Councillor’s Message
In case you missed it, I was able to announce a major development for Orléans South—Navan’s transportation infrastructure last week. Alongside dedicated community members, Mayor Sutcliffe, the National Capital Commission, MP Marie-France Lalonde and my east-end council colleagues, we announced a plan to realign Renaud Road, and to add transit/high-occupancy vehicle priority lanes to sections of Innes Road and the Blackburn Hamlet Bypass.
This agreement will allow us to extend Brian Coburn Blvd and remove the two 90-degree bends on Renaud Rd, where it crosses the Prescott-Russell Trail in two places, promoting greater safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. It will also remove relentless traffic out of Bradley Estates and away from the Mer Bleue bog. It will provide a more direct route for those traveling east and west through South Orléans, and the new transit priority / HOV lanes and safe cycling infrastructure will add additional capacity on Innes Road and the Blackburn Bypass.
If you are a regular reader of this newsletter, or have been following my work at city hall, you’ll know that finding solutions to Ward 19’s transportation challenges is my top priority, driven by the belief that inaction is no longer an option. For over a decade, progress on transportation infrastructure for Orléans South has been stalled due to a stalemate with the NCC over what is known as the “Option 7 corridor”—extending Brian Coburn through NCC-owned land. But, since arriving in this role, I made it my mission to impress upon council, the NCC, senior staff and officials at other levels that as one of the fastest growing areas of Ottawa, urgent attention to our transportation infrastructure is needed so that we can build complete communities.
Bringing a spirit of collaboration to the table, we were able to negotiate an option that gives us the transportation infrastructure we need, but also moves traffic away from the sensitive Mer Bleue bog and vulnerable active transportation users – a win for all.
Although it’s a critical step forward, I know that we have farther to go to solve the pressing issues of road safety, congestion, and to provide efficient and effective transit, and active transportation options for our community. I am committed to leveraging the momentum from this announcement to propel us further and advance our transportation infrastructure needs here in Orléans South—Navan. As always, I will keep you posted as I make strides on this issue.
As the 2024 budget was already approved at the end of last year, I will be pushing to commit funds to the realignment in 2025.
As we dive into March, let's celebrate Francophonie Month! Our francophone community is an essential part of our city's identity, contributing culturally, historically, and linguistically to our vibrant tapestry. Representing Orléans South-Navan, our city's most francophone ward, I take great pride in my French Canadian heritage. Happy Francophonie Month to all!
It’s also International Women’s Day today! I had the honour of attending a breakfast at City Hall to commemorate the special occasion. It's crucial to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the incredible contributions of women in Ottawa and around the world as they lead change and strive for a world free of bias and discrimination. This year’s theme is Inspire Inclusion.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you goes out to all the dedicated volunteers in Orléans South-Navan who maintain our outdoor rinks year after year. Despite the challenging weather this season, your hard work hasn't gone unnoticed. For now, let's all welcome spring with open arms.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy March Break! I hope you’re able to take some time to relax and recharge. There’s so much going on in and around the city, and I hope you’re able to enjoy all that the city has to offer in terms of culture and recreation programming.
Tenth Line Road northbound closure for trucks only
Due to critical work by Enbridge Gas to replace an important gas main, the northbound right turn on Tenth Line Road at Innes Road will be closed to heavy trucks (ones that cannot make the detour turn radius) only from Monday, March 25 until Friday, April 5.
There are no active transportation or pedestrians impacts due to the closure.
There will be traffic impacts and delays, so please plan your route accordingly.
Seasonal load restrictions in place for heavy vehicles
Load restrictions have started for heavy vehicles that service Ottawa.
Commercial vehicles or trailers with a gross vehicle weight in excess of five tonnes or 11,000 pounds per axle will be prohibited on roads where restriction signage is posted and on all truck routes identified as restricted.
During the spring thaw period, some roads cannot withstand heavy vehicle loads. Every year, the City monitors thaw progression by using the forecast temperature data to calculate the Thaw Index.
For more info, please visit https://ow.ly/i4i250QKrnm
Touring farms in Navan with Mayor Sutcliffe
It was wonderful to spend some time with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe last weekend in Navan.
We toured some of the properties that were badly damaged by the derecho and heard the stories of resilience and rebuilding from families like the McFaddens and McWilliams.
We also spent some time with Glen Edwards, talking about rural issues, what we could be doing better for rural Ottawa and the upcoming rural summit.
I'm grateful to work with a mayor who understands the uniqueness and importance of rural Ottawa and is committed to doing things differently to serve the whole city.
A huge thank you to Travis and the McFadden family, Wyatt and the McWilliams family, and Glen and Maureen Edwards for showing us that the true heart of Navan is the people who live here.
Avalon Vista Phase 2 Information Night
My office is helping facilitate an information session with Minto to inform the community about what to expect during Phase 2 of its Avalon Vista development.
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 20, from 7-9 pm, virtually. An overview of construction timelines will be provided with an opportunity for a question-and-answer period afterwards.
You can register on my website here: https://ow.ly/iWgL50QKIZR
Sign up to receive updates on the Rural Summit
The 2024 Rural Summit page is live!
For the first time in 16 years, this community-led summit will cover a wide range of topics, and I’m eager to see how this collaborative effort fosters a deeper understanding of the unique needs of our rural communities among our urban colleagues and City staff.
As part of the summit, there will be engagement opportunities for all rural residents including local and city-wide gatherings and a survey that will be out shortly.
For now, please head to https://ow.ly/aJCt50QGN9U to sign up for updates. My team and I along with community members and other council colleagues are hard at work behind the scenes making sure this summit series is a success.
The Bradley Cup is back March 22-23 at Navan Arena!
Get ready for the return of the Bradley Cup Charity Hockey Tournament!
Join us at the Navan Memorial Centre on March 22 and 23 to cheer on Navan, Cumberland, Vars, Sarsfield, and Orléans as they compete for the title. Games start at 6 pm on Friday.
Enjoy local food, live music by Eastbound of Bytown, and kid-friendly activities—all in support of Cerebral Palsy awareness.
A reminder on parking near schools during pick-up and drop-off time
My office has received several complaints about parking violations during drop off and pick up times around schools in our community. Please be advised of the parking By-laws which must always be respected.
We ask that you please carefully consider your parking and its impact on the surrounding area for the short time that you are dropping off or collection your children. Be mindful that illegally blocking access to fire hydrants and driveways would be dangerous in an emergency.
Congestion of streets and intersections can also create a barrier for emergency vehicle access and can impede visibility and maneuverability for other motorists, pedestrians, and vulnerable road users.
Services at the Aline-Chrétien Health Hub
The Aline-Chrétien Health Hub in Orléans at 2225 Mer-Bleue Road offers a variety of bilingual healthcare services, located in our community, with modern facilities and ample free parking. From time to time, I get questions about the services that are offered here, and I thought it would be helpful to provide a list:
Walk-in services available:
X-rays (medical requisition required)
Blood Tests/Laboratory (medical requisition required)
Youth and Family Counselling (Thursdays, noon to 6 p.m.)
Ontario Medical Supply Store
Self-referral services:
Screening Mammograms (50 to 74 years old)
Care Coordination
Support Services for Seniors
Other services available by appointment:
Ultrasounds (medical requisition required)
Mental Health counselling and group therapy
Specialized clinics (medical referral required)
Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation (medical referral required)
Please consult the Aline-Chrétien Health Hub website for more information and opening hours.
Supporting the Council on Aging
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Age-Friendly Housing Community Conversation at François Dupuis Recreation Centre.
I got to participate in discussions with Seniors from all over the ward and Orléans about their experiences and challenges with planning ahead for changing housing needs.
The Council on Aging also provided the group with information on some of their initiatives such as their government advocacy and their Smart Aging Workshop Series.
Donating plasma at the Orléans Plasma Donor Centre
It was great to make good on my promise from late-January to go back to the Canadian Blood Services’ Plasma Donor Clinic beside Place D’Orléans and donate plasma with my team for the first time.
Donating plasma is similar to donating blood, and becoming a plasma donor can make a lifesaving difference to patients suffering from a variety of rare, life-threatening, chronic and genetic conditions, including many types of cancer.
To learn more and to sign up to be a donor, please visit blood.ca/plasma
Navan Fair book cover competition
The Navan Fair is looking for artistically motivated youth to help them create the Cover Page for the 2024 Fair Book!
The Fair Theme this year is ‘The Sweetest Things In Life’ – A celebration of Honey and Maple Syrup! Your art should reflect this theme, but should not include it in writing, as it will be superimposed on the cover later.
The competition is open to youth between Grades 4 and 8! Entries are open from March 1st to April 1st 2024! The Top Place Winner will receive two (2) Youth Day Passes to the 2024 Navan Fair.
Please send your questions and entries to: navanfaircropentries@gmail.com. Please also hang on to the paper version of your submission as the winner will need to provide it to the Fair Office, once selected.
Vacant Unit Tax declaration deadline is March 21
Don't forget you have until March 21st for your Vacant Unit Tax declaration. I know this is an unpopular topic, and council has committed to reviewing the need for annual mandatory declarations, but for now, I did mine last week and it took no time at all.
All you need is your roll number and access code, which can be found on either the information email or letter sent to your home, and your property tax bill. If you are registered with MyServiceOttawa, you can go directly to the declaration from your property tax account.
More info: https://ow.ly/jtcy50QHSOE
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