Endorse the Starts with Home campaign

Ottawa City Council declared a housing and homelessness emergency in January 2020. You can help to change this by supporting the Starts With Home campaign. It is a non-partisan campaign to build strong public support for Ottawa’s next City Council to take concrete action to solve the housing affordability crisis. You can read the platform here.

The goal is to reach 200+ organization endorsements and 20,000 individual endorsements to demonstrate that affordable housing is a key priority for our community. 

By endorsing the Starts With Home movement, you will join hundreds of neighbours who care about making sure that Ottawa is a city where everyone can have an affordable, appropriate home.

Change starts with us. 

Please join us and endorse the Starts With Home campaign.

Crossing Guards Urgently Needed!

There is an urgent need for crossing guards in Convent Glen and Orléans Wood.  Maybe you could help?

Do you love being outside?

Do you have spare time in the morning or afternoon?

You might love being a Crossing Guard!

Shifts are during morning and afternoon school bell times.  The average shift is 40-60 minutes and paid $17 per shift.

It’s a great way to give back to the community!

For more details and to apply please see Crossing-Guard.ca

Taking Care of Your Mental Health

Everyone has been dealing with a lot for the last 2 years.  Covid-19 impacts affecting work, school, and social outlets.  The convoy of trucks that occupied many areas of the city for weeks. International conflicts and worries of war.  These layers are on top of all the “regular” stressors that many of us are coping with.  It hasn’t been easy.  We’re not out of the woods yet.

It’s important to do what you can do to look after yourself as you and your neighbours are weathering these stressful times.

• Ottawa Public Health has joined forces with the Royal Mental Health Centre to create the “Protecting Your Mental Health” series.  Learn more here:  https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-health-topics/protecting-your-mental-health.aspx
• Expert tips for Mental Wellness with Dr Raj Bhatia (The Royal) and Linda Cove (Ottawa Public Health) is a 30-minute video: https://youtu.be/JNcF0jqZ2lc

Ottawa Public Health also has a whole page of resources specifically targeted to “Responding to Stressful Events” (which we are all doing!): https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-health-topics/responding-to-stressful-events.aspx

Income Tax Season

It’s almost time to file income tax for 2021.  Did you know that the only way to qualify for benefits like the Ontario Trillium Benefit, or the Guaranteed Income Supplement is by filing your income tax? 

For more information on filing personal income taxes,  check out this site: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/taxes/income-tax/personal-income-tax/get-ready-taxes.html. 

You’ll find information on the following topics:

• how to get ready for 2021 taxes,
• key dates for filing 2021 taxes,
• what to report and claim,
• updating your information with Canada Revenue Agency, and more!

If you’re wondering about free income tax clinics available locally, please check out this list:

• Community Pentecostal Church Orléans Tax Clinic – 1825 St Joseph Blvd
  • Open for walk-ins; able to prepare returns for 2021 only; services in English and in French; open to the general public
• RCCG Faith Chapel Tax Clinic – 4-2181 St Joseph Blvd
  • Open by appointment; able to prepare returns for 2021 and prior years; services in English, Igbo and Yoruba; open to the general public
• Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre – 613-830-4357 x310
  • Registration required; available to low-income families