The City of Ottawa’s recent Open House on the community design plan for Bank Street between Billings Bridge and Heron can be accessed at the link below which goes directly to the information shared at that time. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to click on links to the presentation materials.  If you seek more information, please post a comment or question on this site and a response will be provided as time permits.

http://ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/bank_cdp/open_house2_en.html

The City of Ottawa’s Transit Commission approved moving forward on Thursday, June 16th to make major improvements to the  existing O-Train line.  6 new trains are to be purchased, the existing 3 trains will be sold and the tracks will be doubled in the vicinity of Gladstone and Brookfield. This will improve service from the current 15 minutes to 8 minutes.  Doubling the track at Brookfield includes a much desired pedestrian bridge over the tracks.

http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/tc/2011/06-15/06-ACS2011-ICS-TRA-0013%20Otrain%20business%20case.htm

The first public open house for the Bank Street Community Design Plan is scheduled for:

Wednesday, February 16, 2011
St. Timothy’s Presbyterian Church
2400 Alta Vista Drive
From 6pm to 9pm, with presentation at 7pm

The Study Area is a portion of Bank Street that extends from Riverside Drive to the CN rail line located south of Walkley Road. The Study Area affects three City Wards (Ward 16 – River, Ward 17 – Capital, and Ward 18 – Alta Vista) and includes the properties that abut either side of Bank Street and several properties near the Street that are zoned AM – Arterial Mainstreet

The goal of the study is to prepare a CDP for the portion of Bank Street mentioned above. The plan will provide a broad and integrated twenty-year vision and guide for the future of the area.

Visit www.ottawa.ca/bank for full details.

Non-profit community organizations in Ottawa are invited to submit applications for new projects that address Community Project Funding priorities. Eligible organizations can apply for two different streams of funding namely, One-Year Project Funding and Three-Year Project Funding.

Non-Renewable Community Project Funding is available for projects that:

• Increase neighbourhood capacity to enact positive and sustainable change in planning, service delivery, improve health and/or improve safety in accordance with neighbourhood-defined goals.
• Promote the healthy development of children and youth (0-18 years) and their development of competencies through recreation, leisure, cultural and arts activities.
• Increase participation of seniors in physical activities and community life to promote successful aging.
• Support inclusion of people who are low income, at risk, isolated or otherwise marginalized and promote quality of life for the full diversity of residents through activities such as literacy, employment, physical activity and/or participation in cultural programs.
• Promote conditions of equality on the basis of race, ethnicity, income, gender, official language and ability.

More information, including program guidelines and application form, is available at City of Ottawa Client Service Centres and online at ottawa.ca/communityfunding

Application deadline: Thursday, April 8, 2010.

Two information sessions are provided. The schedule is as follows:

If you require special needs accommodation for the information sessions, please contact Julie Tremblay at 613-580-2424, ext. 12513.

For more information on the 2010 Non-Renewable Community Project Funding Program, please contact Rahmat Shahidi at 613-580-2424, ext. 24251.

The City of Ottawa’s 13th annual 55 + Short Story Contest invites submissions of original, unpublished short stories or memoirs of 2000 words or less by Ottawa residents 55 years or older.

Eight entrants will be named to the 2010 Winners Circle, sharing recognition and prize money of $400. They will be recognized at An Afternoon of Readings on Wednesday April 28, 2010 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Heron Seniors’ Centre, 1480 Heron Road.

One of the winning stories will be selected for publication in the spring issue of Forever Young newspaper. Though contestants may submit multiple entries, they will only be eligible to win one prize.

An entry fee of $5 per story is applicable. Deadline for submissions is Monday, March 15, 2010.

This contest is co-sponsored by the Colonel By Retirement Residence and the Forever Young newspaper.

For full contest details, pick up a brochure at any City of Ottawa Client Service Centre or call the Heron Seniors’ Centre at 613-247-4808. ext.1

Le Concours de nouvelles « 55 Plus » de la Ville d’Ottawa est lancé

Ottawa – Les résidents de 55 ans et plus sont invités à soumettre des mémoires ou des nouvelles originales non publiées de 2 000 mots ou moins dans le cadre du 13e concours annuel de nouvelles « 55 Plus » de la Ville d’Ottawa.

Huit finalistes seront nommés au Cercle des gagnants de 2010, partageant reconnaissance et des prix en argent de 400 $. Ils seront reconnus lors d’Un après-midi de lecture qui aura lieu le mercredi 28 avril 2010 de 13 h à 16 h au Centre des aînés Heron, 1480, chemin Heron.

Un des récits gagnants sera sélectionné pour publication dans la revue Forever Young du printemps. Bien que les candidats puissent soumettre plusieurs nouvelles, ils ne sont admissibles qu’à un seul prix.

Des droits d’inscription de 5 $ par nouvelle sont exigés et la date limite des soumissions est fixée au 15 mars 2010. Le concours est commandité par la Colonel By Retirement Residence et la revue Forever Young.

Afin d’obtenir tous les détails concernant le concours, veuillez prendre une brochure dans un des centres du service à la clientèle ou appeler le Centre des aînés Heron au 613-247-4808, poste 1.

Ottawa – The City of Ottawa has recently been informed by Orgaworld Canada that their current Ministry of Environment Certificate of Approval issued by the Ministry of the Environment for their composting facility does not include dog feces as an acceptable material.

The certificate does allow for the receipt and handling of other small pet feces, as long as it is included as a part of cat litter and small animal bedding materials.

This announcement is being made at this time in order to avoid this material being included by residents as a part of their organics materials intended for eventual processing at the Orgaworld facility beginning on January 27, 2010.

It will also be necessary to make changes to the City’s Solid Waste By-law eliminating the acceptability of this material. This will be done at the next Council meeting.

The City reminds residents to use green bins safely. While green bin manufacturer, Norseman Plastics, says there have been no reported incidents of children being injured in their lockable green bins, each unit does contain a message that says “Warning! Suffocation hazard. Do not allow children to play inside this container.”

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For more information:
Media contact
613-580-2450

Public inquiries
3-1-1

Pour diffusion immédiate

Le 11 janvier 2010

Les excréments de chien ne sont pas acceptés dans les bacs verts

Ottawa – La Ville d’Ottawa a récemment été avisée par Orgaworld Canada que le Certificat d’approbation actuel du ministère de l’Environnement délivré par le ministère de l’Environnement pour son installation de compostage ne comprenait pas les excréments de chien dans sa liste des matières acceptables.

Le certificat permet la collecte et la manipulation d’excréments d’autres petits animaux, en autant qu’ils font partie de la litière pour chat ou pour petits animaux.

Cet avis vous est transmis afin d’éviter que ces excréments ne se retrouvent dans les bacs de déchets organiques des résidents et qu’ils ne soient envoyés à l’installation Orgaworld aux fins de traitement à compter du 27 janvier 2010.

Il est également nécessaire d’apporter des changements au Règlement municipal sur les déchets solides de la Ville, pour éliminer l’acceptabilité des excréments de chien. Ces modifications seront apportées lors de la prochaine réunion du Conseil.

La Ville rappelle aux résidents d’être vigilants avec leur bac vert. Bien que le fabricant de bacs verts, Norseman Plastics, n’ait rapporté aucun incident lié à un enfant blessé par un des bacs verts verrouillables, chaque article contient un message d’avertissement sur lequel on peut lire « Attention! Danger de suffocation. Ne pas laisser les enfants jouer à l’intérieur du bac ».

Trees for Tomorrow Distribution

Get it, plant it, grow it.
Register today!

Take part in planting 100,000 trees in the City of Ottawa by 2010 through the Trees, Reforestation and Environmental Enhancement (TREE) Program. Ottawa residents are eligible to register for a tree to plant on their property and have it delivered it right to your door at no charge.

We are now accepting registrations for the spring 2010 TREE delivery.

New!

To celebrate the final year of the TREE program, residents who have previously received a tree through the Trees for Tomorrow initiative will now be eligible to receive a second tree! One potted tree per year will be delivered to Ottawa residents on a first-come, first serve basis while quantities last.

Registration

Trees will be available for delivery in the Spring (May/June) and Fall (September/October); the number of trees provided each season will be based on availability. Once each season’s available trees are reserved, registrations will be held for the next available month. The online registration form indicates when your tree will be delivered. There is no fee for delivery. Please note that pick up option is no longer available.

Following registration, you will be sent a delivery notification letter in the mail in the month prior to your delivery. This letter will indicate the approximate delivery week.

A potted tree requires care following delivery. If you will not be home during the delivery period, a neighbour or friend will be required to water the tree until your return.

Trees will not be left at a vacant lot, on the sidewalk or in locations that may impede circulation or pose a hazard to the public. It is at the discretion of the delivery person to leave the tree; if for any reason, the tree cannot be delivered, a delivery notification will be left or you may be contacted to make alternate arrangements.

Types of Trees Available

A variety of species and sizes of trees will be provided based on availability from our suppliers. Trees will be in pots and will arrive with planting instructions, a rodent guard, and a small bag of compost and mulch. It is the responsibility of the recipient to obtain underground utility locates prior to planting the tree.

To receive a tree to plant on your property, register online or call 3-1-1.

The City launched its Snow Go and Snow Go Assist programs today to help seniors and people with disabilities secure reliable and affordable services for clearing snow and ice from private driveways and walkways this winter.

The Snow Go Program matches those in need with reliable snow and ice clearing service providers. The Snow Go Assist Pilot Program offers financial assistance to eligible, low-income seniors and people with disabilities to pay for up to 50 percent, up to a seasonal maximum of $250, towards snow and ice removal costs. Both programs, now in their third year, are funded by the City of Ottawa and are co-ordinated by the Senior Citizens Council (SCC) in co-operation with 10 community support agencies throughout Ottawa.

“The Snow Go programs provide a critical service to people in need,” said Mayor Larry O’Brien. “The City is proud to partner with the SCC and community support agencies to better serve the needs of our seniors and people with disabilities.”

“In Ottawa, we are committed to providing enhanced services to our growing seniors population and persons with disabilities,” said Councillor Maria McRae, Chair of the Transportation Committee. “The Snow Go Program improves the mobility of seniors and persons with disabilities during the winter months by providing them with a referral service where they can access snow removal workers who have been pre-screened for criminal reference checks and costs. Financial assistance is also available to eligible participants through the Snow Go Assist Pilot Program.”

The participating community support agencies are: Glebe Centre Inc. (Abbotsford House), Olde Forge Community Resource Centre, Ottawa West Community Support, South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre, the Good Companions Seniors Centre, the Township of Osgoode Home Support Program, Eastern Ottawa Community Resources Centre, Rideau Seniors Centre, Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (affiliated with Nepean Support Services), and Jewish Family Services.

“The Senior Citizens Council commends the City of Ottawa for supporting these programs designed to improve winter accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities,” said SCC past president Bill Logan. “Working together with the local community support agencies, our dedicated staff and volunteers will be ready to assist seniors and people with disabilities to prepare for the winter season.”

To be matched with a snow removal provider or to apply for Snow Go Assist Pilot Program funding, contact one of the participating community support agencies, or visit the Services for Seniors section on ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).

La Ville lance ses programmes Snow Go afin d’aider les personnes âgées ou ayant une incapacité lors du déneigement

Ottawa – La Ville a lancé aujourd’hui son Programme Snow Go et son Programme d’aide Snow Go afin d’aider les personnes âgées ou ayant une incapacité à trouver des services fiables et abordables pour le déneigement et le dégivrage de leur allée ou de leur entrée privée cet hiver.

Le Programme Snow Go offre aux personnes qui sont dans le besoin un service de jumelage avec des fournisseurs de services fiables d’enlèvement de la neige et de la glace. Le Programme pilote d’aide Snow Go offre aux personnes âgées ou ayant une incapacité, qui ont un faible revenu et qui sont admissibles, un appui financier pour payer jusqu’à 50 p. 100 des frais de déneigement et de dégivrage, jusqu’à un maximum saisonnier de 250 $. Les deux programmes, qui en sont à leur troisième année, sont financés par la Ville d’Ottawa et coordonnés par le Conseil des aînés, en collaboration avec dix organismes de soutien communautaire sur tout le territoire d’Ottawa.

« Les Programmes Snow Go offrent un service essentiel aux personnes qui sont dans le besoin, a déclaré le maire Larry O’Brien. La Ville est fière de s’associer avec le Conseil des aînés et des organismes de soutien communautaire afin de mieux répondre aux besoins de nos aînés et des personnes ayant une incapacité. »

« À Ottawa, nous sommes déterminés à offrir des services améliorés à la population croissante des personnes âgées ou ayant une incapacité, a ajouté la conseillère Maria McRae, présidente du Comité des transports. Le Programme Snow Go permet d’améliorer la mobilité des aînés et des personnes ayant une incapacité durant les mois d’hiver, en leur offrant un service de jumelage avec des travailleurs dans le domaine du déneigement, dont on a vérifié le casier judiciaire et la tarification. Le Programme pilote d’aide Snow Go offre également de l’aide financière aux participants admissibles. »

Les organismes de soutien communautaire participants sont les suivants : le Centre Glebe (résidence Abbotsford), le Centre de ressources communautaires Olde Forge, le Service communautaire d’Ottawa Ouest, le Centre de santé communautaire du sud-est d’Ottawa, le Centre des bons compagnons pour les personnes âgées, le Programme de soutien à la maison du canton d’Osgoode, le Centre des ressources communautaires d’Ottawa Est, le Centre Rideau pour personnes âgées, le Centre de ressources communautaires d’Ottawa Ouest (affilié aux Services de soutien de Nepean) et les Services à la famille juive.

« Le Conseil des aînés félicite la Ville d’Ottawa pour son appui aux programmes visant à améliorer la mobilité en hiver des aînés et des personnes ayant une incapacité, a conclu Bill Logan, président sortant du Conseil des aînés. Travaillant de concert avec les organismes de soutien communautaire de la région, notre personnel et nos bénévoles dévoués seront prêts à aider les personnes âgées ou ayant une incapacité à se préparer pour l’hiver. »

Si vous voulez être jumelé(e) avec un fournisseur de services de déneigement ou demander le financement d’aide Snow Go, communiquez avec l’un des organismes de soutien communautaire participants, consultez la section Services aux aînés du site ottawa.ca ou encore composez le 3-1-1 (ATS : 613-580-2401).