River Ward City Councillor Maria McRae's Report to the Hunt Club Community
Organization 7 June 2010
Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre Expansion
On May 7, 2010,1 had the distinct pleasure of hosting the Grand Opening celebration for the
expanded Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre. Hundreds of residents joined me,
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Mayor Larry O'Brien, Councillor Jan Harder - Chair of the
Ottawa Public Library Board, Ottawa South MP David McGuinty, City Manager Kent
Kirkpatrick, other special guests and City staff, for the exciting festivities.
Thank you to the many residents who attended the celebration, and thank you to the HCCO for
your interest and support throughout the expansion process. It was an evening of fun, food,
music, dancing and celebration as we formally acknowledged the team who worked on the
expansion. A special thank you to the many volunteers and City staff who worked with my office
to ensure that the event was a success. In addition to their assistance, our wonderful sponsors,
who donated their time, talent, goods and door prizes, enhanced the celebration.
New Library Services in Our Community
The Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre is home to Canada's first Library Kiosks.
Additionally, dedicated Ottawa Public Library Staff are available on
Monday's from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m.
AND Saturday's from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.
You can register for a new library card, meet with the librarian and you can now reserve books
online and pick up holds at the HC-RP Community Centre during the dedicated office hours.
Please feel free to call my office at 613-580-2486 for more information.
Infrastructure Investment in Hunt Club
This summer you will notice the installation of new concrete sidewalks:
- Riverside Drive (east side) north of Hunt Club Road
- Hunt Club Road, east of Riverside Drive - north (Bowesville Road to Paul Anka Drive) and
south (from Paul Anka Drive to 220 m east of Billy Bishop) - adding missing links
In an effort to connect missing links, construction will soon begin on a multi-use pathway from
Walkley Road to Hunt Club Road. This new pathway will completely connect the pathway
system in the Sawmill Creek Constructed Watershed.
Councillor Maria McRae's Annual Strawberry Social for River Ward Seniors
Date: Friday, June 18, 2010 Time: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Place: Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre 3320 Paul Anka Drive (at McCarthy Road)
Entertainment by Dominic D'Arcy
Refreshments and Snacks
Door Prizes Seniors Information Booth
R.S.V.P.
Ottawa's Supervised Beaches to Open for the Summer on June 19, 2010
Ottawa's four supervised beaches - Britannia, Westboro, Mooney's Bay and Petrie Island will
officially open for the 2010 summer season on Saturday, June 19, 2010. Despite the warm
weather, swimming in Ottawa's unsupervised lakes and rivers may pose great personal risk.
Residents are encouraged to enjoy Ottawa's outdoor spaces, however for their own safety are
advised to avoid swimming. As of Saturday, June 19th, lifeguards will be on duty every day from
noon to 7 p.m.
Every day during the beach season, Ottawa Public Health takes water samples from all four
beaches and tests for bacteria levels. If unusually high levels of bacteria are found, a 'no swim'
advisory is issued. Residents can check the daily updates on water quality before they head to the
beach. Starting June 19,2010 updates will be available by calling the City at 3-1-1 or
613-580-6744, ext. 13219, via RSS feeds, or on www.ottawa.ca/health. Site signage and flag
indicators will also indicate whether a 'no swim' advisory is in effect at that location.
City beaches will close for the season on Sunday, August 22,2010.
Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP) April Results
The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) focus on seatbelt and child car seat safety,
and red light running resulted in 1,008 charges being laid in April - according to the City's
Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP).
Specifically, 553 tickets were issued for vehicle occupants failing to use a seatbelt or ensuring
the proper use of child car seats. Red light running resulted in 455 charges being laid.
June Initiative:
Ottawa Police will be placing impaired driving and cycling safety in the spotlight for the City's
Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) in June. STEP is a monthly initiative operated by
the City of Ottawa's Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP). In addition, the IRSP is teaming up
with the CAA North & East Ontario to deliver additional R.I.D.E. checkpoints in June. In 2008,
373 impaired driving-related collisions occurred on Ottawa roads, resulting in seven deaths and
154 injuries (17 of them serious). Eighty one percent of the impaired drivers are male and 34
percent are between the ages of 16 and 25.
In spring and summer, cycling safety becomes a serious issue that warrants particular attention.
Like pedestrians, cyclists are vulnerable road users. In 2008, 262 cyclists were injured in traffic
collisions on Ottawa roads, 20 of which were life-altering.
The cycling safety initiative will target drivers who violate cyclists' rights, and cyclists who
disobey the rules of the road. It will include both education and enforcement. Sharing the road in
a safe manner is essential so that our roads remain safe for all users.
Tips for Drivers to Increase the Safety of Cyclists:
- Treat bicycles as you would any other vehicle on the road. Cyclists generally ride in the
right-most through traffic lane, about one metre from the curb or parked cars.
- When passing a cyclist, leave a safe distance between your car and the bicycle. Give extra
passing distance during slippery road conditions.
- Pass at a moderate speed and give plenty of space on quiet roads. Cyclists may be startled by
fast-approaching vehicles.
- Shoulder check and signal all lane changes and turns.
- Check for bicycles in your side view mirror before opening your car doors.
Tips for Cyclists to Increase Their Safety
- Shoulder check and signal all lane changes, turns and stops.
Do not cycle on sidewalks. Motorists do not expect cyclists to enter the roadway from the
sidewalk.
- Recognize and be careful of the blind spots around cars, trucks and buses.
- Exercise caution when crossing intersections.
- Always wear a helmet.
Be bright at night. Use a headlight, taillight, reflectors and light-coloured or retro-reflective
clothing so drivers can see you.
Bike to Work Week
The City, EnviroCentre and community partners are launching Bike to Work Week in Ottawa,
featuring a series of events to raise awareness, promote safe cycling and encourage residents to
cycle to work for fun, fitness and the environment. I encourage you to complete an online pledge
to cycle to work and be eligible for great prizes including a bike, gear for commuting, gift
certificates for local bike stores and a free CAN-BIKE course. These and many other prizes are
provided by official sponsors of Bike to Work Week including: the Bank Street Promenade, Full
Cycle, Bridgehead, Kunstadt Sports, Canadian Cycling Association, the Embassy of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ottawa, Fosters Sports Center and Cocoa Camino.
The full schedule of events is available at www.ottawa.ca/b2ww and on the EnviroCentre
Website and includes an all-day informative "Cycling Celebration Station" on the Ottawa River
Pathway by the Canadian War Museum, a "Lunch and Learn" workshops, and a BBQ on
Thursday, June 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 156 Bank Street with special guest, His
Excellency, Ambassador Wilhelmus Geerts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The BBQ is a
fundraiser for the Ottawa Helmets on Kids Initiative and will include free bike tune-ups provided
by Fosters Sports Center. The BBQ event will also feature entertainment and the presentation of
the Bruce Timmermans Cycling Award to recognize outstanding contributions in the
encouragement of cycling in Ottawa.
Lansdowne Park Stadium and Mixed-use Area Designs
The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) unveiled the designs for the stadium and
mixed-use are for, the proposed redevelopment of Lansdowne Park. I encourage you to provide
their comments on the proposed designs by June 13, 2010. The feedback received will be
collected and reviewed by the Lansdowne Strategic Design Review and Advisory Panel and City
Council. The designs are on display from May 28 until June 13, 2010 at City Hall, 110 Laurier
Ave.W, across from information desk or can be viewed at www.ottawa.ca.
Help Keep our Collection Operators Safe
The City of Ottawa is calling on all residents to be vigilant when disposing of their unwanted or
old pool chemicals. Pool chemicals are hazardous wastes and can cause serious injury to
collection operators and homeowners if placed into your regular garbage. Please do not place
pool chemicals in the garbage. Residents are reminded to use up all pool chemicals that they
purchase. However, if you need to dispose of excess pool chemicals, the City's one-day mobile
household hazardous waste depots are a good option to dispose of this dangerous material. The
depots provide a convenient way for you to help keep the environment free of hazardous
household waste and most importantly depots help to prevent injury to you, your family and the
waste collection operators.
For more information about dates and future locations as well as items that can be taken to the
Household Hazardous Waste Depots, please visit the City's website at www.ottawa.ca/hhw,
check the collection calendar or call 3 -1 -1.
Sustainability Summit
As part of the Choosing our Future initiative, I would like to invite you to participate and join the
conversation at a Sustainability Summit that will take place on June 11, 2010. Participants will
have the opportunity to listen, learn and be inspired by community leaders with ideas about how
we can become a more sustainable, resilient and livable Capital Region.
The Sustainability Summit will be held:
Date: Friday, June 11, 2010 Time: 8:30 am to 4pm Place: Jean Pigott Place,
Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West
Keynote speaker for the Summit is John F. Helliwell, co-director of the Social Interactions,
Identity and Well-Being program at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Mr.
Helliwell's presentation on Sustainability and Well-Being will lead off a series of short
10-minute talks by community leaders active in our social, economic, culture and environment
sectors:
- Rob Barrs - Principal Senior Planner, HB Lanarc
- Brian Burns - Associate Professor, School of Industrial Design, Carleton University
- Sommer Casgrain-Robertson - Co-Project Manager, Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection
Region; Member, Ottawa Riverkeeper and Waterkeeper Alliance
- Moe Garahan - Director, Just Foods
- Yves Gosselin - Senior Architect-urban designer in the federal government and a
Past-President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
- Chris Henderson - President, Lumos Energy
- Hamdi Mohamed - Executive Director, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services (OCISO),
- Alex Munter - Executive Director, Youth Services Bureau
- Jennifer Valberg-Development Director, The Otesha Project
Participants will have the opportunity to discuss these issues and are invited to share their
passions, ideas and experiences as the day unfolds. To register, visit www.choosingourfuture.ca,
e-mail info@choosingourfuture.ca or call 3-1-1.
Choosing our Future is an exciting initiative of the City of Ottawa, the City of Gatineau and the
NCC to prepare Canada's Capital Region to be successful in meeting the challenges of the 21st
century by integrating Sustainability, resiliency and livability into all facets of the region.
Have Your Say in Ottawa's Financial Future
As per my previous e-mail to the HCCO Board of Directors, I encourage Riverside Park
residents to get involved and share your ideas for Ottawa's 2011 Budget and long-term financial
plan. City Council will consider and approve a budget for 2011 early next year. The City is also
revising its long-term financial plan and is inviting residents to give us your ideas and
suggestions on how to balance services within the financial resources of the City.
One way to get involved is to take part in the Financial Sustainability Summit on Tuesday, June
22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Ottawa City Hall. We're asking people to help us by going to
www.ottawa.ca/financialsummit in advance. Submit your questions and ideas on anything
involving City finances. Questions and responses will be posted on the Financial Summit web
page.
During the Financial Sustainability Summit on June 22, discussions will centre on the questions
and ideas that have been submitted online. Note that the summit will be open to the public but
new questions or comments will not be accepted at the event. So please consider visiting
www.ottawa.ca/financialsummit. Questions can be submitted to financialsummit@ottawa.ca by
June 15.
Looking for an Environment Week Diversion? Rethink Garbage
The City of Ottawa provides weekly garbage pickup for residents of Ottawa. While the City
collects, recyclables, organic waste and garbage, not all materials can be disposed at the curb.
Due to hazards posed by some items, the City offers the following programs to deal with waste
that should NEVER be thrown out in your garbage.
Household Hazardous Waste
Are you looking for an environmentally responsible way to dispose of household hazardous
waste like cleaning products, propane tanks, disinfectants, fire extinguishers and
pharmaceuticals? The City of Ottawa can help! Keep an eye out for the City of Ottawa's one-day
mobile household hazardous waste depots. These depots provide a convenient way for you to
help keep the environment free of hazardous household waste. Other materials that can be
dropped off include:
- aerosol containers
- disinfectants
- fluorescent bulbs/tubes
- fertilizers and pesticides
- mercury switches/thermometers
- needles and syringes
- paints and coatings
- oven and window cleaner
- pool chemicals
Residents are reminded that only household waste will be accepted (maximum of 100 litres) at
the depot. No commercial waste will be accepted. For more information about dates and future
locations as well as items that can be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Depots, please
visit the City's website at www.ottawa.ca/hhw. More information on the disposal of hazardous
materials can be found at http://www.dowhatyoucan.ca/.
For a listing of Green Alternatives for household products, visit
www.ottawa.ca/greenalternatives.
Free disposal of e-waste
Residents of Ottawa can dispose of e-waste at no charge at Ontario Electronics Stewardship
(OES) registered permanent depots across the City. The program has now been expanded to
include audio/visual equipment such as:
- Amplifiers, stereos, speakers, receivers
- Cameras, digital cameras
- Copiers, fax machines, scanners
- Pagers, PDAs
- Radios
- Telephones, cellphones, answering machines
- VCR and DVD players
Residents will still be able to recycle computer towers, monitors, televisions and peripherals at
permanent OES-approved depots listed at http://www.dowhatyoucan.ca/.
Free disposal of tires
Visit http://www.ontariots.ca for information on how to dispose of tires at no charge at Ontario
Tire Stewardship (OTS) registered permanent depots located across the City.
Take it Back!
The Take it Back! program ensures that more than 135 household products are reused, recycled
or disposed of properly instead of going to the landfill. For more information, please visit
www.ottawa.ca/takeitback.
Reminder
Bakery and produce plastics such as strawberry or cake containers (also known as clam shells),
are not collected in the City's recycling program. Please place this material in your regular
garbage. To determine what items are part of the City's recycling program, residents are
encouraged to visit www.ottawa.ca/recycle, check the collection calendar or call 3-1-1 for a list
of acceptable items:
The City of Ottawa reminds residents who have not already started using their Green Bin to
please start using it. And don't forget to feed your green bin with extra leaf and yard waste! For
information about what goes in your green bin check your collection calendar or visit
www.ottawa.ca/greenbin
Have a Wonderful Summer
I wish you and your family a happy and restful summer.