Past Newsletters

March 2024 Newsletter

 

Dear Neighbour,

Spring is a time when we see more animals venturing into our neighbourhoods seeking food and we can be prepared for safe interactions with them. That’s why I am SO excited to have Professor Michael Runtz, naturalist, author, and photographer, come to College Ward to talk about urban wildlife. The details are below, and I hope that you can attend this important (and free!) event.

We also have several public consultations coming up in April. Child care, sidewalks, parks, and more are all subjects seeking your feedback. All the details can be found in the newsletter below.

It’s a nice time of year to get out in the sunshine and fresh air. I hope to see you around the neighbourhood soon!

Warm regards,
Laine

Chers voisins, chères voisines,

Le printemps est une période où l’on voit de plus en plus d’animaux s’aventurer dans nos quartiers à la recherche de nourriture et nous pouvons donc envisager d’interagir avec ces derniers en toute sécurité. C’est pourquoi je suis très heureuse que le professeur Michael Runtz, naturaliste, auteur et photographe, vienne au quartier Collège pour parler de la faune urbaine. Les détails sont ci-dessous, et j’espère que vous pourrez assister à cet événement important (et gratuit!).

Plusieurs consultations publiques sont également prévues en avril. La garde d’enfants, les trottoirs, les parcs, etc. sont autant de sujets sur lesquels il vous est possible de donner votre avis. Tous les détails se trouvent dans le bulletin d’information ci-dessous.

C’est une période agréable de l’année pour sortir au soleil et à l’air frais. J’espère vous voir bientôt dans le quartier!

Sincères salutations,
Laine

February 2024 Newsletter

 

Dear Neighbour,

This is a busy time of year for City Council, with many policy reviews and construction applications on the horizon.

The provincial and federal governments continue to make decisions that impact municipal planning, including neighbourhood housing density and urban boundaries. This has meant a tremendous amount of work for staff and Council to update our Official Plan and other long-range policy documents.

I hope you can attend our Second Annual Skating Party and Open House on February 25, 1-3pm. It’s going to be a fun-filled afternoon for all!

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Warm regards,
Laine

January 2024 Newsletter

 

Dear Neighbour,

Happy New Year!

City Council already has a busy legislative agenda lined up, with reports on Winter Maintenance Quality Standards; the Wildlife Strategy update (expected March or April); the Community Partners Insurance Program; the Zoning By-law Review; Transportation Master Plan prioritization; and a deeper look at planning issues near the Experimental Farm.

I’ll ensure that you have the opportunity to comment on any of these issues as they come forward.

In the meantime, I hope you can take advantage of some of our wonderful winter recreation opportunities and that you stay safe and warm throughout the season.

Warm regards,
Laine

Chers voisins, chères voisines,

Bonne année!

Le Conseil municipal a déjà un programme législatif bien chargé devant lui : rapports sur les normes de qualité de l’entretien pour l’hiver, mise à jour de la Stratégie de gestion de la faune (laquelle est attendue en mars ou avril), Programme d’assurance des partenaires communautaires, examen du Règlement de zonage, priorisation du Plan directeur des transports et examen plus approfondi des enjeux de planification à proximité de la Ferme expérimentale.

Je veillerai à ce que vous ayez la possibilité de donner votre point de vue sur ces questions au fur et à mesure qu’elles viendront à l’ordre du jour.

Entre-temps, j’espère que vous pourrez profiter de certains des merveilleux loisirs hivernaux qui s’offrent à nous et que vous resterez en sécurité et bien au chaud tout au long de la saison.

Sincères salutations,
Laine

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December 2023 Newsletter

 

Dear Neighbour,

City Council approved the 2024 budget earlier this month. You can find details below. You’ll also find a link to our College Ward progress report – a document I’m very proud to share with you, outlining some of the steps forward we’ve made over the past year.

We’ll have some exciting projects coming up in 2024, including long-promised meetings with Hydro and the continuing review of Ottawa’s zoning by-law.

Our office will be closed after December 22^nd, reopening January 2^nd. I’ll keep an eye on email in case of any emergencies, but otherwise we’ll get back to you in January. I also encourage you to report issues to 311 by phone or email ([email protected]).

I hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year!

Warm regards,
Laine

Chers voisins, chères voisines,

Le Conseil municipal a approuvé le budget de 2024 plus tôt ce mois-ci. Vous pouvez en consulter les détails ci-dessous. Vous trouverez également un lien menant à notre rapport d’avancement sur le quartier Collège, un document que je suis très fière de partager avec vous et qui décrit certaines des avancées que nous avons réalisées au cours de l’année écoulée.

Nous mènerons quelques projets passionnants en 2024, dont les réunions promises de longue date avec Hydro Ottawa et la poursuite de l’examen du Règlement de zonage de la Ville d’Ottawa.

Notre bureau fermera ses portes le 22 décembre en fin de journée et rouvrira le 2 janvier. Je surveillerai mes courriels en cas d’urgence, mais sinon je serai de retour en janvier. Je vous invite par ailleurs à signaler tout problème en composant le 311 ou à écrire à l’adresse [email protected].

Je vous souhaite à toutes et à tous un bon et merveilleux temps des Fêtes et une bonne année!

Chaleureuses salutations,
Laine

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November 2023 newsletter

Dear Neighbour,

There are two major issues coming to Council in November.

First up is the Lansdowne Park 2.0 proposal, a proposed renewal of the financial commitment and proposed land uses of Lansdowne between the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG). There are many issues to consider about Lansdowne Park, which serves the entire Ottawa community. I want to know what you think! Fill out my online survey, below, and let me know.

The other big issue is the 2024 City of Ottawa budget. We held a public form on Oct 23 to hear from residents about their budget priorities. Read about that, and how you can get involved in the budget process, below.

I hope you’re staying warm, keeping healthy, and getting outside for the colours!

Warm regards,
Laine

October 2023 Newsletter

Dear Neighbour,

We’ve had a busy autumn so far. Over 100 people came out to our first annual Ward 8 Town Hall, discussing issues like traffic calming, in-fill, and transit services with senior City staff. It was a unique event in Ottawa and one I look forward to repeating next year.

We also took 35 residents on a tour of the LRT system so that they’ll have confidence using our public transit system in the future. If there’s sufficient interest, we will do this again in the spring. We’ll include the details in a spring newsletter when we know more.

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September 2023 Newsletter

Dear Neighbour,

Summer is quickly coming to an end, kids are back in school, and the City of Ottawa is back to its full schedule of committee and Council meetings.

We’re looking at the City budget for 2024 (and, in truth, we’ve been looking at it since the 2023 budget was adopted) and I’ll have more about that soon. At the same time, we’re dealing with OC Transpo’s shortfall and trying to find ways to improve services to residents overall.

I am also seeing several development applications that have the potential to change the character of our neighbourhoods, while providing much needed housing (though little of it will be affordable). This requires a careful balancing of our community’s desires and needs and I will continue to consult with you. More about some of these projects can be found below.

If you find these newsletters helpful, please consider forwarding them to neighbours and others who live in College Ward. I’ve met several people who don’t know I send out a regular newsletter and it would be helpful if you could spread the word.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you in the neighbourhood.

Laine

July 2023

Dear Neighbour,

We’re beginning to wrap up a busy legislative agenda at City Hall. We’ve recently seen important issues like garbage collection, gardening on the municipal right-of-way, Lansdowne Park, taxis for disabled residents, affordable housing, and more.

We’ll take a short break from meetings for the next few weeks, returning in August to carry on with the work of the City. But my team and I will continue to be available to assist with constituency matters throughout the summer.

I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy some warm weather and our beautiful College Ward parks. I know I’ll see many of you at the numerous community BBQs and other events and you’ll find opportunities to have your say in local issues below.

Have a great summer and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Laine

April 2023 Newsletter

Dear Neighbour,

Spring has finally arrived and we’re all glad to see it. We had a tough winter, with a lot of snow and road-wrecking freeze-thaw cycles. And not one, but TWO storms that knocked out power in many of our College Ward neighbourhoods.

In the aftermath of the recent ice storm, my Council colleagues will be meeting with Hydro Ottawa in the coming weeks. What will it take to make the system more resilient? Why do the same neighbourhoods often get restored last? How do we ensure we are sharing out the best information available?

I hope to have those answers soon and I know Hydro Ottawa is also interested in meeting with our neighbours to speak directly to residents.

At the same time, I was very impressed with how our community came together to help each other. I saw neighbours checking on neighbours, bringing food and offering candles and batteries. I saw people taking each other in. I saw youth on the street helping to clear branches and trees.

In the face of enormous challenges, our people were the most important resource.

And that’s what makes College Ward so great to live in!

I hope you have an enjoyable spring and that your gardens are filled with blooms. And if they are, please come take care of mine next! 😊

Warm regards,
Laine

January 2023 Newsletter

Dear Neighbour,

Winter’s first blasts raised some important issues for residents and for the City: how do we better prepare for power outages, freezing rain, and other weather that’s affecting our infrastructure?