Last weekend, torrential rainfall caused massive flooding in Kanata, Stittsville and West Carleton. Over 6 inches of rainfall in 2 hours overloaded sewers, flooded basements and washed out roads. Frontline City Staff responded to the initial needs of the residents, but the true extent of the massive damages was not conveyed to the appropriate City Managers. Following a meeting between Senior Staff and myself, I visited the affected areas. As a result of seeing the carnage first hand, I requested the City Manager to activate our Emergency Measures Plan.

 

I am now confident that the basic health, safety and security of the affected residents are being handled properly. As well, I supported the demand for a full review as to why the Emergency Services were not properly activated. Secondly, I am requesting an extensive investigation of the causes of the flooding and sewer back ups.

 

 

 
RESURFACING NIXON ROAD

The section of Nixon Road from Osgoode Main Street to River Road is in very poor condition. City Staff had identified it in the list of projects in the Federal Infrastructure Program. This request for funds to repave Nixon Road was rejected.

 

I am working with City Staff to seek funding from the City in order to repave this road that is rapidly deteriorating.

 

 

The City will host a one-day mobile household hazardous waste collection depot on Saturday, August 8th. The depot will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre, 800 Green Creek Drive, north of Highway 174, west of Montreal Road exit, in the Canotek Business Park.

 

 
This depot provides a convenient way for you to help keep the environment free of hazardous household waste.

 
Residents are reminded that only household waste will be accepted (maximum 100 litres) at the depot. No commercial waste is accepted. For a complete listing of acceptable household hazardous waste, visit the City's website at www.ottawa.ca/hhw.

 
Avoid lineups for the following product:

 
-Waste oil can be brought back to a “Take it Back!” Partner retailer; check the City's Web site at ottawa.ca under Recycling and Garbage for a list of 100 retailers that take back oil.

  
-With the summer season in full swing, residents are reminded that pesticides, herbicides and rusty BBQ propane tanks can be taken to the HHW depots for safe disposal.

 
Did you know you can return paint products and batteries to various Ottawa hardware retailers? Visit www.dowhatyoucan.ca for a location near you.

 
For more information, visit the City's website at ottawa.ca/hhw or call 3-1-1 (TTY: (613) 580-2401).

 

 

 

A new City of Ottawa publication, the Ottawa Home-based Business Guide, which is aimed at assisting local entrepreneurs, has just hit the shelves of City Client Service Centres, the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) Entrepreneurship Centre and kiosks, and all branches of the Ottawa Public Library.

 

The guide, produced by the City in partnership with the OCRI Entrepreneurship Centre, was created to help entrepreneurs looking to start a home-based business, as well as for existing home-based business owners looking for additional resources.

 

The guide, which is also available online at www.ottawa.ca, is organized into three sections – Thinking, Starting and Growing. The Thinking section helps clients assess whether a home-based business is the right choice. The Starting section provides information about developing a business plan, registration and permits, and getting organized. In the Growing section, clients can read about points to consider as their business increases in size or complexity.

 

In addition, the guide incorporates all the applicable information and up-to-date by-laws relevant to new and existing businesses in both urban and rural Ottawa.

 

As home to 28,000 small businesses, the City recognizes the importance of small and home-based business to the vitality and growth of Ottawa’s economy. In addition to the Ottawa Home-based Business Guide, the City also recently partnered with the OCRI Entrepreneurship Centre on the opening of three OCRI Entrepreneurship Centre kiosks, which are funded by the City.

 

In October 2008, the OCRI Entrepreneurship Centre kiosk in the Orléans Client Service Centre opened, followed by the kiosk located in the Kanata Client Service Centre in March 2009. Located in the Ruth E. Dickinson Branch of the Ottawa Public Library, the Barrhaven kiosk, which opened in June 2009, was the third kiosk to open in the city.

 

Private consultations on topics such as start-up, business plan review and general rules and regulations, as well as a business start-up orientation – a free tutorial that provides information on rules and regulations, the fundamentals of business planning and an introduction to the services provided by the OCRI Entrepreneurship Centre – are among the services offered at the kiosks.

 

Free information and printed materials are also offered at the kiosks, as well as a computer terminal that guides clients when staff is not on-site. A unique feature of the terminal is the ability for the client to interact live with an OCRI Entrepreneurship Centre client service assistant via video teleconference. The live support service is available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

 

Come join youth from across Ottawa’s rural area to celebrate International Youth Day on August 12th!   Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre, South Nepean Community Health Centre, Nepean Rideau & Osgoode Community Resource Centre and Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa have partnered to put Ottawa’s Southern and Western youth on the map! Activities begin at 2:00 p.m. in the gymnasium at Osgoode High School in Metcalfe where youth will have a chance to view some of the “Youth Got Talent” entries from our area and participate in interactive activities including hacky sack and a creative arts project.  The Zone, located at 170 Castlefrank Road in Kanata, will also host events starting at 2:00 p.m., where youth can participate in dodge ball, tug of war and other games.  At 4:00 p.m., a free shuttle bus will pick up youth from Kanata and Metcalfe to visit the Osgoode Youth Association for a free BBQ, after which all registered youth will be shuttled to the United Way’s “Youth Got Talent Showcase” taking place at the Bronson Centre from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.   This showcase is a celebration of the diverse talents of Ottawa youth, with a live performance by Juno-nominated artist Elise Estrada.  After the show, youth will be transported back to Osgoode, Metcalfe and Kanata.  This is a free event for youth ages 13 to 24 years. Snacks, dinner, transportation and prizes will be available to all participants!     Registration is limited and participation forms must be submitted by Monday, August 10th at 4:00 p.m. so sign up today!!  

 

For more information on the United Way’s “Youth Got Talent Showcase”, visit www.youthactionjeunesse.ca.  To register for our “Youth Rock Event”, please contact Meghann Darroch at (613) 596-5626 ext. 242.  

 

 

 
Greely Hawks Baseball

Greely Hawks Baseball will be hosting the Carleton Russell Little League Major division playoffs August 3rd, 5th and 8th, 2009.  It will be a very busy and exciting week of baseball for our Hawks and the other 11-12 year old baseball players in our league.

 

If you have a chance, you are welcome to come out to watch some of the excitement at Andy Shields Park.

 

 

 

2009 marks the 19th year that “The Family Ball Tournament” has been held at the Osgoode Community Centre. Sixteen teams consisting of male and female family members compete in a three-pitch tournament. All proceeds are donated to a worthy charity or charities.

 

Time:  Friday, August 7th, 7:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m., Saturday, August 8th, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Location: Osgoode Community Centre, 5660 Osgoode Main Stree

Food:   A variety of sandwiches and potato chips will be available on Friday evening and all day Saturday. Barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs will be available from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. Pulled pork sandwiches will be available after 9:00 p.m. on Saturday. Soft drinks and water will be available at all times. Coffee will be available in the evenings and Saturday morning and running water will be accessible to the cooks

Organizers:  Tracey D’Aviero (613) 826-2186 (Home) or (613) 851-5075 (Cell/work) or Marty Kelly (613) 838-3307.

 

 

 
River Run for Easter Seals Kids

Come out on Sunday, August 9th to the Swan on the Rideau, 2730 River Road, beginning at 11:00 a.m. through to 4:00 p.m. and help Easter Seals Kids.

 

 

Have any spare time during the week? Need to get out of the house? Like to drive and help seniors?
(Weekdays only.) We provide security clearance. We need drivers now to transport clients to appointments. We are all getting older and will need this program in the future! Please volunteer and help us help others. We could be helping a member of your family.                                                      For more information, please call the office at (613) 821-1101.

 

 

 

Lyn Presley, President of the Central Canada Exhibition Association, is very excited about the 2009 SuperEX that runs from August 20th through to August 30th. This column is highlighting features of the Ottawa SuperEX. This week we are promoting “Free Admission Day”. 

 

Join us for Free Admission Day, Thursday, August 20th from noon until 5:00 p.m., sponsored by RONA.

 

The Pure Country Pavilion is a 'must see' at this year's Ottawa SuperEX, August 20th  - 30th .  Take a little break and visit the Homecraft Tea Room and enjoy a cup of tea with delicious homemade cookies.  Fill out a free ballot to win $500 worth of groceries from Moncion's, Your Independent Grocer on River Road.  See all the prizewinning handicraft items, then visit "Granny's Attic" where you can purchase a ticket on the draw for a chance to win last year's 1st  prize handmade quilt, a lovely handcrafted item or a 'secret treasure'.  Get a start on your early Christmas shopping.  Be sure to check out the display of the 'Red and White Schoolhouse' quilt that was the 1st  prize winner at the Exhibition in the early 1930's.  It was completed by the Grandmother and Great Grandmother of Suzanne Barnes of Bowmanville who has graciously allowed this family heirloom to be displayed at SuperEX. 

 
For more information check out the 'Agriculture' section of the SuperEX website at www.ottawasuperex.com.

A new event at this year's Ottawa SuperEX (August 20th  - 30th) is "The Best Apple Pie in the Valley".  Prize Money of these generous amounts is unheard of!  1st - $500.00, 2nd - $200.00, 3rd, 4th, and 5th each win $100.00.  This event takes place on Thursday, August 27th  in the Pure Country Pavilion.  Advance registration is required.  Preliminary judging by celebrity judges including Meredith Brophy of Osgoode will take place 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and final judging at 7:00 p.m. will be undertaken by CTV's Max Keeping.  Following that, the winning pies will be auctioned off by celebrity auctioneer and philanthropist, David Smith. 
 

Once again, the Ottawa SuperEX will be presenting “Organ Donor Awareness Day” in conjunction with the Kidney Foundation of Eastern Ontario. The event will take place on Monday, August 24th, 2009. 

 

The Kidney Foundation will have a booth at the Ottawa SuperEX front gate, offering information on the importance of organ and tissue donation. At approximately 5:00 p.m., people will assemble at the SuperStage area where there will be a small presentation and then participants will form a “Living Green Ribbon”.

For more information, check out the the SuperEX website: www.ottawasuperex.com or call Judy Buske at (613) 237-7222.

 

 

Open July 13th -  August 7th  (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday only)
Closed August 10th  -  August 28th
 
Playgroups in the Park

August 5th	9:00 - 11:00 a.m.	Vernon Park
August 11th	9:00 - 11:00 a.m.	Metcalfe Rowan Park
August 13th	9:00 - 11:00 a.m.	Kenmore Park

 
Come out and join us for playgroups at local area parks, sponsored by Rural Family Connections and Ontario Early Years Centre Nepean-Carleton.
 
If you are looking for space for a meeting, playgroup or get-togethers, the Live & Learn Resource Centre is available Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.  Please call for a reservation.