Public bathroom coming on Somerset, ANCHOR expansion, warming centres, recycling changes, community garden opportunities, and more!

The Somerset Ward team is back in the office and gearing up for a busy winter and spring.

There are three major policy pieces that will take centre stage over the next few months. At the end of January, council have a final debate and vote on the city’s new Zoning Bylaw. We will also soon be making a decision on a potential bylaw to protect vulnerable social infrastructure. And after three years of hard work and advocacy, council will finally get to discuss and vote on a potential bylaw to prevent unjust renovictions.

Stay tuned to this newsletter and to my social media feeds for information about each of these items as they come up for council decisions.

Here are some things to look forward in Somerset Ward this year:

• A new stand-alone public washroom is coming to Somerset and Bank. We will be reaching out in the coming weeks to consult with the community about what design features you would like to see included.
  

• The Gladstone/Gilmour bikeway will soon go to committee and council for a vote. Luckily, this project is not impacted by Bill 60 and will still proceed, bringing much-needed cycling safety to a key corridor in Centretown.
  

• ANCHOR is expanding! At the end of the year, we received two pieces of excellent news about Ottawa’s non-police crisis response program. The boundaries were extended west, all the way to Island Park. This is particularly helpful for residents of Little Italy. The 2026 budget also included funding for ANCHOR to expand into another neighbourhood in the city, to be announced soon. Remember: you can call 211, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to receive help for yourself or for a neighbour experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.
  
• Street Seats is coming to Chinatown this summer! After a successful season on Bank Street, pop-up performance and activity spaces will be expanded to include Somerset Street West in 2026. I can’t wait to see the artistry and community-building that this will bring to another neighbourhood in Somerset Ward.

As always, our office is here to help you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

Warmly,

Ariel

Councillor Troster at the John Howard Society's Lisgar women's residence holiday party.

Update on shelter capacity and warming centres

Thanks to all of you who wrote to me, advocating for people experiencing homelessness in our city. Your compassion and advocacy are so important.

The city has added more than 100 beds to our shelter system, as well as system navigators at 311. This means when you call to find a place for someone to go, there will be a person on the line who can help navigate the process. You can also request a “warm transfer” via the Salvation Army outreach van, if the person you are helping needs a ride to a warm place. Here is a complete list of shelters and warming spaces.

If you see someone in need:

• Call 2-1-1 for information about drop in centres, community and health resource centres, food banks and community food programs, winter clothing, financial assistance with utilities and a list of Out of the Cold locations with free meals, snacks and drop-ins. The 211 service is provided by Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario.  
  

• Call 3-1-1 to get referred to the best available shelter, or to get assistance for someone who needs transportation to get out of the cold. The City's 3-1-1 Line is available to respond to calls 24 hours a day. Calls are answered by the City of Ottawa Call Centre on a priority basis and referred to appropriate service providers.
  

• Call 8-1-1 Health Connect Ontario for non-emergency medical advice.
  
  
• Call 9-1-1 for medical emergency assistance such as hypothermia.

City staff continues to meet multiple times a week with shelter staff and community agencies to monitor demand. The city has the capacity to open another winter shelter in the facility on Lanark and will do so if the need is there. I have been advocating with city staff for more drop-in spaces and we should have some good news to share soon, about a new space in Centretown that will be opening shortly. I really appreciate how much you all care about this issue, and I will reach out when there is more to report.

City accepting applications for Ottawa’s community-led greening initiatives and gardening program

The City of Ottawa is inviting community groups to submit project proposals under the Community-led Greening Initiatives and Gardening Program. This program allows communities to create or expand gardens and greening projects on City land. Developed to support Ottawa’s environmental, equity and climate goals, the program promotes sustainable public spaces, biodiversity, community well-being and recreation.

Projects may include community-led food gardens, pollinator and native plant gardens, rain gardens, ornamental gardens and gardening that reduces the need for irrigation. Other greening initiatives, such as projects that help manage invasive species, may be eligible when connected to a garden or greening project.

Applications are due by February 3. Learn more and apply online here.

Complete your Vacant Unit Tax declaration before March 19

It’s Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) declaration time again. Complete your online declaration for the 2025 occupancy year for each residential property that you own before the March 19, 2026, deadline. A $250 late fee applies to all late submissions.

Submitting your declaration online is simple and takes less than a minute. 

• If you have a MyService.Ottawa.ca account:
  Log in and submit your declaration through your property tax account.
  
  
• If you do not have an account:
  Visit Ottawa.ca/vut and select Submit Declaration using your roll number and secure access code (found on last year’s property tax bill or notice).

Notices will be sent to property owners in January, with email delivery used whenever possible. Please also check your junk-mail folder.

Alternate and accessible declaration options available

By phone (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm):

• 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.ca/csc for locations and business hours.

Blue and black bin collection changes

Under regulations from the Government of Ontario, responsibility for collecting and processing recycling across Ontario will transfer to producers of paper and packaging. This means that Ontarians will be able to recycle the same materials no matter where they live.

This means that the City of Ottawa will no longer be responsible for collecting your blue and black bin.

As part of this new recycling system, you will be able to recycle more – including plastic bags, toothpaste tubes and deodorant. Learn more about Ontario’s upcoming recycling system.

Circular Materials will be administrating the new recycling collection system on behalf of the producers. Their contractor, Miller Waste Services, will be collecting your blue and black bin.

• Continue to put your bins out by 7 am on your collection day. They will be collected by a different truck and collection may occur at a different time of day than usual.
  
  
• There will be minor changes to what can go in your blue and black bins as of January 1, 2026. A full list of items that can be recycled is available on the Circular Materials website. The City will provide more details in the coming weeks.
  

• You can continue to use your existing standard sized blue and black bins.
  
  
• Beginning on Thursday, January 1, 2026, you will no longer contact the City for any recycling-related services such as a broken bin or a missed collection.

The Ottawa Cellblock is looking for donations of coats and boots

Did you know that when people are released from prison in the winter, it is often with only the clothes on their backs?

The cellblock at the Ottawa Courthouse (161 Elgin) is looking for donations of winter coats and boots for those who need them. Just ask for the cellblock to drop them off.