The summer is quickly passing and the return to school is around the corner, with that in mind, Councillor Gower provides some pertinent information for those driving and parking near schools. He also shares health news on COVID for the return to school and other Ottawa Public Health news. Some of the other topics he shares are speeding and excessive noise, a new webpage to get blasting information as it happens in Stittsville and area, the Campeau Drive extension, development news, the Waste Management’s Carp Road landfill, and information on tree removals taking place on the Tartan Lands.
Back to school!
Good luck to all of the students and teachers who are heading back to class this week and next week. For many it will be their first time in class since the Provincial shut-down last spring.
If you’re driving, please remember to slow down in school zones and stay alert for kids who are walking or biking to school. Remember to stop for school buses and remain stopped until the arm folds away and all lights stop flashing. If you don’t stop, you can be fined $400 to $2,000 and receive six demerit points for a first offence.
If you’re a parent or guardian driving your child to school, please park away from the school if you can and walk the last few blocks. This will help reduce traffic closest to schools, and it’s a good chance for exercise.
As a community, we need to continue to do our part to keep COVID rates down, so we can keep the virus from being introduced into school settings. Ottawa Public Health will continue to support the school community with public health nurses on site in schools, online and over the phone to support COVID-19 prevention and protection measures. This includes supporting the implementation of guidelines and policies to ensure everyone practices preventive measures such as daily screening before attending school, proper masking, distancing and handwashing.
Community health partners, including CHEO, are working to ensure ready access to testing, including increasing availability of take-home testing kits in many schools.
This pandemic has been challenging for children, youth and their families. Ottawa Public Health continues to work with mental health partners and schools to connect students and families to supports and help schools to foster mental health and promote resilience. Visit ottawapublichealth.ca for information and resources to support children’s mental health.
Police continue enforcement for speeding and excessive noise
The Ottawa Citizen reports that police have laid 2,050 charges city-wide since early May for stunt driving, speeding, improper mufflers or excessive noise, and distracted driving. On September 12, stunt driving penalties are set to increase in Ontario including a 30-day license suspension, up from the current 7-day period.
Police have asked me to remind residents to report unsafe driving at ottawapolice.ca/report. They use these reports to decide where to prioritize additional enforcement in our community.
NEW: List of blasting operations in Stittsville
This summer’s blasting has been disruptive for residents, especially with so many people working from home due to the pandemic.
We’ve set up a new web page so that residents can stay informed about blasting operations in the Stittsville area. Visit glengower.ca/blasting for a list of blasting projects, schedules, and key contacts. We’ll keep this updated whenever we’re aware of new blasting work in the community.
Blasting is expected to continue into the fall for construction of the new Fernbank Trunk Sewer, heading north east from Fernbank Road along the future Cope Road corridor. Currently, blasting is happening west of Shea Road, with further work east of Shea Road expected to start in September or October.
Opening of the Campeau Drive extension
The City is inviting pedestrians and cyclists to check out the new Campeau Drive extension and Carp River bridge as part of a soft opening before the road opens to all traffic. The extension runs from Huntmar Drive to Terry Fox Drive in Kanata, and will be a convenient link for Stittsville residents traveling to places like Kanata Centrum. I’m also happy to report that the project was completed ahead of schedule. More info…
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Site plan for Catholic school in Fernbank
The City has received a site plan proposal for a new English Catholic elementary school at 60 Defence Street at Cope. More info…
UPDATE: Mattamy’s development at Brigantine/Khasmin
Mattamy’s development proposal for 21 Brigatine Avenue and 501 Khamsin Street goes to Planning Committee for approval on September 9. This is the last phase of the Fairwinds neighbourhood, on the site of the current stormwater management pond that is set to be decommissioned. Mattamy has made several changes to their requested zoning change based on public feedback. More info…
1869 Maple Grove Road
A plan for 18 homes at 1869 Maple Grove Road was approved by Planning Committee last week, and will go to City Council for review on September 8. More info…
Brightside/Hopetown pathway improvements
Please join us on Monday for an update on pedestrian upgrades for the pathways that link Guardian Angels school with Brightside Avenue and Hopetown Street. You can see the updated designs here…
Road closures & construction:
• Palladium Drive will be closed between the Automall and the Queensway from August 30 to September 17, for construction of a new roundabout at the future Robert Grant Avenue. More info…
Committee to review Carp landfill compensation contract
Next week, a City committee will review and discuss a long-awaited “Municipal Host Agreement” (MHA) governing the Waste Management’s Carp Road landfill expansion. Among other things, the MHA sets out a “Host Community Fee” that Waste Management will pay to the City as compensation.
Waste Management received provincial approval for the expansion of the current landfill on Carp Road in 2013, so next week’s decision isn’t about approving or rejecting the facility. That decision has already been made. Still, the HMA is important and we need to make sure we’re getting the best deal possible for residents. Read more…
Tree removal permit issued for Tartan lands on Fernbank
Tree clearing is starting this week on a property known as the “Tartan Lands”, east of Caribou Street and Liard Street. The work is in preparation for a new subdivision, originally approved in 2014. The City is protecting a 10.9-metre buffer of greenspace and pathway along the west side of the site for a pathway linking Fernbank Road and Kemp Woodland. There’s also a 5-meter strip of trees being kept on the north edge of the site, and in an area reserved for a future park.
A tree cutting permit has been issued by the City’s forestry department who will be monitoring the work. Tartan has marked off the buffer and other sensitive environmental areas on the site that will be protected.
I’m never happy to see the loss of trees and forests in our community. We can never fully compensate for the loss of these mature trees. Please click here to read about what is happening to better protect forests and natural areas in our City, and some of the challenges we face in these efforts.
The latest from Ottawa Public Health
- 85 per cent of Ottawa residents 12 and over have received at least one dose and 79 per cent are fully vaccinated.
- If you or a member of your family need a first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, visit one of our clinics, open daily, no appointment needed. Just drop-in whenever it’s convenient for you! Learn more about clinic locations and hours of operation.
- We’ve added even more locations to our Neighbourhood Vaccination Hubs making it easier and more convenient to get your COVID-19 vaccine. Find the Neighbourhood Vaccination Hub nearest you!
- Are you a part of the Arabic speaking community in Ottawa? Do you have questions and concerns about COVID-19? Come and chat with us in this Facebook group: OttawaPublicHealth.ca/FacebookArabic
- A third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is now available to residents most at risk of serious illness, including individuals who are severely immunocompromised. Learn more about who is eligible and how to receive a third dose, here.
- There are some scary things on the internet about COVID-19 vaccines. Make sure to check credible sources and watch this myth busting video! Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health, answers your COVID-19 vaccine questions!
- Check out our new multilingual videos including Arabic, Cantonese, Polish, French (and many more) where the Queensway Carleton Hospital doctors answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccines.
Get in touch!
My team and I are working every day to answer your questions and connect residents with the resources they need. If we can help in any way, please email me at glen.gower@ottawa.ca or leave a voicemail at 613-580-2476.