Councillor's Message
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! It’s been a flurry these past couple of weeks in the ward and at City Hall—both figuratively and literally, thanks to nearly 40 cm of snow yesterday! A huge shoutout to the dedicated winter operations crews who have been working around the clock to keep our roads, sidewalks, and pathways clear.
As well, a big thank you to everyone in our community who has helped shovel and support neighbours in need. Another 20-25 cm is in the forecast this weekend, and I want to remind residents of the City’s snow-clearing process. Above is a helpful graphic outlining how winter operations are dispatched and why Ottawa continues to have one of the best winter maintenance standards in Canada. I've also included a few reminders below given all the snow we've received on being a hydrant hero and making sure your exhaust vents are cleared!
At the time of writing, recreation and cultural facilities programming is planned to proceed with regular programming and rentals on Sunday. For any updates, visit ottawa.ca
On the transit front, recent commitments from Ontario’s provincial party leaders during the election campaign could reshape the future of OC Transpo. Both PC Leader Doug Ford and Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie have pledged to upload responsibility for our Light Rail Transit system to the Province, if elected. Meanwhile, NDP Leader Marit Stiles has committed to a “new deal for municipalities,” including a 50% cost-sharing plan for transit operations. These bold proposals have the potential to alleviate financial pressure on the City, address OC Transpo’s ongoing deficit, and accelerate much-needed investments. For years, Ottawa has carried a disproportionate share of transit funding compared to other major Ontario cities, leaving local taxpayers to foot the bill. If any of these commitments become reality, they could unlock hundreds of millions in funding for other critical priorities, including road maintenance, housing, and community services. I want to thank Mayor Mark Sutcliffe for his continued advocacy and fight for fairness.
Speaking of transit, I recently had a productive meeting about improvements specific to Ward 19—more details on that below. Ensuring better connectivity and transit service for our community remains a top priority, and I will continue to push for the investments we need.
Finally, on the economic front, much attention has been on tariffs and their potential impact on Canadian businesses and consumers. While the 30-day reprieve on U.S. tariffs for non-steel and aluminum products was a welcome pause, the threat remains. As Vice-Chair of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee, I worked alongside the Mayor and my colleagues to support local businesses and maximize our City’s purchasing power. Although the city procures over 92% of its total goods locally already, there’s always more we can do. I was pleased to move a motion on behalf of Councillor Brown, ensuring the City takes proactive measures to support our economy by prioritizing local procurement, assessing potential financial risks, and collaborating with other levels of government to mitigate trade disruptions. The motion also directs the City to work with the City of Gatineau on eliminating interprovincial trade barriers and to prioritize Canadian financial institutions for banking and investment services. These steps will help strengthen our local economy in these uncertain times.
As always, I appreciate hearing from residents—whether it’s about snow clearing, transit, transportation infrastructure, or economic concerns.
Stay warm,
This Saturday, February 15 is National Flag of Canada Day! It truly is a wonderful reminder to show our national pride, especially during these unprecedented times. I’m honoured to do so by continuing to sponsor the Flag Day Dinner at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 632 in Orléans.
A reminder that city services are impacted by Family Day on Monday, February 17. My office is also closed. For a list of schedule changes, please click here.
Discussing Orléans South-Navan transit issues with General Manager of OC Transpo Renée Amilcar
When it comes to improving our transportation network in Ward 19, please know I'm fighting to get us the infrastructure to support our growing ward.
When it comes to transit, we're still a long way from providing an efficient and reliable service for residents, and I continue to press for better.
I was grateful for the opportunity last week to sit down with General Manager of OC Transpo, Renée Amilcar, to detail the issues our community is facing and explore potential solutions.
Ward 19 has unique challenges that must be acknowledged, and I hope to have exciting news to share with you in the coming weeks following our discussion.
Special night to honour the hardwork behind the Navan Pavilion Project
It was a special night in Navan last week as some of the key community members behind the Pavilion Project gathered to toast the first sheet of ice & to thank the man behind it all: Luc Picknell.
With a surprise, music, and heartfelt toasts, it was incredible to see the community recognize the enormous amount of work Luc has put into this incredible community project.
So many contributed to this tremendous fundraising effort — the project was lead by Luc and the Navan Community Association but it took the whole community to pull it off.
It's a project I've been proud to support, and I'm grateful to the city for playing a part in making it a reality.
It takes a village, and we’re lucky Navan is such a special one.
The rink opened for skaters last weekend!! I look forward to an official grand opening later this year!
Community information session regarding Navan & Trim Road signalization
City staff will be presenting at the upcoming Navan Community Association meeting to discuss the possible signalization of the Trim & Navan Road intersection.
Where: Navan Memorial Arena, 1295 Colonial Road (upstairs in the hall)
When: Tuesday February 18th, 7:30-9 p.m.
The proposed changes are part of a staff driven program aimed at reducing the number of skewed intersections city-wide and was only brought to my attention late last year.
Staff will be on site to discuss the plans followed by a Q&A session to solicit community feedback on the proposed plan.
I hope to see you there.
Progress being made on public information on accessibility features in city parks
Last fall, I introduced a motion to enhance public access to information about accessibility features in our city’s parks. I’m thrilled to share that progress is underway!
As a result of my motion, the Accessibility Office has launched a public consultation process to help shape how we provide residents with clear, easy-to-navigate details on accessibility features in both new and existing parks.
A survey is now live on Engage Ottawa until March 6.
Your feedback will directly inform the development of an online tool—similar to the one I learned about in Anchorage, Alaska—that highlights accessible play equipment, identifies gaps, and ensures families and caregivers can make informed choices.
I was inspired to bring this forward after attending an Inclusive Play Space Session led by U.S. Paralympian Jill Moore, who shared firsthand insights on designing spaces for true inclusion. We already have great examples, like the accessible playground at Notre-Dame-des-Champs Park, but there’s more we can do, and this is the first step!
Take the survey by clicking here.
The Original Navan Market announces 2025 dates
Mark your calendars! The Original Navan Market has announced their 2025 dates. Check out the poster above and spread the word.
Nestled in the heart of Navan, this market has long been a place for artisans, farmers, and vendors alike, showcasing the very best of what our community has to offer. Whether you're on the hunt for farm-fresh produce, unique handcrafted goods, or simply craving something good to eat, this market has something for everyone.
I can’t wait to see you there!
Grand opening of Kids Can Swim Orléans
It was a pleasure to attend the grand opening of Kids Can Swim Canada in South Orléans last Saturday.
As the Chair of Ottawa Public Health, I know how essential swimming and water safety are for children’s well-being. Ensuring that children learn these lifesaving skills early can make all the difference in their safety and confidence in the water.
All children deserve to learn to swim, and KidsCanSwim Orléans offers them this opportunity, whatever their level.
This new facility provides families another option in the east-end with an inclusive and welcoming space to gain confidence in their swimming skills with an amazing team of instructors.
Welcome to the KidsCanSwim team! Thank you for choosing our dynamic community.
Grand opening of a new east-end food bank
Congratulations to Human Concern International on the opening of their new food bank in Ottawa’s east end! This important initiative will provide much-needed support to families facing food insecurity.
A special shoutout to Mashooda Lubna Syed, a resident of Ward 19 and Vice-President of the organization, for her dedication in helping to make this project a reality.
As Canada’s first Muslim charity, Human Concern International continues to make a meaningful impact in our community. Wishing them every success in this new endeavour!
The Bradley Cup is back March 21-22 at Navan Arena!
Get ready for the return of the Bradley Cup Charity Hockey Tournament!
Join us at the Navan Memorial Centre on March 21-22 to cheer on Navan, Cumberland, Vars, Sarsfield, Orléans, and Hammond as they compete for the title.
The tournament promises to be a great day, fun for the whole family, with live entertainment, food & beverage, and of course, competitive hockey—all in support of the Navan Pavilion Project.
Site Plan Control application for a new two-storey OCDSB school in Bradley Estates
The City of Ottawa has received a Site Plan Control application to construct a two-storey elementary school with a daycare for the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. The new Elementary School will serve grades K to 8 with a daycare and will be approximately 67,000 square feet.
The subject site is located in the East Urban Community of Orleans, at the northeast corner of Spring Valley Drive and Joshua Street.
If you'd like to view the application or provide feedback, please click here.
Please note the deadline date for comments is March 12, 2025.
Be a Hydrant Hero!
All that snow means there's potential a hydrant could be buried.
Help keep your community safe by becoming a Hydrant Hero! Clear snow to create a path to and 1.5 metres around your local fire hydrant. This ensures firefighters have access to the fire hydrant when responding to an emergency.
Clear snow from meters, vents, and pipes!
Don't forget to keep your natural gas meter and appliance vents clear of snow and ice, including the path leading to them.
This will prevent dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home.
Mayor's Family Day Skating Party – a fun and free event for all!
Looking for a fun way to spend Family Day with your kids?
Grab your skates and helmets and join Mayor Sutcliffe at City Hall on Monday, February 17. The party starts at 11 am and runs to 2 pm. Don’t have skates? No problem. You can rent them onsite.
Celebrate the final day of Winterlude with a skate on the Rink of Dreams’ refrigerated ice surface, enjoy a free classical music performance sponsored by Ottawa Chamberfest, and warm up with a delicious cup of hot chocolate, compliments of the Salvation Army.
If you're able, please consider bringing a non-perishable food donation for the Ottawa Food Bank to help those in need.
It's the perfect way to spend time together on Family Day and enjoy a winter day in Ottawa.
Have your say on the draft Outdoor Tennis and Pickleball Strategy
The strategy is the product of extensive benchmarking, consultations, and engagement with a wide range of partners, including municipalities across Canada, residents, municipal membership tennis and pickleball clubs and local sport associations.
Input from partners shaped the direction of the strategy and guidelines have been designed to reflect and balance the priorities of each group.
Key considerations of the strategy:
Outdoor Court Minimum Standards
Pickleball Noise Mitigation
Outdoor Court Equity, Diversity and Access
Outdoor Public Court Equipment/Infrastructure
Outdoor Public Court Conditions of Use
Residents will be invited to share feedback by email to tennis_pickleball@ottawa.ca between February 11 and February 25, 2025. Staff anticipate that the strategy will be finalized in Q2 2025.
To take the survey, please click here.
Summer Camp registration coming soon!
Summer may feel far away, but camp registration is just around the corner! Be sure to mark this important date:
Thursday, February 27 at 9 PM – Summer camp registration opens online.
Get ready for a season of fun and adventure—don’t miss out on these exciting opportunities!
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