Weekly newsletter: April 21, 2026
Hi everyone!
I’ve been dealing with a “man cold” the last two days, so my energy levels have been a bit weird. Soup has been a gamechanger, though, as has spicy food.
This week’s garbage collection will be the last with the temporary six-item limit. The three-item limit resumes next garbage day in two weeks.
Last week was a decent week! Other than emails, calls, meetings, and learning a lot more about drainage on a section of Winding Way than expected, I also attended a few events.
I attended a Holocaust commemoration ceremony with Councillor Hill at the Soloway Jewish Community Centre on Monday, which included impactful and very personal stories shared by survivors and their descendants.
On Thursday, I stopped by to see the police officers at the bi-weekly open hours at Walter Baker to discuss how the drop-ins were being received and attended, along with future outreach strategies. The drop-in office hours are an effort by the community police team to be more accessible to the community. More details are in the bite-sized updates of the newsletter.
Thursday evening, I attended the launch of former City Councillor Keith Egli’s book, Tenacious Little F*cker (stylised as such). The book is an essay that chronicles his journey from childhood sexual abuse, through unexplained hurt to rage to self-forgiveness and finally, to the road he is taking towards healing.
Finally, on Friday, the Ottawa Senators flag was raised at City Hall to mark the beginning of what will hopefully be a deep playoff run.
I’m working on a few items for future newsletters, in the meantime, below is the usual platter of bite-sized updates to close off this week’s newsletter!
Bite-sized updates
Sorted alphabetically. New or updated items marked with asterisk (*).
*Barrhaven youth resource fair – The Nepean Osgoode Rideau Community Resource Centre (NROCRC) is looking to connect Barrhaven youth with local experts in education, jobs, mental health, recreation, and more this Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 am in Hall A (second floor) of the Walter Baker Sports Centre. Admission is free!
Beatrice/Queensbury (stop 3345) bus shelter – Installation tentatively scheduled for the spring.
Cleaning the Capital – Registration for the spring 2026 campaign is open until May 4 for cleanup projects between April 15 and May 31. Almost 50 projects have already been registered in Barrhaven East! Learn more or register at Ottawa.ca/Clean↗.
Development application, 3400 Woodroffe↗ - The City received an application to construct 160 homes divided amongst stacked townhouses, back-to-back townhouses, and traditional townhouses. I’ve organised a public meeting about the development for April 29, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, at the Chapman Mills Community Building (424 Chapman Mills Drive). City staff and the developer have been invited to attend.
Household hazardous waste – This year’s drop-off depots near Barrhaven are noted below. See Ottawa.ca/HHW↗ for instructions and depots scheduled for other dates and further away from Barrhaven. Many items like light bulbs, spent batteries, paint, oil, and electronics can also be dropped off at retailers and other locations↗ throughout the year.
June 28, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm – Trail Road Landfill, 4475 Trail Road↗
October 17, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm – Strandherd snow dump, 4061 Strandherd Drive↗ (enter via Dealership Drive)
Hydro Ottawa Greenbank transformer project – Hydro Ottawa is hosting public information sessions on April 28 regarding a new transformer station project along Greenbank Road south of West Hunt Club. Details at HydroOttawa.com/Greenbank↗.
Virtual – 12:15 pm to 1:00 pm, register here↗
In-person – 6:45 pm to 8:30 pm, Charlie Conacher Building (Moloughney Park), 30 Wessex Road↗, no registration required
Income tax clinic – The Ottawa Public Library is hosting two income tax clinics this week at the Ruth E. Dickinson branch at no cost for low/modest income families with simple tax returns for 2025. See BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca↗ for schedule details and eligibility criteria. Personal income tax returns are due April 30.
Nepean Creative Arts Centre refresh – The City is looking to improve the facility, create new opportunities for creative programming, and to have a better understanding of how the centre is used today. A public survey is available until May 5 through EngageOttawa↗.
OC Transpo route 277, 5:55 am departure – A high-capacity bus has been reassigned to the first morning of the 277 Tunney’s Pasture as bus availability continues to improve.
*Police office hours – South District officers are testing out open office hours as an added form of community outreach. Officers will be upstairs at the Walter Baker Sports Centre by the food court from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm every other Thursday, with their next day on April 30. No registration or scheduling needed.
Potholes – Please report potholes to Ottawa.ca/311↗. The requirement to provide contact information for pothole reporting has been made optional starting this year.
Recycling – Friendly reminder that all recycling inquiries, including service issues and replacement bin requests should be directed to Miller Waste at 1-888-852-2374 or Area2@MillerWaste.ca. Garbage, green bin, and yard waste remain City responsibilities.
Road cuts remediation – The road cuts near Cresthaven/Versilia (winter watermain break) and at Woodroffe/Deerfox (private water and sewer connection) will be properly remediated after hot asphalt plants reopen in May. On Cresthaven, the cold patch will receive regular attention until that work can be done.
*Spring flooding – Check Ottawa.ca↗ for the latest flooding information, including road and pathway closures, especially if you’re travelling through rural Ottawa. There are currently no flooding concerns along the Rideau or Jock rivers in Barrhaven East, but please take care around bodies of water.
Summer jobs with the City – Summer student job postings in parks and recreation are now live at Ottawa.ca/jobs↗. Please note some positions are restricted to post-secondary students, while others are open to all students.
Walter Baker Sports Centre – Three upcoming impacts to programming:
Late-April to late-June: sprinkler system life-cycle replacement. The rinks will be closed for a few days within that timespan. Details to come.
April 27, all day: power to library (second floor), canteen, and food court to be shut off to connect facility to new backup generator. No impact to recreation programming.
May 11 to June 28: swimming pools to be closed for structural and deck repair works. Annual maintenance will also be completed during the closure.
Enjoy the week ahead!
-Wilson