Weekly newsletter June 25, 2024
Hi everyone!
It’s been a heavy month at City Hall and I’m honestly looking forward to a legislatively lighter July, but with more community events and opportunities to meet residents across the ward.
What are your summer plans? I won’t be taking any formal extended time off over the summer this year (since my wife and I went away in February), save for a few days here and there.
Construction
What’s summer without some road work?
After some weather-related delays on other projects in the city, crews will finally begin road works scheduled in the ward this summer. Across the city, several resurfacing projects are already underway, although the project list is a bit shorter locally this year.
Most prominently, Woodroffe Avenue will be resurfaced in two sections, between Claridge and Longfields, and between Fallowfield and the railway. Last year, leftover funds were used to resurface the section between Fallowfield and Longfields, which is why it wasn’t all done in one year.
Between Claridge and Longfields, begins this week, all work to be done off-peak
Between Fallowfield and the railway, begins July 15, all overnight work
The sidewalks on both sides of Stoneway Drive between the Farm Boy entrance and Forest Gate east will also be replaced, expected to begin July 8. Construction notices will be delivered this week. Residents may lose driveway access for a few days but will be provided with temporary on-street parking permits exempting them from the three- and six-hour limits.
For Barrhaven motorists commuting to/from the east, a short section of Bank Street near Findlay Creek will close July 2 to mid-December, which bring additional traffic to Leitrim Road.
Speaking of Leitrim Road, resurfacing between River Road and Limebank is almost complete, and the roadway should reopen by the end of day tomorrow, June 26.
On the 417, some ramps will be closed as part of ongoing retaining wall rehabilitation works as part of the larger widening project. Notably, the eastbound off-ramp and westbound on-ramp at Rochester is closed until mid-October. Starting July 2, the highway will also have full-time lane reductions between Bronson and Kent until the end of August.
Student artwork
Artwork by five students from three local high schools on display across Barrhaven!
Last week, 18 newly decorated traffic signal control boxes were unveiled across both wards in Barrhaven.
An initiative of the Barrhaven BIA (with some City funding), they reached out to area high schools over the last few months to find talented students willing to submit artwork to be digitised, printed, and wrapped on otherwise drab signals control boxes.
They complement the 20 boxes that were wrapped in a design created last year by another local artist, also a successful initiative of the BIA to positive public feedback.
Each design speaks to the Barrhaven experience through the lens of local youth. The artwork selected by the BIA are shown below, while the BIA’s website has details about each design.
“Silly Box” by Sarah Lyne Bactol, St. Mother Teresa High School
Longfields/Highbury Park
Strandherd/Chapman Mills-Fraser Fields
Strandherd/Tartan-Borrisokane
“Skates” by Heyab Berhe, Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School
Longfields/Chapman Mills
Longfields/Abetti-Riverstone
Prince of Wales/Crestway
“Dog Box” by Sarah Lyne Bactol and Vinny McMillan, St. Mother Teresa High School
Woodroffe/Queensbury-Rideaucrest
Woodroffe/Stoneway-Deerfox
Jockvale/Strandherd
“The Bigger Picture” by Amal Khan, St. Joseph Catholic High School
Woodroffe/Longfields
Woodroffe/Chapman Mills
Chapman Mills/Clearbrook
Marketplace/Greenbank
Strandherd/Andora
Greenbank/Dundonald
“Pizza” by Ali Jardine, Longfields-Davidson Heights
Cedarview at Cedarview Middle School
Berrigan/Transitway
Prince of Wales/Rocky Hill
Seeing the creativity from our community’s students on full display gives me great pride as a City Councillor, a BIA board member, and a resident. I’m grateful they were willing to share that creativity, but also to BIA staff for leading the initiative.
The students whose designs are on display can point to signals control boxes bearing their artwork and say “hey, I did that!”
The initiative was also featured on CTV News Ottawa recently!
Water safety
Being in, on, and around water is fun, but do so safely!
With summer in full swing, many in the community will take full advantage of pools, rivers, and lakes to have fun and/or cool off.
I, for one, will be taking full advantage of my new kayak (when I’m not working, though I kind of want to take a Teams meeting on the water one day).
Although fun, being around, in, or on the water can be dangerous if certain precautions and rules are not taken and followed. The Ottawa Fire Service has had a busy month with water rescues, including two which ended tragically.
Drowning, particularly in backyard pools, is the second leading cause of preventable child deaths. It is fast and silent. Young swimmers should be constantly supervised by a responsible adult who knows how to swim and basic water rescue, first aid, or CPR.
Weak and non-swimmers should wear personal flotation devices (PFD), but it’s not a replacement for supervision. PFDs must also fit properly to work.
Residents with backyard pools should ensure required enclosures are in place and functioning properly to prevent children from inadvertently accessing the pool.
Around rivers and lakes, ensure children know to stay away from fast moving water and that everyone is aware of nearby hazards before heading in.
If, like me, you’re heading onto the water in a watercraft, remember to carry the mandatory safety equipment as determined by Transport Canada:
One PFD for each person on board
A buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres in length
Bailer or hand pump
Sound signalling device (whistle, air horn)
A waterproof flashlight
Lights if operating in the dark or in low visibility
Fire extinguisher and appropriate licences (motorised vessels only)
There are many water safety resources available, including information webpages and safety courses.
City of Ottawa – Pool Enclosure By-law, swimming lessons
Lifesaving Society – public education, or become a lifeguard
Parachute - drowning
Ottawa Public Health – water safety
Transport Canada – boating safety, marine safety
Canada Day
Celebrate Canada’s 157th birthday!
Canada as a country may be just 157 years old, but the human history on this land is a rich and fascinating tapestry of culture, conflict, and change.
From First Nations residents whose ancestors have nurtured this land here and elsewhere for millennia, descendants of European settlers, and generations of families from around the world who built this country for 157 years and counting to new residents who just started calling Canada home, and everyone in between and to come, we embody everything great and some things that can be better to make this the best country in the world.
I didn’t take very well to Ottawa’s slogan, “Canada in One City,” at first, but the more I go around Barrhaven, the more I see why it’s fitting, reflected in the faces, experiences, and backgrounds of so many people and families I’ve met so far.
I wouldn’t trade it for anything or anywhere in the world.
The morning of July 1, I will be serving at the Mayor’s Canada Day breakfast happening at the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park from 8:00 am to 10:30 am. Tickets are free! There is a limit of two tickets per person, and a senior (65+) may bring a guest who’s not a senior.
Tickets are available by contacting me or through the protocol office at 613-580-2470 or ProtocolRSVP@ottawa.ca.
Locally, Canada Day in Barrhaven will be hosting its usual slate of events at Clarke Fields Park, including the midway throughout this week plus a seniors’ breakfast, the official ceremony, and fireworks on July 1. Please note that tickets must be purchased to ride the midway rides.
Several food vendors and tents by local organisations will also be set up on site.
The organisers have also expanded beyond just Canada Day with the inclusion of a multicultural day on June 29 and a country music/classic rock celebration on 30 June.
The full slate of events, plus volunteer opportunities (still needed!), is available on the Canada Day in Barrhaven website.
Thank you to the organisers and volunteers who dedicate so much of their time to ensure the event runs smoothly and without whom it would have been a little more difficult to run.
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There will be no newsletter next week, so we will chat again in two weeks on July 9.
Thanks as always for reading. You are the road construction to my Canadian summer.
-Wilson