Wonderful news just in from the planning dept that Dalhousie St home to such local gems as Cylie Chocolates, Das Lokal, Mellos, Wunderkammer and more will be designated as a traditional main street.
I hope our councillor takes it a step further and throws in a couple of parklets and bike corrals to further enhance the charm of this stretch.
Read more here in today’s Citizen article
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Cylie chocolate, Dalhousie, das lokal, Ottcity, SandyHillSeen, Ward 12, wunderkammer
In this, my first municipal election in Ottawa, I hear a lot of split vote talk which is intimidating and disruptive to the democratic process. Individual voters must evaluate candidates with an open-mind and cast their ballot for the one they believe is best suited to serve their ward.
In Kitchessippi ward anonymous notes were sent to the supporters of challenger Michelle Reimer in an attempt to dissuade and deter their commitment. Reimer remains a strong, qualified and committed candidate.
This base tactic is nothing short of bully-tactics. The fear-mongering over vote splitting is disgraceful and, as so often with cowardly tactics, unfounded. Let us put forth that anyone who feels the need to fear-monger over vote-splitting would be better off using this energy to build a better campaign for their preferred candidate.
It is particularly sad in this instance that the tactic was aimed at a female candidate in a city that is very poorly represented by elected women.
On October 27th, Be Brave. Vote with your beliefs not governed by fear.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged #Ottvote, Catherine Fortin-LeFaivre, michelle reimer, Rideau, Rideau Vanier, Vanier, Ward 12
Last week Ward 12 resident Thierry Harris stood up at the All Candidates debate and through his questions revealed a watershed moment in terms of the imbalance between the rights of the individual versus those granted to corporate builders while the City of Ottawa stands by .
Our house shook for a few months when Stewart St was torn up. The noise was incredibly irritating and slightly concerning yet absolutely nothing in comparison to what these neighbours to the St Partick / Bruyere Claridge Homes WaterStreet build have been subjected too over the last 11 months.
courtesy crdOttawa.org
The homes of Thierry Harris and at least 4 of his neighbours literally move and shake. The sound of industrial machinery is relentless and deafening. The ceiling of his neighbour’s well-appointed office has collapsed covering work and computers. Entry handles are dismantled and re-assembled when doors no longer open and close properly. Floors tilt as heavy machinery drills down underneath to accommodate underground parking. Walls with many deep cracks and crumbling portions are duct-taped to prevent further erosion and keep cold air at bay. Recently the waterproof membrane was torn from Harris’ foundations by the considerate builders of the 5-storey condo that has penned in his small yard and completely eradicate his view as the build is literally up to his property line.
Citizens for Responsible Development (CRDOttawa.org) are doing an excellent job providing an online showcase for the damage, the frustration and the helplessness of these home-owners. Please visit the CRDOttawa website and browse the portfolio images and video – the few words here do not do justice to this situation.
The current councillor, Mathieu Fleury, cannot advocate for these resident as he has declared a Conflict of Interest where this particular builder is concerned. However I would say this goes beyond the issues of one Councillor and one Ward. This is a City wide problem that requires action.
It really doesn’t matter which ward you live in – City-wide regulation is clearly desperately needed to protect home-owners and provide clear enforceable guidelines for new-builds particularly those that dwarf and compromise the existing architecture in a neighbourhood. No one builds a two-storey town home to the specifications to withstand this sheet metal piling and drilling required for a condo tower.
Harris is a Rideau Vanier resident but this could happen any where in a city where many municipal candidates and even our Mayor have campaigns bankrolled and/or endorsed by Developers. All Ottawa residents should have up-front protection against such invasive developments and stop-work regulations should be issued long before this level of damage is ever incurred.
It’s time for change in regulations and it’s time for change in how elected officials fund their campaigns if residents are to expect political will in their favour. The electorate deserve representation that speaks up to protect individuals over corporations and in this instance Ottawa’s current municipal politicians must take decisive action to protect these peoples’ homes.
Please visit Citizens for Responsible Development Ottawa for comprehensive coverage.
The advanced voting has kicked off and the end is in-sight for this exciting and engaged Municipal Election. Rideau-Vanier candidates still have (at least) 3 more debates and one is tonight in the heart of Sandy Hill.
So come out listen to the issues and share your own from 7-9PM at the Sandy Hill Community Centre where the focus will be on Transit, Employment and access to good food and affordable housing in Ward 12.
A shout out to Vanier Community Service Centre, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre and Lowertown Community Resource Centre who organized tonight’s debate.
All-Candidates Debate
7-9PM, October 2nd
Sandy Hill Community Centre, 250 Somerset Street East
Another week, another Campaign launch for the Rideau-Vanier Councillor seat in Ward12!
Tomorrow, Thursday July 3rd, Marc Aubin launches his campaign at local favourite Das Lokal at 190 Dalhousie St. 5-8PM
Wonderful to see so much advocacy and involvement in local politics – with the level of interest being shown there is no way but up for Ward12.
Posted in Local Politics
Tagged Byward Market, Lowertown, Marc Aubin, Rideau, Rideau Vanier, Sandy Hill, SandyHill, SandyHillSeen, Vanier, Ward 12
After much speculation Monday marked the day that Marc Aubin officially threw his hat in the ring as challenger for the Councillor seat in Ward 12 Rideau-Vanier.
Aubin brings with him a wealth of local advocacy experience as the former President of the Lowertown Community Association and the former Chair of the King Edward Avenue TaskForce. Marc is born and bred in the Ward from a family that has lived locally for several generations. We look forward to learning more about Aubin’s vision from his recently launched campaign website .
Ward 12 is shaping up with strong voices bringing much needed vision and advocacy – bring it!
As per our tweet yesterday afternoon:
Say it w/ me: woohoo! .@ottawacity starts work to extend Laurier Bike lane from Elgin to Cumberland. Opens in August #ottbike @bikelanes_ca RETWEETS10
It is with great excitement that we learned about the extension of the segregated Laurier Bike Lane in to Sandy Hill.
The extended lane will be segregated from Elgin St to the Queen Elizabeth Drive turn-off and from there it will be a painted lane across the bridge up to Cumberland St.
Mayor & us at Ride of Silence – advocating for safe cycling
As a strong advocate of safe infrastructure supporting the use of urban “destination” cycling for all from 8-80 years we applaud advancement. Thank you City & Mayor Jim Watson for making this extension happen.
We urge the Mayor to consider extending this work, at least with painted line, – though segregated would be much better esp for those unsure or with young children – across King-Edward to Chapel St. This further extension would lead nicely – via a right-hand turn – to the soon-to-be build Donald St -Strathcona Park bridge connecting us to Vanier & Overbrook. While a left hand turn off Laurier at Chapel would take cyclists smoothly through Lowertown to Beausoleil (Ottawa’s 1st Bike-only interesection) and up York across King Edward in to the Byward Market. This network would truly unite all of Rideau-Vanier Ward 12.
It would be Ottawa’s first fully connected, full Ward cycle network – Let’s do it!
The 1st Open House for the Rideau St re-design will be March 26th, 3-8PM at the Rideau Library. Pop-in to see the plans.
In December 2013 the City of Ottawa deemed it important to re-open the Community Design Plan (CDP) created in 2005 “to provide clear direction for future development.” Read more on the reasons for reopening the CDP and the items affected (e.g., Building height, traffic management, etc) here.
This open house will be the first opportunity for the community to see and comment on proposed changes. The Uptown Rideau area covers Rideau street from King Edward to the Cummings Bridge which leads to our neighbours in Vanier and the Montreal Road.
We are hopeful this is the first step in ensuring a traditional low-rise strolling- and-shopping, patio-friendly commercial street that locals and visitors can enjoy. Rideau is a key corridor linking the Byward Market to Sandy Hill, Lowertown & Vanier. Rather than belonging to no-one it belongs to every neighbourhood in our Ward. At the very heart of Ward 12 Rideau must be fully transformed from a conduit to other places to a desirable liveable destination.
Posted in Local Politics
Tagged Byward Market BIA, City of Ottawa, Lowertown, Melanie Knight, Rideau Street, Sandy Hill, Sandy Hill Seen, Vanier, Vanier Now, Ward 12
Sandy Hill 
Sandy Hill Seen 