COUNCILLOR’S COLUMN OCTOBER 20, 2017

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Councillor’s Column KEEPING YOU INFORMED

SHAD QADRI – WARD 6 - STITTSVILLE

The Future of Shea Road Woods at Planning Committee

This week, I had the great pleasure of joining Mayor Watson, City Planning Staff, Tanya Hein

(President of the Stittsville Village Association), Adrienne Charlton (President of the Blackstone-

Fernbank Crossing Community Association), and other interested Stittsville residents on-site for

a special announcement regarding the acquisition and protection of the Shea Road Woods.

As it stands, the woods are a privately-owned natural area and could legally be developed

without acquisition by the City. The woods are known by many as the unofficial dog park of

Stittsville and are located south of Abbott Street East and east of Shea Road near Holy Spirit

Parish.

Working on retaining this property has been a priority project of mine for quite some time and

with Stitttsville growing at the rate that it is, I understand how important it is to preserve our

natural environment wherever possible. As such, I have continued to push in finding potential

solutions in how to ensure that this area remains protected.

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This was one of the first items I brought forward to Mayor Watson’s attention when he resumed

office and I would like to provide my sincere thanks for his support. I would also like to thank

City staff and all engaged residents for their contributions in establishing this project.

On October 24th, Planning Committee will consider the first step in the long-term acquisition

and protection of Shea Road Woods. The report and recommendations to Planning Committee

seek approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the owners, CRT Developments

Inc., for purchase of the woodlot through a combination of cash and parkland dedication.

As part of all subdivision agreements, Ottawa requires each developer to design and build parks

on behalf of the City. As part of a subdivision adjacent to the Shea Road Woods, CRT

Developments had already planned a 3.28-hectare park. In exchange for the Shea Road Woods

property, the City will allow that land to instead be developed with low-density housing. The City

would pay cash for the remaining 1.72 hectares, at an estimated cost of $1,577,573. Funding for

that purchase would come from the Environmental Resource Area Acquisition Reserve Fund,

which Council established to help acquire and protect features like Shea Road Woods.

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A final purchase agreement would be conditional upon the City obtaining permission from Hydro

One to relocate playing fields and other park facilities to a nearby transmission line corridor, so

that the community can still enjoy a full range of recreational, health, and fitness

opportunities. Such a move will require engineering studies and possible design measures to

ensure the community that health and safety will never be compromised.

This is great news for residents as the Shea Woods have become a popular natural feature in

Stittsville, providing our communities with beautiful scenery and nature walks. The area is

already frequented by many who walk their dogs and while the details of the future uses will still

need to be discussed, it is my intention to maintain the area to permit off leash dogs. I would

like to thank all staff who have contributed in bringing this project to the point it is at now for all

of their hard work. I would also like to send a sincere thank you to all of the residents of the

Stittsville community who have been engaged in this item throughout this process for sharing

their thoughts and their commitment to preserving Stittsville’s natural features.

If Planning Committee and City Council approves the MOU, then City staff will move quickly to

carry out the necessary studies and create a plan for the woodlot and park. Although challenges

remain to the final protection of Shea Road Woods, the City and CRT Developments are

committed to the principle of preserving it for future generations.

For additional background, you can view official report submitted to Planning Committee here.

Share your voice in supporting the City’s purchase of the Shea Road Woods

This item will be voted on at the City’s Planning Committee on October 24th

starting at 9:30

am. Residents can show their support by submitting comments to the Planning Committee

Coordinator, Melody Duffenais at melody.duffenais@ottawa.ca. Melody will ensure that all

comments are circulated to the members of the committee.

Residents are also welcome to attend the meeting and they can choose to register to speak to

the item for 5 minutes as well, however, there is no immediate necessity as I will be certain to

draw the committee’s attention to the written comments that have been submitted.

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Residents will also be able to listen live to the Committee meeting too through the City’s website

here.

I would like to thank all residents for their positive feedback this week in regards to this item.

The community’s support of our natural features really goes to show that sometimes the most

highly-regarded venues of our ward are also the most natural.

Newly Paved Shoulders at Fernbank Road

As residents may have noticed, work has been

underway to pave the shoulders on Fernbank Road

from Shea Rd to approx. 500m West of Terry Fox

Drive. The anticipated cost of $150,000 for this

specific project is funded as part of the rural cycling

route improvements budget of $4,050,000.

I first recommended this project to the City as this

has been an area of concern for local cyclists. It is

my hopes that these new paved shoulders will

deliver a safer area for cyclists and pedestrians who

use Fernbank to commute more confidently, providing more space for faster-moving

vehicles to pass.

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Liard Speed Humps

Yesterday, October 19th, I was happy to introduce a speed hump pilot project on Liard Street in

an effort to deter speeding and promote community safety.

Speeding is an issue that I take very seriously. Liard St is one area that residents have expressed

concern over for quite some time and many residents have specifically requested that

speedbumps be implemented.

However, speedbumps often come with unwanted side effects including uneven snow plowing

over the wintertime and additional obstacles for emergency vehicles such as firetrucks. Some

streets in Stittsville do have permanent speedbump installations and over the years, many

residents have approached me with request for their removal.

As a result, Transportation staff do not typically recommend the installation of speedbumps,

however, given the large demand for additional measures on Liard, I was able to work with staff

on the implementation of a unique temporary speed hump pilot project.

Liard Street was selected as an appropriate location to pilot the temporary speed humps as it is

going to be resurfaced within the next year or two. After this time, staff will be able to assess

their utility and either move ahead with a permanent installation or remove the humps during

resurfacing. Given the long term damage caused by the mechanism used to bolt down the hump,

these devices are not installed on all roadways.

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I am interested in how the results of this project will pan out. If successful, I am open to

exploring the potential this project may provide to other streets with similar concerns.

If residents are concerned with speeding on their streets, it is very important that they report

speeding directly to the Police. The more reports made to the Police highlight the area as a

concern and officers can be deployed to the area. This also assists my office as I am also able to

review the number of reports made for a particular street. You can report online here -

https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/contact-us/Online-Reporting.asp

Commemorative Naming of Mary Durling Park

On October 20th

, I had the honour of being part of the official renaming of Mary During Park,

formerly Cypress Gardens Park, located at 33 Brae Crescent.

Mary Durling was a well known member of this community and an active volunteer in this area

for many years. Through her volunteer work, Mary formed rich ties to this community and an

overwhelming amount of public support was received during the public consultation for this

proposal.

Mary Durling was described as a loving, generous and kind person who brought joy to those in

her company and made others feel special. Mary also devoted her time to raising awareness and

funds for important causes and advocated for those in need of a voice. She unselfishly supported

many charitable organizations such as the Heart and Stroke foundation, Cameron Awareness and

the Ladies Auxiliary Stittsville Legion for many years. Most importantly, she was said to be a

great bingo and dart player!

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This park is particularly significant to Mary Durling and her children as the family spent a great

deal of time enjoying this space and making memories in this exact location over the years.

For these reasons, I am very proud that we were able to make this event happen and that Mary

Durling will be honoured for her work and dedication to this community through the naming of

this park.

Overnight Construction at Abbott/Stittsville Main

Resurfacing-related roadwork will be taking place at the

intersection of Stittsville Main and Abbott St beginning

October 22nd-October 27th, weather permitting. This work was

initially mentioned in my September 22nd newsletter but was

delayed.

Work will take place overnight to limit impacts on traffic and

police will be on site to direct traffic. Notice will be provided to

residents in the vicinity in advance of the work and is also available for review here.

Residents may overhear noises coming from trucks and paving machinery. My apologies for any

inconvenience this may cause.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Stittsville Library Events for October/November

There are four special programs coming up at the Stittsville branch in October and November,

2017.

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On Sunday, October 22, 2017 from 1:30 – 4:30 PM is a Children’s Hallowe’en Workshop called

“Mansion Mayhem.” This program is hosted by staff from the Goulbourn Museum for children

ages 6-11! There will be edible haunted houses to decorate; creepy crafts to make, and ghoulish

games to play. A fee to cover the cost of materials is payable to the Goulbourn

Museum. $25.00 per child. ($20 for Kits’ Club Members). Please register by emailing

register@goulbourn.ca or calling 613-831-2393.

The Library Children’s department staff are planning a special Halloween Story time on Saturday,

October 28, 2017, following the Saturday Story time beginning at 10:30 a.m. There will be

pumpkins to decorate, so plan to stay longer if you want to enjoy the spooky fun! No

registration is required.

The week-end of November 3, 4, & 5, 2017 marks a very special model train show presented by

the Ottawa British, and members of the British Railway Modellers of North America. The fictional

village of “Marmalade Wharf” is set in post war England. This is a program not to be missed by

children, and serious model train enthusiasts. More information is available at

https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/event/ottawa-british-00-gauge-model-train-show. No

registration is required.

The Goulbourn Museum will host their monthly “Yap and Yarn” program at the Stittsville branch

on Sunday, November 12, 2017. 1:30 p.m. This program is open to the public so bring your fibre

arts projects and learn about an upcoming Community Fibre Arts Exhibition planned for this fall.

I hope that residents consider joining these fantastic events organized by our phenomenal

Stittsville Library branch staff!

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Trick or Swim or Skate!

This Halloween, consider giving a healthier alternative to the standard Halloween treat.

Once again this year, the perfect candy-free alternative for a Halloween treat is Trick or Swim or

Skate tickets.

Each ticket is good for admission to a public swim or skate at a City recreation facility. You can

hand them out at the door on Halloween night or give them directly to the little trick-or-treater

in your life.

Tickets are available now, while supplies last, at the Goulbourn Recreation Complex (1500 Shea

Road) or other participating City recreation facilities near you.

Trick or Swim or Skate tickets are:

fun;

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affordable ($10 for 10 tickets);

allergy free;

have zero calories;

gluten free;

They promote an active lifestyle; AND

They do not cause cavities!

Plus, a public swimming or public skating session is bound to last way longer than any mini

chocolate bar, even for the slowest of eaters.

Kids ages 3- 15 can redeem their tickets from November 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018 during

regularly scheduled public or family swims and skates at City pools and select arenas

(unfortunately, tickets are not valid for wave swims).

I highly encourage residents to consider giving the gift of physical activity to all the little ghosts

and ghouls this Halloween!

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The Complex is Haunted!

Stop by the Goulbourn Rec Complex on October 27th for an array of spoOoOoOoky fun!

Show off your costume as you partake in cookie decorating, a haunted house, a spooky family

portrait and more!

Admission is free and donations will be accepted toward the Stittsville Food Bank. The event runs

from 5:00-7:00 PM with Haunted Swim continuing until 8:30.

I hope that all residents join this great opportunity for a wicked good time!

Trick or Treat with the Mayor

On Saturday, October 28th, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Mayor Jim Watson will once again host a safe

Halloween event in support of the Ottawa Food Bank's Baby Basics Program. The Baby Basics

Program targets the most vulnerable members of our society, infants and toddlers, whose parents

lack the resources to adequately provide for them. As a result of this program, expensive items

such as formula, baby food and diapers are made available to assist families in need.

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Trick or Treat with the Mayor, along with some

favourite costumed characters, in the Haunted

Heritage House after passing through the

Ghoulish Graveyard on Elgin Street. Follow the

Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy and all of her

friends to the Halloween Dance Party on

Marion Dewar Plaza, where guests can trick or

treat and dance with more costumed

characters. Guests can also take a ride on the

GT Express, decorate a miniature pumpkin or

be wowed by the outdoor magic potions lab

and show. Inside City Hall there will be hot

chocolate and treats in the Hocus Pocus Café.

I highly encourage all residents to consider

stopping by this excellent annual event for a

great evening of fun, games, and Halloween

excitement. With the support of our corporate

sponsors, a memorable evening is assured for

everyone while supporting a very worthy cause.

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Jo-Jo’s Pizza Pumpkin Bash!

Jo-Jo’s Pizza is hosting a Pumpkin Bash on Saturday, Oct. 21 at

their location on 1573 Stittsville Main Street. Free pumpkins, a

bouncy castle, and prizes for the best costumes will be given out.

The event will take place from 11-3 with a rain date of October

22nd.

I highly encourage all residents to stop by for this fun event as

everyone is welcome!

Church Harvest Dinner

It’s time again for the Stittsville United Church Harvest Dinner

Feast!

On Saturday, October 21st from 4:00-7:00 PM, residents are

invited to stop by the church on 6255 Fernbank Road for a

delicious assortment of turkey, ham, veggies, salads, desserts

and more!

Tickets will be available on site and are $20 for adults, $5 for

kids 6-12 and children under 6 eat free!

I highly encourage all residents to stop by this excellent event

for good food and great company!

For more information, please visit http://www.suchurch.com/

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9th Annual OWAA Exhibition & Sale

The 9th Annual Ottawa West Arts Association (OWAA) Art Sale is happening on

October 28th at the OWAA gallery located in the Goulbourn Recreation Complex

(1500 Shea Road)

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., residents can view the new exhibits by local artists, learn

more about OWAA, and of course buy some artwork!

Jane Baxter and Salena Richard will be on-site demonstrating demos of their art techniques

throughout the day including alcohol ink painting and portrait art.

The Ottawa West Arts Association (OWAA) is also presenting a new exhibition called "Canada –

The Seasons" starting on October 21 until December 1. Visit the OWAA gallery to view wonderful

new artworks from local artists, and fill out People's Choice Ballots for your favorite pieces.

Visit owaa.ca for more information.

Lions Fundraiser

The Stittsville District Lions Club is conducting its Annual Fundraising Campaign and residents

are invited to help raise funds in support of the less fortunate.

The club supports various groups such as the Stittsville Food Bank, Salvation Army, Ruddy-

Shenkman Hospice, local Hospitals, and Children’s camps for; Blind, Diabetic, and Cancer

patients on dialysis as well as local sports teams. The Lions also support individuals such as

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post-secondary students with scholarships, people in need of basic utilities and those in need of

glasses, special foot wear, expensive drugs and much more.

This year, the Stittsville Lions are supporting a young Stittsville man that has been diagnosed

with a rare, serious and painful eye disease. $25,000 is needed to help him get the necessary

medical help in the United Kingdom. 100% of funds raised will go directly towards the treatment,

travel and accommodations abroad for this cause.

For a minimum donation of $125.00, received before November 15, 2017, the Lions will

recognize your support with a personalized sign displayed at the Village Square Park at Abbott

and Stittsville Main Street.

Any size donation is most appreciated. Cheques should be made payable to the Stittsville District

Lions Club and mailed to:

Unit 4, 1339 Stittsville Main Street

Stittsville, ON K2S 1C6

An Income Tax Receipt will be provided upon request.

Thank you for your support.

Catch the Ace Lottery comes to the Lions Club

Speaking of the Lions Club, tickets are now on sale for the “Catch the Ace” progressive lottery!

This is a unique lottery in support of the Ruddy-Shenkman Hospice.

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Tickets are $5 each for residents 18 and older and draws will take place every Wednesday until

the Ace of Spades is drawn!

Tickets are available Wednesday nights at the Stittsville Lions Hall at 6:30, from Lions Club

Members, and at Kodiak Snow Blowing on 1017 Carp Rd.

The first draw takes place Oct 25th at the Lions hall at 7:00 PM so be sure to get your tickets in

support of this great cause!

La course des Patriotes 2017 at Paul-Desmarais October

28th

Get your running shoes on and tighten your laces!

The second edition of La course des Patriotes is on its way.

On Saturday October 28, 2017, stop by Paul-Desmarais Catholic Secondary School for this major

event featuring a 2km family, 5km and 10km run.

Paul-Desmarais Catholic Secondary School is committed to promoting health and physical

activity among our youth and the community in western Ottawa.

Donations will be accepted by participants for the Stittsville Food Bank. This course takes place

on Abbott, Shea, Robert Grant and Fernbank and will be blocked and controlled by police.

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I highly encourage all hot-footed residents to consider joining in this great endeavor.

For more information and to get involved, please visit http://paul-

desmarais.ecolecatholique.ca/fr/La-Course-Des-Patriotes--Un-Evenement-Annuel_75

CITY SERVICES

Flu Clinics

It is that time of year again; the leaves change colour, the breeze is cooler and the sound of

sniffles and coughing are in the air – Flu season.

Ottawa Public Health and various other health care partners want to help you stay healthy and

avoid getting the flu by protecting yourself and others with the Flu Vaccine. Residents can get

their flu vaccine at their health care providers office, family doctor, participating pharmacies, and

community clinics. It is recommended residents contact participating pharmacies to ensure

hours of service.

As Chair of the Board of Health, I encourage all residents to plan ahead to ensure that they

protect themselves and those who may be close to them by getting yourself vaccinated. For more

information on upcoming community clinics and influenza you can visit here.

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Bylaw Report Q3

I would like to take a moment to supply residents with a breakdown

of the quarterly by-law regulatory service request report.

Every three months, by-law services releases a ward-by-ward

summary of general request types. These requests range from a

multitude of services offered by calling or emailing 3-1-1

(311@ottawa.ca).

By-law & Regulatory Services experienced an overall increase of 19% in total call

volume compared to Q3 of 2016.

The full report can be found here and Stittsville’s individual report can be found here.

As you can observe, parking was the most-requested by-law item within our ward (451) however

it only comprised 1.6% of the total city’s parking requests (consistent with last year’s statistics at

Q3). Alternatively, Stittsville’s greatest reflection in comparison to the city as a whole were

requests regarding parks (4.4%) which saw 71 requests for the first ¾ of the year.

Learning from these trends helps the City of Ottawa to ensure that proper investments are made

into resources for the future.

I encourage residents to take a moment and see what trends they can spot. Of course, as your

City Councillor, I am always keen to hear your comments and ideas regarding how to improve

our community. You can do so by emailing me at Shad.Qadri@ottawa.ca.

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City seeking public input on commemorative naming

proposals

The City of Ottawa Commemorative Naming Committee is conducting public consultations on

four commemorative naming proposals and comments are being requested! Of the four

proposals, one of which is in Stittsville.

In recognition of the Kavanagh family’s historical significance to the community of Stittsville, a

proposal to name a future park at the southwest corner intersection of Hazeldean Road and

Stittsville Main Street “Kavanagh Green” has been submitted. For nearly a century, Kavanagh

family members have made important contributions to the community of Stittsville and

surrounding areas which include owning and operating the popular Stittsville Flea Market for 25

years and volunteering with the Food Bank, Holy Spirit Church and the Ruddy-Shenkman

Hospice.

More information regarding current commemorative naming proposals can be found at

http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/your-city-government/policies-and-administrative-

structure/administrative-policies-0#current-commemorative-naming-proposals

Comments can be emailed to namingottawa@ottawa.ca or directed to:

Emma Leroux

Office of the City Clerk and Solicitor

Ottawa City Hall

110 Laurier Ave. W.

Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1

Tel: 613-580-2424, extension 28705

Fax: 613-580-9609

I highly encourage all residents to consider sharing their comments on this proposal and let your

voice be heard!

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Hydro Ottawa Offers Financial Assistance Programs for

Low-Income Customers

With winter around the corner, I wanted to take a moment to share some of the financial

assistance programs offered to low-income customers to keep residents cozy and warm amidst

the lower temperatures.

These programs, available for review at hydroottawa.com, provide relief to constituents who are

having difficulty paying their electricity bills.

One particular program is the Ontario Electricity Support Program, which provides ongoing and

long-term financial support to low-income customers. Some customers may be eligible to

receive a credit of up to $900 a year towards their electricity bill. Constituents need only fill out

an application, available at OntarioElectricitySupport.ca.

I highly encourage residents to share this information with any friends or family members who

may require additional assistance this coming winter. Nobody should be left out in the cold.

Meetings at Ottawa City Hall next week

All public meetings will be held at Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West, unless otherwise

noted.

Ottawa Police Services Board – Monday, October 23, 4 p.m., Champlain Room

Chief’s Verbal Report

National Capital Area Crime Stoppers: Semi-Annual Update

Board Committee Appointment

Appointment of Special Constables: RCMP

Appointment of Special Constables: OC Transpo

Public Consultation Policy: Annual Report

Performance Report: Third Quarter 2017

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Complaints Report - Part V – Police Services Act: Third Quarter 2017

Legal Services Report: Third Quarter 2016

Board Monitoring Requirements Status Report: Third Quarter 2017

Outstanding Board Inquiries & Motions: October 2017

Letters of Commendation

Planning Committee – Tuesday, October 24, 9:30 a.m., Champlain Room

Park Development Manual, 2nd Edition (city wide)

Building Better and Smarter Suburbs and Infrastructure Standards Review: Arterial Road

Cross-Sections (city wide)

Memorandum of Understanding with CRT Developments Inc. Respecting the Acquisition

of Shea Road Woods Through Parkland Dedication and Cash (ward 6 – Stittsville)

Application to Alter 61 Park Road, a Property Located in Rockcliffe Park Heritage

Conservation District, Designated Under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act

Zoning By-Law Amendment – Part of 6211 Renaud Road (ward 2 – Innes)

Zoning By-Law Amendment – 1620 And 1636 Maple Grove Road (ward 6 – Stittsville)

o Richcraft is seeking a zoning amendment to permit a residential subdivision on the vacant lands at 1620 and 1636 Maple Grove Road. The developer proposes 945 units that include a mix of single-detached, townhouses, back-to-back townhouses, stacked townhouses and low-rise apartments. A school, a commercial block and three parks are proposed. For back-to-back townhouses, staff recommend permitting a maximum 12 units instead of eight, to help achieve desired densities. This approach has been used successfully in other Stittsville and Kanata West subdivisions. A holding symbol on a portion of the land along the Carp River can only be lifted once conditions related to Carp River restoration works have been met. The lands will be rezoned but the holding provision will be carried forward until conditions are met.

Zoning By-Law Amendment – 991 Carling Avenue (ward 15 – Kitchissippi)

Greenbank Road Watermain Class Environmental Assessment Study (ward 3 – Barrhaven)

North Island Link Environmental Assessment Study (ward 21 – Rideau-Goulbourn)

City Council Meeting – Wednesday, October 25, 10:00 a.m., Andrew S. Haydon Hall