Notice to Kanata North residents re: mosquito control program

NEXT WEEK A MAILING WILL BE PROVIDED TO CANADA POST FOR DELIVERY TO ALL HOMES IN KANATA NORTH (except for high rise buildings).  This mailing should be received early in February.  Several meetings will be held to discuss the contents of that mailing and to provide information on the voting procedure for this program.  The meeting dates have been changed from earlier dates and additional meetings will be held if needed.

Note: If you do not receive the mailing in your mailbox by February 3rd (the envelope is marked “BALLOT ENCLOSED FOR MOSQUITO PROGRAM IN KANATA NORTH”), please contact my office.  Completed ballots must be returned by February 16th at 4 pm, so if you are mailing, do so by February 9th.

While we don’t generally think about mosquitoes in winter, when spring comes, they will be back!  The Carp River Restoration Project, now under construction, includes four new wetland areas, adding potential mosquito breeding grounds. Traps were used last summer to measure mosquito populations. Large numbers were found all across the Ward.  Parks, including soccer field areas, had particularly large numbers.  Hence, work is required throughout the Ward to reduce numbers of mosquitoes and to retain property values.

The program is explained in the mailing and you can link to it on my website (click here).  Similar programs have been underway in other communities for over 30 years.  I strongly recommend that you attend one of the meetings to find out more.  GDG Environment – the company that won the procurement, subject to a community vote, presently does a similar program in our area specifically for mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus (we have about 40 different types of mosquitoes in this area). At the meetings GDG will provide details on programs they have implemented in other cities, including Gatineau.

At the meetings listed below, you will hear the rationale for the proposed program, how it will be carried out and how it will be benefit residents.  The program will also improve our knowledge of natural systems in this area through an independent research study.

Public Meeting #1
When: Thursday January 28, 7-9pm
Where: All Saints High School, 5115 Kanata Ave.

Public Meeting #2 (rescheduled from January 25)
When: Monday February 1, 7-9pm
Where: St. John’s Anglican Church, 325 Sandhill Rd.

Public Meeting #3 (if required)
When: Saturday February 6, 10 am – noon
Where: tba