Category Archives: Heron Park News
What’s All The Fuss About a New Playstructure?
If you want a clear answer to this question – come and find out!
Be a part of the decision making process!
Be a community builder!
All Heron Parkers are encouraged to attend this week’s meeting on Tuesday, January 12th at 7pm in order to hear a proposed idea for our Community Park. We will hear from Bruce Sudds from Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds . He will give us information on the playground we could have in Heron Park. [There are two choices we’re looking into.]
Whether you have young children or not, anything that provides the children of our neighbourhood with a healthy, active form of entertainment will, over time, benefit the entire neighbourhood.
You can stay just for this topic (the first on the agenda) or for as long as you like. Our meetings usually finish between 8:30 and 9.
Vote For The New Playstructure! We can get $50,000
Please go to the following link and vote for the new playstructure.
http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf1607
If you each go to the following link and vote for us, we might get $50,000 for our new playstructure!
Please put the link on your facebook or twitter pages or send the link to your contacts.
You can vote once a day. Only 3 days left. We have over 100 votes so far!
Influenza Vaccination Clinics
The H1N1 virus is back. The City of Ottawa has established vaccine clinics across the city. Follow the above link for the clinic closest to you.
For more information about the vaccine itself, follow this link:
http://ottawa.ca/residents/health/conditions/id_prevention/preventing_germs/vaccine_safety_en.html
H1N1 Information and Resources
The second wave of H1N1 has hit Ottawa. If you, or someone you know, has a cough and a fever, please assume you have been stricken with H1N1. If your symptoms become serious, especially if you have trouble breathing, go directly to an ER or visit your family doctor. Otherwise, treat it as you would the regular seasonal flu. Lots of rest and fluids.
Again–IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE BREATHING, GO TO EMERGENCY, OR TO YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR!!! If not, try to tough it out.
Symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to seasonal influenza (flu) including headache, chills and cough followed by fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may occur in adults as well as in children. In more severe cases, or in people with chronic conditions, complications such as pneumonia may develop. (Information from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care website.)
For medical advice, see your doctor, or contact Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000
For additional information about influenza and the H1N1 variant, please click on the following links:
- Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long Term Care website
- Public Health Agency of Canada’s H1N1 website
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/fs-fr_h1n1-eng.php
A Community Garden – an idea that is taking root
On Oct 19th, a small group of Heron Parkers met to discuss the possibility of organizing a community garden right here in our neighbourhood. We reviewed some of the steps involved in figuring out what makes a good garden site, securing permission to use the land, getting financial support, etc. We also talked about possible garden sites, and identified a few parcels of vacant land within the neighbourhood that were worth investigating. We then did a walkabout of the potential garden sites to get a sense of which one might best suit our needs. The results will be discussed at our next meeting on Wednesday Nov 18th at 7PM. Also at that meeting, the staff coordinator from the Community Garden Network will ‘show us the ropes’, and explain how to apply for funding for start-up costs.
If you are interested in helping launch a community garden, please contact Connie for more information: connie.berry AT sympatico.ca
HPCA Response to Lansdowne Live Proposal
The current proposal of Lansdowne Live presents Ottawa citizens and taxpayers with one vision, and only one vision, to develop a prime and central piece of City property, Lansdowne Park. The Heron Park Community Association has serious concerns about both the process used in choosing this proposal, and about the merits of the proposal itself.
Regarding the process, we object to the abandonment of a competitive process. Concern over such disregard for standard professional purchasing practices has already been voiced by many others; suffice it to say that we echo and share those concerns.
Regarding the merits of the Lansdowne Live proposal, our concerns include the following:
- Redevelopment of the stadium for a new football franchise is a questionable decision given that many major cities are unable to support a football team and Ottawa has a history of failure on this front twice already.
- Furthermore, the scope of the project, particularly the retail aspects, would burden congested Bank Street and surrounding roads with greater traffic congestion and rely on public transit on the same roads to transport large numbers to/from the complex. The City would be responsible for about $130 million in costs but not see any returns on their investment until the private developers had recouped their investment with an 8% interest rate.
- Other than some increased densification, the concept of Lansdowne Live appears contrary to the City’s Smart Growth plan. From an environmental viewpoint, the proposal adds only limited green space (not to be confused with “green areas”) and would operate under a “municipal services corporation” that could lease the land for up to 70 years. This is a long time to live with a mistake and a long time to pay for it.
Notwithstanding the design, function, traffic, retail issues, the City needs to make every effort to demonstrate to its citizens that this is a fiscally sound proposal and one that will benefit the City and its residents for many years to come. We are not persuaded that this is the case.
On this basis, the Heron Park Community Association actively opposes the Lansdowne Live proposal.
Crime Prevention Week (Nov 1-7)
Crime Prevention Week is celebrated provincially in November across Ontario. Declared by the province in partnership with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, Crime Prevention Week traditionally takes place during the first full week of November. This year, November 1–7 has been designated Crime Prevention Week in Ontario.
This year’s theme is “Prevention Pays – Get Involved. It’s your Community. It’s Your Future”. This is very fitting given that the Let’s Chat About 2012 Coffee Shops are another way for community members to contribute to the future of policing and the safety of our neighbourhoods!
3rd Annual Apolydor Avenue Family Fun Fest
Saturday, September 19 was the 3rd annual Apolydor Avenue Family Fun Fest. More than 5o people from the neighbourhood were in attendance. Fine food and beverages were shared. Games were played. Neighbours enjoyed each others’ company. Close to $40 was raised by Martina’s Lemonade Stand and donated to the Wednesday Night Program. The weather was very cooperative. Overall, it was a great success.
3rd Annual Apolydor Avenue Family Fun Fest.
Heron Park Hackers place 3rd in Wheelchair Relay
On Saturday, September 19, John MacFarlane’s entry in the Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario Wheelchair Relay Challenge fundraiser garnered 3rd place. We actually placed 4th out of four teams in the final race, but a team ahead of us was aided by motorized wheelchairs.
Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario Wheelchair Relay Challenge
John was anchor and captain of the team. We won our first two heats. In each race, Erich Kerckhoff led off, followed by Ashley, Colin MacLean, Diane MacFarlane and finally John. This is the second consecutive year the Hackers have reached the final. We hope to improve on our results next year.
September 14 Meeting of HPCA Executive Committee
Donna Silver, Rosella MacNeil, Connie Berry, Derek Gour, Eileen McGurrin, Kelly Thomas and Colin MacLean
Our summer break officially ended on Monday, September 14 at 7 p.m. Included on the agenda for the meeting were some of the following items:
- Playstructure Fundraising
- City of Ottawa Tree Planting Program
- Heron Park Herald
- Neighbourhood Watch
- Councillor Clive Doucet’s Report on City Council and activities in Capital Ward–Ward 17
In attendance were:
- President Kelly Thomas
- Secretary Eileen McGurrin
- Treasurer Rosella MacNeil
- Member-at-Large Connie Berry (Community Garden and Stream Watch)
- Member-at-Large Colin MacLean (Neighbourhood Watch and WNP)
- Member-at-Large Derek Gour (Website and Heron Park Herald)
- Donna Silver from Clive Doucet’s office
It was a meeting in which we dealt with many items of interest to the community. Be on the look-out for the minutes.
Of note:
- Submissions to the Heron Park Herald must be made by the September 25 deadline. E-mail Derek Gour at siteadmin@heronpark.ca
- Volunteers are needed for tree planting in Heron Park on Saturday, October 3. Meet in Heron Park at the Community Centre at 8:30 a.m.
- Next HPCA meeting on Monday, October 5, 7 p.m. at the Heron Park Community Centre.
