We’ve received some information from one of the public schools in our region and thought it might be of interest to Westboro residents.

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board is in the process of reviewing the Alternative Program, the purpose of which is described as “coming to a decision regarding the Alternative Program” by February 2010.

Churchill parents and other supporters of the Alternative education model have a number of concerns with respect the larger purpose of the review as well as how the review is being conducted. To learn more about the issues please review the attached PDF.  Please forward to interested friends and neighbors.

by Deb Chapman, Evered resident

A meeting on November 2nd was organized by Mothercraft and the residents of Evered Ave in Westboro to present their concerns to Councillor Christine Leadman the problems with the volume of traffic and parking congestion on the street.   Three members from Mothercraft’s management and board and ten Evered Ave residents attended this meeting.   This meeting allowed the residents of Evered Ave and Mothercraft to identify problem areas and possible solutions.  Christine Leadman’s experience as Councillor for Kitchissippi Ward was invited to advise on how the City of Ottawa could help improve the traffic/parking problems on Evered Ave. 

Councillor Leadman was told that Evered Ave is the only street between Churchill and Kirkwood with direct access from Byron to Clare.  All the other north/south running streets either don’t connect to Clare or have traffic calming measures already in place.  Councillor Leadman explained that there was a traffic management study done in 2004 and that no traffic calming measures were identified for the street.  In 2008, the City also did a traffic count and speeding exercise for one day.  Two cars were recorded as going above the speed limit of the 650 that travelled down the street.

Residents who attended the meeting noted four main sources of vehicle-related problems on Evered Ave:

1. Mothercraft has over 100 children enrolled in daycare, plus parents and children attending numerous other activities, e.g. drop-in, respite care, prenatal courses, etc.  As a result, this not-for-profit organization generates much traffic and parking congestion.  Parents that use Mothercraft services have often been seen: speeding on Evered Ave to pick-up or drop off children; parking illegally; idling for long periods of time while waiting for their children; blocking residents’ driveways; and parking in front of the fire hydrant.
2. Our Lady of La Vang Parish church also generates similar problems during evenings and on weekends, especially on Sundays, feast days and other seasonal observances such as Lent.
3. Drivers going West on Byron will turn on Evered Ave to avoid the long light at Churchill and Byron. There is no such problem at the traffic light on Clare from Byron.
4. School buses drive quickly down Evered Ave.  It would be difficult for a bus to stop quickly if a child ran out.

The residents pointed out to Councillor Leadman and members of Mothercraft that there are over 25 children under the age of twelve that live on Evered Ave.  More children with their parents walk down Clare Gardens Park via the entrance on Evered Ave. There is only one sidewalk on the eastern side of the street. The children coming from the west side are obliged to cross the street to get to the sidewalk. With cars parked on both sides, it is difficult to cross the street. Most young children on Evered Ave at not allowed to play on their front lawns or in their driveways because of Mothercraft parents driving behaviour.

Residents have voiced their concerns at traffic planning meetings. This feedback was registered but did not make it into the preliminary McKellar Park/Highland Park/ Westboro Traffic Management Study of June 2008.

Councillor Leadman offered the following solutions to the traffic and parking problems on Evered Avenue:

1. Work with Mothercraft to design a plan for dropping-off and picking-up children that is more organized and less dangerous for both Mothercraft’s parents and local children.  Councillor Leadman offered the drop-off program used by Churchill Alternative School as an example of how city traffic experts worked with the school to improve safety.  Mothercraft welcomed the City’s support to develop a plan.  Mothercraft will need to consult with their clients about how they would like to see improvements in the drop-off and pick-up of their children.
2. In terms of parking on the street, Councillor Leadman stated that there are a number of no-parking options.  For instance, no-parking at certain times of the day or year, no parking on certain sides of the street, etc.  These options would have to be voted on by residents of Evered Ave.  Residents could request that the City pass a motion to restrict parking on the street.  A 75% consensus from residents would be needed to make any changes. Residents noted that parking on two sides of the street does act as a traffic calming device. Other residents are concerned that if parking is not allowed across the street from Mothercraft the parking problem could just move down the street. As a result, it was recommended that residents carefully consider the impact of possible changes to parking in their planning for the street.  This option will be discussed at the next meeting.
3. Ms Leadman offered to request City by-law officials to make more frequent visits to Evered Ave to enforce by-laws on parking, speeding and idling. In addition, Ms. Leadman is requesting that a no idling sign be posted in front of Mothercraft. But residents were also encouraged to call the by-law enforcement office to report problems.  She also advised residents to call 311 to any traffic-related problems. This helps the City to become aware of traffic problems.  
4. Councillor Leadman offered to contact someone from Our Lady of La Vang Parish church in order to convey the concerns of the Evered Ave residents, e.g. speeding, parking congestion, etc.
5. Also discussed was a “Be Safe” public safety program.  The City could help Mothercraft design and launch a public awareness campaign for its clients regarding traffic safety.

There seemed to be few options for changing the length of time the traffic light changes at Byron and Churchill. This concerns Evered Ave residents because of the 2010 construction on the north end of Churchill.  More commuters will want to use Byron and inevitably cut down Evered Ave to avoid the long light at Churchill. Many residents see speed bumps as the only way to slow down traffic on Evered Ave.  Councillor Leadman noted that this option could take more than 12 years.

Next Steps

1. Councillor Leadman will follow up with the items stated above and provide information as it becomes available.
2. Councillor Leadman with contact the Our Lady of La Vang Parish church.
3. Councillor Leadman will engage the services of a city planner to help look at traffic patterns and potential drop-off and pick-up solution to ease parking congestion and improve the safety of parents and children.
4. Councillor Leadman will engage the services of the City to help Mothercraft develop and launch a safety campaign for Mothercraft clients.
5. Mothercraft will continue to inform parents of the ongoing traffic and parking issues, e.g. slowing down on Evered Ave, abiding by by-laws, not blocking driveways, etc.

The next Evered Ave traffic meeting is to take place early in 2010.

A message from Yasir Naqvi MPP, Ottawa Centre

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Celebration 2010 is a Community Sports Hero Award Program to recognize and honour the “unsung heroes” of community sport and recreation: coaches, association members, trainers, conveners, fundraisers, drivers, chaperones, etc, in the spirit of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. It is a local initiative, with every Ottawa MPP accepting nominations.

Perhaps it is the individual who has been going out when it’s 30 below to flood the community rink for the past decade; or someone who has been the convener of Little League baseball for 25 years. These volunteers are the backbone of community sports and recreation in Ontario and contribute immeasurably to the development and experience of athletes of all ages and levels of competitiveness.

Award recipients will be invited along with their families to attend a reception in Ottawa in the New Year and will be presented with a recognition certificate signed by the Premier of Ontario and a specially minted, limited edition Celebration 2010 medal. Only 25 recipients will be selected from Ottawa Centre and the deadline for nominations is November 13, 2009.

I encourage you and members of your organization to submit nominations for this award in less than 500 words to: Office of Yasir Naqvi, 411 Roosevelt Avenue, Suite 204, Ottawa, ON, K2A 3X9, or ynaqvi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org.

Please be sure to include your contact information and the contact information of the nominee in your nomination. I look forward to receiving nominations for this award program. Please feel free to pass this along to your friends, family and colleagues.

Councillor Christine Leadman will meet with concerned residents to discuss the traffic and parking issues affecting Evered Avenue.

When: Monday November 2, 2009
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Where: Mothercraft boardroom, 475 Evered Avenue

For more information contact Deb Chapman at debchapman@magma.ca

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Fall Give Away Weekend will take place Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25 at the conclusion of Waste Reduction Week.

So don’t throw away your unwanted household goods. Set them out at the curb with a sign or label indicating that they are free.

Treasures Could Include

• Books, CDs and DVDs
• Old furniture and small appliances
• Construction materials – including drywall and hardware such as nails, bolts and screws
• Kitchen gadgets, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans
• Unwanted gifts

Rules for Give Away Weekend

• Place items at the curb
• Place stickers or signs on items with the word “FREE”
•  Ensure any items that you want to keep don’t get mixed up with your Give Away items at the curb
• At the end of each day, bring any uncollected items back to your home

Please consider safety when deciding which items to set out to the curb. The Consumer Product Safety Bureau of Health Canada advises that used children’s items such as baby walkers, yo-yo balls, cribs, car seats, strollers, playpens, bath seats, mattresses and other child-related items should not be placed out at the curb.

Remember, items not picked up can be donated to charitable organizations or placed on used-item websites.

Give Away Weekend Etiquette

• Respect other people’s property. Don’t walk on lawns and gardens
• Take only the items marked “free”
• Don’t discard previously picked-up treasures on another person’s lawn

Fall Give Away weekend is another way to help the City RETHINK GARBAGE and maximize landfill space, protecting our most precious treasure – our environment.

Saturday, October 17th, 2009 between 10:30 and noon
(Rain date: Sunday Oct 18th)

We did it in the Spring, now we’re doing it again!

The WCA is hosting a fall cleanup of Clare Garden Park.  Bring your families and meet some of your neighbours!

We’ll bring a few rakes and large garden bags but we recommend you bring gardening gloves and extra rakes.

Hope to see you there!

Learn low-to-no cost ways to save on your household energy bills and lower your GHG emissions at this free seminar:

• Tuesday October 13th, 2009 from 7pm – 9pm
• Fisher Park Public School Cafeteria, 250 Holland Avenue

TD Friends of the environment Foundation will be giving out free energy conservation kits at the seminar including CFL lightbulbs, a power bar, low flow showerhead and faucet, and water bottle (valued about $45). 

Read more about this event here.

You do not need to be an environmentalist to want to save on your energy bills. Reducing the amount of energy used means lowering GHG emissions, less pollution, and more money in your pocket.

Learn low-to-no cost ways to save on your household energy bills and lower your GHG emissions at this free seminar:

• Tuesday October 13th, 2009 from 7pm – 9pm
• Fisher Park Public School Cafeteria, 250 Holland Avenue

View more info here or read on:

Once almost exclusively the domain of environmentalists, Ottawa residents are trying to find ways to lower their global footprint at a time when the environment is at the top of the agenda in the news media, government and companies. The biggest hurdle for going green is often through a bombardment of information and recommendations typically suggesting that the only way to save on your energy bills and help the planet is by spending money. Seventh Generation Community Projects is providing free seminars across the city to demystify that notion and by recommending ways of spending less in order to save more!

Seventh Generation Community Projects, working in collaboration with the Westboro, Hampton-Iona and Hintonburg community associations, will be hosting a seminar at Fisher Park School Cafeteria (250 Holland Avenue) on October 13 at 7 pm about low-to-no-cost ways to decrease your household environmental footprint as well as save money! Seminars are targeting Ottawa residents who would like to make that initial step towards living in a more environmentally sustainable household, but are overwhelmed with information on where and how to get started. Through a case study and some calculations, our seminar will explain how lowering your GHG emissions actually saves you money, with little to no cost. Get Energy Smart! is a unique opportunity for non-environmentalists and environmentalists alike to discover some of the initiatives they can take through community groups that will be exhibiting their programs

Canadians would be surprised to know that our households account directly and indirectly for half of Canada’s GHG emissions—a third contributed directly from the fuel we burn to heat our homes and drive our cars, and two thirds contributed indirectly from the goods and services we buy, their packaging, manufacturing, transportation, and disposal. All of this information can be seemingly overwhelming, but luckily, the Get Energy Smart! program has consolidated the issues surrounding our environmental footprint and gives concrete, everyday solutions which are available at your corner store, through your community association, or at your personal initiative.

Seventh Generation’s Get Energy Smart! is not only providing seminars across the city on ways to reduce your GHG emissions, but interested individuals will have the opportunity to participate in our fall bus tour as well as our hands on workshops! The bus tour will encompass a neighbor-to-neighbor aspect, with viewings of environmentally efficient homes and buildings and discussions surrounding their retrofit. The hands on workshops are geared towards doing small retrofits on low income homes for people that would like to undertake a more skill-focused activity within their home. Sign-ups are on going, please contact solarh2ottawa@tuckerhouse.ca for more information.

Get Energy Smart! support is provided by the Government of Ontario and its Community Go Green Fund. Seventh Generation Community Projects is the adult program of Maison Tucker House. For more information, please visit our website at www.seventhgeneration.ca

An area in Hampton Park has been designated as “off leash” for a three month trial period. Please note, this is not a fenced-in area. Signage will be installed and a benchmark has been established for parking use.

More information is available on the NCC website.

As always, please remember to stoop and scoop!

This info is from the office of MPP Yasir Naqvi:

As you know, Ottawa City Council is currently considering a proposal to redevelop Lansdowne Park.

Situated at the heart of Ottawa for over a hundred years, the redevelopment of Lansdowne will be a key defining moment in the history of our city. This project is overflowing with potential, and if done carefully, could breathe new life into our city by increasing tourism, sport and community. This is really our opportunity to shine as a community and a National Capital – to build something truly worthy of the history and prestige of this site.

As you may know, the proposal and process for the Lansdowne redevelopment has been cloaked in controversy and secrecy for months. However, the City is now undertaking to expose the project and involve residents in the planning process through public consultation sessions to take place over the next two weeks. This is an important opportunity for all Ottawans to get involved and voice their opinions and visions for Lansdowne. Whether you live in the Glebe, Nepean, Orleans or Vanier, the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park will have an impact on your community and your city.

I encourage you to participate in the consultations taking place in your community. I also ask you to please spread the word to your friends, families and neighbours and ask them to participate as well. To be truly representative of the life and character of our city, we need everyone to participate in the consultations taking place.

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The consultation in our ward will be held:

Monday, October 5, 6 to 9 p.m.
Tom Brown Arena, Hall
141 Bayview Road