Newsletters
My newsletter has evolved into a combination of a blog, column, and editorial. Published every Tuesday, it’s the best way to learn more about what’s on my mind and what’s happening in the community, the city, and at City Hall!
This page includes the 10 most recent newsletters published. An archive of past newsletter issues is at the bottom of the page.
Weekly newsletter: March 19, 2024
On Sunday, I attended the funeral of the Wickramasinghe family and Gamini Amarakoon, a family friend, whose lives were cut short two weeks ago. The ceremony was sombre and peaceful, as their family, friends, and strangers from across the city said goodbye.
In this newsletter:
upcoming upgrades to 3-1-1
debt collection
Weekly newsletter: March 5, 2024
At the time of writing (10:00 pm last night), the forecast for today is a high of 17°C and mostly sunny. I hope it materialises and you have a chance to enjoy it!
In this newsletter:
Woodroffe Avenue lane reductions
Solid Waste Master Plan (incineration)
Minto Recreation Complex annual pool maintenance
Weekly newsletter: February 27, 2024
A few days ago, my wife and I returned from Hong Kong where we visited family, celebrated Lunar New Year, and ate all the food. We knew it was a good trip, because we were feeling ready to come back to Ottawa the last few days we were there.
This week's newsletter includes:
Stoneway-Claridge/Woodroffe right-on-red
property tax payment
Weekly newsletter: February 20, 2024
This newsletter, we talk garbage. The city-owned Trail Waste Landfill site could be full by 2034 if we do nothing about it. City staff say we can prevent that with a “Zero Waste Ottawa” vision, which can be “achieved through progressive, collective and innovative action” – whatever that means.
Weekly newsletter: February 13, 2024
After last week’s lengthy newsletter, I thought I’d bring you something a little more lighthearted this week. Next Monday is Family Day and there’s no shortage of things to do.
Weekly newsletter: February 6, 2024
When Councillor Hill and I hosted a virtual town hall, the feedback, suggestions, and concerns were taken from the town hall and helped guide staff and us to create the latest proposal, effective January 2024. Public feedback mostly focused on three major themes—accountability, connectivity, and reliability.
Weekly newsletter: January 30, 2024
In this newsletter:
developer contribution
remembering Merv Beckstead
Weekly newsletter: January 23, 2024
Residents who commute via Woodroffe Avenue (and eagle-eyed transit riders) may have noticed a work crew set up in the southbound shoulder south of Slack Road.
This newsletter also includes an update on snowbank removal operations in the ward.
Weekly newsletter: January 16, 2024
Thank you to the many residents who reached out with compliments, concerns, and general feedback about the snow clearing that followed. Although there were many positives from the operation, it’s arguably been overshadowed by several delays and deficiencies.
Also in this newsletter:
vehicle thefts
Woodroffe/Slack lane closure
Weekly newsletter: January 9, 2024
A few eagle-eyed residents have noticed our new logo, which was quietly introduced over the new year. It’s a cleaner design, keeps all the text within the shape, and gives a nod to the origins of our community when it was first developed by the former City of Nepean.
In this newsletter:
Woodroffe/Slack lane closure
vacant unit tax
New Year's Eve event
Newsletter archive
-
September 17, 2024 - sprung structure shelter update, Stoneway/Woodroffe road cut, 2025 municipal budget directions
September 10, 2024 - late-night traffic enforcement, police station update, traffic updates, Zoning By-law public virtual consultation
September 3, 2024 - school zone speed limits, waste collection vehicles update, Harvest Fest
August 27, 2024 - Labour Day reminder, back to school, waste containers in parks
August 20, 2024 - Greenbank/Highbury Park traffic signals, sidewalk inspections, O-Train partial closure, U-Pass and student card integration
August 13, 2024 - Mayor's press conference
August 6, 2024 - Strandherd traffic signals, transit funding, Marketplace towers, sprung structure shelter update
July 30, 2024 - Fallowfield/Transitway signals, sprung structure shelter update, E. coli at beaches
July 23, 2024 - community barbecue, sprung structure shelter update, police enforcement, Fallowfield/Transitway signals, new bike posts
July 16, 2024 - catch basins, Woodroffe resurfacing, Clearbrook/Longfields modifications
July 9, 2024 - Integrated Transition to Housing Strategy and sprung structure shelters
July 2, 2024 - no newsletter (Canada Day)
-
June 25, 2024 - summer construction update, student artwork (traffic light boxes), water safety, Canada Day
June 18, 2024 - rats
June 11, 2024 - new zoning by-law
June 4, 2024 - D-Day, new garbage limit, yard waste
May 28, 2024 - city grass cutting, Greenbank Greenbelt pathway, special consideration waste collection
May 21, 2024 - waste collection vehicles, visit a local business
May 14, 2024 - fireworks safety, changes to policing, planned summer construction projects
May 7, 2024 - Volunteer Ottawa VOscars
April 30, 2024 - tree planting, sewer cleaning
April 23, 2024 - sports fields delayed opening
April 16, 2024 - water rate structure review
April 9, 2024 - tree planting programme survey, fibre optic installation
April 2, 2024 - curb weeds, Earl Mulligan traffic calming
March 26, 2024 - benches, Easter schedule changes
March 19, 2024 - upgrades to 3-1-1, debt collection bungle
March 12, 2024 - no newsletter (March Break)
March 8, 2024 - special comment about the family lost to tragedy
March 5, 2024 - Woodroffe Avenue lane reductions, Solid Waste Master Plan, Minto Recreation Complex annual pool maintenance
February 27, 2024 - Stoneway/Woodroffe partial no-right-on-red, property taxes
February 20, 2024 - Solid Waste Master Plan
February 13, 2024 - library and recreation updates, Winterlude, Family Day event at Centrepointe Park
February 6, 2024 - bus network realignment and explanation of routes
January 30, 2024 - developer contributions, tribute to Merv Beckstead
January 23, 2024 - Woodroffe water main repair, snowbank removal
January 16, 2024 - snow clearing, vehicle thefts, Woodroffe/Slack water main works
January 9, 2024 - Woodroffe/Slack water main works, vacant unit tax, new year's eve event
January 2, 2024 - no newsletter (new year's week)
-
December 26, 2023 - no newsletter (Christmas week)
December 19, 2023 - 2023 retrospective, 417/Greenbank off-ramp reopen, property tax payments
December 12, 2023 - curb weeds update, property tax payments
December 5, 2023 - construction impacts on Woodroffe Avenue, snow clearing service standards, road salt, OC Transpo/Loblaw food drive
November 28, 2023 - transit virtual town hall, new winter parking restrictions
November 21, 2023 - Beatrice/Berrigan, Ottawa Police Service community safety data portal (beta), transit virtual town hall
November 14, 2023 - OC Transpo bus route realignment early proposals
November 10, 2023 - special comment about Lansdowne vote
November 7, 2023 - Battle of Hong Kong (Remembrance Day), sewer cleaning, bus network realignment
October 31, 2023 - Cresthaven/Baypointe, planned power outages, daylight saving ends, recreation registration
October 24, 2023 - nothing to talk about
October 17, 2023 - my position on Lansdowne
October 10, 2023 - the history of Lansdowne
October 3, 2023 - Wolfgang/Fallowfield repairs, planned power outages, Thanksgiving schedule changes
September 26, 2023 - yard waste change (clarification), autumn tree planting
September 19, 2023 - new police station, Clarke Bellinger Ponds, sidewalk inspection pilot
September 12, 2023 - curb weeds update, St. Luke pathway
September 5, 2023 - budget directions, 1245 Kilborn Place, vacant unit tax
August 29, 2023 - AMO (London, Ontario), transit budget, waste collection truck spills, resident outreach
August 22, 2023 - crossing guards
August 15, 2023 - recreation registration, curb weeds, waste collection truck spills, Woodroffe Avenue resurfacing
August 8, 2023 - street racing, Prince of Wales Drive resurfacing, Gus Este, Highway 417 closure
August 1, 2023 - traffic calming
July 25, 2023 - LRT
July 18, 2023 - tornado, LRT, Earl Mulligan
July 11, 2023 - OC Transpo's adaptability and five-year road map
July 4, 2023 - Barrhaven Food Cupboard appeal
-
June 27, 2023 - Use and Care of Roads By-law update
June 20, 2023 (lost) - promoting local businesses, I ❤️ Barrhaven campaign
June 13, 2023 - wild parsnip
June 6, 2023 - garbage bag tag proposal vote
May 30, 2023 - Service Line Warranties of Canada letters, FCM conference in Toronto
May 23, 2023 - new overhead street name signs
May 16, 2023 - Canadian Urban Transit Association Saskatoon conference
May 9, 2023 - new police station and planned summer construction overview
May 2, 2023 - garbage bag tag proposal
April 25, 2023 - Transportation Master Plan, part one
April 18, 2023 - tree planting
April 11, 2023 - ice storm aftermath
April 4, 2023 - airport hotel
March 28, 2023 - fibre optic installation information
March 21, 2023 - the city's housing pledge, Alliance to End Homelessness
March 14, 2023 - spring flooding, new traffic signals at Longfields/Highbury Park
March 7, 2023 - newsletter permanently changed to Tuesdays, snowbank removal, pothole patching
February 28, 2023 - 2023 budget
February 21, 2023 - Heritage Week and the meaning behind some local street names
February 13, 2023 - potholes
February 6, 2023 - 2023 budget public consultation
January 30, 2023 - electric buses
January 23, 2023 - traffic calming
January 16, 2023 - hybrid work
January 9, 2023 - vacant unit tax
January 2, 2023 - no newsletter (new year's week)
-
December 26, 2022 - no newsletter (Christmas week)
December 19, 2022 - winter maintenance quality standards
December 12, 2022 - the budget process
December 5, 2022 - LRT public inquiry report
November 29, 2022 - a greeting, LRT public inquiry report, office setup