Councillor s Column KEEPING YOU INFORMED

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1 Councillor s Column KEEPING YOU INFORMED SHAD QADRI WARD 6 - STITTSVILLE Johnwoods Closure Update I have received a number of questions and comments from residents regarding the Johnwoods Street Closure which will be taking place on November 15 th. For background, including information on the decision to close the road, I encourage residents to ensure they have reviewed the information posted on my website here. Working with City staff, I am happy to provide the following responses for some of the questions that have been raised. I am continuing to work with City staff on any of the other questions that are not yet addressed in this response and will share more information with the community in the coming weeks as we move forward in this process. COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 1

2 There have been requests for a delay to the closure and at this time there are no plans to delay the closure of the road. It is anticipated that this entire project will be completed by the end of June Linear Park Design Comments: - Some residents have requested an extension to the comment deadline for the design details of the park. The deadline for design comments has been extended until November 30 th, Following the deadline of November 30 th, comments will be consolidated and reviewed. Responses and any revisions will be posted in my enewsletter. Road Inquires: - Residents have raised concerns with some of the road conditions in the area. Santolina and the portion of Rosehill within the Fairwinds West subdivision is complete with top lift of asphalt. Top lift on the remaining portion of Rosehill is estimated for summer 2018 due to continuous work on the Poole Creek subdivision. The barricade on Rosehill will be open without the top lift being completed. A request has been placed with Tartan to help fix some of the potholes near Rosehill and Warmstone to provide a better driving condition. - There have been inquiries regarding the classifications of roads in this area and on the map it notes that Maple Grove Road is a Major Collector Road and that the southern portion of Johnwoods and Rosehill are classified as Collector Roads. A reminder that an extensive list of all road classifications in Stittsville is available on the Ward Maps section of my website under the Community header or by clicking here. - Rosehill and Santolina were designed to accommodate transit service and this was also noted in the purchase and sales agreements of the homes on these streets. COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 2

3 Rosehill Traffic Calming: - Rosehill Drive will have traffic calming measures installed on the street. Please see the map available here, showing the location of the permanent and temporary traffic calming measures planned for the street. - The long term permanent plan is to have traffic calming chicanes installed on the street. These will be installed once the entire street receives the top lift of asphalt in The final design for these is in the process of being completed and will be shared with the community once complete. - In the interim, by November 8 th there will be flex stakes placed in 5 locations on Rosehill Drive. These will remain in place until the snow falls this season and if necessary will be re-installed in the Spring 2018 before the chicanes are installed. Traffic Counts for Johnwoods - Transportation staff are reviewing the traffic data submitted by the community. This data is being compared to the City s existing data as well as data which I contracted to have done on the street. The City s Transportation Department has also recently taken a traffic count during Ottawa Senators home games and this data is currently being processed. Closure Notice Signage COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 3

4 - Portable visual messaging signage (PVMS) has been installed in a number of locations as of November 2 nd to advise commuters of the road closure. Update to Mapping Programs - The City s mapping program will be updated and the City has also been in contact with mapping agencies such as Google Maps. Future Park and Rides to service Stittsville I have received inquiries from residents regarding future Park and Ride (P&R) sites and am also sharing this with the broader community as I am sure other residents are also interested in this information. I frequently hear from residents in Stittsville that the P&Rs currently available do not meet the needs of Stittsville residents. I have continued to work with OC Transpo and the City s Transportation Department to provide more P&R options to residents, such as the Canadian Tire Place Park and Ride partnership providing 100 spaces (can be expanded as needed) for commuters to use. In addition, the City recently upgrade the Carp Road Park and Ride which provided approximately 35 more parking spaces. For more information on the current park and rides available to residents please visit the OC Transpo website here. In the Fernbank Community Design Plan there are 3 Transit stations including park and rides identified which would service Stittsville and the surroundings area. In the demonstration plan you can see the locations of these noted as a T, you can view the plan here. COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 4

5 Below is additional information on each site. Please note that Transportation staff have provide these timelines as estimates and that there is still the potential that these timelines will change in the future. - Hazeldean / Robert Grant (Highest Priority) o Located at the future intersection of Hazeldean Road and Robert Grant Avenue. Park and Ride is located both north and south of Hazeldean Road. Area of land north of Hazeldean Road is between the Shops of Fairwinds Plaza (Toys R Us) and the Grant Plaza (Lowes). o Approx. 325 spaces to the north, and 325 spaces to the south o Subject to affordability this could be funded sometime in the timeframe. o Current development application underway for the south portion at 5618 Hazeldean Road. I am working to explore any potential partnership opportunities with the developer of this site and the Transportation and Planning Department to bring this project forward to an earlier timeline. - Abbott Street /Robert Grant o Southeast corner of the intersection and south of the Trans Canada Trail o Approx. 250 spaces o Timing of construction will depend on funding/affordability. It is not within the current 3-yr forecast window, and would likely be around Fernbank Road / Robert Grant o Northeast corner of this intersection o Approx. 200 spaces o Timing of construction will depend on funding/affordability. It is not within the current 3-yr forecast window, and would likely be around COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 5

6 Fairwinds Winter Parking Pilot Project Update As many of you are aware, my office has been working with the Transportation Department, the Fairwinds Community Association and Fairwinds residents regarding a winter parking pilot project. The pilot project for this winter season has been finalized and you can review the map here. For additional information on this project please view previous community updates which includes a Frequently Asked Questions document. As noted, this will be a pilot project for this winter season and in the Spring we will review the project with the community and will be open to recommendations for changes for the future. The signage should be installed by December 1 st and the parking restrictions will be in affect from December 1 st to March 30 th. There have been some changes made to the plan based on feedback from the community. Below is a summary of those changes. - The following streets were removed from the pilot project for this year either at the request of residents on the street or due to the fact that we received no feedback from that street either in support or against the proposed parking restrictions: Burnaby, Grenadine, Kohilo, Mistral, Shawondasee, and Sedgebrook. - The following street have the parking restrictions moved to the other side of the street due to resident requests: Aquilo, Etesian (north section), Maloja (portions switched), Pampero, Par-La-ville (portions changed and added), Rosehill (Huntmar to Maple grove) and Tempest (reviewed on-site and portions changed). - At the recommendation by residents at the public meeting changes have been made to Leveche to restrict parking at all times on the street, on Leveche south of Maple Grove COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 6

7 parking is restricted on the west side, and north of Maple Grove parking will be restricted on the east side. We did receive requests for more streets to be included and this can be considered in the future. This is already an aggressive plan, with the number of streets proposed, there will be a need for approximately 95 signs. This will be the largest pilot of this type that the City has undertaken; there was a similar successful pilot in Barrhaven with only five streets. There was an interest to concentrate the pilot in the areas north and south of Maple Grove. I would like to thank the Fairwinds Community Association and residents for their feedback on this project. Kanata South Link Project Expropriation coming to Committee On November 7 th, City s Finance and Economic Development Committee will be considering the Kanata Link Report. The report recommends that Committee and Council enact a by-law to expropriate lands required for purposes of the Kanata South Link Project. I am very pleased to see this project moving forward and I would like to thank Councillor Hubley for his efforts for providing me the opportunity to be a part of this important project along with Councillors Moffatt and Chiarelli. In the 2017 Capital Budget, City Council approved funding for the Kanata South Link Project. To accommodate growth in the Kanata South and Stittsville communities, this project involves the widening to 4 lanes of Old Richmond Road and West Hunt Club Road between Hope Side Road and Highway 416. The project also includes roundabouts at Hope Side Road/Old Richmond Road, Stonehaven/Old Richmond Road, and Old Richmond Road/West Hunt Club Road. The project is required to minimize the impact on the Greenbelt lands and to protect the Stoney Swamp Conservation Area and wetlands. The functional design consists of a rural road crosssection with paved shoulders within the Greenbelt and an urban cross-section for 500 meters on COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 7

8 the west side of Old Richmond Road and along the north side of Hope Side Road. Two lane roundabouts are included at all intersections except at Moodie Drive, where signals are specified to reduce impacts on adjacent wetland. Following the completion of the Preliminary Design and updated cost estimates, the project scope was prioritized and work is proceeding to obtain both Federal and Provincial approvals. Detailed design is underway, following which the project tendering process will be initiated, with contract award scheduled for summer For more background information on this project please review the report and visit the project website here. Name the Trains - Contest for Youth! I would like to take a moment to share an exciting new opportunity for youth to get involved in the City of Ottawa s upcoming Light Rail Transit (LRT) system before its launch in 2018! The name of the game is Name the Trains! Children and youth 16 years of age and under are invited to submit their name suggestions for all 40 of Ottawa s train cars the 34 Alstom Citadis Spirit electric train cars that will operate along the O-Train Confederation Line and the six Alstom Coradia LINT diesel train cars that operate along the O-Train Trillium Line. The rules are simple: Names should be short (maximum of 16 characters) Names should be related to trains (or train service) or have a Canadian or Ottawa-related significance COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 8

9 Names must fit into one or more of the following 5 categories: people, animals, natural world, culture or history Names should be bilingual or easily translatable (English & French) Names should be friendly (nothing negative, please!), have a pleasant sound and be easy to remember Participants can submit as many separate entries as they wish, but each contest participant can only win once Names cannot be current or future O-Train Confederation or Trillium Line station names This is a great opportunity for youth to show their creative spirit for a transit system that will be utilized long after they grow up and become the next generation of transit users! I encourage all Stittsville residents to motivate their kids to try their hand at this unique venture and get involved in the biggest infrastructure project in Ottawa s history! The entry form, along with more contest details including rules, regulations and guidelines are available at octranspo.com/ready4rail. A total of 40 train cars will be named as part of the Name the Trains Contest consisting of 34 O-Train Confederation Line train cars and six O-Train Trillium Line train cars. The contest deadline is December 8, 2017, and a selection panel will review the name submissions. Winners will be announced in Get Ready, Ottawa! The first stop is almost here! Jo Jo s Community Garden Call for Gardeners! The first year of the Jojos Community Garden was a great success! Now, residents interested in obtaining a plot of land for next year s gardening season are invited to get involved! Please Kim Bonin at jojoscommunitygarden@gmail.com to reserve your space before November 10 th, Returning gardeners are also asked to confirm whether they would like to retain the same plot COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 9

10 of land or upgrade. Please also let Kim know if you are not interested in continuing next year so that she may free up your plot for others. A shed for next year s season is currently under construction. Gardeners from this season are requested to tidy their plots by throwing any old plants in the compost beside the manure pile before the winter season arrives. Please Kim for the shed code. I would like to thank both Kim and her husband for taking the lead on this excellent community project as well as the Kassis family of Jojo s Pizza for continuing to sponsor the land to make it all possible. For more information, please visit the Jojos Community Garden Facebook page at: Wanted: Rink Supervisor for Bryanston Gate Outdoor Skating Rink The outdoor skating rink at Bryanston Gate is in need a new rink supervisor this winter season and residents are invited to apply! This is a great opportunity for an individual 14 years of age or older to take initiative and tend to a service that benefits the whole community. The requirements are as follows: The person(s) would have to be 14 years of age or older, but would require someone 18+ to sign the contract on their behalf A valid Police Records Check for the Vulnerable Sector (can be done online for free with a letter I can provide (18+)) Supervise the site/change hut for a minimum of 20 hours/maximum of 30 hours per week. Record attendance and statistics during the scheduled hours COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 10

11 There is a Grant for this supervision contract so residents are encouraged to Shawna at Shawna.Gryszkiewicz@ottawa.ca with CC to me at Shad.Qadri@ottawa.ca. Thank you for looking out for your community! Be Wary of Door to Door Sales People I have been advised by some concerned residents this week that door-to-door sales people are stopping at residences with request to come inside and look at your furnaces, water heaters, or water treatment systems. Some of these organizations may have Ottawa or Ontario in their company title. Please note that representatives from either your Ottawa or Ontario governments will never go door to door or try to sell you an item/appliance within your home. Be alert and remember that if something seems fishy, it is better to be safe than sorry. COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 11

12 IN THE COMMUNITY Pumpkin Parade Recap I would like to thank all residents who took the time to brave the rain and join the Stittsville Pumpkin Parade on November 1 st. Despite the weather, a great deal of residents made it out to drop off and admire the pumpkins created by our incredibly creative Stittsville community! Many gorgeous pumpkins were on display and admirers voted on the ones they enjoyed the most for a slew of prizes provided by generous local businesses. I would like to thank Trevor Eggleton and his family for once again taking the lead on making this excellent Stittsville tradition come to fruition. I would also like to thank Quitters Coffee for donating free hot chocolate for the event, Suzanne Bird and the Stittsville Library for providing the not-so-scary story reading for the youth in the log cabin and the young volunteers who took the time to help ensure the event s success! If you were unable to attend the event, please remember to recycle your pumpkin in the green bin. COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 12

13 Scout and Guide Fall Food Drive The Uniformed Youth of Stittsville's Scout Group and Guide Units will be going door-to-door over four nights, November 6 th to 9 th, collecting non-perishable food items and/or cash donations for the benefit of the Stittsville Food Bank. The generosity of Stittsville residents is once again being counted on to ensure the success of this Food Drive. The youth should not be knocking/ringing on doors past 8:30 PM, but enthusiasm sometimes gets the better of time keeping. Please put a clear notice on your front door (near the bell) if you don't want to be disturbed and/or leave canned goods outside your door (if you wish), but please bear in mind the above mentioned enthusiasm of the youth if they miss the sign. All That Glam Fundraiser As a student in grade 12, Stittsville resident, Eva Von Jagow, began a charity event called ALL THAT GLAM, a sale of gentlyused jewelry and handbags to raise money for school breakfast programs in Nunavut. Now, four years later, the All That Glam Committee has donated over $100,000 to much-needed breakfast programs in Nunavut. Now I am happy to share the 5 th annual fundraiser which will take place at the Richcraft Recreation Complex in Kanata on Saturday, November 25 th! Eva has provided the following press release for further information: -- My journey to help the kids in Nunavut began with the realization of exorbitant food prices in our Far North. To see a photo of a jar of peanut butter in a Nunavut supermarket costing $18.99 is almost unbelievable! Even with federal shipping subsidies, a head of cabbage can cost over $20 and a 3-L container of orange juice is typically $9. In the winter months especially, fresh fruit and vegetables are prohibitively expensive and usually of poor quality. All this means that COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 13

14 many Nunavut children start off their school day with poor nutrition. In Canada, a country that is hailed as having one of the highest standards of living, no child should be going to school hungry or malnourished. -- Residents can help in a variety of ways! Donate Jewelry & Handbags. Until November 10 th, donations can be dropped off at my ward office at the Goulbourn Rec Complex (1500 Shea Road), any of the 8 DYMON Storage locations, and at the ward offices of Councillors Wilkinson, Hubley and El- Chantiry. Come to the Sale and make a purchase! Gently used jewelry/handbags make for sociallyresponsible Christmas gifts or some great bling for the office Christmas party. Tens of thousands of pieces of gently-used jewelry and brand-name handbags will be available and the silent auction features some beautiful designer bags or unique pieces of jewelry. I highly encourage all residents to come out and support one Stittsville resident s new annual tradition for a great cause. For more information, please visit or allthatglamsale@gmail.com. Shopapalooza Shopapalooza is returning to Sacred Heart High School on Saturday, November 18 th at 10:00 am-2:00pm Shopapalooza is an annual shopping event, featuring approximately 60 vendors (local and national) with the latest in food, clothing, gifts, crafts and collectibles. Now in its 7th season, the one-day shopping event draws hundreds of guests and repeat exhibitors, due to the popularity amongst the Stittsville/Kanata community. The event is organized by the Pointe of Grace Competitive Dance team parents, in Stittsville, Ontario. COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 14

15 Drop by and take care of your seasonal shopping, by supporting your community businesses! Stittsville Legion Remembrance Day Parade This year s Stittsville Remembrance Day Parade will take place on a Saturday, November 11 th. Participants will line up at the Stittsville Legion at 1:30 and leave at 1:45, marching up to the Cenotaph by the Johnny Leroux Arena. Afterwards at approximately 2:45, all attendees are invited back to the Legion (1480 Stittsville Main St) for food and live music as we acknowledge our brave veterans who have fought and are still fighting for our country. Lest We Forget I would like to preemptively thank President of the Stittsville Legion Branch 618, Judy Campbell, as well as all members of the Legion for organizing this parade each year and providing residents this opportunity to remember loved ones they may have lost. Catch the Ace Lottery comes to 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. Tickets are $5 each for residents 18 and older and 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. Draws will take place every Wednesday night at 7:00 PM until the Ace of Spades is drawn so be sure to get your tickets soon in support of this great cause! Holiday Events at St. Paul s Church COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 15

16 Halloween is over and that means Christmas is now right around the corner! St. Paul s United Church is hosting two excellent events to help you get into the holiday spirit. On December 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd, stop by 3760 Carp Road for the West Carleton Arts Society presentation of the $100 & Under Christmas Arts/Crafts Fair! The event runs from 2-8 PM on December 1 st, 9-3 PM December 2 nd, and 12-3 on December 3 rd. Then, on December 2 nd, the church will host its Festive Fair from 9:00 AM 1:00 PM. This event features a silent auction, Christmas baking, knitting, crafts and more! For more information, please call the church office at COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 16

17 Holiday Craft Fair The Cheer Sport Sharks Annual Holiday Gift & Craft Fair fundraising event is back at the Johnny Leroux Arena again this year! On November 18 th from 10:00 AM 2:30 PM, stop by 10 Warner-Colpitts Lane to browse over 40 vendors with unique one-of-a-kind handmade items in support of the Cheersport Sharks - Pacific Sharks team to help raise funds to compete at the World Cheerleading Competition in Orlando, Florida. A bake sale and a raffle table with lots of great prizes will also be available. Admission is free and all are welcome to stop by to view the beautiful holiday decorum. People are invited to visit our Facebook event page to check out highlights of the vendors that will attending our event. For more information, please visit the Craft Fair Facebook Page. COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 17

18 AROUND THE CITY Final Week to experience Mìwàte There is only one week left to see Mìwàte: Illumination of Chaudière Falls. The free lighting experience runs each evening from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. until Sunday, November 5. To date, close to 35,000 people have visited this Ottawa 2017 Signature Event at one of the region s most impressive natural landmarks. Based on an original concept by Ottawa 2017, Mìwàte was created and produced by the Ottawa 2017 Bureau and Moment Factory, in collaboration with the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, and in consultation with representatives from local Métis and Inuit communities. This dynamic illumination of Chaudière Falls celebrates the Indigenous Peoples of Canada and their cultures. In addition to the illumination, participants are invited to explore the Algonquin Awareness Exhibit, which shares information on the presence of Indigenous Peoples in the region. This special exhibit is presented on site by the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. Spectators can view Mìwàte from the new public space overlooking the falls that is part of Hydro Ottawa s Chaudière Falls expansion project. Information about the experience and nearby parking can be found at: COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 18

19 CITY SERVICES Safer Roads Ottawa Annual Update Safer Roads Ottawa presented their annual update at the transportation committee. The Safer Roads Ottawa program was officially launched in the fall of 2011 with the goal of growing awareness and shifting the behavior of all road users in the city of Ottawa. In 2017, all initiatives focused on one or more of the originally approved focus areas, including: Specific Monthly Initiatives, Distracted Driving, Children s Safety, and Pedestrian and/or Cycling Safety. As you know this is a subject very near and dear to my heart. I have taken out a snap shot of the presentation to highlight. The Safer Roads Ottawa program regularly seeks opportunities to utilize technology as both an education and enforcement tool some examples are: AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER (ALPR) The Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) is a road safety device that assists enforcement agencies in identifying various Highway Traffic Act (HTA) infractions, including stolen license plates and suspended or unlicensed drivers. Given the success of the first ALPR delivered to the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) in 2016, a second unit has been purchased. The new device has been in operation since August Since August 2016, the scanner has detected nearly 200 suspended drivers and helped issue approximately $600,000 in fines. SMARTCONE PILOT INITIATIVE Safer Roads Ottawa joined forces with SmartCone, a local Stittsville business, to create an innovative camera system that detects cyclists as they approach the intersection. The camera system communicates with and activates LED lighting on either side of the intersection to alert motorists of the approaching cyclist. The detection system was put into operation in October COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 19

20 2017 and it will be evaluated to determine whether the technology will be beneficial in other future locations throughout the city. I am proud that a Stittsville company was behind this great safety initiative and can t wait to see what other ventures are pursued. For more information, please review the video below: PEDSAFE APP Safer Roads Ottawa has been working with representatives from PedSafe and staff from the City of Ottawa s Information Technology Services to refresh a mobile app for use by cyclists, pedestrians and residents using mobility devices. The app will convert a mobile device into a form of beacon light to help make its user more visible in dark conditions. The free app will be available in English, French and Spanish and will also be hosted on both IOS and Android platforms. The launch of the app is scheduled to take place in Fall SCHOOL BUS CAMERA PROJECT The School Bus Camera Project focuses on the use of technology to improve the safety of children and school bus drivers. Utilizing a camera system to enforce sections of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) related to motorists failing to obey the stop signal and flashing lights of a school bus increases the ability to hold motorists accountable when they break the law. Procurement for the project s camera systems is complete and the Privacy Impact Assessment and draft agreements are currently being finalized in partnership with the City Clerk and Solicitor s Department. The goal is to launch camera systems on up to six buses in the fall of COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 20

21 STAY SAFE, STAY BACK To encourage cyclists to stay behind the bumpers of large vehicles, Safer Roads Ottawa, in partnership with OC Transpo and the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, provided more than 1,000 Stay Safe, Stay Back decals to be added to the City s fleet this fall. This is the first time a public transportation service has participated in the campaign. BICYCLE REPAIR STATIONS A total of 27 bike repair stations have been installed as of October 2017 including one in Village Square Park! -- I would like to thank Rob Wilkinson and the entire Safer Roads Ottawa team for all they have done this past year to help keep our roads safer! With all of the success of this year, I cannot wait to see what the 2017 year brings. To view the report in full, please click here. COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 21

22 S.T.E.P. Program to Focus on Red Light Running and Stop Sign Violations for November For the month of November, the Ottawa Police Service and Gatineau Police Service s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (S.T.E.P.) will be paying close attention to red light running and stop sign violations traffic collisions, 1289 injuries, and 4 fatalities occurred between 2011 and 2015 involving red light running. Likewise, there have been 3172 collisions involving stop sign violations. These collisions resulted in 1002 injuries and 6 fatalities. The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program helps to raise awareness of easily preventable traffic violations to help to keep our roads safe. It operates in coordination with the Safer Roads Ottawa Program, a partnership between Ottawa Fire Services, Ottawa Paramedic Service, Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa Public Health and the Transportation Services Department, committed to preventing or eliminating road deaths and serious injuries for all people in the City of Ottawa, through culture change, community engagement, and development of a sustainable safe transportation environment. COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 22

23 Have You Gotten your Flu Vaccine?? Have you received your flu shot? Remember that getting your vaccination yearly helps to not only protect you from contracting influenza but those around you who may be more susceptible. During the flu season, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) administered 7,400 influenza vaccines at community clinics, and distributed over 253,000 doses of the vaccine across the City to physicians offices, hospitals and long-term care facilities. Pharmacies also received over 118, 300 doses of the vaccine. For the flu season, OPH will again focus on providing access to the flu vaccine to the general population through physicians offices and pharmacy providers, as well as targeted outreach to vulnerable populations. 210 Ottawa pharmacies will be offering the influenza vaccine; up from 184 pharmacies last year. A list of participating pharmacies can be found here. Many pharmacies are open long hours, and are located throughout the city, making the publicly funded influenza vaccine more accessible. In addition, more than 300 physicians offices across the city will be offering the flu vaccine to their patients. OPH will also be offering 12 community clinics in different areas of the city from October 28, 2017 to November 20, The locations of these clinics address gaps where pharmacy vaccination is not readily available. Residents can find the OPH community Clinic location that is most convenient to them by consulting the list here. I highly encourage all residents to take the time out of their busy lives to protect their health and the health of others this flu season. Remember that nobody likes a vaccination but even less people want to get sick! COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 23

24 For more information on Ottawa Public Health and its programming, please visit ottawapublichealth.ca Remembrance Day schedule changes Please be aware of schedule changes taking place across the City of Ottawa on November 11 th -13 th as a result of Remembrance Day weekend. The flags at all City of Ottawa facilities will be lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset to honour the memory of all Canadians who have served their country in time of war. In recognition of the significance of Remembrance Day in honouring Canadian Veterans and those serving in the military currently, and in accordance with the City of Ottawa s Remembrance Day By-law , most retail businesses are required to close until 12:30 p.m. on November 11. For a full list of changes please visit Client services: Ottawa City Hall and all seven Client Service Centres, including the Government Service Centre located at 110 Laurier Avenue West, will be closed on Monday, November 13. Business will resume as usual on Tuesday, November 14. The City s Provincial Offences Court, located at 100 Constellation Crescent, will also be closed on Monday, November 13. Business will resume as usual on Tuesday, November 14. The City s Contact Centre will be open for urgent matters requiring the City s immediate attention. Call or to speak to a customer service representative. For persons with a hearing-related disability, call (TTY): Garbage, green bin and recycling: Curbside green bin, recycling, garbage, and leaf and yard waste collection will take place on its regular day with no changes to the collection schedule. Transit service: COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 24

25 War veterans who wear their medals or uniforms may ride OC Transpo, Para Transpo and Société de transport de l Outaouais (STO) for free during National Veterans Week from November 5 to 11. On November 11, OC Transpo will operate a regular Saturday schedule and a regular weekday schedule on Monday, November 13. On November 11, buses will pull over to the side of the road (where it is safe to do so) to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. The Last Post and Reveille will be played over the radios of OC Transpo buses. STO will operate a Saturday schedule on November 11 and a special schedule on Monday, November 13. Riders are invited to consult the User s Guide, visit Plani-Bus on the STO web site at or call for more details. Para Transpo will operate a regular service. Customers may begin booking their trips on Saturday, November 4, by calling Parking: On November 11, vehicles with a veteran s licence plate will be allowed to park for free in the parking garage at City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West. Free parking will also be available for vehicles displaying veteran s plates in the on-street paid areas around the National War Memorial, specifically on downtown streets bordered by and including Somerset Street to the south, Bank Street to the west, the Ottawa River to the north and the Rideau Canal to the east. All other on-street parking regulations continue to apply. Recreation services: Pools, arenas and fitness centres will be open for public swimming, fitness, aquafitness and public skating with modified schedules. Please check on ottawa.ca or with the facility of your choice for details. Registered programs at swimming pools, community centres and arenas will be operating; however, clients should check with their facility to confirm, as some exceptions will apply. Ottawa Public Health: The Sexual Health Centre and Satellite Clinics will be closed. COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 25

26 SITE program: SITE office at 179 Clarence Street will be open Saturday, November 11 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., however, the site mobile van will be operating on a regular schedule from 5 to 11:30 p.m. Municipal child care services: All Municipal Child Care Centres will be closed. Library services: All branches and services of the Ottawa Public Library will be closed. Branches will return to their regular hours on Sunday, November 12. COUNCILLOR S COLUMN 26