COUNCILLOR’S MESSAGE
Update on Newcomer Reception Centre
As most of you likely already know, the big update on the Newcomer Reception Centre came last week, when we learned that the City of Ottawa will no longer be proceeding with the procurement for a semi-permanent structure for asylum seekers at the Nepean Sportsplex. My office issued a special update last Thursday to explain the situation. Residents can also learn more about these changes on the city’s Engage Ottawa page.
Even though this facility will no longer be coming to Ward 9, I’ll still be meeting with senior staff associated with the project. There remain a lot of questions about the city’s rationale for the change in plans, the procurement process the city had embarked on, as well as questions about the financial viability for the entire Newcomer Reception System. And I’m very grateful to several members of the community who have provided me with useful information which helped formulate many of my current questions. My goal in pursuing these questions remains the same: to ensure that newcomers arriving in Ottawa are appropriately cared for, and to ensure that the city’s program is well-managed so that Ottawa’s residents are properly served.
A meeting with project staff had been scheduled for March 12, which was the day that this new development was announced. We’ve re-scheduled the meeting to this week to re-assess the situation and our line of questioning. In fact, we’re still waiting for answers to the questions we submitted in our formal Inquiry back in January!
Speaking of asking questions, a Ward 9 resident sent me an interesting comment in response to my update last Thursday.
“I have noticed that children ask a lot of questions, but many people stop doing that as they grow up. Scientists and journalists keep asking questions after they grow up. I am very happy that you continue to ask questions even when the answers may not be what your constituents want to hear. I think it is better to know the situation we are faced with and deal with it than to be in ignorance.”
With that in mind, I appreciate your patience, and I hope to provide you with some answers as soon as they are made available.
Shop Local. Buy Canadian
As we continue to navigate our ongoing trade war with the U.S., the City of Ottawa is joining municipalities across Canada to help encourage residents to bolster our economy – and to send a collective message to the U.S. - by using as much of our purchasing power for local, Canadian goods and services. And so, wherever and whenever you can, please Shop Local. Buy Canadian.
Speaking of our conflict with the U.S., I wanted to raise the issue of the City of Ottawa’s ongoing participation on the social media platform called “X”, formerly known as Twitter. I know that this is a divisive topic for many residents, but as more and more municipalities, governments and institutions are questioning their participation on “X”, I felt it was important to address it here.
Earlier this month at Finance & Corporate Services Committee, a motion was brought by Councillor Laura Dudas to suspend the City's social media accounts on “X”. The motion failed 7 - 5. I don't sit on that Committee, so I didn't have a vote on it. But if I'd had a vote, I would have supported Councillor Dudas’ motion. I was disappointed by the Committee's decision, as well as the debate that supported it.
Much of the debate focused on the moral and political imperative to cease participating in a platform that isn't only increasingly toxic, but which is intentionally and actively contributing to the destabilization of democratic institutions. I agree with all of those concerns.
Beyond those concerns, I also believe that “X” is a decreasingly effective communications tool. Councillors who spoke in favor of continuing to use “X” talked about the size of the City's account (262,000 followers), and the importance of "reaching as many people as possible". But when the City of Ottawa does post on “X”, the level of actual engagement is very low. If you compare the City's posts on “X” with the same posts it now makes on BlueSky, you'll see evidence of far greater engagement on BlueSky, even though the City's BlueSky account has a fraction of the same followers.
When it comes to engaging with residents, I'd rather be in a small room where folks are listening, than in a large forum where no one is paying attention, and where much of the space is filled with trolls and bots.
It's too bad that the debate over “X” treated it as just another social media platform, even comparing it to a "community newspaper". It's more accurate to describe “X” as a megaphone for Elon Musk, an individual who is playing a major role in the destabilization of the U.S. federal government and contributing to a pervasive chaos that continues to hurt and threaten Canadians. The algorithms and moderation of content on “X” only serve to advance our collective descent.
Other cities and institutions across the world have recognized “X” for what it has become and have decided to abandon it. Ottawa has elected to stay the course, because the medium is the "most popular". Even when our country is under attack from a President whose ear Musk whispers into daily, we can't see that the blood seeping between our toes comes from shooting ourselves in the foot.
OC Transpo’s New Ways to Bus
As many residents are aware, on April 27th OC Transpo launches New Ways to Bus, which is a new bus network that aims to improve bus route reliability by focusing on frequency, local service in your neighbourhood, and connections to key destinations.
Over the past several weeks, we’ve had multiple conversations with residents about their concerns with this new bus system, as well as concerns and complaints about current service levels. We absolutely understand and share those concerns, and we are approaching the New Ways to Bus rollout with a sense of cautious optimism.
As you’ll see below, our office will be hosting a public info session on New Ways to Bus on April 4th, which will focus on how the new system will affect routes in Ward 9. For the next issue of our newsletter, we are preparing a special segment to provide as much information possible to help residents prepare for this new system.
Catch Basin Hero
I’ll be ending this issue’s “Councillor’s Message” on a high note. Last week I received an email from a resident in Ward 9 that contained an awesome example of excellent public service from a City of Ottawa employee. I wanted to share a segment of that email with you.
"There is a catch basin sewer on the street right in front of our house. It was covered in five feet of snow because of the two recent blizzards. We phoned the City yesterday and asked that the catch basin be cleared [to help prevent] flooding. One of the city guys came out about 11pm last night with a truck and a shovel, and he dug a cave under the snowbank to clear the grating. The water is now draining beautifully - no giant lake in front of our house! It must have taken him at least several hours of hard work. Not only was he working hard, but his attitude was also positive and cheery during our exchanges. This is what makes paying taxes worthwhile."
I was really happy to read that. As I’m sure you’re aware, my office gets many emails from residents complaining about service levels. But we also see many, many examples of City of Ottawa employees delivering services as expected, in a timely manner, and with genuine care. And I certainly relayed that message to the appropriate City of Ottawa managers to see if that specific employee could have his hard work acknowledged.
But this “Catch Basin Hero” wasn’t just a shining example of professionalism from City of Ottawa employees. It also demonstrated a strong commitment to the value of preventative maintenance. If we put in the extra effort and investment today, we can avoid having to deal with a bigger, and more expensive problem tomorrow.
Over the coming months, I’m going to keep on having a dialogue with the residents of Ward 9 about the kind of city that we want to build and maintain, and the level of commitment required to get there.
CITY WORKS
Property Tax and VUT Declaration
The 2025 property tax deadlines are fast-approaching for Ottawa residents. Thursday, March 20, is the deadline for paying your initial property tax installment as well as completing your 2025 Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) declaration. If you still receive a paper bill, you should have received it in the mail by now. If you have any trouble with it or have not received it, you can call 3-1-1 or visit a Client Service Centre to have your questions answered. If you are registered with My Service Ottawa, you can take care of both of these online. Just sign in to your account to view your property tax bill and make your VUT declaration.
So far, the City of Ottawa has received 308,491 VUT declarations out of 330,617 – an impressive 93% completion - with 22,126 declarations to go as of March 10. The city’s communications to those who have not declared have been ramped up with daily call blasts and emails, a PSA was issued on March 17, and we are well on track to meeting or exceeding the 98% declaration rate we had last year. This year, we have experienced fewer complaints from residents.
Streetlight Repairs on Greenbank Road
Residents have raised concerns about multiple non-functioning streetlights along Greenbank Road between Fallowfield and Hunt Club. City staff have investigated the issue and determined that underground infrastructure damage is responsible for the outages. Due to the recent heavy snow accumulation, it’s taken longer than normal for crews to access the infrastructure. However, an investigation is scheduled for early Spring to assess the damage, replace necessary underground cabling, and implement preventative measures to reduce the risk of future failures. We appreciate residents’ patience as the City works to restore lighting along this corridor.
So many potholes
Spring is just around the corner, which means it’s Pothole Season!
With fluctuating temperatures, freeze-thaw cycles, and recent snowfall, potholes are a common challenge on our roads, but our Roads and Parking Services team remains hard at work. Since January, City crews have already filled over 14,700 potholes across Ottawa. As the weather warms up, repairs will continue in the coming weeks. If you notice a pothole, you can report it online by submitting a service request here. Your reports help the City prioritize repairs and keep our roads safe for everyone.
The City of Ottawa deploys as many crews as are available to do these repairs, and they’ve even brought in reinforcements: the Python 5000.
The City of Ottawa has secured two Python 5000 machines (aka Python Pothole Patchers). These machines are deployed in different areas of the city, where they can fill a pothole in less than two minutes. With the operator working safely from inside the cab, workers are protected from oncoming traffic as the work can all be completed without the need of stepping foot outside of the vehicle.
For more information on How Potholes are Formed, and on How Potholes are Filled, please refer to the infographics below.
Spring into Action: Join the 2025 Cleaning the Capital Campaign!
There’s no better time to get outside and make a positive impact on our beautiful city! As the days grow longer, Ottawa residents are encouraged to join the 2025 Cleaning the Capital Spring Campaign and help keep our public spaces clean and green!
Registration Now Open!
Starting March 14, registration is open for the Cleaning the Capital Spring Campaign. Cleanup projects will take place throughout the city from April 15 to May 31. Whether you’re cleaning up a local park, shoreline, or community space, your efforts will make a difference in preserving Ottawa’s natural beauty.
How to Get Involved:
- Register your cleanup project online at the City of Ottawa website. Once registered, you’ll see your project’s location, date, and time on an interactive map, and you’ll be able to choose from a variety of public spaces to clean, including green spaces, roadsides, and more.
- Get your cleanup kit: Kits with nitrile gloves and black garbage bags are available for pickup (upon request) at any of the fourteen City of Ottawa facilities across the city.
- Disposal Made Easy: To help with waste disposal, groups of up to 30 participants will receive City-branded yellow bags for their collected litter. These yellow bags won’t count against your regular curbside waste collection limits, so you can safely dispose of your cleanup waste on your usual collection day.
Key Dates:
- March 14: Registration opens
- April 15 – May 31: Spring campaign cleanup period
- April 22: Earth Day 2025
- May 2: Registration closes
- June 15: Deadline for submitting online cleanup reports
This year marks the 32nd year of the Cleaning the Capital program, a testament to the power of corporate sponsorship and community participation. In 2024, nearly 1,400 cleanup projects took place with over 49,000 participants, and we’re excited to make this year’s campaign even more successful with your help.
Red light camera at Prince of Wales / Amberwood
We have had several questions from residents of Country Place asking about safety concerns at the intersection of Prince of Wales and Amberwood. One specific suggestion has been to request the installation of a red light camera at this intersection. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this tool, these cameras are used to issue tickets to drivers who drive through a red light.
We have reached out to City of Ottawa traffic safety staff on multiple occasions to ask about assessing various intersections for red light cameras, including Prince of Wales / Amberwood. The city has very clear criteria for determining which kinds of situations are best for the installation of red light cameras. Based on my conversations with city staff, they do not recommend Prince of Wales / Amberwood for a red light camera. For anyone who wishes to have further information on this assessment, we’ve created a special update on red light cameras on our website.
Cathodic Protection Program
Every year, the City of Ottawa launches our Cathodic Protection Program, which helps protect the city’s watermain infrastructure from failing prematurely, and to lengthen the usual lifespan of this same piping. As part of this program, contractors will soon be installing anode banks this season along the city’s right-of-way on streets in Ward 9.
Notifications to residents that are affected by this program will proceed within the next month, through hand-delivered leaflets to impacted households. The program will run approximately from May 2025 until September 2025. For more information, including a list of the streets affected in Ward 9, please fer to this special update on the Cathodic Protection Program on our website.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Elder Abuse Awareness & Prevention Seminar – Join Us Online!
Elder abuse is an increasingly urgent concern within Ottawa's older adult community. Unfortunately, in recent years, the situation has worsened due to a reduction in provincial funding for resources dedicated to addressing this crisis. Elder abuse can take many forms – physical, psychological, financial, and neglect – with its sources and causes being diverse and complex.
To help raise awareness and educate the community, we are hosting a free online Elder Abuse Awareness & Prevention Seminar on Monday, March 24th, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. This event is open to the entire community, and we’re excited to bring together experts and key local organizations to shed light on this important issue. For more information, including details on our exciting presenters, take a look at our website.
For those who prefer to participate in person, some of the Ward 9 community associations will be hosting live viewing stations at their community centers. Here's a list of locations:
- Trend Arlington Community Association at Trend Arlington Community Centre, 50 Bellman Drive
- Manordale-Woodvale Community Association at Margaret Rywak Community Centre, 68 Knoxdale Road
Throughout the event, there will be opportunities for guests and residents to ask questions and engage with experts.
Don’t miss out on this important seminar! To attend the online Zoom event, please RSVP on our website. You will receive the Zoom link a few days before the event.
Let’s work together to raise awareness, prevent elder abuse, and protect Ottawa’s seniors. We look forward to seeing you there!
Information Session: OC Transpo’s New Ways to Bus
To help Ward 9 residents prepare for new transit route changes, OC Transpo is hosting a New Ways to Bus Information Session on April 4 at 6:00pm in the Richmond Room at the Nepean Sportsplex.
At this session, OC Transpo staff will share Ward 9-specific route changes, and help you navigate the new system using the OC Transpo Travel Planner. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn how these changes will affect your daily trips.
We encourage you to attend and be informed before the New Ways to Bus changes take effect on April 27th.
Ward 9 Pop-Up Office Hours: Fisher Heights
We're holding Pop-Up Office Hours, an opportunity for residents to have a one-on-one chat with Councillor Devine to discuss municipal issues, or to address local concerns. We'll be hosting these events every 3 - 4 weeks at different public spaces around Ward 9.
The next session will be held on Friday, April 4th from 2:30pm - 4:30pm. For this event we'll be in the Fisher Heights neighbourhood at the Starbucks, located at 1350 Baseline Road.
Individual meetings will be kept to 20 minutes. To book a slot, please complete our booking form on our website.
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
Respiratory Disease Update
As we head toward the first day of spring, we are still firmly in the grip of flu season. Flu is everywhere in the community right now. Levels are astronomical when compared to seasonal averages. You can see it in the wastewater graph, below. And despite slipping out of the headlines, COVID continues to be present in our communities. The rates of COVID are relatively lower right now but you should be aware that the disease is still very much with us. So, what do you do? When you are headed somewhere where you are going to share air with a lot of people, it’s a good idea to put on a quality mask to protect yourself. With the warmer weather beginning show itself, it’s a great time to begin cracking open some windows and getting a little fresh air in your life. And when that’s not possible, air filters are still one of the best options for helping to clear the air.
Good news in the fight against toxic drugs
Ottawa recently received news that it has been awarded funding from the federal government to continue its fight against the overdose and toxic drug supply epidemic that has been plaguing Canadian cities. Ottawa’s application was one of only 60 projects that were approved out a total pool of 300 applications, nationwide. The funding will boost the collaborative effort of Ottawa Public Health and the city’s Community and Social Services department to better support overall mental health and reduce the potential drivers of drug overdose and limit the impact dangerous supply. Working with nine community partner organizations, the nearly $4 million in funding will support sustained efforts of OPH and CSS for the next two years.
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Successful public meeting about construction at 780 Baseline
Phase One of the long-discussed redevelopment at the Lone Star Plaza at Baseline and Fisher is getting underway this spring. The project will see the construction of a single tower fronting on Fisher Avenue in the parking lot behind the existing plaza. On May 6, Councillor Devine and neighbouring Councillor Riley Brockington hosted a public meeting at the Fisher Heights Community Centre. The meeting allowed residents to hear from the developer about their plans for the construction phase and have their questions answered.
The developer, Theberge Homes, provided an overview of their plans, including their timeline (Spring 2025 to the end of 2027), dust control, site management, parking, traffic management, and safety, to name a few. Residents were told construction vehicle traffic around the site will be minimal because the contractor will be leaving space on the site for operating construction vehicles (such as dump trucks and concrete trucks). So, there is no expectation that those vehicles will be waiting or standing on surrounding streets.
Other things of interest:
- Work hours have been set as 7:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday.
- There will be no blasting on this project because the soil is clay. There is one small bit of rock at the corner of the site which will be chiseled out in a few days.
- The existing plaza will remain in operation for at least the next three years.
- Happy Goat coffee shop will be a tenant on the ground floor of the new tower.
Councillors Devine and Brockington also fielded several questions for the city and will be reporting back with information on several issues, including:
- Securing off-site parking for construction workers, preferably at one location.
- Confirming Fisher Ave, westside, sidewalk and bike lane accessibility during construction.
- Inquiring on feasibility of a temporary pedestrian crossing traffic signal at Malibu-Fisher-Malibu during construction.
- Clarify if pathway through southern parking lot will be maintained during construction.
- Post-construction, inquiring if the City plans to undertake a traffic volume/flow/intersection assessment at Baseline/vicinity.
More details to come! If you have any questions about the project, don’t hesitate to contact our office.
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
Volunteer Ottawa Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2025 VOscars Volunteer Awards! Each year, Volunteer Ottawa gives you a chance to pay tribute to people and organizations making a difference in our community. Give the gift of recognition by submitting a nomination in one of 7 award categories by May 30, 2025. And please share the submission with your nominee to let them know how much their generosity is noticed and appreciated. It’s a very special way to say, “Thank You” and celebrate the difference they make in the lives of others. Three finalists will be selected in each category and invited to the VOscars Volunteer Awards Gala on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Preston Event Centre.
General Burns Lodge Paint Party
On Saturday April 5th, volunteers from General Burns will be pitching in to give a fresh coat of paint to the General Burns Lodge. Councillor Devine will be in attendance to lend a hand (he spent many years as a commercial painter), and to bring coffee and donuts! For more info, visit the General Burns Community Association’s Facebook page.
Trend Arlington Pavilion Public Art Project
Local artist, Jennifer Kelly, has been commissioned by the City of Ottawa’s Public Art Program to create a public artwork for Trend Arlington’s exciting new pavillion, which is set to open this Spring/Summer. Trend-Arlington community members are invited to a special Butterfly Design Event, where they’ll be able to contribute designs for some of the butterflies that will be hanging from the pavilion’s inner roof.
- WHO: Anyone who lives in Trend Village or Arlington Woods. All ages welcome!
- WHAT: Participants will create paper cutouts to be translated into steel butterflies for the pavilion art installation titled “Rewilding”
- WHEN: Saturday, April 12th 9:30am-11:30am
- WHERE: Community Centre, 50 Bellman Drive
For information or for assistance with accessibility please email [email protected]
Ottawa Film Office Career Fair
The Ottawa Film Office is hosting their annual 2025 Film, Television, and Animation Career Fair taking place Saturday, March 22 from 9:00am – 1:00pm at Jean Pigott Place at Ottawa City Hall. Aspiring or experienced professionals can meet with local production companies, animation studios, and other industry stakeholders to learn about current and future job opportunities and what they look for in new hires. Guests will also be able to chat with post-secondary institutions, associations, unions and guilds about the industry programs, resources, and training they offer. For more info, visit the Ottawa Film Office website.
YMCA Summer Neighbourhood Day Camps Are Coming to Nepean!
Looking for an exciting, close-to-home summer experience? YMCA Neighbourhood Day Camps offer unforgettable adventures for kids aged 4 to 12! Held at Lakeview Public School in Nepean, campers will enjoy sports, local park visits, splash pads, and themed weeks with special guests and field trips. Whether your child loves animals, science, the arts, or cars and planes, there’s a theme for everyone.
For a more immersive outdoor adventure, YMCA Camp Otonabee is just ten minutes north of Kanata! This 30-acre camp offers day and overnight programs, out-tripping, and leadership experiences for youth aged 4 to 16. Daily bus transportation is provided from several Ottawa neighbourhoods.
Camps range from $256 to $340 per week, with financial assistance available. Give your child a summer of fun, learning, and friendship! Learn more and register today!
A Circle of Time - Seniors Sharing Stories
A Circle of Time is Burning Passions Theatre’s second “Seniors Sharing Stories” theatrical presentation. It’s rare when the lives of seniors are featured in the news or in entertainment, so for two years, this project has brought together community elders to create new works expressing their hopes, dreams, and challenges as they enter the fabled “third chapter” of their lives.
This new play explores the lives of those entering retirement as part of the sandwich generation, women juggling the needs of adult children and elderly parents while trying to chart a course for their own lives in the post 9-to-5 world. Filled with humour and heart-touching moments, A Circle of Time plays in Ottawa March 26 and 27. For more info on tickets and showtimes, visit their website.
Building Bridges Against Hate
United for All, the City of Ottawa, and Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre are pleased to launch the Building Bridges and Preventing Hate learning series and the Ottawa Stops Hate Together anti-hate campaign, taking place on March 21: The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This event will ground attendees in the principles of collaborative action and will introduce a range of learning and partnership activities available to community members and social services staff over the coming year.
Details: In-person event, Friday, March 21 (9:30am-Noon), Ron Kolbus Centre
What to expect:
- Keynote address by Culture Check CEO Nathan Hall, speaking to how hate and discrimination persist and the roles we all play—intentionally or not—in perpetuating or preventing it.
- Roundtable discussion with a panel of experts (including local recipients of Safer and Vital Communities grant funding) who will share insights on the impact of hate and discrimination in their communities
- Live performance by JustJamaal ThePoet.
- Opportunities to connect with organizations, community leaders, and allies engaged in anti-hate and community-building efforts.
This event is designed for staff, volunteers, leaders, and policy makers in the social services space, who support communities experiencing hate. We aim to strengthen our sector's capacity to facilitate meaningful conversations and take action to prevent hate-motivated crime.
Merivale High School Hackathon
Finally, our office wanted to offer our congratulations to a group of over 85 students from Merivale High School, who participated in a global 24-hour “hackathon” over the past weekend, where they spent many hours on their laptops engaged in all kinds of computer engineering exercises. Since they burned a lot of energy doing this 24-hour sprint, our office was pleased to sponsor their breakfast. Here’s a photo of Councillor Devine picking up a carbohydrate-fuelled breakfast for these hard-working teens!
