News & Announcements

It's Friday afternoon and a little over 48 hours after I had a heart attack on Wednesday, I'm back home and feeling well. I've seen all your messages on social media and the outpouring of support for Natalie and I has been overwhelming. I cannot properly or adequately express my gratitude to you. And, of course, I can never thank enough the work that was done by Dr. So and all the healthcare professionals at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and the Ottawa Paramedic Service.

The field house at 29 Van Lang Private has been a huge success, and it’s time to give it a permanent name!

Until March 1, I’d like to get your suggestions so that we can make a short list of names that we can put to a community vote.

Suggested names should reflect the area’s geography, natural environment, history or people. The only names that won’t be considered are those of living people. Names will need to work in French and English

The media this morning is breaking the story that Superette is proposing the City's first retail cannabis store at 1306 Wellington Street West - the old Terra20 store.

This morning, I've spoken with the landlord and Superette ownership about my expectations that the store will present a friendly face to the community. The ownership are keen to maintain a good relationship with myself and neighbours, and I am very confident that there will be a good dialog between us as we go down this path for the first time.

We have received word that Ashcroft has applied for a re-zoning to allow 11 surface parking spots at its convent site, 114 Richmond Rd.

This is the latest step in an ongoing discussion with Ashcroft and with residents of the building there about the lack of visitor parking onsite. While the details are not yet online, I can provide some colour on the issue.

As you may be aware, there is a Site Plan application currently circulating for 49 Iona, Elmdale School in the Wellington Village area. The application is to permit a two-storey addition to the west of the existing elementary school, and an addition to the north next to the existing gymnasium. Both additions will provide Barrier-Free access to the school. The north addition will include a new elevator providing Barrier-Free access to all above ground new and existing building floors. 

Site development work will include:

As was a major discussion several years ago during the proposal to re-zone part the land that was formerly the Honeywell plant, the company has been taking ongoing measures to address contamination on the site. Recently, I received word from the company that they will soon be digging monitoring wells in the vicinity as part of a new phase of that work. They've provided a community letter that I've attached below. The work should be minimally disruptive, and should start around February 11. I'm pleased to see this work moving forward.

Tonight, I submitted on my and our community associations' behalf a submission to the consultation on Bill 66 - Open For Business - introduced recently into the Legislature at Queen's Park. Kitchissippi community associations and I are concerned that if the legislation moves forward, politicians in municipalities across Ontario will have too broad a tool to fast-track development applications when significant job-creators are proposed. You can read more about Bill 66 here.

For those following the Reid Park progress, you may have noted that the park was set to unofficially open this winter. However, unfortunately staff have been unable to get the contractor to open Reid Park to the public in advance of substantial completion of the contract.  The contractor is contractually responsible for the park site until substantial completion is achieved, at which time the City will take over responsibility and open the park to the public. 

As you may be aware, there is a Zoning By-Law Amendment and Official Plan application currently circulating for 951 Gladstone Ave and 145 Loretta Ave in the Civic Hospital / Hintonburg / Little Italy area. The application is to permit a mixed-used development with office, retail and residential uses in three high-rise towers at 30, 35 and 41-storeys in height.