Past Newsletters

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

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