We are now approaching mid-September and it’s been a busy month so far for Councillor Gower. This week he shares information about the City of Ottawa’s Mobility Hub and the transit data captured on the Mobility Dashboard. Local businesses can improve accessibility to their entrances through the pilot project in a partnership between the City and StopGap Foundation. The Councillor shares information on the municipal election – are you on the voter’s list, upcoming SVA debate and more. He provides a recap of the September 10th Transit Committee meeting. He shares a reminder to register for the Fall Cleaning the Capital campaign. The Crossway Park Playground is officially opening on September 25th – come out and join the celebration. Everybody Growing Church in collaboration with OneCourt Alliance will be opening a new gymnasium in November on their campus. Fall commemorative naming applications are being accepted by the City until October 20th. Construction blasting for Idylea Phase 2 will start this week. The Councillor also shares CHEO’s information and links for quality sleep for children. And, as always, should you require assistance, please reach out to the Councillor’s office at the contact information below.
The daily commute
We’re now a couple of weeks into back-to-school and this is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for commuters. The City of Ottawa has set up a Mobility Hub for residents to learn more about transportation and mobility initiatives, provide feedback, and subscribe for email updates.
I’ve been interested in the data on the Mobility Dashboard. From September 4 to September 10, the busiest travel day was Thursday, and the least-busiest travel day was Monday. There’s also a heat map (see above) showing how travel conditions vary throughout the morning and afternoon peak periods. Green is the lightest traffic, and red is the heaviest. (There’s more on OC Transpo in a separate update below.)
More resources:
- OC Transpo Travel Planner: Find the best route and travel options for your trip.
- Transit App: Real-time transit information and service updates on the go.
- Park & Ride: Learn about Park & Ride locations and transit connections.
- Interactive Traffic Map: View current traffic conditions, incidents and road impacts.
- Roadwork and Street Closures: Find out about road impacts, lane closures and detours.
New pilot helps local businesses improve accessibility
The City is launching a pilot program in partnership with the StopGap Foundation to provide free temporary ramps to local businesses. These lightweight, brightly coloured temporary ramps help businesses overcome single-step barriers, such as a step at the entrance to a shop. Accessibility ramps support by making it easier for people who use mobility devices, have limited mobility or use strollers to access local businesses. They also raise public awareness about accessibility and help businesses welcome more customers. This program is open to any local business. Learn more about the program…
2026 Municipal Elections: Verify your information on the Voters’ List and make a plan to vote
Voting Day in the 2026 Municipal Elections is Monday, October 26. Eligible electors will have the opportunity to vote for their choice of Mayor, City Councillor and School Board Trustee. I am not running for re-election, and there are now nine registered candidates for city councillor in Ward 6 – Stittsville.
You can find lots of information about the election at ottawa.ca/vote including:
- A list of candidates for mayor, council, and school board
- Verifying your information on the Voters’ List
- Find advance voting dates and where to vote
You can also contact the Elections Office at 613-580-2660 or elections@ottawa.ca.
I also encourage residents to get informed about the local candidates:
- Rogers TV has posted an all-candidates debate on its YouTube channel
- The Stittsville Village Association is hosting an all-candidates debate on Thursday evening. Registration is full, but they will be sharing a Zoom link.
Recap of Transit Committee on September 10, 2026
We’ve posted a summary of last week’s Transit Committee meeting, including updates on:
- Fall service
- Stage 2 O-Train extension: East
- Stage 2 O-Train extension: West (including flood damage at Moodie)
- Free transit weekend September 26-27
- Hiring and training
- Ridership numbers
- Para Transpo late night service
Join Us for the Fall 2026 Cleaning the Capital Campaign!
Registration for the Cleaning the Capital Fall 2026 Campaign is now open. Residents, schools, businesses, and community groups are invited to take part in this city-wide initiative that helps keep Ottawa clean, green, and welcoming for everyone. Register here for your free clean-up kit: Cleaning the Capital Program registration form.
September 25: Join Us for the Crossway Park Playground Opening Party!
Join us for a fun evening at the park as we celebrate this exciting new addition to the neighbourhood. Bring your family, connect with neighbours, and enjoy games, activities, and plenty of opportunities for kids to explore the new play structure.
Date: Friday, September 25
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Crossway Park – 649 Allied Mews
More information…
A new pickleball and basketball gym is opening near Stittsville in November
OneCourt Alliance / Everybody Growing Church is opening a converted indoor gymnasium space on campus this fall, at the corner of Huntley and Flewellyn south of Stittsville. It includes three regulation-sized pickleball courts, and a 44’x74′ basketball court with two ceiling-mounted glass backboards, perfect for minor and adult programs. The space is also available for other sports and community events. For more information, contact Mark Wacyk at marek.wacyk@onecourtalliance.ca or visit onecourtalliance.ca.
City now accepting commemorative naming fall applications
The City’s Commemorative Naming Program is now accepting fall applications to nominate people, histories and legacies that have helped shape Ottawa’s community. The nomination period runs until October 20, 2026. More info…
UPDATE: Blasting operations in the Stittsville area
Construction blasting for Idylea Phase 2 will start this week, located north of Fernbank Road and east of Caribou Avenue/Liard Street. The work will take about two months, and the adjacent pathway will be closed during blasting operations for public safety. More info…
Healthy sleep for children
As routines begin to shift, there is one change that can help set the whole family up for success this fall: getting enough sleep. Sleep is one of the foundations of well-being, alongside healthy eating, physical activity, and social connections. Research shows that getting enough quality sleep helps children learn, concentrate, regulate emotions, and perform well at school. For adults, adequate sleep supports decision making, mental health, and overall physical health. Children aged 5-13 years need 9 to 11 hours per night. Teens aged 14-17 years need 8 to 10 hours per night. And adults need 7 to 9 hours per night. Learn more about healthy sleep for children and youth here: https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/resources-and-support/p5643.aspx.
Get in touch!
If we can help in any way, please email me at glen.gower@ottawa.ca or leave a voicemail at 613-580-2476. Please call 3-1-1 if you require immediate assistance, or submit a request online at ottawa.ca/en/311. – Councillor Glen Gower