Halloween is just around the corner and Councillor Gower is sharing his upcoming Trick or Treat event on October 31, along with some tips from Ottawa Public Health so all the witches and goblins can have a safe Halloween. Influenza vaccine appointments are now being booked through Ottawa Public Health to be received at community vaccine centres, as well at your doctor’s office or your local pharmacy. The Councillor also shares some upcoming events, an LRT update and construction happening in and around Stittsville. Preparing your pool for the winter season, some important information is also being shared about chlorine and salt water and its effect on our environment.
Trick or treat!
My team and I will be giving out treats at Village Square Park on Sunday, October 31 between 4:30pm and 6:00pm. Please drop by and say hello!
We’re also holding a costume contest. Take a picture of your costume and get a chance to win a $20 gift card to one of Stittsville’s amazing local shops. Submit your entry via Instagram by tagging @councillorglen or email us at glen.gower@ottawa.ca. Winners will be selected for the following five categories: Best Group/Couple, Halloweeniest, funniest, cutest and best homemade. Contest closes November 3.
Ottawa Public Health has some tips and tricks for celebrating safely:
- Remember to screen for symptoms! Stay home if anyone is sick, even if symptoms are mild
- Trick-or-Treat and participate in activities outdoors as much as possible
- Be creative and build your face covering (mask) into your costume
- A costume mask is not a suitable substitute for a cloth (non-medical) mask, a disposable (non-medical) mask or a medical mask
- A costume mask should not be worn over another mask because it can make it hard to breathe
- Learn more about masks and face coverings on OPH’s website
- Do not crowd doorsteps if you are going door to door – take turns one at a time
- Use hand sanitizer throughout Halloween activities including before and after handling your face covering, when you arrive home from trick-or-treating, and before and after handling or eating treats
Ottawa Public Health launches annual influenza vaccine campaign
Appointment booking is now open for flu vaccinations at Ottawa Public Health (OPH) community vaccine clinics for parents with children aged six months to two years old and their immediate families and for people experiencing barriers to getting the flu vaccine.
Starting in November, residents will also be able to receive their flu vaccine through their family doctor or local participating pharmacy.
New this flu season, individuals two years of age and older can visit participating pharmacies to receive their flu vaccine. Individuals aged six months and older may also receive their flu vaccine from their family doctor or nurse practitioner. Anyone aged six months and older who lives, works or attends school in Ontario is eligible to receive the publicly funded flu vaccine at no cost.
Visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/Flu for more information.
Update on LRT repairs and return to service
Last week, the Transit Commission received an update on the recent derailments, R1 replacement bus service, and the steps required to resume train service safely and reliably. Based on what we heard, train service could resume as early as the first half of November. Based on feedback we heard from residents at the meeting, I introduced a motion (along with input from Councillor McKenney) to temporarily extend the maximum transfer time by an additional 60 minutes. Read more…
Saturday, October 30 – Kemp Woodland Celebration
The Stittsville Landkeepers are organizing a clean-up, walking tour, and scavenger hunt at the Kemp Woodland on Saturday. Click here for info and registration.
November 1 – Stittsville Pumpkin Parade
Bring your jack-o-lanterns and your masks (and your costumes, too) for a night of spooky fun. Prizes for best pumpkins. At Village Square Park from 7pm-8pm. Organizers are also collecting socks for the Toasty Toes campaign. Details…
Local photography exhibit at the Stittsville library
There is an exhibition of photographs by local photographer John Edkins currently at the Stittsville Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. The exhibition runs until the end of October and all photographs are available for sale. You are also invited to visit John’s website at johnedkinsphoto.ca.
Nominations are now open for the 2021 Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards
If you know an immigrant to Canada who embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and deserves recognition for their contributions to the Ottawa economy, nominate them for the 2021 Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards. The City is now accepting nominations online until November 4. Nominate a friend, colleague, client, employee or employer who deserves to be celebrated for their contributions. Visit ottawa.ca for details.
The City’s Drinking Water Services team is wrapping their yearly Cathodic Protection program in our community
Cathodic protection is a process that involves attaching a series of magnesium rods (or “anodes”) to the outside of a metallic water main or water service to provide corrosion protection to the water main. This extends the life of the pipe infrastructure. They have completed work in Wyldewood and have started installing anodes in the Crossing Bridge community on Hobin Street. They will expand into some of the neighbouring streets as well. Depending on weather, they may continue later intho the fall near Trailway Circle and the Brae Crescent areas. You can find more information about the work here.
Bell is starting work this week to install fiber optic cable in the area of Liard/Cherry/Caribou and surrounding streets. Visit glengower.ca/bell/ for the latest updates about Bell work in your neighbourhood.
Construction work on Shea and Fernbank
Work starts this week on temporary bypass roads on Shea Road (south of CARDELREC) and on Fernbank (at Edenwylde). It’s part of ongoing construction of the Fernbank trunk sewer. Detours will begin in November.
Hop! A New App That Makes Walking to School Fun
Hop! Is a new app created by EnviroCentre and the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) that encourages elementary students to walk to school. Hop! is free and is available for download by anyone through the OSTA website, and schools are particularly encouraged to use it in their active transportation initiatives. App users can track kilometres travelled, while being motivated by engaging illustrations, group challenges, and milestones. The app’s motivational features help children to choose walking first, which reduces cars on the road and improves school zone safety.
If you’re emptying your pool or hot tub for the season, please remember that chlorinated water and saltwater from pools and hot tubs contain chemicals that are harmful to the aquatic life living in Ottawa’s waterways, and should never be discharged to a storm sewer or into natural areas along creeks.
To practice responsible maintenance for swimming pools and hot tubs, it is important to discharge pool and hot tub water appropriately. Storm sewers divert rainwater and snowmelt into the nearest stream, creek, pond or river without treatment at the City’s wastewater treatment plant.
• Water may be discharged through a connection to the sanitary sewer. Contact a licensed plumber for more information.
• Water may be discharged onto the homeowner’s property provided that it is absorbed into the ground without flowing onto adjoining properties; flowing over a valley or into a ravine, or causing erosion;
• Water may be transported by an appropriately licensed wastewater hauler.
Please take a moment to review the City’s pool and hot tub discharge guidelines at ottawa.ca.
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. NEW: Message us on WhatsApp at 613-277-0193.
Hope there will be no planting of trees and bushes in the new roundabout, it should be clear so we can look well to the left and ahead. Trees and bushes block the view. Check other roundabouts with foliage, highly dangerous. Thank you.