There’s a new park opening at the corner of Lyon and Albert this summer, and when city staff asked me who we should name it after, I didn’t hesitate when I said: Diane Holmes.
When Diane was first elected to city council, her closest opponent blamed “the feminist vote” for his loss. Well, his loss was Somerset Ward and our whole city’s gain.
Diane first ran for Ottawa city council in 1982. She won the seat for what was then Wellington ward and was re-elected for three more consecutive terms. In 1994, she became the first elected regional councillor for Somerset Ward and was acclaimed three years later for a second term in 1998. She sat out one term, returning in 2003 as councillor for Somerset ward – a post she held until 2014. That’s more than 30 years in municipal politics – not for the faint of heart.
Diane’s accomplishments are too many to name, but I know she was admired for being a fighter for downtown communities at a time where “urban renewal” was making neighbourhoods like ours less livable. She introduced traffic calming in residential areas, echoing the concerns I still hear about – knowing that safe, slower streets were key to attracting families to live and stay in Centretown.
Diane worked hard to revitalize Chaudière, Jack Purcell, McNabb and Primrose parks. She championed the Corktown Bridge, the Beaver Barracks Affordable Housing development, the Laurier bike lane, and the Chinatown arch. She helped found both Crime Prevention Ottawa and the Women’s Initiative for Safer Environments – emphasizing the need for proactive social supports and community safety initiatives.
I will never forget the advice that Diane first gave me when I was considering running for office: to make sure I was standing up for truly affordable housing, no more than 30 percent of household income. Which for someone living on social assistance means $300-400 a month. No other definition mattered. I took that to heart, and I still do.
Diane, now 87, was in the gallery at City Hall on Wednesday with her daughter Bryn when we unanimously voted to name Diane Holmes Park. I can’t think of a better way to honour someone who worked so hard to make Somerset Ward a better place to live, work and visit.
Warmly,
Ariel
Ariel with Diane Holmes, standing in front of her office at City Hall (which used to be Diane’s office)
Update on clean-up near Trillium Path and LRT stations
A lot of you have written to me about the overwhelming amount of garbage along the Trillum Pathway and between Bayview and Pimisi LRT stations. I am happy to share that the city and NCC have finished clearing the garbage and debris.
I am also pushing for a yearly coordinated clean-up plan for every spring, to ensure that this quantity of garbage never accumulates like this again. Thank you to everyone who reached out to my office about this important issue.
Patio fees waived this summer for Ottawa 200
Great news for local businesses! The city will be waiving patio fees for this summer, to encourage as many businesses as possible to offer outdoor dining, in honour of Ottawa’s 200th birthday. A motion was passed unanimously by city council this week to make it happen.
Plant Your Place 2026 (free trees!)
The Plant Your Place! program is starting up again this spring, which means more free trees in the ward! Households located in the ward's two priority planting areas (Dalhousie-Rochester Heights and Bank Street Centretown) can receive a site visit from an urban forestry professional who can assess the property and arrange tree planting at no cost. Residents in the Dalhousie-Rochester area will be able to register for a site visit starting April 8, while residents in the Centretown Bank area will be able to register starting May 4. Read more here to see if you are eligible.
Trees will also be available for pickup at 300 Coventry Road. Priority area residents are now able to register on a first-come-first-serve basis, while all other residents can register starting March 9th
Find out more and register at plantyourplace.ca!
Vocestra Chorus acapella concert
Vocestra is hosting their spring concert, "Songs for Brighter Days," at St. Stephens Anglican Church, at 930 Watson St. (off Pinecrest) on May 30 at 7:30pm.
Come on out for an evening of great contemporary music and lots of fun!
For tickets and more information, visit the Vocestra website.
Get active and support youth in your community
From May 1–15, join Move for Youth in support of United Way East Ontario and Centraide Outaouais.
By participating in this free activity challenge, every movement made helps raise awareness and support for the most vulnerable kids in your community. This year you also have the option to start your own fundraising campaign as part of your participation.
Our generous sponsors have a goal to raise $120,000 to help kids succeed and they are asking you to help us reach our goal of 1,500 participants, 150 million steps, 75,000 kilometers, and raise $150,000 for youth in our region.
Learn more and register online here.
Free “Try Artistic Swimming” sessions for ages 7+
Looking for a fun and unique activity? GO Capital Artistic Swimming is offering free “Try Artistic Swimming” sessions this May for children ages 7 and up — no experience needed!
Artistic swimming combines swimming, dance, and teamwork in a supportive environment. It’s a great way for kids to build confidence, stay active, and try something new.
Session Dates:
Register at: gocapitalasc.ca
Street Seats are returning to Centretown!
Last year the City of Ottawa launched the Street Seats Pilot Program, an initiative that transforms select streets in Centretown into seasonal public spaces that support community use, local businesses, and pedestrian-friendly zones. The program is back this year with four locations (two returning, two new!) and will bring programming, public art, seating, shade and flowers to Centretown streets.
A lot of community feedback has been incorporated and the pilot this year will include a more accessible live calendar of events (will go live next week), that can be filtered by location and type of programming. Do you have a performance, workshop, book club, or other pop-up event and you are looking for a space? Read through the booking form and FAQs to see if Street Seats is the right fit!
This pilot was hugely successful last summer, with visitors finding the spaces safe, comfortable and clean, using active transportation to access the spaces and visiting local businesses more frequently. You can read more about the 2025 season in the final report. Bringing this placemaking to even more locations this year, including a new location in Chinatown, will support local businesses, bolster community safety, and foster community and creativity. Hope to see you there!
Have your say on Dundonald Park renewal
Dundonald Park is one of our oldest and most-used parks. Like many well-loved public spaces, it's in need of some repairs. I am excited to share that we are working with staff to plan a park renewal project, with the aim of starting work in Summer 2027.
What does Dundonald Park mean to you? Fill out our survey to let us know how you use the park and what you'd like to see added.
Upcoming sidewalk modifications
Over the next few weeks there will be 7 locations around Somerset Ward that will be receiving minor sidewalk modifications. These refreshes are targeted towards priority locations. The locations include:
Residents living around these locations will receive more information about the effects of the project on Friday May 15th, 2026.
2026 Giveaway Weekend
The City of Ottawa is on a mission to reduce waste by encouraging repair and reuse—and to support that, we’re bringing back Giveaway Weekend!
Join the city-wide treasure hunt on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31.
Place your gently used,unwanted items at the curb with our multilingual free sign and let someone else give them a second life. Then, explore what your neighbours have put out because their trash may be your treasure!
Residents are asked to bring any uncollected items back inside at the end of the day. Items that are not taken can be donated to charitable organizations, shared through your local Buy Nothing Facebook group or posted on other free exchange websites. For ways to donate bulky items or textiles, and quick tips to reduce waste, visit: ottawa.ca/WasteReduction and select the option on the left to get more specific details.
Don’t miss Giveaway Weekend, Saturday May 30 and Sunday May 31.
Learn more at ottawa.ca/Giveaway.
Discover Your Ward by Bike: Centretown is a FREE, in-person workshop which will take a small group on a guided bike ride around Centretown Ward on May 29th at 10:30am, leaving from City Hall (110 Laurier).
Along the way we will stop at different pieces of cycling infrastructure and points of interest and learn all the skills to start planning your own route around your neighbourhood. This ride will cover approximately 5km at a slow pace and will make use of a combination of separated cycling infrastructure, on-road cycling infrastructure, and residential streets. The ride route is fairly flat, though there may be some small hills.
Participants will need to bring their own bikes and helmets and will be asked to sign a waiver prior to participation.
Register now to reserve your spot!
Chinatown Night Market
Once again, Somerset Street will transform into a lively, colorful night market, brimming with the flavors of diverse street food, the energy of captivating live performances, and the warm, inclusive atmosphere that defines our neighborhood. Whether you’re a seasoned attendee or a first-time visitor, the 2026 Ottawa Chinatown Night Market promises to be a night you won’t forget!
Date: Friday, May 29 (2PM - 11PM), Saturday, May 30 (11AM - 11PM), Sunday, May 31 (11AM - 8PM)
Location: Somerset St West between Bronson Ave and Bell St
Community advocates and legal experts say that a renovictions by-law is still urgently needed, despite recent changes made by the province to the Residential Tenancies Act.
Councillor Ariel Troster and community advocates say that a renovictions by-law is still urgently needed, despite recent changes made by the province to the Residential Tenancies Act.
Some days at City Hall are about the little things like potholes, garbage pick-up and noise complaints.