Mar 14

March 2019 Newsletter

Financial Literacy Workshop for Seniors

  • Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at 6:30 PM – 8 PM
  • Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre
  • 105-240, Centrum Blvd., Orleans, Ontario K1E 3J4

Join us and RBC financial advisors to improve your financial literacy and learn about fraudulent projects that target seniors. This workshop is open to residents of the greater Orléans area. There is no charge to attend this event.

Space is limited, so please register by sending an email to sara.ammoun@rbc.com

Local Free Income Tax Clinics

  • RCCG Faith Chapel Orleans – 2181 St Joseph Blvd Unit 4 – Community Volunteer Income Tax Clinic Sat 10 am-4 pm, Fri 10 am-2 pm, February 16th – April 30th, 2018.  For more information, contact rccgfctaxclinic@gmail.com
  • Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre – Free Income Tax Clinic for low income individuals or families.  By appointment on Wednesdays or Saturdays from February 21st to March 23rd at 240 Centrum Blvd, Unit 105.  For more information: https://crcoc.ca/income-tax-clinic/ info@crcoc.ca (613) 830-4357
  • EBO Financial Education Centre – 300 Olmstead St, 2nd floor – by appointment Monday to Friday.  Contact Ange Ningabiye, Income Tax Service Coordinator; Phone: 613-746-0400 ext 201; Email: acningabiye@centre-ebo.com

Save the date! 

The CGOWCA’s 3rd Annual Dog Walkathon is coming on Saturday April 27th.  We will be sharing more information about this event and how to take part shortly!

Community-Engaged Arts Gathering

Neighbourhood Arts Ottawa is hosting a one-and-a-half-day Community-Engaged Arts Gathering on March 25th and 26th 2019 at Nunavut Sivuniksavut! If you are interested in making a difference in your community via the arts, you can get more information and sign up for this event here:  https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/community-engaged-arts-gathering-tickets-53407932564

Gardens Ottawa – Spring Symposium

Gardens Ottawa is made up of a group of active garden organizations and avid gardeners. Their goal is to facilitate communication and connection between a variety of garden groups and organizations to enhance quality of life and the beautification of Ottawa through the creation of, and care for, gardens and green spaces.

To this end, Gardens Ottawa is holding a Spring Symposium on March 16th, 2019 at City Hall, Ottawa. Join members in discussing how to make Ottawa bloom as a City of Gardens.

There are two ways to participate, you can fill in the questionnaire at the following link:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1J4CZLgu3e4R_imKhNSrmfQaNQ3UCAP9qvhfjOedDKdw and/or if possible you can attend the Garden Symposium.

To register for the Garden Symposium visit:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/gardens-ottawa-symposium-ottawa-a-city-of-gardens-tickets-56933429420&sa=D&ust=1550678133007000&usg=AFQjCNHCmuHieJJ9Hj-AmIEFkWAIh9mTDg

Feb 11

February 2019 Newsletter

Infographic showing 5-step process for City of Ottawa BudgetIt’s budget time at city hall

Don’t know much about municipal budgets? You are not alone! Our municipal budget covers many things that affect us daily, such as waste management, roads, public transit, first responders, parks and recreation, libraries, and much more. The city has plenty of information to help you understand the budget and how to have your say at www.ottawa.ca/budget.

Because 2018 was an election year, the budget process is slightly different for 2019. The draft of the municipal budget will be presented to council on February 6th. The budget will be discussed at committee meetings and in public consultations until March 6th, at which point councillors will vote to amend and/or accept it.
Matthew Luloff, the new councillor for our neighbourhood, held a public consultation on January 12th. If you missed it and would like to share your opinion with him directly, you can do so via email at Matt.Luloff@ottawa.ca or by phone at 613-580-2471.

Here are a few other ways to provide input on the city’s spending:
Answer the city’s survey – https://s-ca.chkmkt.com/?e=145306&h=EAFE13C3035A06D&l=en
Email your feedback and suggestions to budget@ottawa.ca or call the city at 613-580-2401.

Family Day Laser Tag with Matthew Luloff Image

Family Day Laser Tag with Matthew Luloff!

Join Councillor Luloff for some free Family Day Laser Tag at Laserforce! Advanced registration is required. A total of 8 fifteen minute games will be offered, with the first game starting at 1:00 p.m. and the last game starting at 2:45 p.m.

Each participant must register for a specific game. When registering, please ensure to reserve a spot for each member of your family that intends to play. Spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis. The minimum age to play is 6. Indoor shoes are required to play.

To register, please call Laserforce (613) 424-8543

image of 5 people (legs only) standing with a bowling ball between their feet

Family Day Bowling with Marie-France Lalonde and Andrew Leslie

Looking for something to do on Family Day (February 18th)? Our local Member of Provincial Parliament and our Member of Parliament are hosting a family-friendly FREE event at Orleans Bowling and Striker’s Billiards. Come out to 885 Taylor Creek Drive between 9am and noon to take part in this fun event.

You don’t need to register, but you can follow the Facebook Event for updates (just click to say you are interested and updates will show up in your feed): https://www.facebook.com/events/2260841210863948/

cartoon image of a mole coming out of a burrow

Snow Moles 2019

Snow Moles are volunteers who report on what it’s like to walk outside on a winter day in Ottawa. The information they gather will be used by the Council on Aging of Ottawa (COA) to inform the City and others of ways that winter walkability can and should be improved.

Anyone can be a snow mole, but we are particularly looking for seniors and children to participate, as well as people who use mobility devices (e.g. canes, walkers and wheelchairs). You can participate as an individual or with a group.

Pick a time of day when you need to go out (best after some winter weather has occurred such as a. snowfall or freezing rain), and a destination (e.g. bus stop, grocery store, school, bank, seniors centre, library).

Use the Snow Mole questionnaire to audit your walk. Complete the questionnaire online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JG8GLWC or send a completed paper copy to the Council on Aging of Ottawa at 1247 Kilborn Place, Ottawa ON K1H 6K9. For more information, check out the COA website: https://coaottawa.ca/snowmoles/

image of father and son on the community rink with hockey sticks at the Carnival

Winter Fun in Convent Glen

We had fun on February 2nd at the CGOWCA Winter Carnival. Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen, and to everyone in the community who came out!

Jan 26

January 2019 Newsletter

image of someone reading articles on a tabletCity of Ottawa Newsletters

Did you know that you can sign up for newsletters on a variety of municipal topics? Choose as many newsletters as you like and stay in the know on things like: affordable housing development, cycling in the city, emergency preparedness, and francophone events at Ottawa City Hall and more.

Go to this site to choose the newsletters you want to receive: https://ottawa.ca/esubscriptions/signup-form-en.html

After you sign up, you’ll get an email asking you to confirm your subscriptions.

Photo of two children and their parents playing in the snow with a snow man and sled

2nd Annual Winter Carnival

Less than a month away! Come out on Saturday February 2nd to enjoy some games, skating and hot chocolate with the neighbourhood. The CGOWCA is organizing this event for the second year and we hope you will stop by. Come to Jeanne d’Arc park between 11am and 1pm. All activities will happen on or near the rink. More details to come on the CGOWCA Facebook group.

photo showing a snow covered trail with ski tracks

Tis the season for Ski Heritage East!

You can follow their work and achievements, as well as get more information about trail conditions and their current fundraising goals by visiting their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/skiheritage.orleans.ontario/ or their website: http://www.skiheritageeast.ca/wpshe/.

We encourage you to support this local initiative however you can!

image f a man, a woman and a child sitting in the snow

8 Activities for Your Winter Bucket List in the Capital

Maybe you aren’t a winter person, and are looking for some ways to have fun this season? Check out the NCC’s blog post: 8 Activities for Your Winter Bucket List in the Capital. Who knows, you might find that winter isn’t so bad… http://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/blog/8-activities-for-your-winter-bucket-list-in-the-capital

Dec 16

December 2018 Newsletter

Image of Santa ClausCome caroling with us!

Join other members of the Convent Glen-Orléans Wood community to sing some carols with seniors at Symphony Senior Living on December 11th at 6:30pm. Email conventglenorleanswood@gmail.com if you would like to join us!

image of a sparkler

Wondering what to do on New Year’s Eve? What about the 8th Annual New Year’s Eve Comedy Night!

Presented by: Shenkman Arts Centre Presents and Fusion Arts Management

Monday, December 31, 2018 at 8 pm

For the eighth year in a row, the Annual New Year’s Eve Comedy Night brings top-notch Canadian comedians to laugh away the last hours of the year with you! Always a sold-out event, this comedy extravaganza salutes the calendar ahead by rounding up the most hilarious acts around for a night of merriment. You won’t want to miss out – reserve your seats now! This year, our three talented performers are Gilson Lubin, Andrew Chapman and Nour Hadidi!

image of a ball of ice

St Moritz Rink Updates!

Rink Conditions:

If you are a rink user, the best place for updates on conditions is the CGOWCA Facebook group. As soon as the rink is ready for skaters, we’ll post it! If we need to close the rink temporarily due to weather, we’ll post that too!

Volunteers for Rink Shovelling:

We at the Convent Glen Community Association are looking for volunteers to help in the cleaning and maintaining of the ice rink behind Convent Glen Catholic School. We are looking for two levels of volunteers:

  • an “A team”, consisting of 4 people, who will be able to devote one or two nights or days a week to the regular maintenance of the rink. This team will need to be able to operate the blower and water the ice. These volunteers will have access to the storage bunker. Depending on conditions you will be at the rink for 1-2 hours.
  • a “B team”, consisting of 6+ people, who will be available as necessary, to assist in clearing the ice after significant snowfalls. The more individuals on the B team the better as it means the work can be done faster.

If you, or anyone you know, might be interested in being part of either of these teams please contact us at conventglenorleanswood@gmail.com.

image of a set of keys lying flat

Holiday Safety:

We all want to enjoy the season safely. Check out some tips from Parents.com: https://www.parents.com/holiday/christmas/safety/12-tips-for-holiday-home-safety/ about safety tips over the holidays. The Canada Safety Council also has recommendations for preventing fires around the holiday https://canadasafetycouncil.org/home-fire-safety-tips-holidays/ . Lastly, Safewise has some tips both for holiday travelers and for those of us staying close to home. https://www.safewise.com/blog/keep-home-safe-secure-holidays/

image of hands holding a giftWant to help make someone’s Christmas merry and bright?

And prefer to stay close to home…

  • The Eastern Ottawa Community Resource Centre is looking for folks to help a family in need by sponsoring a family for the holidays. If you are interested, contact Chantal or Najwa at 613-741-6025 ext 132 or 109.
  • The Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre has a Christmas Program that looks for people to sponsor a family; to host an “Angel Tree” at their office, business, or with friends and family; to donate new unwrapped gifts or gift cards; and to donate food. If you are interested, contact them quickly! There are deadlines for some types of help. You can see the full write up on their website or you can contact Cindy MacKay at 613-830-4357 ext. 305 or at cmackay@crcoc.ca.

And location isn’t important….

  • The Ottawa Food Bank helps over 38,000 people per month and looks for community members just like you to organize Holiday Food Drives. You can get information and materials on their website to organize your own drive. You can also leave donations at bins around the city such as the one found just inside the doors at the Metro at the Convent Glen Plaza.
  • The Caring and Sharing Exchange was started in 1915 and provides food hampers and gift cards to families during the holiday season. In 2017, over 17,877 households in Ottawa received help through the Caring and Sharing Exchange. Find out more on their website or call them at 613-226-6434.
    You can donate money to most charitable organizations through www.canadahelps.org if you have a cause that is close to your heart. Even though Giving Tuesday has passed, it’s not too late to make an impact in 2018.
  • If you would rather donate your time, you could check out www.volunteerottawa.ca and search through hundreds of opportunities around the city. You can filter results by neighbourhood if you would like to stay close to home. You can also filter by when you are available – days, evenings, weekends, etc.

Nov 13

November 2018 Newsletter

photo of councillor matthew luloff

Welcoming Councillor Matthew Luloff

We have a new representative for Ward 1 at the Ottawa City Council table so we wanted to introduce him. You can see what the Ottawa Citizen says following the election results here.  During the campaign, and on his website, he focused on the following priorities:


Build our Community

  • Roads
    • Widen Highway 174
    • Build a southern corridor from Frank Kenny Road to Highway 417 and Hunt Club Road
    • Implement Traffic Calming Measures in our Neighbourhoods
  • Transit
    • Build larger Park and Rides at Place d’Orléans and Trim Road
    • Ensure LRT Phase 2 remains a priority and starts building on time
  • Community Infrastructure
    • Make Petrie Island Accessible
    • Foster a creative hub in the East End

Build our Economy

  • Maintain low and predictable taxes
  • Attract Jobs and Investment
  • Build Pop Up Shops on St. Joseph Blvd

Build support for those who serve Canadians

  • Make mental health a priority
  • Supporting community based policing

The CGOWCA looks forward to working with you for the next four years.

collage of all members of the board 2018

Introducing the 2018-2019 Board of Directors for the Convent Glen-Orléans Wood Community Association:

  • Gary Bradshaw 

    President – I have lived in Orléans-Convent Glen area now for over fifteen years. Recently I introduced a new initiative called Cycling Without Age to the city beginning in 2016. This program involves volunteers taking the time to take local seniors out for bike rides from various senior residences.  I am big believer and supporter of giving back to our community and would love to see more of our CGOWCA residents involved in our community.  I am looking to try and build strong relationships between residents, businesses and other community groups in the area through events and good communication.

  • Garth Williams 

    Vice President – My wife and I moved to Orléans to live and raise our children in a vibrant bilingual community. We met our neighbours at the local park, enjoyed outdoor sports year round and found great teachers at our local school. We have lived, worked and volunteered here for almost 20 years.  I joined the Community Association to work with neighbours, local associations and businesses, and help our community grow as a place where French and English come together and it’s easy to find community resources, share our talents and cultures, stay active, start a business and make friends.  I invite everyone to join us!

  • Louise McLaren 

    Treasurer – I returned to Orléans over five years from being in Ottawa’s East downtown core. I lived here as a teenager when Orléans was growing fast and furious but had few of the amenities that are here today.  I have volunteered in different organizations and look forward to contributing to the Convent Glen-Orléans Wood Community Association. I have a special interest in the cross country skiing and cycling in Orléans.

  • Fran Childs 

    Secretary – I moved to Convent Glen in December 2016 but have quickly realized what a beautiful part of the city it is and as a result was interested in joining the Community Association as a member of the board to help in whatever way I can. I have worked in the non-profit sector for most of my career and am currently working for a private non-profit housing organization.  I look forward to building connections with and among members of this community so that everyone feels as welcome and as included as we have since moving here. I think that inclusive, welcoming communities are important to the health and quality of life of everyone and I believe that neighbours building relationships is a key factor in such communities. In addition to my role as the secretary, I will contribute by getting involved in planning and promoting events that will help us get to know one another.

  • Karen Chow 

    Board Member – I am a relative newcomer to Orléans, having moved to Beaujolais in the “Wine District” in 2013 with my husband.  I am currently enjoying retirement from 22 years as an elementary teacher.   I have a long history of volunteering in my community and faith group.  I joined the board because I have a strong sense of community and a desire to give back to the people who share my neighbourhood.   My vision is to see the community association become a hub of communication for people who live in the area, so that our sense of belonging to one another grows as we discuss issues that are of concern to all of us.  I’d also like to see the association grow in numbers and activities that will bring us all together.

  • Miranda Gray

    Board Member – Miranda has been living in the Grey Nuns area of Convent Glen – Orléans Wood since 2005 (and in Orléans since 2000). She grew up  in southern Ontario and moved to Ottawa to attend the University of Ottawa. She is a change management consultant / IT project manager working in Gatineau.  She is active in the coordinating activities with the other community associations and groups in Orléans. She also tracks the development and transportation issues for the board. Her focus for the community association is building strong links between the association and other groups active in Orléans.

  • Mireille Brownhill 

    Board Member – My family moved to Orléans from Blackburn Hamlet in 2001, and we’ve loved it here ever since! We’ve been in our current house in Convent Glen for 13 years now. I joined the board of the CGOWCA to become involved in our community, to help develop relationships between neighbours, create new traditions and help bolster ongoing activities. I’ve been involved in school activities for my three sons and I am a current volunteer at the OCCRC. Social justice and access to resources are my jam.

  • Toby Bossert 

    Board Member – I moved to Convent Glen in 2013 and I was amazed at how much green space we have. For someone who grew up in the country, it felt like home.  Where I grew up we had a very vibrant community with lots of events. I see that same community spirit here in Orleans. I joined the Community Association Board because I would like to do everything I can to nurture it and bring people together.  I also ran as one of the candidates in the recent Ward 1 election. I ran because I care about the community and I wanted to make sure we had a hard-working representative.

blurry christmas lights imageSanta’s Parade of Lights 2018

This year’s parade will take place on Saturday November 24th at 6pm. Running along St Joseph boulevard, from Youville to Prestone, it will have something for people of all ages.  There will be some road closures around the route on November 24th.  You can get more information leading up to the event from their website:  http://www.paradeoflights.org/  or from the Facebook event:  https://www.facebook.com/events/2200192536925261/

 

Calling all Carolers!

We are working on a carolling event again this year to bring songs and smiles to some folks living in a local seniors’ residence.  We are still working out the details – but if you are interested in joining this event, please email conventglenorleanswood@gmail.com to let us know and we will keep you posted as the plan is finalized.