New Ways to Bus
Your bus route may change on April 27.
Please join OC Transpo for a New Ways to Bus information session for Somerset Ward:
- Monday, April 7 from 7:15 – 8:45 pm at the Jack Purcell Community Centre, Room 203
OC Transpo staff will be available to help you navigate your new daily routes, show you how to use the Travel Planner and answer your questions. Please join us. We look forward to seeing you there.
Consultation on gender-based violence action plan
To enhance the development and implementation of a three-year plan to combat gender-based violence, the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) will be hosting community feedback sessions.
The Engage Ottawa sessions aim to:
- Engage impacted communities in shaping Ottawa’s response to GBV within the city’s Community, Safety and Wellbeing Plan.
- Identify systemic gaps and opportunities in city-led GBV prevention and intervention strategies.
- Ensure accountability and transparency by centering survivor voices and community-led priorities in municipal decision-making.
Visit the Engage Ottawa page to find out how you can participate.
New! Plant Your Place tree program
On March 31, 2025 the City of Ottawa is launched Plant Your Place!, a new private land tree planting program delivered in collaboration with EnviroCentre. Plant Your Place! will see 1,250 trees planted in 2025 through two program streams: city-wide tree distributions for residents to plant on their property and full-service tree planting on social housing properties in neighbourhoods with low canopy cover.
The city-wide tree distribution stream will distribute 1,200 trees to residents across the city. Trees will be distributed free of charge for residents to plant themselves on private property. Trees will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit the EnviroCentre website to learn about program details, requirements, and eligibility.
Minto Park Sale Registration
It’s that time of year! We’re excited to announce that this year’s Minto Park Sale will be held on June 7, from 9am to 3pm at Minto Park. The Sale is a beloved Centretown tradition, and we’re pleased to bring it back for this year. The annual no yard, yard sale is a great opportunity to bring out all your odds and sods and see if they can find new life with another neighbour.
To fill out a request for a table, please fill out the form below. If you have difficulty filling out the form, or are unable to do so, please reach out to us at [email protected] . Please note that tables will be booked on a first come first serve basis. FILLING OUT THE FORM DOES NOT GUARANTEE A TABLE SPACE – you will receive a follow up email with more information, and to confirm your space. If there is sufficient interest, we will open up a wait list. The link to sign up is below:
Minto Park Sale Signup
City to review road salt usage
The Environment and Climate Change Committee approved a motion from Councillor Rawlson King directing staff to conduct a “focused review of Ottawa’s road salt use,” with an emphasis on its environmental impact and its effect on local waterways. The motion was passed by City Council shortly afterward. Thank you to everyone who wrote to me about this important issue.
Nominate a Centretown Drain Hero!
Blocked storm drains and catch basins are a key cause of spring flooding as the snow melts and the spring rains come in, but any resident can help stop it! If you know someone – a friend, neighbour, or family member – in Centretown who does a great job looking out for blocked drains, we have a fun new initiative to recognize them.
Inspired by a neighbour on Gilmour, you can now request a “Centretown Drain Hero” certificate for friends and neighbours who do a great job of clearing catch basins by emailing [email protected] .
2025 Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Event Schedule
Every year, the City of Ottawa hosts drop-off events to ensure that resident’s hazardous waste is safely collected, transported, and appropriately recycled or disposed of. This helps to protect the environment and decreases the risk of toxic materials ending up in our collection vehicles or landfills. This year, the City will be hosting nine single date drop-off events from April 27 through to November 1.
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Date
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Location
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Address
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Sunday, April 27, 2025
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Ottawa Stadium
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300 Coventry Road
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Saturday, May 24, 2025
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Rideau Carleton Casino
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4837 Albion Road
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Sunday, June 22, 2025
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Trail Waste Facility
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4475 Trail Road
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Saturday, July 26, 2025
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Canadian Tire Centre
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200 Cyclone Taylor Blvd
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Saturday, August 9, 2025
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Innes Snow Dump Facility
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2170 Mer Bleu Road
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Sunday, September 7, 2025
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Tunney’s Pasture*
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Tunney’s Pasture
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Saturday, September 27, 2025
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Conroy Snow Dump Facility
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3100 Conroy Road
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Saturday, October 18, 2025
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Strandherd Snow Dump Facility
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Philsar Road
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Saturday, November 1, 2025
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Westbrook Snow Dump Facility
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200 Westbrook Road
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*Please follow the signage at Tunney’s Pasture for the specific location of the event.
Please note that drop-off event dates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date schedule, and to see the list of acceptable items, please visit Ottawa.ca/HHW.
Ottawa’s new culture plan: shaping Ottawa's cultural future!
What does culture mean to you? Culture belongs to everyone. It’s something we are all already doing every day. It’s all the ways we express and celebrate who we are, how we spend our time, how we connect, how we share experiences and learn.
The city is now embarking on its first city-wide cultural planning process since 2012. With the aim of developing a new municipal Culture Plan, we are setting the stage for culture to thrive in every neighbourhood and village across Ottawa. The new plan will reflect our diverse communities by recognizing the many ways culture is experienced in our city, with the goal of reaching 10,000 residents. To help us achieve a plan that reflects our communities and people who live in them, we need your input and participation – either in-person or online.
The city will be holding in-person consultation sessions on the new culture plan over the next few months. But in the meantime, you can read more on the city’s Engage Ottawa page.
Adopt a park
Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-Road is a city-wide program that encourages individuals, families, neighbours, community groups, and businesses to take an active role in helping maintain a beautiful city.
Volunteers take on park or roadway cleanup projects to improve safety and promote a healthy natural environment by keeping the city clean, green, and free of litter.
Interested? Learn more and sign up here.
Federal election: find your polling station
As you might be able to tell from the signs that are up in our community, there is a federal election coming up. Check out the Elections Canada website to find out where you can vote in advance poll or on election day on April 28.
Centretown Yard Sale – Saturday, June 21st
Gilmour Street neighbours from Bronson to Kent have been organizing the "Pretty Good Gilmour St Garage Sale" since the 2000s. This year, they invite other parts of Centretown to join them! Streets in expanded scope could include MacLaren, James, Florence, etc. pending interest. If you are interested in organizing participation from your street or block, or just want more information, please email [email protected].
Ottawa Public Health – Neighbourhood Resources
Did you know that Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs offer a wide range of services?
OPH works with the City of Ottawa and community partners to deliver integrated public health-focused programs closer to where people live, by providing access to drop-in health and social services at no cost. Neighborhood Health and Wellness Hubs (NHWH) offer a range of services, including:
- Vaccination (See below for more information)
- Dental screenings
- Parenting in Ottawa Drop-Ins
- Diabetes Screening
- Employment and Social Services
- Aging Well in Ottawa
COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination:
NHWH offer COVID-19 and flu vaccinations for eligible high-risk individuals and priority populations facing barriers to access, including newcomers without OHIP and children under 2 (along with their household members). Other eligible residents may be able to access COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, as capacity allows. Given the limited capacity at NHWH, OPH is encouraging residents to contact their local pharmacy or their primary care provider to access the COVID-19 and flu vaccines. The list of pharmacy locations providing vaccinations can be found here: COVID-19 pharmacy vaccine locations (ontario.ca)
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine:
NHWH offer RSV antibody immunizations to infants, without access to a pediatrician or primary care provider, who are born in 2024 and are less than one year of age, and to infants born during the 2024-2025 RSV season. RSV appointments can also be booked through the Kids Come First webpage. Please note that the RSV vaccine for older adults is not available at the NHWH.
Routine and school-based vaccines for children and youth:
NHWH offer routine vaccines that are required for attending schools and daycares, including all school-based vaccines. They are available to children and youth aged two months to 17 years of age who do not have a primary care provider (such as a family doctor or nurse practitioner). This includes children and youth without OHIP.
Please review April’s calendar to see what services are being offered at your local Hub. No appointment is needed. Different services are offered at the various hub locations.
Seniors Events at the Montgomery Legion
The Montgomery Legion is hosting a series of events open to any who are interested.
Weekly Seniors Fitness Class: Tuesdays at 2:30-3:15pm (starting April 1st)
Food for Thought – Nutrition for an Aging Brain: April 17th, 11:30-1:30
RSVP: RCL351Events@outlookcom or call 613-233-7292
Mental Health Forum for Parents of Children and Youth
Following the success of the first event in April 2024, the Rotary Club of West Ottawa, in cooperation with professionals in the field, has organized a second FREE mental health forum - Prepared & Positive 2025 - for parents of elementary and secondary school aged children and youth.
When: Saturday, May 3rd, 8:45 am - 1 pm
Where: Saint Paul University
Have a look at the program at PreparedandPositive.ca.
The underlying theme of the event is anxiety so all of the presenters will touch on that when they speak to parents. Topics include excessive device use, body image, school avoidance, building resilience and developing self-regulation in your children, speaking effectively to youth about mental health, and how parents can navigate the mental health system. Clinical psychologists, a psychiatrist from CHEO, social workers and other professionals will be speaking about these issues at our event. The Ottawa Carleton District School Board is supporting this forum and will be co-presenting the session on school avoidance.
University Study on Climate Related Disruptions
The University of Toronto and Carleton University are conducting a survey study to understand how extensive disruptive events in Canada (such as power outages, equipment failures, wildfires or extreme heat events where heating/cooling/ ventilation systems are not working for more than 24 hours) impact occupant behavior and health.
They are looking for survey participants who have experienced a disruptive event who have experienced these types of events. The survey is anonymous and would provide valuable insights to inform better and safer building designs in the future.
If you are interested in sharing your experience the link to the survey can be found here: https://forms.office.com/r/C0nVruPeyf
