May 2023

Hi Centretowners,

Have you had a chance to catch the tulips in full bloom? If the warmer weather awakened your green thumb, you ought to stop by the upcoming Minto Park Plant Sale on Saturday, June 10, from 9am to 3pm.

On Saturday, May 28, the Multifaith Housing Initiative is holding a Tulipathon walkathon fundraiser at Dow's Lake to support affordable housing units.
Please consider joining CCA's walking team and supporting affordable housing
with a donation.

On Tuesday, June 13, CCA's Climate Change Working Group will offer an in-person Community Dialogue on climate resiliency in collaboration with CAFES and the Dalhousie Community Association.

These are just a few of the events and initiatives happening in the neighbourhood this season. Keep reading for more updates from the Centretown Community Association's many groups and committees:

Annual Minto Park Plant Sale on Saturday, June 10

It’s that time of year! We’re excited to announce that this year’s Minto Park Sale will be held on Saturday, June 10, from 9am to 3pm. The beloved Centretown tradition is generously supported by the CCA and Somerset Ward Councilor's Office. This is a great opportunity to bring out your plants and sods and see if they can find new life with another neighbour, or stock up on new plants for the season.

Spring News from the Trees and Greenspace Committee

The Earth Day Celebration at Dundonald Park at Somerset West and Lyon set a record for attendance, with well over 300 guests. “Folks had a chance to learn about all sorts of community environmental initiatives, engage with community leaders, and reconnect with neighbours after a long winter,’ said Board Member Stuart MacKay. Kids did a variety of arts and crafts, planted flower seeds in the park’s beds, and enjoyed the free popcorn. There was a big sculpture of a ferocious dinosaur, Plastisaurus Rex, made entirely out of empty windshield washer jugs. It was the creation of artist and single-use-plastics activist Stuart Kinmond. Earth Day was sponsored by the CCA and the Centretown Community Health Centre.

CCA volunteers worked for a day clearing big deadfall branches littering Dundonald Park in the wake of the April wind storm, the gale that caused power outages across Ottawa. The clean-up crew included teenagers, who logged community-service credits needed for high school graduation. The volunteers worked most of the day moving windfalls and clearing the park of debris, paper coffee cups, broken glass and cigarette butts in preparation for gardening.

The Dundonald Gardening Group has begun its regular Sunday afternoon sessions this month, and are welcoming volunteers to join. In other parts of Centretown, the Seniors Corner at Elgin and Somerset and the Frank Street Bee and Butterfly Pollinator Garden Group have also opened the gardening season.

Kent Street Skyscraper Consultation on Thursday, May 25

A public meeting on the 30-storey skyscraper proposed for Kent and MacLaren is scheduled for Thursday, May 25, at 6:30pm.
For the Zoom link, please email Jack, CCA's Planning Committee Chair, at: jack.2014@icloud.com

The CCA argues the building is far too high. A skyscraper has no place in a neighbourhood of low- and mid-rise buildings. Developer Taggart would build the 30-storey high-rise under the city’s Landmark Buildings Policy. The CCA says the proposed skyscraper fails to meet the policy. It is not “iconic” architecture, a fundamental requirement of the policy.
The public meeting will include a presentation by the developer’s team, followed by questions and comments.

Image by Taggart Group

Community Dialogue on Climate Resiliency Tuesday, June 13

Are you interested in learning more about how climate change will affect Ottawa, and in discussing community preparedness for these impacts with other residents? Join the dialogue hosted by the Centretown and Dalhousie Community Associations on Tuesday, June 13 at the McNabb Community Centre. The event will run from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.

This dialogue will be an opportunity to learn about climate impacts and risks, and an opportunity to share how you see climate impacts affecting you and your community. It will also be a chance to discuss actions that individuals, communities and the city can take to prepare for climate impacts.

This event is part of a series of community dialogues co-organized by CAFES (cafesottawa.ca) and partner Community Associations across Ottawa. The insights from the dialogues will be sent back to Community Associations, attendees, and to the city's Climate Change and Resiliency Unit to help inform their prospective Climate Resiliency Strategy (engage.ottawa.ca/climate-resiliency).

Volunteer with the Centretown NeighbourWoods Team this Summer

The Team returns for their3 rd season of tree survey work this June. The season will start on Saturday, June 3 with a training session for new and returning volunteers in McNabb Park. Teams will work during the summer and into September to collect data on trees on both public and private land in Centretown. This year we will have an increased focus on encouraging residents to use the City’s Trees in Trust program to have the city plant a free tree on the City right of way on street frontage.

If you are interested in learning more about trees, meeting your neighbours. and taking action to help protect and enhance Centretown’s trees, contact us at neighbourwoods@centretowncitizens.ca.

Housing Affordability 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.

The Centretown Buzz is Looking for Drivers

The Centretown Buzz 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.

Elgin Street Farmers Market Preparations Are Underway, and We Want Your Help!

The Farmers Market Working Group is hard at work planning for this year's Elgin Street Market, which will operate every Sunday from July 9 to October 29 from 9am to 1pm in Boushey Square (corner of Waverly and Elgin). 

This year's market will feature many recognizable vendors from previous years, along with new and rotating vendors each week. The Working Group is looking for volunteers who are interested in helping to organize the market and/or helping out on-site on market day with set-up, take-down, and the CCA table. 

We are also actively seeking community groups who are interested in promoting their group at the market. We feature a different community group table each week, and it is a great opportunity for groups to showcase their contributions to the community. If you are interested in volunteering or in booking a community group table, please contact ccca@centretowncitizens.ca with the subject line "Farmers Market".

Updates from the Transportation Committee

Consultation on Wellington Street:
The CCA Transportation Committee will be meeting on June 28 to discuss the future of Wellington Street and to formulate a position on the possible transfer of Wellington Street to the Federal Government. For more details and to RSVP please email: transportation@centretowncitizens.ca

OC Transpo Survey:
OC Transpo is reviewing the bus routes, as part of this process they are conducting a survey and a series of public consultations. Please find a link to the survey and a schedule of the public consultations here: https://www.octranspo.com/en/news/article/bus-route-review/

Queen Elizabeth Driveway closures:
Due to a highway bridge replacement, both the Queen Elizabeth Driveway and the Colonel By Driveway will be closed near the Pretoria Bridge to pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers for up to 90 weeks tentatively scheduled to start in 2028. For more information please visit: queenswaydowntownbridges.com

Join the Tulipathon Walkathon to Support Affordable Housing

CCA would like to support Multifaith Housing Initiative's affordable housing mission and their need to raise capital for their portion of Dream LeBreton Flats as well as for subsidies they provide to some tenants. CCA's Housing Affordability Working Group has registered as a fundraising team for the Multifaith Housing Initiative Tulipathon with event details here:

https://www.multifaithhousing.ca/tulipathon.html

What: Tulipathon 2023 Walkathon
When: Sunday May 28, 2pm registration for 3pm walk
Where: Commissioners Park, Dow's Lake

Join the CCA Tulipathon team at www.classy.org/team/503675 by clicking "Join Team" and creating a profile.

Ottawa People's Commission Calls for Continued Collaborative Action

Part II of the OPC Report has been tabled at Ottawa City Hall and with the Parliamentary Committee on Public Safety and National Security. Response to OPC’s recommendations has been very encouraging. The group continues reaching out to City Hall, Ottawa Police Services and their board, as well as other elected officials to ensure the community’s perspective is taken into account.

One of OPC's recommendations is the establishment of an Inner-City Stakeholders Group, made up of folk from community associations and agencies directly affected by the convoy occupation. The group has met to discuss the Part II report and confirm next steps. Their focus includes issues related to community safety, emergency preparedness and action against hate, going back to their own communities and following up with their Councillors.

These coming months are crucial for accountability. City Hall must earn the trust of residents by acknowledging their failure, making a meaningful apology, offering redress and compensation, and taking corrective action.

Help the OPC press for action by:
    - Mobilizing within your networks
    - Getting active in your community association
    - Contacting your elected representatives
    - Writing a letter to the editor or getting the word out through social media

Together we can make a difference, ensuring we learn the lessons from the convoy occupation and never again suffer a similar crisis.

Get all the latest OPC news at opc-cpo.ca or by following the OPC on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Who to Call for Safety Concerns in Centretown

As a follow up to the questions raised at our AGM, recent emails and calls concerning safety issues for Centretown, please take note of the attached document that was given to us by our Neighbourhood Police Constable.

As always, hoping to see you at CCA's events and festivities this Spring. We always welcome 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