinks will open again next winter when
conditions allow.
Ice Breaking Operations
Each spring during the freshet, when water flow reaches its peak, the City of Ottawa's Public
Works branch undertakes ice clearing operations on the Rideau River to allow water to flow
unrestricted and reduce potential river flooding. The operations occur between Rideau Falls and
Hog's Back and involve a number of steps, including cutting of the keys, ice breaking and
placement of an ice control boom.
This year, the Rideau River Flood Control Program has garnered international attention. The
British television network, BBC Earth, will be filming the flood control operations this spring for
its show Human Planet, which looks at the relationship between man and nature in environments
around the world. The Human Planet episode will air in the spring of 2011 on the Canadian
Discovery channel. This is the first time in history that flood control operations will be filmed for
a documentary.
On February 23, 2010,1 was pleased to join the John Manconi, the General Manager of Public
Works, and Human Planet's Associate Producer, Ciaran Flannery, at a media event where we
discussed the Rideau River flood control efforts.
Ice breaking operations, including blasting, are set to begin Saturday, February 27, 2010, weather
and ice conditions permitting, on the Rideau River between Rideau Falls and Hog's Back.
A Reminder to Parents and Teachers:
Ice breaking operations will create open water. Children should be supervised at all times
around water and warned of the dangers of open water. During ice breaking and blasting
operations, it is important to keep children away from the Rideau River.
The City, in partnership with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, undertakes ice breaking
operations each year to alleviate possible spring flooding in flood-prone areas. Once started,
these operations will be carried out daily. Residents are asked to remain a reasonable distance
from the river until operations are completed.
Community Environmental Initiatives Application
With environmental and climate-change concerns growing globally, I want to remind you that
funding is available to make a difference, beginning in our local environment, through the
Community Environment Projects Grants Program (CEPGP).
Funding totaling $50,000 is available through CEPGP for community-based initiatives and
nonprofit organizations interested in improving and preserving the environment in such areas as
solid waste diversion, water efficiency, wastewater management, water environment protection
and sustainable development.
The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, March 31, 2010.
For more information on CEPGP and its eligibility requirements, you can visit www.ottawa.ca or
call my office at 613-580-2486.
2010 Civic Appreciation Awards: Nominate a Volunteer
You can show your gratitude to that special individual by nominating them for a City of Ottawa
Civic Appreciation Award.
The City's Civic Appreciation Awards ceremony is held each spring following National
Volunteer Week. This volunteer appreciation program provides an opportunity to nominate and
recognize individuals, groups and organizations that volunteer in a variety of ways throughout
the city.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 26, 2010. Nominations can be completed online at
www.ottawa.ca or you can also download and print the form. Nomination forms are also
available at any Client Service Centre or any branch of the Ottawa Public Library.
Awards will be presented in the following categories:
- Citizen of the Year Award (youth, adult and senior)
- Brian Kilrea Award - for excellence in coaching in amateur sports
- Distinguished Civic Awards
- Arts and Culture
- Recreation and Sports
- Education / Training
- Environment
- Health
- Heritage
- Humanitarianism
- Rural/Agriculture
- Community Activism (youth, adult, senior and group)
For more information on the Civic Appreciation Awards, visit www.ottawa.ca/volunteering or
call my office at 613-580-2486.
Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP) January Results
The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) focus on tailgating and stop sign running
resulted in 258 charges being laid in January, according to the City's Integrated Road Safety
Program (IRSP).
Specifically, 46 tickets were issued to drivers following the vehicle ahead too closely and the
stop sign running initiative resulted in the laying of 212 charges.
March Initiative
The City's Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) will be weighing-in in March on
heavy vehicles, motorists operating unsafe vehicles, and drivers with a lead foot on the gas pedal.
In 2008, 114 reportable collisions involved unsafe vehicles on Ottawa roads. These collisions led
to 26 injuries, three were life-threatening. Causes of these collisions included defective brakes,
steering, wheels and suspension, as well as tire blowout.
In addition to focusing on unsafe vehicles, this initiative will also include heavy vehicle
inspections. These inspections will be done to ensure: compliance with weight restrictions, that
loads are properly secured, and that heavy vehicles are not being driven on restricted load
roadways. Properly maintained documentation, certificates and logs will also be inspected.
Speeding is also a serious issue on Ottawa roads. In 2008, 3,592 reportable collisions occurred on
Ottawa roads as a result of drivers exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for road and
weather conditions. These collisions resulted in nine deaths and 990 injuries - including 55
serious injuries.
Affordable Program for Low-income Women to Get Active and Feel Great
The City of Ottawa is providing low-income women an affordable opportunity to get fit and
enjoy the benefits of a healthy lifestyle through the Woman Alive/Femme active Program.
Exercise and proper diet sets a strong foundation for women to help prevent chronic diseases,
such as high blood pressure and heart disease, and lead longer, healthier lives. However, many
fitness/wellness programs come with a price tag that low-income women cannot afford.
Woman Alive/Femme active is now in its 13th year. Ottawa Public Health, Parks and Recreation,
and partners in healthy living are delivering the program at nine City community and recreation
facilities. Just for a one-dollar contribution for each class, participants can get fit, learn about
healthy choices, and meet new people.
Good health is a priceless benefit that everyone should enjoy. This unique program is available at
the following locations: Kanata Leisure Centre, Plant Recreation Centre, Dempsey Community
Centre, Overbrooke-Forbes Community Resource Centre(French), Foster Farm Community
Centre, Morrison Gardens, Jack Purcell Community Centre, Lowertown Community Centre,
South East Ottawa CHC.
A recent survey showed that 97 per cent of the participants would recommend the program to a
friend. For more information on the Woman Alive/Femme Active Program, call the Ottawa
Public Health information line at 613-580-6744 or visit www.ottawa.ca/health.
Lansdowne Park Update
On February 19, 2010, The City of Ottawa announced the names of five firms who have been
invited to compete for the design of Lansdowne Park's open space.
A Request for Qualifications for design companies interested in the public-space design
competition was released on January 16, 2010 and closed on February 11, 2010. After receiving
21 submissions, the short-listed firms are:
- Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates - Cambridge, Massachusetts Michael Van
Valkenburgh - Principal, Team Leader Partnered with: Greenberg Consultants, Shim-Sutcliffe
Architects, Harboe Architects, MMM Group (Ottawa), Uhlir Consulting, James Carpenter
Design Associates, Applied Ecological Services, Golder Associates (Ottawa office)
- Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg - Vancouver, British Columbia Greg Smallberg - Principal in
Charge, Team Leader Partnered with: Julian Smith & Associates (Ottawa), Stantec Engineers
(Ottawa office), Jill Anholt Studio
- The SWA Group - Sausalito, California Cinda Gilliland - Principal, Team Leader Partnered
with: Corush Sunderland Wright Ltd. (Ottawa), The ARCOP Group, J.L. Richards & Associates
(Ottawa), WESA (Ottawa), BuildGreen Solutions, CMS Collaboratie Inc., Professional
Environmental Recreation Consultants Ltd. (PERC), PHA Lighting Design, Ned Kahn
- West 8 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture - Toronto, Ontario Adriaan Geuze -
Principal, Design Director Partnered with: Robertson Martin Architects Inc., The Municipal
Infrastructure Group (TMIG), Halsall Associates (Ottawa office)
- Williams, Asselin, Ackaoui & Associates Inc. (WAA) - Montreal, Quebec Malaka Ackaoui -
Partner, Team Leader Partnered with: Eclairage Public Inc., Michel Dallaire Design Industriel
Inc., Les Architectes FABG, Vinci Consultants, Linda Covit
With this selection, the work of the design firms will begin promptly with the gathering of
information and ideas for the new open space. On Wednesday, February 24, 2010 and Thursday,
February 25, 2010, the selected design firms met with the City, the National Capital Commission
(NCC) and the Parks Canada Agency in a design symposium. Community groups and citizens
were able to learn about the design teams' background and past projects, and provide comments
about what they think should be built in the open space.
The firms will each develop their proposed park designs. In May, the five different designs will
be unveiled to the City for further public comments.
The park designs and public feedback will be considered by a seven-member jury, including:
Strategic Design Review and Advisory Panel members George Dark and Marianne McKenna;
Councillor Hume; one representative each from the NCC and Parks Canada Agency; and two
other nationally renowned design professionals. The jury's choice will be presented to the NCC's
Advisory Committee on Planning, Design and Realty (ACPDR) and board of directors, and
Ottawa City Council for approval in June 2010.
The design competition for the greenspace at Lansdowne Park was one of a number of conditions
placed by Ottawa City Council last November on the Lansdowne Partnership Plan. That plan is a
partnership between an Ottawa business group, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, and the
City to:
- renovate Frank Clair Stadium and the Civic Centre;
- build a mixed-use development that includes stores, offices, restaurants, a hotel and offices;
and
- create a new urban park between Aberdeen Pavilion and Queen Elizabeth Driveway on space
that is currently an asphalt parking lot.
The design process for the new urban park is being overseen by the City of Ottawa in cooperation
with the National Capital Commission, which owns greenspace next door and Queen Elizabeth
Driveway, and Parks Canada Agency, which owns the UNESCO-designated World Heritage
Site, Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada.
For more information on the Lansdowne Partnership Plan and for upcoming committee dates and
locations, visit www.ottawa.ca/lansdownepartnership.