June 2023
Hello Centretowners,
We are now past the Solstice and into the heat of summer. June is notably Indigenous Heritage Month, with Solstice on June 21st marking the National Indigenous Peoples Day. A ceremony was held that day on Parliament Hill honouring survivors of the residential school system, and those who did not return home.
June is also universally known as Pride Month, celebrating the resilience and diversity of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. In the heart of Centretown, Bank Street holds a rich history of Ottawa's LGBT community. Discover it with the help of the village legacy project, and stay tuned for Capital Pride Festival / Fierté dans la Capitale coming up August 19 - 27.
The Ottawa Jazz Festival is currently taking place across venues in Centretown. In July Bluesfest will grace LeBreton Flats for a fortnight of live music performances. And starting Sunday, July 9, until October 29, the Elgin Street Market returns for its third season at Boushey Square, at the corner of Elgin and Waverley. There will be live music, complimentary yoga classes, fresh produce, artisan goods, and more!
Keep reading for the latest updates brought to you by the Centretown Community Association's many groups and committees:
Canada Day Street Closures
Leaders of the Ottawa People's Commission asked the City to make certain the residents in the Red Zone wouldn't face the same restrictions they did during Canada Day in 2022.
The map below received from City staff outlines anticipated street closures on July 1st and 2nd. Please note that the map is subject to change. For more information on city services visit Canada Day Schedule Changes - City of Ottawa.
Between 9:00 am and 10:30 pm on Canada Day, LeBreton Flats Park will host Canada Day Celebrations.
Daytime Ceremony: 11:45 am to 1:30 pm
Evening Show: 7:15 pm to 10:00 pm
Fireworks: 10:00 to 10:12 pm
Road Closures: 6:00 am to 2:00 am (July 2)
For full list of programming and activities, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/canada-day/
For more information on road closures, transit service, Para Transpo access, please visit: How to get the most out of your Canada Day in the City of Ottawa | City of Ottawa
Volunteer-Gardeners Beautify Dundonald Park and Frank Street Gardens
Dundonald Gardening Group members have been volunteering at the gardens in Dundonald Park for several years now. CCA formally adopted the park in 2022 with support from the City and former Councillor McKenney. The CCA would like to acknowledge the great group of volunteer gardeners past and present for their fantastic work at the gardens and kids' raised bed gardens that make the park nicer for everyone in the community.
The CCA volunteer gardeners meet on Thursdays from 5-7pm and Sundays from 2-4pm. Everyone is welcome to join!
City Holds Consultation Period on New Splash Pad for Dundonald Park
Consultations are underway for a proposed new splash pad to open in Dundonald Park, at the corner of Percy and Somerset St W, in the summer of 2024. At a meeting hosted by Councillor Ariel Troster on June 12, residents expressed the need for a safe, accessible design that welcomes users of all ages. Attendees urged the City to consider the Park's heritage qualities, old growth trees, and ongoing activities such as gardening.
Read the latest coverage by Alayne McGregor for the Centretown Buzz:
https://centretownbuzz.com/2023/06/dundonald-park-splash-pad-raises-wider-concerns/
Or contact the Councillor's office at www.arieltroster.com/contact with any questions.
CCA Offers High School Volunteer Hours
The CCA could use volunteers this summer, so if you are a high school student looking to chalk up volunteer hours, email: membership@centretowncitizens.ca.
Volunteers might help publicize CCA events by stuffing flyers in mailboxes, putting up posters, or chatting with people and handing out materials at the CCA table at the Elgin Street Market.
The Elgin Street Market is Back! Sundays July 9 - October 29
The Elgin Street Market - Centretown's only farmers' market - is returning for its third season on July 9! The market will operate every Sunday until October 29 from 9am to 1pm in Boushey Square at the corner of Waverly and Elgin. Many of your favourite vendors will be returning this year with fresh produce, bread, baked goods, prepared foods, and arts and crafts. We will also be featuring new vendors selling mushrooms, microgreens, and craft beer, among other things. Each week will feature live music and a different community group. We cannot wait to see you there!
If you are interested in volunteering or booking the community table for your organization please contact ccca@centretowncitizens.ca.
Free Yoga Sundays at Jack Purcell Park July 9 - September 3
Attention all yoga enthusiasts! Come and join us for free, one hour Yoga in the Park classes every Sunday in Jack Purcell Park starting July 9th until September 3rd. Classes will be led by instructors from Cattleya Yoga Studio on Bank Street. The class starts at 10am. Make sure to bring your mat or a towel. This free summer yoga program is brought to you by the CCA in partnership with the Elgin Area Business Association. Stop by the Elgin Street Farmers Market after your class to say hello!
Affordable Units at New LeBreton Flats Development
CCA's Housing Affordability and Anti-Racism Working Groups hosted a community workshop with Dream LeBreton Flats, the development team of the Library parcel, on May 11. Guest speakers Suzanne Le, Executive Director Multifaith Housing Initiative, and Justin Robitaille, VP Development Dream Asset Management presented what made affordable units possible in the upcoming residential project.
Multifaith Housing Initiative will operate 133 units at 59% of Median Market Rate, with 30 units designated for Indigenous occupants. The Dream group would offer 117 units at the rental rate of 79% of the Median Market Rate for 55 years. There will be a total of 608 units with amenity space, day care, small retail spaces and a number of interesting features for the community. Dream has also agreed via their foundation to fund $150K a year for 20 years for MHI to run programs for the tenants of the two towers.
Watch the workshop here.
The Centretown Buzz is Looking for Drivers
The BUZZ - Centretown's community newspaper - needs drivers to distribute bundles to volunteer carriers, particularly on Thursday. If you have a driver's license and access to a car (either your own or Communauto), the Buzz team could really use your help, and will pay expenses. Please get in touch at circulation@centretownbuzz.com.
Poverty Reduction Strategy to be Developed for Ottawa
The CCA was invited by the City of Ottawa to the full day Poverty Reduction Roundtable on June 16th. The stated goals of the roundtable were:
• Have the community identify the mandate and scope of Ottawa’s Poverty Reduction Strategy
• Focus on what’s possible and what can be accomplished to address poverty at the local level and build momentum to move forward
• Start building a community of diverse people to move this work forward
• Build consensus on priority areas and focus for collective work that are unique, ambitious and doable
• Produce a map with practical next steps for moving forward the development of the Poverty Reduction Strategy
For more information refer to the Poverty Reduction Report by Rawlson King, Councillor for the Rideau-Rockliffe Ward.
Community Safety and Well-being Concerns from Lowertown to Centretown
Our neighbour to the East, Lowertown Community Association, was featured in an article by The Canadian Press: As residents worry about safety, city moves to revitalize Ottawa's ByWard Market. Sylvie Bigras, president of the LCA, shared that the Association supports revitalizing the ByWard Market in light of continuous safety concerns of residents and businesses in the area. The Lowertown CA advocates for a city-wide, urgent response to mental health, homelessness, and housing affordability crises by offering emergency housing and social supports across all Wards.
The CCA is currently looking for volunteers who will work with us and others to organize a Working Group to address community safety among other issues. If interested, please reach out to ccca@centretowncitizens.ca.
We always welcome new members and volunteers to join CCA's many initiatives.
To help us continue our work, please consider supporting the CCA's with a donation.
Warm regards,
Mary Huang
CCA President
