COUNCILLOR’S MESSAGE
Watch out for speeding – thanks to Premier Ford
November 14th marked the end of the Automated Speed Enforcement camera program across Ontario. For anyone concerned about the impact of speeding on vulnerable road users, and who believes in evidence-based public policy, this day is filled with frustration, disappointment, and deep concern.
In Ward 9, I fought to get an ASE camera installed in 2024 at Merivale & Brookdale, near St. Monica's. During the assessment of that location, speed tests showed such high rates of speeding, and severity of speed that we understood why parents in the area were reluctant to let their kids walk to that school.
One year after it was installed, the camera at Merivale/Brookdale ranked #1 among the new cameras installed that year (2024) when it came to number of speeding tickets issued. More recently, that same camera ranked #4 among all of Ottawa’s 60 cameras when it came to the number of speeding tickets issued from January – September 2025. And as has been shown, the number of tickets issued decreases year over year, because they work as an effective deterrent. And as has been proven by SickKids Toronto, ASE cameras reduce the number of speeding vehicles by 45 per cent in urban school zones.
Simply put, the camera at Merivale/Brookdale in Ward 9 was exactly where it needed to be, and it was making it safer for kids in Ward 9 to walk to school. Not only did it make kids more active and independent, but it reduced the reliance on expensive bus transportation. It was a win-win for everyone. Until Premier Ford shut it all down.
I've been talking with City staff over the past few weeks about mitigations, and thankfully we have our own city equipment that will be used to track the likely increase in speeds now that the cameras have been turned off. And make no mistake: speeds will increase without the deterrent effect.
I can sympathize with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow's anger, calling out Premier Ford on the consequences of his ill-conceived policy, specifically detailing how the loss of ASE revenue will hurt Toronto's road safety measures, just as it will now hurt Ottawa's.
Premier Ford and Transportation Minister Sarkaria have steadfastly refused to heed the advice of experts, nor listen to the plea of municipalities across Ontario to allow ASE cameras to remain just in school zones. Not only does Premier Ford believe that ASE cameras aren’t effective for curbing speeding, he even mused about using them to fight crime, specifically auto theft. As usual, Premier Ford thinks about the needs of drivers over anyone else.
With such an effective deterrent against speeding no longer in place, experts believe that speeding will naturally start to creep back up to more dangerous levels. If the unimaginable happens, it should be seen as an unforgiveable consequence of what Premier Ford has unleashed. Voters should remember this.
2026 City of Ottawa Draft Budget
Last Wednesday, Council was presented with the City of Ottawa’s 2026 Draft Operating & Capital Budget. For the next month, councillors will be involved in meetings with senior staff, as well as attending committee meetings as each department gets its own budget approved, before Council re-convenes on December 10th to vote on the final budget.
The draft 2026 budget was prepared with Council’s guidance to limit the overall tax increase to no more than 3.75%. But that increase doesn’t mean that every department will see a 3.75% increase. The overall tax increase of 3.75% is a consolidated, overall increase based on:
- A 5% increase to the Ottawa Police Services budget
- An 8% increase to the Transit Services budget
- A 2% increase to the citywide budget
Then there’s an increase in rate fees (i.e. water, wastewater, stormwater) of 4.5%, and a 10% increase in solid waste fees.
From all of this, the City of Ottawa has stated that the average urban / suburban home will see an increase of $166 to their property tax. That’s based on an average home assessment of $415,000. Once you factor in the rate fee increases, the overall tax bill for urban / suburban taxpayers will see an average increase of $237.
Now, I’ll provide some of my thoughts on this, and some comments on what the draft budget means specifically for Ward 9. And bear in mind, I’ll be diving even deeper over the coming weeks into the fine print. So, this is my initial impression.
First of all, more than at any point in this Term of Council, I’m sympathetic to residents feeling anxious about rising tax bills. We’re at a more economically precarious moment now than we were in the last three years. But I’m also aware of the fact that any potential cuts to services or programs that come from insufficient revenue will often bring the greatest hurt to the most vulnerable residents. And I continue to be concerned that if these tax rate increases continue as they have, then my kids and your kids are going to be stuck with a massive bill at some point soon. It’s easy for politicians to push that responsibility onto the next generation, and that is what’s happened in cities like Calgary, Hamilton, Mississauga, to name just a few.
I’m also concerned that the City of Ottawa is not exactly practicing “fiscal prudence,” as we often hear. Rather, I think we’re hoarding cash. More than anything else, I think that what we’re seeing is “Scrooge-onomics”. More on that to come soon.
But let’s circle back to something I highlighted earlier: although the overall tax increase is proposed to be 3.75%, the proposed increase to the citywide levy is only 2%. This means that the broad range of programs and services covered by taxes will see the smallest increase of all. And while that 2% increase doesn’t leave much room for error if inflation is higher than 2%, even without that pressure it’s certainly not going to meet some of our city’s most pressing current needs.
As I stated in the Special Edition newsletter I released last week, and as you’ll see below in our Feature segment on the Ward 9 Budget Survey, the overriding budget priority for Ward 9 residents is the proper maintenance and upkeep of existing municipal infrastructure (i.e. roads, sidewalks, sewers, facilities). This was followed by investment in public health, parks & recreation, and climate resilience / environmental sustainability. Much of what’s used to fund those priorities comes from the citywide tax rate. This means that the draft budget proposes the lowest increase for the things that generally matter most to Ward 9 residents. On the other hand, the Ottawa Police Services budget is getting an increase of 5%, even though providing Ottawa Police Services with a big increase was among the lowest-ranked priorities on our survey.
It’s still too early to draw hard and fast conclusions about the various departmental budgets, but I’ll aim to provide a clearer sense of where I’m leaning in the December 2nd newsletter, which is the last newsletter before our December 10th final vote.
What I’d like to do now is provide you with some highlights on specific investments from the draft 2026 Budget for Ward 9.
Facilities & Parks
- The Nepean Sportsplex is scheduled to get $2,345,000 in upgrades and renewals, including repainting the roof and steel framing of Arena 2 ($236,000), replacing the fire alarm system ($561,000), and replacing the artificial turf of the lawn bowling field ($945,000).
- General Burns Community Lodge is scheduled to get $62,000 in upgrades, and the Margaret Rywak Community Building is scheduled to get $54,000 in upgrades.
- The Huron Early Learning Centre will receive $212,000 in upgrades.
- Medhurst Park will receive $45,000 in preliminary costs towards the eventual replacement of asphalt pathways. Please note: Medhurst Park is also going to see construction in 2026 of the new Medhurst Park Splashpad costing more than $400,000, but that was allocated in the 2024 budget.
- Raoul Wallenburg Park will also receive $44,000 in advance costs towards the eventual replacement of asphalt pathways.
Transportation & Infrastructure
- The single largest budget allocation for Ward 9 is connected to the Baseline Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. Currently, the 2026 budget has a massive figure of $73.9 million allocated to this project. However, those funds will only be released when the federal and provincial governments confirm their funding for this project.
- The intersection of Fisher / Normandy is scheduled for a $3 million upgrade, but that project may now be deferred to 2027.
- The intersection of West Hunt Club / Greenbank is scheduled to get almost $1.9 million in upgrades for 2026, with most of the project budget allocated in 2027.
- The intersection of West Hunt Club / Prince of Wales will see $270,000 in advance design work, with construction presumably to come in the next few years.
- The bridge / rail overpass on West Hunt Club (west of Prince of Wales) is scheduled for $6.7 million.
- There will be a new signalized intersection at Merivale Rd / Brookdale Avenue; I don’t know the cost of this project, since it’s currently being lumped in together with a larger $5.6 million program budget for new pedestrian safety projects.
Roads & Active Transportation
- Viewmount Road will be re-paved from Merivale to Fisher ($2.9 million).
- Fallowfield from Greenbank to the rail crossing is scheduled for almost $1.4 million in pavement repairs.
- Siskin Court (from the dead end to McClellan), Cordell Court (from the cul de sac to Tennyson), Tennyson Street (from Fifeshire to Cordell) are scheduled to get a combined investment of $567,000 in re-paving.
- Colonnade Road North will get new bike lanes installed through pavement markings and signage modifications; I don’t know the cost of this project, since it’s currently being lumped in together with a larger $16 million program budget for cycling infrastructure.
Taken as a whole, the 2026 Budget has over $96 million allocated to projects that will benefit Ward 9. Of course, $73.9 million of that is for Baseline BRT, which services multiple wards, but we don’t know if that money will ever get spent since we’re waiting for the federal and provincial governments to commit their shares. And while I’m quite enthused about some of the investments I’ve listed, several of those items are for the benefit of much of West Ottawa (e.g. the Nepean Sportsplex investments).
And finally: how many new streetlights are we getting for Ward 9 in this year’s budget? Two.
Several of these budget items are the direct result of my advocacy. These would include the new signalized intersection at Merivale/Brookdale, and the road renewals on Siskin Court and Cordell/Tennyson, as well as the repaving of pathways in Raoul Wallenberg Park. The repaving of Viewmount Drive would likely not be happening as soon as it is if I hadn’t pushed for it. So, there are lots of things on the way for Ward 9 residents, and I’m glad to have played a part in making it happen.
Speaking of Ward 9 residents and what they want, please do take the time to read through our Feature segment below on the Ward 9 Budget Survey. My team member Tim Abray spent a lot of time on this, and he brings many years of professional experience and insights to his work. I felt it was important to provide the residents of Ward 9 with the benefit of a data-based, rigorous account of what I understand your priorities to be.
Canada’s Defense Innovation Hub
In the October 28th issue of our newsletter, we spoke about the recent proposal of Canada’s Defense Innovation Hub, a bold and visionary plan launched by Invest Ottawa to turn Ottawa-Gatineau into a major centre for innovation and R&D, and to position the National Capital Region to be a major benefactor of the federal government’s commitment to increase our defense spending. In addition to the development of Ottawa as Canada’s Defense Innovation Hub, a recent news article described how Canada is currently in contention for being the headquarters of a multi-national defense bank.
I mention this in our newsletter because, based on my conversations with Invest Ottawa about this, the Area X.0 site in Ward 9 (at the southwest corner of Woodroffe / West Hunt Club) would likely be a primary location for the Defense Innovation Hub, which could bring some exciting economic development to our Ward 9 communities. Since many of Ottawa’s residents may soon be facing significant public sector job cuts, it’s reassuring to see the possibility of this kind of new job growth for our city.
FEATURE
Ward 9 Budget Survey
As we prepare for the December 10th Council meeting where we’ll vote on the 2026 budget, Councillors will spend the next few weeks absorbing the budget details, discussing it with their colleagues, asking questions of staff, and listening to presentations from community members at the various committees of Council.
This year, to ensure Councillor Devine has added insight into the priorities of Ward 9 residents, our office issued a short budget survey. There were ten questions aimed at better understanding residents’ attitudes about how the city spends the public’s money. In all, an incredible 665 of you took the time to respond. Thank you for such high engagement! As you can see, people in all age groups and from across the Ward responded.
Here is what the data tells us.
The first question was aimed at understanding your initial impressions: is the proposed 3.75% tax increase reasonable for maintaining city services? Here is what you said:
What you are seeing in that chart is the statistical equivalent of “Kinda.”
Our survey was done using something called a Likert Scale, which measures attitudes based on a range of responses. In our case, we offered a range of seven responses starting with “Disagree Strongly” (a score of 1), to “Neutral” (a score of 4) to “Agree Strongly” (a score of 7).
In this case, the overall response was neither agreement nor disagreement. In all age groups, the average hovered around the middle (the black diamonds mark the overall average response). That first question sets the tone for everything that comes after. Because what the Councillor really wanted to know is which things are most important to you. What things should the city be spending its limited tax dollars on? And is there enough money to go around?
Each of the remaining nine questions produced an average score that could be easily compared to the other responses (we’ll spare you the gory technical details), providing a clear indication of where your priorities are. And here is what that comparison looks like, overall and in each age group (once again, the black diamonds on the second chart show where the overall average was on that question).
Overall, the results clearly point to what residents value most. Here are the nine budget priorities divided into three tiers, based on your responses.
Top Priorities:
- Maintenance of municipal infrastructure was the clear favorite (average score: 5.58)
- Public health (5.38)
- Parks and recreation (5.30)
- Environmental sustainability (5.22)
Middle Tier Priorities:
- Higher taxes for key priorities (5.18) (this question asked specifically if there was a willingness to pay slightly more taxes if the funds went to infrastructure maintenance and renewal)
- Affordable housing (4.83)
- Transit improvements (4.70)
Lower Priorities
- City staffing levels (4.63)
- Police services (OPS) (4.14)
So, the data makes it clear that Ward 9 residents strongly favor maintaining the infrastructure we already have, promoting public health, maintaining green spaces, and preserving our environment over expanding the police budget (although that sentiment depended strongly on age—the younger the respondent the less likely they were to see it as a priority). Overall, willingness to accept slightly higher taxes is moderate, and conditional on those funds supporting key priorities.
Responses to restricting city staff levels were largely ambivalent. It was not seen as a key priority relative to the other options. In the written comments, it was clear that a lot of this had to do with what those staff were doing. Staff are seen as a key part of delivering programs and services, so there was concern that staffing levels should be maintained in those key service areas.
It's also important to note that there were strong variations across age groups. Transit, for example, was more strongly supported by younger and older people. Those in the middle age ranges (many with kids and a full family schedule of activities, no doubt) saw it as less important. That’s an important finding, as it suggests that transit is not seen as a viable option by people with families and packed schedules. Our office considers this to be a strong reminder that we need to fix that problem if perceptions are ever going to change and bring increased ridership to our public transit system.
We’re very grateful to have had such a strong engagement with our survey. We will continue to use the data to help inform decisions as we move through budget season.
CITY WORKS
Electricity rate changes and what’s behind them
There are some big – and expensive – changes coming to your electricity bill. Last month, our office received notice from Hydro Ottawa about the upcoming changes. We also received a notice from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance that offered a rather critical perspective on what’s behind these changes. Our office has decided to provide you with both sources of information.
From Hydro Ottawa:
Hydro Ottawa provided our office with information about the recent changes to the electricity rate. Set annually by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), new Time-of-Use (TOU), Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO), and Tiered prices for residential and small business customers have taken effect as of November 1. Along with the rate changes, there has been a shift to winter TOU hours and an adjustment to the Tier threshold for residential customers. The price period for ULO will remain the same. Residential, small business, and net metering customers on the Regulated Price Plan (RPP) can choose the electricity rate plan that best meets their energy needs and lifestyle. To learn more, visit the Hydro Ottawa website.
From Ontario Clean Air Alliance:
On November 1st, electricity generation costs for residential consumers in the province reportedly surged by 29%. According to the Ontario Energy Board, which approved this increase, a major cause of this significant cost jump is the result of an increasing reliance on expensive nuclear generation.
“Premier Ford knows a bad news story when it sees it. So, he is going to bury much of this increase to your electricity bill by increasing the taxpayer-financed Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) from 13.1% to 23.5%. The bill for maintaining this taxpayer subsidy for electricity rates will now cost Ontario’s taxpayers much more than the $6 billion per year we're already paying in order to keep rates artificially low! This massive subsidy disguises the real cost of keeping the lights on with expensive nuclear reactors.”
The Financial Accountability Office (FAO) estimates that these programs will cost $118 billion over 20 years (2020–2040), averaging $6 billion per year.
Hydro Ottawa doing day-and-night work at Merivale Transformer Station
A noise exemption has been approved for Hydro Ottawa to carry out essential construction work in the NCC Greenbelt corridor between Woodroffe Avenue and Merivale Road.
Hydro Ottawa will be using specialized pipe-ramming equipment to install a new underground duct structure adjacent to the CN Rail corridor as part of the Hydro One Merivale Transformer Station’s expansion project. CN Rail requires this work to continue 24 hours a day until the work is completed. Here are the relevant construction details:
- Location: NCC Greenbelt Corridor (Woodroffe → Merivale)
- Schedule: November 24, 2025 at 6:00 AM to November 30, 2025 at 6:00 AM
- Hours: Continuous 24-hour operation
Residents and businesses in the area will receive advance notification from Hydro Ottawa. While we know that this work will pose some difficulties to residents in the immediate area, we recognize that this is a vital project for increasing Ottawa’s energy reliability. We appreciate your patience as this critical work is completed.
Winter maintenance standards refresher
Winter is here, and the City is ready to keep roads, sidewalks, and communities safe. Between November 15 and April 1, winter weather parking bans may be called to support winter operations when Environment Canada forecasts 7 cm or more of snow. During a ban, parking is prohibited on City streets to allow efficient snow clearing. Residential parking permit holders and certain business areas are exempt unless temporary signs are posted. Overnight bans (7:00 PM – 7:00 AM) are announced by 9:00 AM, and daytime bans (10:00 AM – 7:00 PM) by 3:30 PM the day prior. Visit the winter parking webpage for more information.
During Significant Weather Events, snow clearing timelines may be delayed. Please limit travel when possible. Help keep our streets and sidewalks safe this winter by following these guidelines:
- Do not push snow or ice onto streets, sidewalks, paths, parks, or right of way.
- Keep fire hydrants clear of snow for emergency access.
- Use driveway markers made of wood, plastic, fibreglass, or metal—no larger than a hockey stick and set back from the street or sidewalk.
- Clear catch basins or drains in front of your property during mild weather to prevent flooding. Find your nearest catch basin using our Catch Basin Locator Map.
Remember: keep hydrants clear, avoid pushing snow onto streets, and clear catch basins during mild weather. Need help? Check out the Snow Go Program or volunteer as a Snow Angel to assist neighbors.
Submitting By-law service requests online
Due to higher-than-normal call volumes, the City is encouraging residents to submit common service requests online at ottawa.ca/311 whenever possible. Online submissions go directly into the system and can help reduce wait times. If you ever have questions about a service request or need help navigating the system, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.
Changes to blue and black bin coming next year
Starting January 1, 2026, recycling collection in Ottawa will transition to Ontario’s new producer-managed system. Under regulations from the Government of Ontario, responsibility for collecting and processing recycling across Ontario will transfer to producers of paper and packaging.
Circular Materials, with Miller Waste Services, will collect blue and black bins. Residents should continue placing their bins out by 7:00 AM, though trucks and pickup times may change.
You’ll be able to recycle more items, including plastic bags and toothpaste tubes. Minor changes to accepted materials will apply. See the full list on the Circular Materials Website. Learn more about Ontario’s new recycling system. Stay updated via the Ottawa Collection Calendar app.
Gilbey Park Pathway update
As mentioned in a previous issue of the newsletter, Councillor Devine brought City staff on a site visit of the Gilbey Park pathway a few weeks ago, to show a segment of the path that was in urgent need of repair. One of the City’s senior engineers reported that they have returned to do more assessments of this pathway and found that the distortions and pathway damage they found was similar to other pathways that are adjacent to stormwater management facilities, and which have also been challenging to address. Due to these complexities, the City will be hiring a consultant to complete a geotechnical investigation of this pathway next Spring to better understand the underlying soils and develop an appropriate rehabilitation strategy.
Small Business Saturday
On November 29th, support local businesses by participating in Small Business Sunday. #SmallBusinessEveryDay is a year-round initiative run by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) that encourages Canadians to support the independent businesses that make their communities unique by keeping their loonies local. Launched in 2020, the campaign has now entered its fifth year and is helping shed light on the important role small businesses play in supporting our local economies.
Constituency office for PM / MP Carney
This is long overdue! Our office has frequently been in touch with the staff of Prime Minister Carney, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nepean, representing half of Ward 9, to find out when they were going to finally get their constituency office open. Here’s the info:
- Constituency Manager: Sathish Chinnaraj
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 613.825.3422
- Address: Unit 201, 240 Kennevale Drive, Nepean, ON K2J 6B6
Please note that meetings at the constituency office are by appointment only. Office hours are Monday – Friday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. They are closed on weekends and public holidays.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
‘Zine’ for Older Adults on Housing
A pair of students pursuing their Master’s degree in social work reached out to Councillors to share a very informative self-published, online magazine (or ‘zine’) designed to provide information and promote services and resources to address the needs of older adults, particularly on housing. Since our office has been well engaged on providing resources to our community’s seniors through our Older Adults Summit and our subsequent Older Adults Workshop on Elder Abuse, we wanted to make this new resource available to our senior residents. Please share it with anyone you think could benefit from this valuable information.
Public consultation: Medhurst Park Splashpad
One of the community projects that our office has been involved in is the development of a new splashpad for Medhurst Park in Tanglewood, which is slated for construction in 2026. The City of Ottawa just launched the public consultation survey for the Medhurst Park Splashpad, so that residents across the city can weigh in on their preferred choice of two design options for this new amenity.
The location of the splash pad was based on public consultation with residents and the THCA, and took into account the surrounding amenities, infrastructure, and public safety.
Two designs have been created – the “Whimsy” concept and the “Seuss” concept. We’d like your feedback on these two designs, and please note that while feedback is welcome from residents across the City of Ottawa, feedback from Tanglewood area residents will be more heavily weighted.
The Medhurst Splashpad survey is open now on Engage Ottawa and will run until December 5th.
Please note: the photo below is of a splashpad in Alta Vista’s Sharel Park, which was designed by the same firm that will be designing the Medhurst Park Splashpad. The Medhurst Park Splashpad will be an original design.
Public Information Session: Normandy Crescent & Valmarie Avenue integrated renewal project
The Normandy Crescent & Valmarie Avenue integrated renewal project is aimed at improving road infrastructure, traffic flow, and overall traffic safety improvements for segments of these roads and where they intersect with Fisher Avenue. The project scope includes integrated upgrades to roads, sewers, and watermains, as well as new sidewalks, upgraded intersections, and other roadway improvements to better serve drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. In Ward 9, construction will mainly affect Normandy Crescent, close to St. Rita’s School, St. Mark’s Church, and a few private residences.
As the project is nearing the completion of the design phase, the City is inviting residents to attend a Public Information Session:
- When: November 20th from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Where: Carleton Heights Community Centre (1665 Apeldoorn Avenue)
The proposed construction timeline for this project has not yet been finalized. Because the project crosses ward boundaries, both Councillor Brockington’s (Ward16) and Councillor Devine’s offices will be present. Residents from both communities are encouraged to attend, learn about the project, ask questions, and share feedback.
The City of Ottawa’s Nepean Community Programs wants your input!
We bring recreation and community programs closer to home, especially in neighborhoods between major complexes. Our goal is simple: build community by offering local programs that connect parents, children, seniors, and neighbors. Every community is unique, so we need your ideas! What programs would you like to see? What times work best? Are there activities we haven’t thought of yet? Your feedback will shape what’s offered—fitness, arts, kids’ programs, and more.
Have your say by completing the survey.
Help Keep Our Community Warm This Winter - AFIFO Needs Your Help!
AFIFO’s Winter Clothing event reminded us just how vital warm clothing is for families in our community. While the turnout was heartwarming, the supply of donated items fell short of the growing need.
Fondatrice d’AFIFO continues to collect gently used winter clothing for children and adults, and your support can make a real difference.
- Most Needed Items: Coats, boots, mittens, hats, and any warm inner or outerwear.
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Drop-Off Location: Fondatrice d’AFIFO
70 Bongard Avenue, Nepean, ON K2E 7Z9 - Email contact: [email protected]
Donations are welcome anytime – the need doesn’t end when the event does. Let’s come together to help keep our neighbours warm this winter. Every item counts!
Meet Your Commute Buddy with OttawaRideMatch.com
Looking for a smarter, more social commute? Check out OttawaRideMatch.com! This free tool helps residents connect to form carpools or find bike and bus buddies. It’s a great way to reduce congestion, save money, and encourage active transportation. Plus, it’s a fun way to meet neighbors and make commuting more enjoyable.
Councillor Devine at An Nguyen exhibit launch
Last week Councillor Devine was thrilled to be a guest speaker at the launch of Ottawa-based, Vietnamese-Canadian artist An Nguyen’s new exhibit “Fortune”, being exhibited at the Atrium Art Gallery at Ben Franklin Place until January 6th. “Fortune” commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, as well Ottawa’s role in “Project 4000”, when Ottawa residents welcomed thousands of Vietnames, Cambodian and Laotian newcomers fleeing conflict into our city.
Councillor Devine at the Ottawa Book Awards
In his capacity as Deputy Mayor, Councillor Devine was invited to present the annual Ottawa Book Awards at Centrepointe Theatre last week. Each finalist received $1,000 and each of the three winners took home a $7,500 prize. Canadian non-fiction writer (and two-time Ottawa Book Award winner) Charlotte Gray was the keynote speaker. The three winning Ottawa writers were:
- Nina Berkhout won the English Fiction award for her novel This Bright Dust
- Emmanuelle Erny won the Prix du Livre d’Ottawa for her novel Charlotte au pays des mots
- Denise Chong won the English Non-Fiction award for Out of Darkness: Rumana Monzur's journey through betrayal, tyranny and abuse
To find out more about all the nominated books and their authors, visit the Ottawa Public Library’s website.
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
Measles and Flu—Get Your Shots!
Canada has officially lost its “measles-free” status after tallying more than 5,000 cases and two infant deaths this year. Health experts say the change is driven by declining vaccination rates and is a clear and grave reminder of the importance of immunization. Measles remains one of the most contagious viruses on the planet, and 95% vaccine coverage of the population is needed to prevent outbreaks. So, if you are unsure of your measles vaccine status, talk to your healthcare provider.
At the same time, Canada is bracing for what could be one of the most severe flu seasons in recent memory. A mutated H3N2 virus is spreading globally. While this year’s vaccine may not be a perfect match for this mutating flu strain, it is still important to get your shot to reduce transmission of the disease and to help limit its effects if you do happen to catch it.
And finally, COVID-19, while at lower levels for a while now, remains a concern. There is an updated vaccine, and it’s recommended for everyone six months and older. Check in with your local pharmacy to schedule a shot. You can even get your flu and COVID vaccines at the same time.
Protect yourself and your community. Book your flu shot, get your COVID-19 booster, and ensure measles (MMR) vaccinations are up to date. Vaccines save lives—don’t wait.
Here is the latest data on respiratory diseases in our community, courtesy of Ottawa Public Health
An attempted armed robbery in Ward 9
On the evening of November 5th there was an attempted robbery on Beaver Ridge. The victim had attended an address on Beaver Ridge for a pre-arranged meeting to purchase a vehicle. The victim was instructed to bring $2,500 in cash. When the victim arrived for the meeting, the two suspects arrived on foot, each produced a firearm and demanded the money. Fortunately, the victim ran to a nearby residence (still with the money) to get shelter, where they contacted the police. The suspects were not identified or located, and the investigation is ongoing.
Ottawa Police Services would like to take this opportunity to remind residents about two safety programs:
- Safe Trade Zones are designated parking spots designed to support safety when completing trades stemming from online marketplaces and websites or any other type of personal sales.
- CAMSafe is a new initiative designed to enhance crime prevention and assist in investigations by leveraging community security cameras.
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
780 Baseline
On Tuesday, October 28, Councillor Devine and the developer for the 780 Baseline project—Joey Theberge from Theberge Homes—met with residents from the Fisher Heights community to check in and answer residents’ questions about the construction project. The meeting was well-attended and the dialogue was helpful.
Concerns about the truck routes in and out of the site were addressed, and a new, more generally accepted route was presented. The new route will ensure minimal contact with the neighbourhood as trucks will enter and exit the site off Fisher Avenue, as originally intended. The route creates more traffic at the entrance and exit to the site, but the builder has committed to putting safety measures in place to protect pedestrians and cyclists (including barriers, hoardings, and traffic management by sign crews.
As the project progresses, communication between our office and the developer will continue. If you have questions or concerns about the construction site and the way it is being managed, don’t hesitate to reach out.
New Zoning Bylaw Committee Meetings
On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the Joint Planning and Housing and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will meet to review the final draft of the proposed new Zoning By-law for Ottawa. This by-law will guide how land is used and developed across the city, aligning with Ottawa’s new Official Plan and supporting goals like 15-minute neighbourhoods, sustainable growth, and modernized building standards.
The new by-law would replace a patchwork of rules that have not been thoroughly updated in decades. The new by-law proposes changes to building heights, land-use permissions, and parking rules, shaping how our communities will look and function for years to come.
Members of the public are welcome to delegate at the joint committee meeting or submit written comments. Visit Engage Ottawa to get the details and review the final draft and the interactive zoning map.
If approved by Council in January 2026, the by-law will set the framework for the city’s growth over the next decade.
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
Old Forge Community Resource Centre – Antiques for A Better Tomorrow
Climate & Your Cash – A Panel Discussion
See the Agenda & Register ($10 ticket includes coffee & cookies).
