COUNCILLOR’S MESSAGE
OC Transpo’s Route 82: what we learned, how we’re going to fix it, and how your feedback mattered
This is a long segment, filled with shocks and surprises, and some good news at the end. Strap in.
My office has been working to address some of the most critical challenges facing transit riders in Ward 9. Since OC Transpo launched New Ways to Bus in April 2025, we’ve noticed a steady decline in service. We anticipated this decline, predicting that the impact on Ward 9 residents would be worse than in other wards.
In Summer 2025, my office started collecting data from Ward 9 residents, to identify which bus routes were the most negatively affected. We wanted to identify and solve the core transit challenges in the ward. I spoke about this recently, when my office had been successful in getting weekend service restored to Route 189, which addressed a crisis that had been affecting customers of an emergency food bank.
Throughout this process, we knew that the biggest transit issue affecting Ward 9 was the decline in service for Route 82.
And we tried to prevent it from happening in the first place. New Ways to Bus turned much of Ward 9 into a “transit desert”. The express Route 282 was removed entirely, and Route 173 was transferred to Barrhaven. All that remained for a large portion of Ward 9 was Route 82. And if our office hadn’t intervened in the first place, New Ways to Bus would have seen Route 82 running during peak hours only, leaving no bus options for most of the day, for at least one third of the ward.
Over the last several months, we received dozens and dozens of emails and phone calls about Route 82: that it was always late, that it frequently never showed up, that residents could simply not rely on it, that it was having a negative impact on their quality of life.
That’s when we asked OC Transpo for service reliability data for Route 82. And that data told a story.
When we got our first preliminary reports last Fall, one stunning fact was about the on-time service reliability of the southbound run (Tunney’s Pasture to Baseline), during evening peak hours. An astoundingly low 19% of Route 82 trips were on time during this part of the day. This was completely unacceptable.
We then asked OC Transpo to prepare a more detailed analysis of Route 82. In mid-December, OC Transpo presented us with the comprehensive Route 82 Service Reliability Review. My team and I reviewed the report and its findings. Here are two quick findings from that report:
- Whereas the scheduled runtime for the southbound Route 82 during PM peak hours is supposed to be 45 minutes, the 85th percentile run time (i.e. how long the run time is for 85% of runs) is 66 minutes. And so, 85% of the time, Route 82 was taking 21 minutes longer to complete its route. This is why it would never arrive at a stop when it was supposed to.
- During weekdays, the northbound Route 82 was more than 5 minutes late 41% of the time, and the southbound Route 82 was more than 5 minutes late 59% of the time.
Clearly, this was bad. But what I didn’t know was how this route was compared to others. It would be one thing if Route 82 was performing just as poorly as a large number of bus routes; it would be another thing entirely if Route 82 was performing significantly worse than most bus routes – which is what we believed was the case. And as mentioned above, Route 82 is the only bus that serves a large part of Ward 9. For a lot of people, when the 82 doesn’t show up, there are no other transit options.
Last week, my team and I met with OC Transpo senior leadership, to talk about Route 82. We had already reviewed the comprehensive Route 82 Service Reliability Review, which included OC Transpo’s recommendations on how to address the problems, and we had also prepared our own solutions.
As our meeting with OC Transpo started, we needed to ask one question first. Here’s how the conversation went:
COUNCILLOR DEVINE: “So how many bus routes does OC Transpo have in total?”
OC TRANSPO: “There are just under 200 routes.”
COUNCILLOR DEVINE: “Now, we know that Route 82 is bad. But how bad? Compared to all 200 routes, where does Route 82 rank?”
OC TRANSPO: “...It’s in the bottom 5.”
The bottom five. Let that settle for a moment.
Out of almost 200 routes across the entire bus network, Route 82 ranks among the bottom five when it comes to service delivery and reliability. This was very upsetting. Not only had service diminished broadly across Ward 9 with New Ways to Bus, not only had New Ways to Bus left the western third of Ward 9 with only one bus route, but that one critical route was among the five worst performing routes in the entire system. How did OC Transpo let it get to that point?
On my own end, as your councillor, I certainly wish that I could have produced this information from OC Transpo sooner, but I’ve also observed that OC Transpo frequently needs to shaken into action. At least now, they were shaken. And they were committed to action.
At the risk of making this newsletter segment far too long, I’d like to summarize the actions that will now be taken over the next few months. I can’t provide a lot of detail on this yet, since OC Transpo has committed to doing further segment-by-segment analysis of the route, as they work on specific solutions.
When my office prepared for last week’s meeting with OC Transpo, we prepared three proposed route improvements. During the meeting, it was exciting to see that all three of our ideas were viewed positively, and two of those ideas were precisely what OC Transpo had prepared, right down to the same exact location. I want to give credit to my team member Alex Harris, who put a great deal of time into this initiative. As the meeting was ending, some of the OC Transpo senior leadership staff asked Alex if he could share any other ideas he had. Clearly, I hire smart people!
Here are some of the improvements that we can anticipate for Route 82, as well as a timeline for action.
ITEM #1 - Route segment analysis: OC Transpo has divided Route 82 into six segments. For each segment, they’ve done a preliminary analysis to identify problems/opportunities. They will now do a more in-depth study of those segments, and then report back to my office on recommended solutions including:
- Potential adjustments / re-locations to bus stops
- Adjusting traffic signal timing for left-hand turns
- Adjusting traffic control at construction sites
- Proposing transit priority measures
Action & timeline: OC Transpo will meet with me in March 2026 for their detailed analysis and recommendations.
ITEM #2 - Runtime & schedule adjustments: As mentioned above, there is a significant difference between Route 82’s posted runtime, and the actual run time. When the posted runtime for the AM peak-hour northbound 82 is 48 minutes, but in real time it takes 64 minutes to do that run 85% of the time, and when the scheduled arrival at each bus stop is based on a runtime that doesn’t work, then the bus never shows up when you expect it to.
The most important quality for bus service is reliability. More than anything, customers want the bus to show up when it’s supposed to. Over the next few months, OC Transpo is going to re-assess a more realistic runtime for Route 82. It will then adjust the schedule and posted stop times, based on that more realistic – and reliable – runtime.
Action & timeline: OC Transpo has proposed that this new runtime and its corresponding schedule will be in place for Spring 2026.
ITEM #3 - Route adjustment: Normally, I’m not interested in removing stops, or curtailing a bus route. But on Route 82, there’s at least one part of the route that is likely causing more harm than good. And that’s where Route 82 goes into the Pinecrest Mall / IKEA.
Many years ago, there used to be a grocery store in this mall, which is why the 82 went there. The main attraction at this mall now is the IKEA, and very few people use the bus to go to IKEA. And very few riders of the 82 are using these stops during peak hours. Besides, there’s another bus that services this location. And at some point, hopefully by the end of 2027, the new LRT Stage 3 West extension will have a stop at Queensway, which is very close to that mall.
Action & timeline: OC Transpo will consider a few options, including removing these stops entirely, or removing them strictly during AM/PM peak hours. The other consideration is to leave these stops in place until the launch of LRT Stage 3 West. But the first thing that OC Transpo will do is determine how many Route 82 riders are using these stops, and when.
ITEM #4 - Transit priority measures: We’ve proposed some specific measures that would not only improve service for Route 82, but for several other westbound routes. And since the measures we’re proposing are not in wide usage yet, a successful implementation could lead to improvements city-wide.
Transit priority measures include various innovations and adjustments that prioritize transit vehicles moving through a corridor faster and more efficiently than cars. And that’s as it should be.
Recently in Toronto, the long-delayed launch of the new Finch LRT was an instant failure, because Toronto had not implemented transit priority measures along the route, resulting in the new train proceeding at a far lower speed than had been promised. Similarly, in Montreal, a new transitway that cost $600 million delivered a bus route that was actually slower than the bus route it replaced, because it had not implemented transit priority measures.
When it comes to the problems that cause bus service reliability, there are factors within OC Transpo’s control (e.g. we don’t currently have enough buses), and there are factors outside of OC Transpo’s control. One of those factors is increased traffic congestion. As traffic congestion increases, adding more buses won’t solve the problem, unless you add new systems that prioritize how the bus gets through traffic. Otherwise, you’re just creating more congestion.
For Route 82, both my team and OC Transpo recommended the same transit priority measures, at the same location. During one short segment of the route, there are some fundamental problems that are probably causing a delay of between 2 – 5 minutes during peak hours. And by implementing the transit priority measures we have proposed, we can likely eliminate that entire delay. And these improvements would serve several bus routes – and many, many more transit riders – not just Route 82.
Action & timeline: OC Transpo is going to be engaging a consultant to study the proposed recommendations. Since funding for Transit Priority Measures has already been approved for OC Transpo’s 2026 budget, these new measures could be in place for Summer / Fall 2026.
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I’m going to end this very long segment by extending my thanks to the many, many Ward 9 residents who sent in their detailed analysis and personal anecdotes about their experience of Route 82. Some of you wrote to me several times, in painstaking detail. Some of you wrote just once but told a story of huge stresses being imposed on your household. All of it was helpful.
As always, thanks for engaging.
Ottawa needs an Infrastructure Fund
Last week, a watermain broke on Baseline Road at the intersection of Fisher Avenue. It slowed down traffic for two days while it was repaired. In fact, after it was initially repaired on the first day, it broke again, requiring another repair on the second day.
Thankfully, the consequences of this broken watermain pale compared to the disaster that has stricken the City of Calgary, where damage to one of that city’s main watermain trunks threatens their water supply. But Ottawa has now seen almost 35 watermain breaks since the Christmas Holidays, with the majority of them happening in our older, established wards like Knoxdale-Merivale.
Ottawa is not the only Canadian city facing a crisis when it comes to maintaining and replacing aging civic infrastructure. During the 1960s and 70s cities across Canada saw a massive infusion of federal investment in roads, sewers, bridges, recreational facilities. It was “the Golden Age” of infrastructure building in Canada.
But most Canadian cities are now facing significant financial and structural pressure because much of the infrastructure built during the 60s–70s boom is reaching the end of its service life. The City of Ottawa faces a $10.8 billion overall infrastructure gap when it comes to the 10-year infrastructure horizon. More critically, there’s a $2 billion gap when it comes to urgently required work on sewers and watermains. While I appreciate that the City of Ottawa has excellent monitoring and warning systems in our watermain infrastructure, recent trends suggest that we can expect more of these emergency repairs.
As my colleague (and ward neighbour) Councillor Laine Johnson wrote in her Ottawa Citizen op-ed last week, “a financial tidal wave is heading towards Ottawa.”
No municipality can manage the costs of this “financial tidal wave” on its own. But while it is correct that the provincial and federal governments must uphold their responsibility through direct investment and cost-sharing, it is equally true that no municipality can expect that its situation is unique, and that it is more deserving of greater investment than any other city.
Cities need to take greater responsibility for addressing our infrastructure gaps, and the sooner we do it, the better. The longer we wait, the more expensive it will become. And let’s face it; we’re not currently handing over a bright economic future to the next generation.
What if we were to establish a dedicated fund to increase and accelerate infrastructure maintenance, repair and replacement? What if we had an Infrastructure Fund.
This is something that I plan on talking about more in the coming weeks and months. There are a number of ways that Ottawa can address this, and our city’s financial state is sufficiently healthy that we’re in a good position to do more.
For now, and since this newsletter issue is quite long, I’m just planting a seed. But I look forward to having an in-depth conversation with the residents of this city about our collective willingness to take better care of what we have. Not only to plan for a better future, but to improve our quality of life now.
CITY WORKS
Waste and Recycling Update
There has been a fair amount of confusion and service gaps over the past few weeks, partly due to the changeover in recycling collection that took effect on January 1st. To help address the wide range of questions we’ve received from residents, we wanted to provide a comprehensive summary of issues.
Circular Materials and Recycle Management Service Changes 2026
Circular Materials is the organization responsible for leading the new province-wide recycling collection system as of January 1st, 2026. In Ottawa, Miller Waste Services has been contracted by Circular Materials to collect blue and black bins. The new system means that all Ontario municipalities will accept the same recycling materials. Circular Materials will not be collecting alcoholic beverage containers in the recycling. All beer, wine and spirit bottles and cans must be returned to a The Beer Store location. If you have any questions regarding recycling, please contact Miller Waste at 1-888-852-2374 or [email protected].
Need Help Getting Your Bins to the Curb?
Some residents may require extra support with setting out their garbage and recycling. Miller Waste offers a Special Accommodation Recycling Collection Service for those who need assistance. Residents who feel they may qualify are encouraged to apply. Please note that a physician’s note is required as part of the application process. If you or someone in your household could benefit from this service, we encourage you to learn more and submit an application.
Waste Management Update 2026
Did you know that phone requests do not receive priority over online submissions? Reporting garbage and organics issues online is faster and just as effective as calling 3-1-1. Whether you're dealing with a missed garbage or green bin collection or need a new green bin, the City of Ottawa’s online option is the quickest way to submit your request. Skip the wait, go online!
Missed Garbage or Green Bin Collection or Items Left Behind
If your garbage or green bin was not collected or if items were left behind without a yellow tag explaining why, you can report it directly online: Report missed garbage collection / Report missed green bin collection Tip: After submitting your request, please leave your items at the curb to ensure crews can return for pickup.
Request a New or Replacement Bin
Need a new or replacement green bin? You can easily request one online: Request a new or replacement bin If you’re requesting a replacement bin, please leave your damaged bin in an accessible location visible from the road after submitting your request so it can be collected. Delivery of a new or replacement bin, if not damaged by a contractor, can take up to 20 business days. You can also report missed garbage or green bin collection through your MyServiceOttawa account. Log in and create the service request. If you don’t have an account yet, you can create one.
Waste Reduction Champion Program
The City is launching a Waste Reduction Champion Program for volunteers in apartments and condos to promote recycling, composting, and waste reduction. Champions receive training and support to engage neighbours, organize events, improve signage, and lead creative initiatives, helping build cleaner, more connected communities and reducing landfill waste across Ottawa.
Snow clearing update
Winter weather parking bans
So far this season we’ve had two winter weather parking bans, and they always generate a lot of frustrated emails from residents. Some people are upset because they got a ticket and hadn’t been aware of the ban. Other people are upset because they see cars left out on the street without any enforcement to stop them.
Between November 15 and April 1, the City may declare a Winter Weather Parking Ban for inclement weather including freezing rain or when Environment Canada forecasts an accumulation of snow 7 centimetres or more, or a range of snow which includes 7 centimetres or more for the Ottawa area. The Winter Weather Parking Ban will be called to support clearing operations and will continue until the City issues notice that it has been lifted.
It’s important to note that parking bans are an imperfect solution to a significant challenge. When they are issued, many residents are simply not aware of them. And when it comes to enforcement, we simply don’t have the capacity to get every vehicle out of the way.
The City of Ottawa’s website has a lot of information on winter weather parking bans. During a parking ban, car owners who normally park on the street are asked to move their vehicle elsewhere, with one option being to park in various city-owned parking lots and facilities.
Where’s my plow?
There has been some unofficial discussion recently about the possible return of something like the “Where’s my plow?” application that ran briefly in 2015-16. We’ll let residents know more about this as it develops. Until then, each Councillor has access to a website that indicates when each street last received service (e.g. “in the last 6 hours”, or “in the last 24 hours”), but it doesn’t specify what category of winter service vehicle was on that street.
Snow etiquette: courtesy and common sense
Over the last week, we’ve received a couple of requests from residents to share their concern about some basic “snow etiquette” tips. And so, here is some practical information that we hope will help everyone get through the winter season a bit more peacefully:
- Clear the snow off your car roof: when you’re brushing the snow off your windshield and windows, be sure to scrape away the snow and ice from your roof top as well. It’s actually a Highway Traffic Act violation if you don’t. But that snow and ice can fly off your car and right onto another car’s windshield, possibly causing damage or an accident.
- Don’t blow / shovel snow onto the road or your neighbour’s property: This applies to private contractors as well as individual owners. But when you’re using your snowblower to clear your driveway or walkway, it’s against By-Law to send that snow anywhere than onto your own property. You can get a ticket for blowing it onto the roadway, and it’s downright rude to put it on your neighbour’s property. The same applies to shoveling!
Baseline watermain
City crews repaired a broken water main on Baseline Road last week after two pipe failures caused traffic disruptions. The eastbound lanes between Fisher Avenue and Lexington Street were closed Tuesday and Wednesday as crews worked to fix the issue.
The water main, originally installed in 1957, broke twice on Tuesday, requiring excavation and additional repairs. The repairs to the water main are now complete. A final layer of asphalt will be added to the roadway this spring.
According to city engineers, aging cast iron pipes can fail due to sudden pressure changes or soil conditions. Despite the break, nearby properties still had water service thanks to system redundancy.
The City has a system for monitoring the watermain network and acts pre-emptively, when possible, to prevent serious and prolonged outages. This latest break is part of a seasonal spike in water main issues, with 32 reports over the recent holiday period.
Skip the Wait – Access City Services Online!
Did you know that using the City of Ottawa’s online tools is the fastest and most convenient way to manage common services? Whether you’re reporting a missed garbage collection or staying informed during winter weather, going online saves time and avoids long delays on the phone. Here are a couple of suggestions on how you can make the most of these online options:
Suggestion 1: Report Waste Collection Issues Online
If your garbage or green bin wasn’t collected or items were left behind without a yellow tag, you can report it directly online—no need to call 3-1-1. Online submissions processed just as quickly as phone requests, and you’ll skip the wait time.
What you can do online:
- Report missed garbage or green bin collection
- Request a new or replacement green bin
Tips:
- After reporting a missed pickup, leave your items at the curb so crews can return.
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If requesting a replacement bin, place the damaged bin in a visible spot for collection.
Delivery of new bins can take up to 20 business days, so plan ahead.
You can also manage these requests through your My ServiceOttawa account, where you can track updates and submit multiple service requests in one place.
Suggestion 2: Stay Ahead of Winter Parking Bans
Winter weather can bring sudden parking restrictions to allow crews to clear roads safely. The quickest way to stay informed is by signing up for Winter Parking Ban e-alerts. These notifications are sent directly to your inbox when a ban is declared, so you’ll never be caught off guard.
Other ways to stay updated:
- Follow the City on X, Facebook, or Bluesky
- Download the City of Ottawa App for Android or iPhone
- Subscribe to e-alerts through your My ServiceOttawa account
Reporting Violations: If you see a vehicle parked during a ban, you can report it online—fast, easy, and just as effective as calling 3-1-1.
Parking Tickets: If you receive a ticket, you can request a review through the City’s Administrative Penalty System (APS). Screenings are done online, not in person, and must be requested within 15 days.
There are some major advantages to using the online tools: they are available 24/7, prioritize requests the same as phone calls, and let you manage multiple services in one place. You can get started by creating a My ServiceOttawa account today and make City services easier, faster, and more convenient.
Vacant Unit Tax declarations
It’s time to renew your annual Vacant Unit Tax declaration. The online portal (available through My ServiceOttawa is the most convenient way to make the declaration. It takes less than a minute. The declaration helps ensure that the city applies the Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) only to properties that are truly vacant. You need to complete a 2025 declaration for each residential property that you own. The deadline is March 19, 2026. If you submit it late, an additional $250 fee will be charged to your property tax account.
The VUT program has been working well in the first few years, helping increase Ottawa’s available housing supply. Early numbers showed that it had returned 1,602 units to the market between 2022 and 2023. It would take $400 million in capital investment to achieve the same result through new builds.
- If you have a My ServiceOttawa account: Log in any time and submit your declaration through your property tax account.
- If you do not have an account: You can sign up for one. Or you can visit the VUT web page and select Submit Declaration using your roll number and secure access code (found on last year’s property tax bill or notice). Notices are sent to property owners in January, with email delivery used whenever possible. If you don’t see it, please make sure to check your junk-mail folder, just in case.
If you are not able to use the online methods, you can still make your declaration by phone (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm) or in person:
- Call 613-580-2444 and select option 3, where an agent will help complete your declaration over the phone
- Call 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service
- In-person: Visit any City Client Service Centre. Visit Ottawa's web site for locations and business hours.
It’s also important to remember that properties that are left vacant for consecutive years will be charged a gradually increasing VUT rate after the first year. For each year a unit is left empty, the rate goes up one per cent per year to a maximum of five per cent.
Catch Basins
Keeping catch basins clear of snow, ice, and debris helps prevent street flooding, especially during thaws and heavy rainfall. When basins are blocked, water can pool on roads and sidewalks, creating icy patches and unsafe conditions for pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists. A few minutes of clearing around a catch basin can make a big difference for the whole neighbourhood. Find your nearest catch basin using our catch basin locator map. Need to report a blocked catch basin? Let us know!
Be a Hydrant Hero
This winter and help keep your community safe by clearing a path from the curb and one metre around your local fire hydrant. Students can earn community involvement hours for their contribution. Learn more here: Hydrant Hero
Greenbank Road streetlights
This is just a quick note to let everyone know that our office continued to check in with our Public Works staff on the status of getting all the non-functioning streetlights on Greenbank Road between West Hunt Club and Fallowfield repaired. As of last week, we have been told that the repair is complete and that all lights are functioning.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Coldest Night of the Year
It’s time for the annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser - an event that shines a light on the housing needs for some of the most vulnerable people in our city, especially in the winter months.
The Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is a winterrific family-friendly fundraising walk in support of local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness... because it’s cold out there. Join Councillor Devine on February 28th as he joins Ottawa Innercity Ministries, which is the only organization in Ward 9 participating in CNOY, who have set out to raise $60,000 through this event to continue serving their mission to fight homelessness. You can check out OIM’s Coldest Night of the Year webpage to find out how you can donate to one of the registered teams, register your own team, or even sign up as a volunteer.
Ottawa Intercity Ministries (OIM) walks alongside people experiencing poverty and homelessness in downtown Ottawa. Since 1988, OIM staff and front-line volunteers have made sure our cold, hungry, hurting, and isolated street friends receive not only warm clothing and food but also companionship and care without judgment.
Public Information Session Open House: Meadowlands Drive / Fisher Avenue
The City of Ottawa is inviting residents to attend a public information session on the proposed Fisher Avenue and Meadowlands Drive intersection renewal project. The project will improve storm sewer capacity, safety, accessibility, and connections for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users.
The work will take place on Fisher Avenue from Dynes Road to Meadowlands Drive, including the Fisher & Meadowlands intersection. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026 and conclude in fall 2027, with advance notice provided.
Project drawings will be available, and City staff will be on hand to answer questions, receive feedback, and discuss what to expect during construction. There will be no formal presentation.
- When: Tuesday, February 3rd from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
- Where: Fisher Heights Community Place, 31 Sutton Place, Ottawa, ON K2E 5Z5
A physical notice of this information session was mailed out on Monday to all of the addresses in the distribution area shown below.
Municipal Politics in Action Roundtable
Councillor Devine is speaking at a virtual event on January 26 at 11:00 AM as part of the Change Makers Club of Canada’s round table series, Municipal Politics in Action: Catching Up and Keeping Up. The session brings together municipal leaders and changemakers for an open, dialogue-based conversation on the priorities and challenges facing local governments today. Councillor Devine will be joined on this panel with fellow municipal leaders Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Casselman Mayor Geneviève Lajoie, and Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland. If you want to attend, you can register online.
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
Respiratory Disease Update
We are now well into the New Year and flu season is in full swing! While rates are beginning to come down from their peak over the holidays, this flu season has been a bad one, with much higher rates of hospitalization than in recent years. It remains important to protect you and your loved one from the illness, so, get your flu shot. It’s easy. You can book an appointment at your local pharmacy.
At the same time, COVID rates are on the rise. The wastewater signal is now higher than it is for flu. So, while rates of COVID are significantly lower than in previous years, they are still high and you should exercise some caution when you are out in the community. The best ways to protect yourself remain opening some windows for fresh air, wearing a good mask, using air filters within your home, and, of course, getting your vaccination.
Winter Helmet Safety – Stay Safe While Having Fun
As you head out to enjoy winter activities like skating, skiing, sledding, or snowmobiling, Ottawa Public Health is urging us all to remember that safety starts with the right helmet. A properly fitted helmet designed for your specific activity can significantly reduce the risk of serious head injuries.
Different sports call for different protection. For example, hockey helmets are built for the types of falls and impacts that happen on ice, making them ideal for both hockey and recreational skating. Ski helmets, on the other hand, are made for high‑speed impacts and cold-weather conditions common on the slopes.
Concussion awareness is also essential. Concussions can occur from any blow that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. Symptoms may include headaches, confusion, nausea, irritability, or balance issues. If symptoms appear, stop activity immediately and seek medical attention. Early recognition and proper care make a big difference in recovery.
Stay safe—and enjoy the season!
Seeking participants for V-PASE Study
Physical therapy researchers at the Bruyère Health Research Institute, collaborating with the University of British Columbia invite people living with stroke for more than 6 months and who have walking and standing issues to participate in a FREE online seated exercise study provided via Zoom. The Virtual Physical Activity Seated Exercise (V-PASE) exercise program is 60 minutes/session, 3x/week for 10 weeks.
To find out more or to volunteer to participate, you can email [email protected] or call (613) 562-6262 ext. 1419.
Ottawa Safety Council: Promoting Safer Streets for Everyone
As the warmer months approach, the Ottawa Safety Council (OSC) is gearing up to support community events across the city with free pedestrian and road safety education. OSC is a long‑standing leader in road safety, offering programs for residents of all ages—and they’re eager to share resources at community gatherings, job fairs, hiring events, and information sessions.
Their programs include the Adult Crossing Guard Program, which helps ensure safe school-hour crossings; WalkSafe, an in‑school pedestrian safety program for elementary students; and RoadSmarts4Kids, an online interactive learning tool that teaches children how to navigate streets safely. OSC also offers Motorcycle Training for all experience levels, and CrossSafe Guard Training, an online program that supports organizations in training school crossing guards efficiently and consistently.
OSC is currently recruiting community members for its Adult Crossing Guard Program, an important role that supports safer neighbourhoods across Ottawa. If you’re hosting an event this spring or summer, consider inviting OSC—they book quickly!
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
780 Baseline / 1350 Fisher - building naming contest
Theberge Homes, the developer of the new residential buildings at the intersection of Baseline and Fisher (e.g. 780 Baseline and 1350 Fisher) is holding a contest for the official naming of these three new towers. Our office will be helping to coordinate the contest submissions, and we’ve reached out to the Fisher Heights & Area Community Association (FHACA) and confirmed their support and interest in this initiative. We’ve also spoken about it with River Ward Councillor Riley Brockington, to invite his constituents to participate as well.
To participate in the contest, use our simple contest entry form.
Here are the rules and guidelines for the competition:
- The competition is open to Ward 9 residents living in Fisher Heights, Parkwood Hills, and their immediate surroundings, and to Ward 16 residents living in Carleton Heights, Courtland Park, and their immediate surroundings.
- Theberge Homes reserves the right to disqualify entries from residents who do not live in the immediate vicinity of this development.
- The competition will run from January 20th to February 13th.
- Only one submission per resident.
- All submissions must include the full name and address of the resident.
- The winning submission will be selected by Theberge Homes, in consultation with our office and the community associations.
- The winning submission will be announced in March 2026. The winner will be contacted directly, and then the winning submission will be published in the Ward 9 newsletter.
- The winner will receive an Ottawa Senators Package (a pair of lower bowl Ottawa Senators, parking included) for an estimated cash value of $500.
- The winner will forego all ownership or licensing rights to the winning name.
- If the resident submissions don’t produce a viable winning submission, then the naming process will revert to Theberge Homes.
Good luck!
1660 Merivale: new drive-through
The owners of the gas station property at the corner of Merivale and Viewmount have applied to re-develop the site with a new gas bar, a convenience store, and a drive-thru Starbucks. Our office has expressed some concern about the potential safety challenges around the site and will be working with planning staff and the developer to see what can be done to minimize the risks. We will continue to publish updates as the discussion progresses.
In the meantime, you can explore the application on the City’s development applications portal and provide any comments you might have through the link provided on that page.
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
OCDSB kindergarten registration
Was your child born in 2022? If so, it's time to think about registering for Kindergarten! The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has elementary schools across Ottawa and is holding Kindergarten Information Nights for parents and caregivers to learn more.
To learn more and register, visit OCDSB online or contact your local OCDSB school.
If you wish to include the times of local school information nights, they can be found at this link
2026 Ottawa Seedy Saturday
On Saturday, March 7th, from 10 to 3, Ottawa's 2026 Seedy Saturday will take place at Emmanuel United Church, 691 Smyth Road, next to the General Hospital. Central to the event is the Seed Exchange Table, where gardeners can exchange unneeded seed, for seeds that they want for the upcoming season. Free presentations on organic gardening will run throughout the day.
Heirloom seed vendors from East Ontario and West Quebec will be on hand with rare heritage seed adapted to our specific climate and soils. Rounding out the day will be craft vendors, baking and hot lunch. For an up-to-date list of confirmed vendors and exhibitors, visit the group's Facebook page.
Roger Neilson Children's Hospice Young Grievers Camp
Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice is hosting a free Young Grievers Camp for children and youth aged 7–17 who have experienced the loss of someone significant in their lives. The camp will take place June 26–28, 2026 at Christie Lake Kids.
Spaces are limited, and registration is first come, first served, with priority given to first-time applicants.
Ward 9 Winter Carnivals
The Glens Community Association
- When: Sunday, February 15th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
- Where: Grenfell Glen Park
Fisher Heights & Area Community Association
- When: Saturday, January 31st from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
- Where: 31 Sutton Place
Tanglewood-Hillside Community Association
- When: Saturday, January 24th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- Where: 30 Woodfield
Trend Arlington Community Association
- When: Sunday, January 25th from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
- Where: 50 Bellman Drive
Manordale-Woodvale Community Association
Nepean Rideau Osgoode Community Resource Centre
