Weekly newsletter: September 23, 2025
Hi everyone!
As of 2:19 pm yesterday (Monday), it’s officially autumn!
It was another busy Saturday, with a construction equipment parade for CHEO’s patients and their family, the West Barrhaven Community Association’s corn and wiener boil at Larkin Park, and MPP Tyler Watt’s barbecue and open house. That evening, I also attended a Palette of Cultures Showcase, a collection of cultural performances by Ottawans from around the world.
The photo with the clown is from the construction equipment parade at CHEO. I’m the one on the left (yes, cue the clown jokes). Then I had Sunday off, so that was nice!
(Below is a bonus photo; we've snucked it in without Councillor Lo's knowledge. Enjoy!)
Strandherd/Riocan traffic signal
Late last week, a minor change was implemented at the Strandherd/Riocan traffic signals in response to longstanding safety concerns for pedestrians and motorists, including close calls and actual collisions.
A new right-on-red prohibition has been added for traffic turning right from eastbound Strandherd Drive into the commercial area, alongside a new signal head with a green right-turn arrow.
The arrow activates during the red signal cycle for Strandherd, overriding the sign, except when the pedestrian signal on the west side of the intersection is active and during the left-turn cycle for westbound Strandherd.
The addition of the arrow alongside the new prohibition provides a reasonable balance between safety and traffic flow.
City staff will periodically monitor the new signal arrangement over the next few months to ensure it functions as intended.
Recycling programme update
City’s transition to provincial recycling programme to be complete in early-2026.
Back in 2016, the provincial government passed the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, which created a common recycling programme across Ontario and shifts the responsibility of recycling to producers.
The approach is known as individual or extended producer responsibility (IPR or EPR), and is intended to reduce operational and financial burden on municipalities. Circular Materials is the organisation that will be responsible for managing Ottawa’s blue and black bin recycling programme on the province’s behalf as of January 1, 2026.
Ottawa’s transition to the provincially mandated programme began in July 2023. Administrative elements were immediately transferred to the province, while ground operations continued to be overseen by the City, partly due to an existing waste collection contract.
The new provincial programme includes no local flexibility, and is why the City is no longer able to review its blue and black bin design.
By January 1, 2026, the City of Ottawa’s full transition into the common provincial recycling programme will be complete. At that point, Circular Materials will assume responsibility of our recycling programme, while the City retains responsibility for garbage and green bin/yard waste collection.
For residents, that separation means recycling customer service (eg. missed collection, new/replacement bin requests) will no longer be through the City. Circular Materials will also be launching their own app with recycling collection information, including a digital collection calendar. Residents can continue to call 3-1-1 or reach out to my office for garbage and green bin inquiries.
It will also result in more waste collection vehicles on the road on collection day, as the City’s green bin and recycling trucks will no longer be collecting recycling. Recycling will be collected by a separate vehicle managed by Circular Materials.
Perhaps the greatest impact on residents is the collection day. After the transition on January 1, 2026, there is no guarantee Circular Materials will keep the same recycling collection day, as their collection area that includes Ottawa also includes Lanark and Prescott-Russell counties.
To avoid misaligned collection days between different streams, City staff will coordinate with Circular Materials to ensure no household will have multiple collection days within the same week. That means it’s possible waste collection days may change to match that of Circular Materials, but those details remain unknown for now.
With that uncertainty, the City will not be producing paper collection calendars for 2026 except by request, favouring a digital collection calendar that can quickly reflect and communicate any changes in a way paper calendars cannot.
Aside from residential curbside recycling collection, the provincial programme will also affect the way recycling is collected in parks and public spaces, multi-residential properties, schools, and other facilities. Circular Materials has delayed deployment of recycling services at multi-residential properties and (most notably) schools until 2031.
Most multi-residential properties in Barrhaven East currently receive waste collection service from the City, whether it’s a common pad or a centralised bin. Those properties will retain their City recycling collection for now (garbage and green bin unchanged) until Circular Materials expands its programme in 2031.
Multi-residential properties that currently use private collection services should contact their service provider about the future of their recycling collection.
Most notably, blue bin recycling (plastics, glass, metal) has already been removed from schools in the City as their previous contractor chose not to renew, a decision related to the new programme. To my knowledge, students are being asked to bring their recyclables home.
Despite the January 1, 2026, deadline, unknowns remain about the future of recycling collection in Ottawa, including potential impacts to curbside collection days.
Details and new information, including contact information for Circular Materials and future collection day impacts, will be communicated through my newsletter, social media, and the City’s corporate channels as they become available as we approach the new year.
On my end, I will do my best to ensure the updates are shared in a timely manner by all available means.
Pool water discharge
Reference material: Section 22, Sewer Use By-law↗.
As pool season comes to an end, households with pools are kindly reminded to properly discharge of pool water when preparing for the winter.
Chlorinated and salt water contain chemicals that are harmful to aquatic life and should never be discharged to a storm drain. Unlike the sewage system, storm drains divert rainfall and snowmelt to (in Barrhaven East’s case) the Jock and Rideau rivers without treatment at the City’s wastewater treatment plant.
Storm drains are usually curbside, but the system includes some of the manhole covers that are not curbside. Some have a grate with a fish design, while the manhole covers have the word “STORM” on the cap plate.
When closing up for the winter, water may be discharged:
Via a connection to the sanitary sewer by a licenced plumber
By transportation by a licenced wastewater hauler
Onto the ground for absorption provided it does not flow onto a neighbouring property, waterways, or in a manner that causes erosion
Standing water on pool covers from rain and snowmelt may be discharged to a storm drain or to the ground for absorption, while backwash from maintenance can be discharged to the ground for absorption or via a sanitary sewer connection.
For advice on properly preparing your pool for the winter, including how much water to discharge, please contact your maintenance provider.
Bite-sized updates
Sorted alphabetically!
Amazon public information night – An in-person public information session is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday October 29, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Amazon, City staff, and I will be there to share information about the project and listen to feedback for future consideration before and after the facility is operational. Location and other details will be available in the coming weeks.
Barrhaven East Town Hall – I’m trying something new! It’ll be an opportunity for Barrhaven East residents to gather with City staff and me to talk about our community and City in an open session format. The in-person↗ town hall is on Tuesday September 23, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at St. Mother Teresa High School, while a virtual version↗ will be the week after on Thursday October 2, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Beatrice/Queensbury bus shelter – Following its untimely demise back in December, then a delay in May, the bus shelter at Beatrice/Queensbury (stop 3345) will soon be reinstalled. Utility locates were recently completed. Concrete pouring will soon begin, followed by shelter installation by Thanksgiving.
Cleaning the Capital – Registration for the Cleaning the Capital autumn 2025 campaign closes September 30. Start your own cleanup project or join the numerous projects already registered in Barrhaven East to help keep our parks and public spaces clean and looking good and earn some volunteer hours! Participants are provided with clean-up kits with garbage bags and gloves. Learn more or register at Ottawa.ca/clean↗.
Deerfox-Fieldcrest pathway – New lighting for the pathway↗ connecting Deerfox and Fieldcrest west of Woodroffe has been approved and funded. The ambitious installation timeline is November, while a more realistic timeline will likely be next spring. Thank you to residents in the area for the requests over the last few years.
Foot Guards Park barbecue – Join the Governor General’s Foot Guards and me at Foot Guards Park on Saturday September 27 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Equipment will be on display, a band will be playing, and face off in a tug-of-war, all alongside a free barbecue!
Greenbank Park – The slide at Greenbank Park is out of service due to a crack at the bottom. The manufacturer will be replacing it under warranty. Expected timeline for replacement is early/mid-October.
Limebank Station pick-up/drop-off – Limebank Station pick-up/drop-off – The pick-up/drop-off location has been moved to a temporary location↗ until November due to construction. From Earl Armstrong, turn right on Limebank, then LEFT at the signals, proceed to the end of the roadway to make a u-turn (yes, really) back to the pick-up/drop-off location. Signage is in place for guidance.
Low water conditions – The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s major low-water advisory↗ continues across the entire Rideau River watershed. Households on well water are strongly encouraged to suspend non-essential uses.
Shower facilities and water filling stations are available at the Minto Recreation Complex↗ and Walter Baker Sports Centre↗ for residents in Hearts Desire and Rideau Glen. Please call ahead to confirm availability (contact and hours of operation in the links).
New pedestrian crossovers – Two new pedestrian crossovers will be installed in the ward at Paul Métivier/Beatrice and at Stoneway/Forest Gate east. The crossover on Paul Métivier will be raised to double as a speed hump. Construction is expected to happen late-September into October.
O-Train Line 1 – Rail service will be suspended and replaced with R1 buses on the entire Line 1 from 8:00 pm to 2:00 am on Friday September 26 for ongoing integration works for the extension to Orléans and for maintenance.
Speed cushions/humps – Speed cushions will be installed on Deerfox between Beatrice and Woodroffe, while speed humps will be installed on Springbeauty between Beatrice and Longfields. Construction is expected to happen in October.
Strandherd/Deerfox-Stoneway – Lane closures and shifts may be required to accommodate the ongoing private infrastructure connection project. Expected completion is September 25.
Via Chianti and Via Modugno – With the completion of nearby development, the two streets will receive their final layer of asphalt starting next week until mid-October. On Via Modugno, the roadway will be raised so the curb is at a normal height, while the manhole covers on both streets will become level with the roadway. On-street parking may become unavailable periodically during the paving. The City will assume control of the two streets upon completion.
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Le jeudi 25 septembre est le Jour des Franco-Ontariens et des Franco-Ontariennes. Cette année le drapeau franco-ontarien fête ses 50 ans. Célébrons ce moment historique en vert et blanc avec la communauté francophone!
Félicitations à notre communauté francophone!
C'est tout pour cette semaine. That’s all for this week!
-Wilson