Councillor Gower fills us in on news of the week and what to look forward to in the upcoming weeks. From news on the tender process and opening in 2023 of the new Stittsville Secondary School to potholes, the Councillor has covered it all.
Green light for the new public high school:
Last week I joined The Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, MPP Goldie Ghamari and Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Trustee Lynn Scott for an important announcement about the progress of the new public high school in Stittsville. The provincial government has approved the tender award and additional funding so that construction can begin.
I’ve been following efforts to build a public high school in our Stittsville community ever since I moved here with my family over a decade ago. Last week’s announcement is a significant milestone towards the construction of this much-needed school in our community.
This great news for Stittsville, in particular for the growing Fernbank community, where the school will be within walking distance for thousands of young families.
Thank you to the many residents and parents who have helped support this project over the years. The school board is targeting an opening date of September 2023. I can’t wait to see students walk through the doors on the first day of school!
Paint it Up! Mural program reduces graffiti through art:
If there is a wall in your neighbourhood that keeps falling victim to graffiti vandalism, the City of Ottawa and Crime Prevention Ottawa invite you to Paint it Up! Now in its twelfth year, the Paint it Up! program offers funding for outdoor mural art projects that support graffiti prevention, youth empowerment, community safety and the beautification of Ottawa neighbourhoods. The program is one component of the City’s Graffiti Management Strategy.
Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC):
Residents may have received a letter recently from Service Line Warranties of Canada. The City of Ottawa has partnered with the company to offer Ottawa homeowners protection plans to help cover repair costs associated with their water and sewer/septic service lines. This program is completely optional and I’m advising residents to check with their insurance provider to see if they already have coverage under the home policy. You can find more info here…
1981 Maple Grove:
The City has received a 2nd submission from Claridge for the subdivision at 1981 Maple Grove. The resubmission involves a change in housing types from the previous mix of detached houses, townhouses, and stacked townhouses to only include townhouses and stacked townhouses. Read more…
For a full list of active development files in the Stittsville area, visit glengower.ca/development/
It’s pothole season!
Potholes are formed when water or melted snow gets into small cracks or holes in the road. The water freezes as temperatures drop, pushing the pavement up and creating a hole which can be pushed down when cars travel over it. Over time, the hole can grow causing potholes.
Based on the forecast, we are anticipating several freeze-thaw cycles over the next few weeks. Our Roads and Parking teams will be out throughout the spring to fill the potholes. Potholes are filled by cleaning the hole of debris and water, then packing the hole with asphalt and rolling it or pounding it down. At this time of year, some potholes in high traffic areas may need to be refilled more than once. This is not due to poor asphalt or workmanship, but can happen if water gets back into the hole preventing the asphalt from forming an adhesive bond with the existing pavement.
Residents can expect to see the City’s asphalting teams deployed across the City in the coming weeks filling potholes. For residents wishing to report a pothole, please create a Service Request online.
Keep in touch with Councillor Gower by following him on Twitter, Facebook or visit his website. You can also send comments, questions or concerns in an email to glen.gower@ottawa.ca or give his office a call at 613-580-2476.