COMMUNITY NOTES: from the desk of Councillor Gower

Councillor Gower asks Stittsville residents to reflect and learn about reconciliation on September 30 as we honour those whose lives were impacted by the Residential School System. This week, the Councillor asks residents to join him and Safer Roads Ottawa for some free giveaways on October 2; and, he asks for your ideas on a Public Realm Plan to reinvigorate Stittsville Main Street. He also provides details on Ladybird Park; blasting at the Fernbank Trunk Sewer; school bus drivers; a cannabis application for ShinyBud Cannabis in the Shop of Main Street strip mall; construction happening and the latest from Ottawa Public Health.

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Thursday, September 30 marks Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day provides an opportunity to bring awareness to the painful legacy and impacts of the residential school system and advance our reconciliation efforts. To learn more, please visit National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: how you can recognize the day. I hope that everyone can take some time on Thursday to reflect and learn about reconciliation, and what it means in our community and our lives. The City’s administrative offices will be closed. You can find a list of City services and facilities affected on ottawa.ca and octranspo.com.

Launch of Stittsville Main Street Public Realm Plan
The City of Ottawa is creating a new plan to guide the renewal all public features of Stittsville Main Street — that’s everything from benches and streetlights to sidewalks and traffic lanes. The goal is to make the street more beautiful, inviting, safe, and functional for all visitors and road users. We want to hear your ideas to make the Public Realm Plan, along with Main Street itself, as good as it can be.

Stittsville Main Street was last reconstructed 30 years ago, and so many elements of the street are either reaching the end of their lifespan or not up to modern standards. Developing a Public Realm Plan is important to guide future work to renew the street. We’ll study:

• Pedestrians and cyclists
• Landscaping and Public Space Opportunities
• Street Furniture and Lighting
• Existing and Planned Context
• Vehicle circulations and volumes
• Street intersections
• Below and above grade utilities and services
• Previous Urban Planning work completed for the study area (Stittsville Main Street Secondary Plan and the Stittsville Main Street Community Design Plan).
• Private approaches, parking and loading

With this new plan in place, we’ll be able to set a budget and start funding projects to bring new life to the street. More info here…

Woodlot Rehabilitation Program: Ladybird Park
Following the removal of ash trees impacted by Emerald Ash Borer from this woodlot, and subsequent reforestation work, tending and planting operations are now required to successfully rehabilitate the forest. The tending and planting of saplings will start in October, weather permitting. Read more…

Blasting for the Fernbank Trunk Sewer
Blasting is required for construction of the new Fernbank Trunk Sewer, east of Shea Road along the future Cope Road corridor from Shea to Angel Heights. Blasting will occur Monday-Friday throughout the day. The blasting starts this week and is scheduled to continue until late October. Visit glengower.ca/blasting/ for more info.

Cycling giveaway on October 2
Join me and Safer Roads Ottawa this Saturday at Village Square Park (Stittsville Main @ Abbott) for a bike safety giveaway. It’s part of the “Be Safe Be Seen” campaign, and we’ll be handing out free bike lights and reflective gear.  We’ll be there from 9am-11am.

Trans Canada Trail/Hazeldean Drain maintenance
Stage 2 of the maintenance on the Hazeldean Drain near the Trans Canada Trail is scheduled for this week, weather permitting.  The work is expected to take 3-5 days and will require the temporary closure of the trail for safety. The trail will remain open between 6:30pm and 7:30am (outside working hours).

Cannabis retail application for 1261 Stittsville Main
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has received a cannabis retail license application for 1261 Stittsville Main Street. File number is 1167849.  You can comment via the AGCO web site at agco.ca.

School bus driver shortage
The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority’s Operators are experiencing a severe bus driver shortage.  They’re working hard to provide alternate transportation solutions for students as new drivers are recruited and trained.  They’re currently recruiting part-time workers for morning and afternoon routes. More info here…

Construction at 195 Huntmar
Palladium Drive has reopened and the new roundabout is nearly finished. The roundabout will connect the northern section of Robert Grant Avenue to Palladium, and provide access for the new Mattamy neighbourhood under construction. There are still some finishing touches required for truck traffic to use the roundabout and access the construction site. This work is expected to be finished in mid-October, and until then construction vehicles will continue to use the temporary access road from Huntmar Drive. Blasting on the site is complete, and any additional rock removal will be completed with hoe-ramming.

The latest from Ottawa Public Health

• 88 per cent of Ottawa residents 12 and over have received at least one dose and 82 per cent are fully vaccinated.
• There are lots of options for proof of vaccination! Find out how to get yours here: covid19.ontariohealth.ca or call the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line at 1-833-943-3900. Received your vaccine outside of Ontario? Visit COVID-19 Out of Province Dose Documentation.
• Looking for COVID-19 resources in Arabic? Our very own Heidi joined CHIN Radio for an interview on how community outreach programs provide vaccination opportunities to all! Listen to the Arabic interview here! Also check out our newly launched Arabic Facebook group where we can answer questions and listen to your concerns about COVID-19! For more resources, please visit our Arabic Portal.
• OPH will be partnering with Jewish Family Services (JFS), YMCA, and Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Ottawa (OCISO) to host a one-hour event for youth in Arabic. Join us on September 29, 5:30-6:30 pm for a Kahoot quiz via Zoom. Register here! 
• Do you have questions about COVID-19 and vaccines? Join our upcoming virtual town hall on Wednesday, September 29 from noon to 1 pm.

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.