Last week was … a lot. It was a perfect example of the daily pivots that I have learned to do in this job and manage to handle thanks to my responsive and dedicated team.
On Monday evening, we held our first online consultation about a new splash pad that will be coming to Dundonald Park. More than 60 residents joined us on Zoom to discuss three potential designs and two possible locations. We also discussed other potential improvements to the park and the resources needed to alleviate safety concerns. I will let you know when the project goes up on Engage Ottawa – my office is committed to choosing a design that is appealing to children, retains the tree canopy and respects the heritage value of this iconic park.
On Wednesday, it was all about trash talk at Council – five hours of it. After an exhaustive discussion about solid waste management that deadlocked at the committee stage, we adopted a new three-item garbage limit, with no bag tags involved. As I said during the meeting, I believe we underestimate the public’s ability to adapt, and that when it comes to the environment and climate change, we need to be uncompromising. In the end, the policy we adopted is one I can live with for now (and it garnered praise from the media for showing how this new council is good at working together). But I also know that we need to seriously increase our trash diversion rates and that if this approach doesn’t make a dent, there will be even harder decisions to make down the road.
On Friday, our community was rocked by the devastating news that a woman cyclist was hit by a dump truck on Gladstone near Rochester Street, a horrendous accident on a section of the road that we have known for years is extremely dangerous. Hearing this news was particularly chilling for me, because I was cycling on that exact section of road with my wife and daughter only days before.
When I was elected, one of the first questions I asked was about how we can quickly build a cycling lane on Gladstone – a road that is designated both as a truck route and a recommended cycling route (I know, it makes no sense). I was gratified to see that in our new Transportation Master Plan, a key priority is a feasibility study for a re-working of the road to improve pedestrian and cycling safety. But that could take years, and we cannot wait any longer and risk any more serious accidents.
This week, I will be working with city staff and fellow members of the Transportation Committee to identify changes that we can implement ASAP to make this area safer for all vulnerable road users. I hope you will join me and advocates for cycling safety at a rally on Thursday morning at 7:45 am, at the corner of Gladstone and Rochester.
My sincere sympathies to the woman who was badly injured on Friday. We are all hoping you make a swift and complete recovery.
Warmly,
Ariel
Rally to raise the budget for affordable housing
Horizon Ottawa is formally launching their Affordable Housing Campaign on Tuesday, June 20th @ 9am in front of City Hall!
They will be talking about their petition calling on City Council to raise the affordable housing budget from $16 million to $40 million, which can be found here.
Councillor Troster will be speaking, as well as folks from Horizon Ottawa, ACORN and other community groups. Join us!
Ottawa parents drown out hate
Councillor Troster joined Councillors Jeff Leiper and Laine Johnson, along with MPP Joel Harden at a rally to support trans kids in Westboro on Friday, June 10th. The action was a counter-protest coordinated by local parents and Community Solidarity Ottawa in response to a group of far-right extremists who sought to target school-age children with messages of hatred and intolerance directed at the trans community. Counter-protestors outnumbered the haters four-to-one, in a tremendous show of love and solidarity.
During the election campaign, Councillor Troster wrote about what it was like to run for office in the midst of major backlash against 2SLGBTQ+ rights. She is grateful to everyone in the Ottawa community who continues to show up and push back against hate and intolerance.
Minto Park Sale a great success
Thank you to everyone who came to our Minto Park Sale on June 10. We loved seeing all of our neighbours again, and are excited to donate the proceeds to the Parkdale Food Centre!
One of our neighbours reached out to see if we could connect her with one of the residents tabling at the event. If this description below sounds like a match, reach out to our office so we can connect you!
“I fell in love with some pendants that one of the vendors had. They had a twisted wire on the end, not a chain. She was located at the end of the row on the left and was selling them, new not used. They were quite large and looked to be made of stone, maybe.”
1010 Somerset launches on EngageOttawa
The City is looking for your feedback on the draft concept plan for a proposed array of elements for a complete integrated and sustainable community hub.
Anchored close to the Plant Recreation Complex and the O-Train tracks, north of the Corso Italia station, the intention is to develop a destination community, integrated with the residential development by Ottawa Community Housing to the south.
Learn more and share your feedback here.
Wednesday evening: 224 Preston public meeting
Join us on Wednesdays, June 21st for a meeting about an upcoming development at 224 Preston. A new residential building is proposed for the site. Register here.
ACORN tenant survey
ACORN is surveying members and tenants in Ottawa about your biggest housing concerns to help identify your top municipal housing demands for City Hall. Fill out the Ottawa Tenant Survey HERE tell them which issues matter to YOU!
WISE Youth Arts Event: SURVIVOR
Women’s Initiatives for Safer Environments (WISE) in partnership with the Ottawa Arts Council is hosting a Youth Arts Event on the theme of “SURVIVOR” – looking at many facets of violence in society.
They are accepting submissions in multimedia art forms (poetry, dance, vocal, drama, music, visual) from youth between the ages of 13-18 years. If you are one who expresses your individuality through art, this event is for you.
A celebratory performance event will be held on July 18th to recognize all entrants.
WISE is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention and ending of gender based violence in Ottawa: www.wiseottawa.ca. Submissions will be accepted until June 23r at [email protected].
Volunteer opportunity with Gopher-It Cares
Gopher-It Cares (formerly Ottawa Cares) was established in March 2020 as a Community Response to COVID-19 in Ottawa's East End. This "last-mile" delivery program has continued to grow as a valuable and much-needed resource in Ottawa. Gopher-It Cares primary goal is the recruitment and coordination of volunteers to deliver food from community food banks to their local residents. Join their team
Kids Come First – Vaccinate and Up-to-Date campaign
The Population and Public Health Working Group of the Kids Come First Health Team joined together to connect children and youth to the care they need. The Kids Come First – Vaccinate and Up-to-Date campaign is here to make it easier for children and youth in the region to catch up on routine vaccines.
Families, caregivers, and patients are now able to start booking routine vaccine appointments using the Kids Come First Clinic Flow booking page!
To book an appointment, your child or youth:
- Lives and/or goes to daycare or school in Ontario;
- Is due for recommended vaccinations;
- Does not have a family physician or pediatrician or a Primary Health Care nurse practitioner (PHC-NP)* or cannot easily access see their family physician, pediatrician, or PHC-NP.
Note that an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card is not required to book an appointment.
Ancoura presents Big Soul Project!
On Saturday, June 24, Ottawa’s Centretown United Church will resound with the joyous music of Big Soul Project and Deep Groove Band. This renowned Ottawa choir and its house band will put on a show with an irresistible beat to entertain young, old, and everyone in between – and to provide much-needed support to Ancoura.
Ancoura is a local charity which provides safe, stable and supportive housing for Ottawa residents with mental illness. It has managed to weather the serious challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic for residents, staff and volunteers, but its resources have been significantly depleted over the past three years.
With this fundraising concert, Big Soul Project – and you – will help Ancoura to emerge with renewed energy to carry on its vital work in the community. So, bring your whole family to sing, clap, and even dance in the aisles, while supporting a great cause and making a positive impact in your community!
Centretown United Church (wheelchair accessible)
507 Bank Street at Argyle
7:30 pm on Saturday, June 24 (doors open at 6:45)
Tickets on Eventbrite: $30 for adults, $75 for families of four, $10 for children 12 and under.
