Cheryl Turpin, Crossing Guard, Convent Glen Catholic School
Hello everyone! For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Cheryl Turpin. I am the morning crossing guard (last year the afternoon guard) at the corner of Jeanne d’Arc and Fortune. I want to share some important information about pedestrian safety and the ongoing construction in our area.
Pedestrian Safety Rules
It’s crucial for drivers to understand and follow the rules regarding pedestrian crosswalks. According to Ontario’s regulations, it is against the law, with fines up to $2000, for any vehicle to enter, encroach upon, or drive through a crosswalk when it is occupied. This means waiting until all occupants, including children, crossing guards, adults, dogs, bikes, etc., are safely on the sidewalk before proceeding1. I will stand in front of your car with my sign if you attempt to enter the crosswalk. Please obey the law. If you have an issue, contact the Ottawa Safety Council. Please ensure your kids know that they will be required to walk their bikes across the crosswalk and the same with scooters.
You may have noticed the construction at our intersection. After speaking with the Project Manager, Kyle Delaney, I can report the following updates:
A temporary crosswalk will be located 30 feet to the right of the current location (toward the fire station) with overhead signals that are pedestrian-controlled. These are not traffic lights; the current lights will remain in use until they are replaced by the temporary ones.
Two construction flaggers will be monitoring and controlling the flow of traffic.
There will be two weeks of digging sidewalks and streets for the installation of a large sewer line and new catch basins.
Existing gravel will be graded and maintained until temporary sidewalks are installed.
Current light signals will stay in place until the temporary signals are installed.
Join us on September 8, 2024, between 11 and 2 for our annual Community BBQ! Activities and food will be provided for free. Golden Fries will be serving lunch, the Girl Guides will host a craft table, we’ll have amazing face painting, lawn games, live music and more.
Starting this month, the intersection of Jeanne d’Arc and Fortune / Vineyard is having the signalized intersection removed and replaced with a roundabout. This construction is planned to start in August 2024, and should be wrapped up summer 2025 to coincide with the opening of the LRT East Extension.
Save the date! The CGOWCA Annual Community BBQ will take place on SundaySeptember 8thin the Convent Glen Plaza parking lot by the Golden Fries food truck. More details to follow in the September newsletter.
Repair Café Recap
Gillian Cantello, CGOWCA Environment Committee
On June 2nd, the CGOWCA Environment Committee hosted Orleans’ first ever Repair Cafe at the Orleans United Church on Orleans Boulevard. It was so successful; we hope to make it an annual event. Repair cafes originated in the Netherlands in 2007 and are an important way for communities to reduce their carbon footprint.
At our Repair Cafe, volunteer fixers and menders from our community assisted other community members with the repair of bikes, computers, household items and textiles. In total, 56 broken items were brought in, the large majority of which were repaired on site. It was a fabulous example of neighbours helping neighbours and a wonderful opportunity to share valuable skills and knowledge, while keeping broken items and worn clothing out of our landfills. At the event, visitors were treated to coffee, tea, and tasty baked goods lovingly made by members of the CGOWCA Environment Committee.
The repairers were:
Sewists: Denise Jean, Maria Fleming and Raewyn Khosla
Bike repairers: John Gibson of re-Cycles used bicycle shop and Sean Wilson
Computer repairers: Paul Begin and Charlie Cox of the Community Computer Refurbishment Program
General repairers: John Looper; Claude Phaneuf; Matthieu St-Arnaud; James McGuire and Stephen Delahunt
All the repairers went above and beyond to fix whatever item happened to be brought to their table.
Many thanks to the Orleans United Church, who made sure that volunteers and visitors had everything they needed before, during and after the event. Also, a big thank you to the Repair Cafe sponsors: Tebcal Cleaners, Crowne Pointe Animal Hospital, and Art of Bean Coffee Shop. It could not have been possible without their generous support.
Consider Joining the CGOWCA Board!
September is the month when the CGOWCA meets to host our Annual General Meeting. Both to review what was accomplished in the last year and to look ahead to what’s next. One of the pieces of business each year is to elect the volunteer Board of Directors. The CGOWCA needs YOU!
What are the responsibilities of a board member? The main ask is that you attend monthly board meetings (virtual) and contribute to discussions and decision-making regarding events, advocacy and more.
Once you feel more comfortable with the basics, Board Members are encouraged to help organize an event (like the Community BBQ or the Winter Carnival) or to lead something that is meaningful to you. The Dog Walkathon was spearheaded by a former board member. So was the free Yoga in the Park! Maybe you have a cause or activity that is your jam that you’d like to share with your neighbours?
Other ways to support the work of the Board are to take on an executive role such as Secretary or Treasurer which involves some work before, after or in between board meetings. Or maybe you have amazing people skills, and you’d like to coordinate other volunteers who are helping at events. Or are you connected to local businesses and able to seek out sponsorships for events or ongoing work of the Association?
There are many options! If any of these ideas sound interesting, please reach out to the Board at conventglenorleanswood@gmail.com to let them know and start a conversation.
Join us for another year of free outdoor yoga close to home! Every Wednesday evening in July and August, there will be a session (weather permitting). If there are cancellations due to weather conditions, updates are posted on the CGOWCA Facebook group.
Where: Décarie Park, behind Orleans Wood Elementary School
Time: 7-8pm
Other Details: Open to all levels, bring your yoga mat or a towel
I joined the CGOWCA board last fall with the goal of helping the community transition to the vision outlined in the Ottawa official plans. The plans, especially the Transportation Master and the Orléans Corridor Secondary Plan (pending final approval) have the potential to bring a lot of positive changes to our community by making it more affordable, safer and more accessible and improve livability while improving the financial position of the city. One of the goals of these plans is the move away from car transportation towards other modes of transportation such as public transportation and active transportation.
Active transportation is actively tied to a lot of issues that we face today. Many housing developments are stopped because of concerns over traffic and parking. The cost of car ownership, estimated at an average over $1300 per month per car and rising by Ratehub, is an important factor in cost of living if people do not have viable alternatives. City finances are decimated by the cost of car infrastructure and the spread of our city. Active transportation can also have significant impacts on public health and help mitigate climate change. Children are often prevented from playing outside because of the danger of cars and are unable to go anywhere because it is not safe to do so. There are many reasons to enable active transportation.
In anticipation of budget conversations over the summer into the fall, I decided that it would be a good idea to gather data on active transportation habits, desires and opinions within the community. The city and Councillors need data to support their budget demands and priorities. I designed a short survey to get a sense of how people see and experience active transportation in our community. I also seek input on how to improve the experience for those who already use active transportation and identify issues that prevent people from doing so.
The survey is designed to be filled out by individual users and not households. If you are interested in sharing your opinion on active transportation, it would be best to fill out the survey for every member of your household including children which is why the survey does not require any identifiable information. I plan on using email addresses (for those who choose to provide them) to mobilize engagement on various projects that will emerge in Orléans.
If you are interested in active transportation and urbanist issues in Orléans, I have a blog that I use to formulate and communicate my opinions on various topics. I have a series on active transportation in the north of Orléans focused on four priorities:
I look forward to working with the community to help improve the active transportation experience in Orléans.
CGOWCA Bridge Committee Update
After having had to contend with several unforeseen setbacks, we are more than pleased to announce that our new website: www.nogreenbeltbridge.com is up and running and contains the latest information available to us. Please visit it and tell us what you think!
You can reach the Bridge Committee at cgnbridgecommittee@gmail.com. You are welcome to add your name to our database so that we can better keep you in the loop. Here’s to a great summer and a bridge-free future!
City Budget Survey
From the Newsletter of Councillor Laura Dudas
While many of us are still making plans for what to do this summer with the family, this is also the time that City departments begin to draft their proposed budgets for the next year. The summer is when staff shift gears and gather projections on what funding and budgets, as well as identify evolving needs, whether it be City services, infrastructure upgrades, transportation improvements or maintenance.
As this work is just starting, I want to hear from you. I want to hear about your priorities as we look ahead to 2025, ensuring that I am fighting for the things our community needs and deserves. Please take the time to fill in the survey on my website and let me know what matters most to you.
Maybe you’re curious about what happens at board meetings or are not sure about getting involved. Come on out and join us! The next regular meeting of the CGOWCA volunteer Board of Directors is on June 10, 2024. The meeting is virtual. If you would like to attend, email conventglenorleanswood@gmail.com to get the meeting information.
Summer BBQ – Help Make it a Success
We will be hosting another BBQ this summer. If you would like to help organize this awesome event, or help at the event itself, please reach out to conventglenorleanswood@gmail.com to let us know! We’ll be in touch shortly with more information.
Air conditioning system during the hot season. Digital illustration, 3d rendering.
Home Energy Efficiency Info Night
On May 14th, the CGOWCA Environment Committee hosted a Home Energy Efficiency Info Night to provide homeowners with an opportunity to learn from experts and hear testimonials from local residents about energy efficiency retrofits.
Some highlights discussed at the event include:
Making your home more energy efficient can offer a variety of benefits, including improved comfort, reduced carbon emissions, and reduced energy costs, including protection against future rising energy costs.
There are many retrofit options (e.g. heat pumps, windows, insulation, solar panels, etc.) and there are options for a variety of budgets. Doing an energy audit with an energy advisor will provide information on what options would be best for you and your home (https://betterhomesottawa.ca/energy-audits/energy-assessment/).
Doing energy efficiency retrofits when something requires replacement or you already doing other renovations can make good financial sense. Coordinating retrofits with neighbors could offer volume discounts with contractors!
Homeowners were happy with the results of their retrofits, seeing significant reductions to their home energy consumption and emissions. Some experienced unexpected costs and found it helpful to shop around with more than one contractor.
Native plant gardening provides abundant benefits. Many Ontario native plants are also edible. Planting native, edible plants helps the environment and provides you with nutritious food from your own yard. This combats food scarcity, rising food prices and reduces the carbon footprint of your food.
Here are five native plants you may not have known were edible:
Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) – This sunflower plant produces edible roots. Containing inulin instead of starch they are healthier for diabetics than potatoes. Tubers can be prepared like potatoes: boiled and mashed or roasted. Flowers attract butterflies and seed heads are important food for birds.
Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) – All parts are considered edible. Jelly can be made from the buds and flowers. Young leaves can be added to salad or stirfry. Shoots can be sauteed or steamed like asparagus. Fireweed is a source of vitamin C, caterpillar host plant and important nectar source for pollinators.
Roses – The edible rosehips of our native roses (example Smooth rose Rosa blanda) are important sources of vitamin C and anti-oxidants. They persist throughout the winter when other local sources of vitamin C are scarce. Rosehips are an important food source to birds over the winter. Petals can be added to salads, cereals or used to make cookies, tea, jellies etc.
Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) – Beautiful spring flowers develop into edible autumn berries. Berries can be eaten fresh or used to make jams. Nannyberry is host to multiple moth species, flowers attract pollinators and the berries are an important winter food source for birds. The berries are a good source of anti-oxidants, vitamin C and K, potassium and fibre.
Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) – All above ground parts of this mint family plant are edible. The flavour compares to oregano or thyme. Leaves can be added raw to salad or cooked and added as flavouring in place of oregano. Flowers can be added to salad, dried for tea or baked goods.
Dog Walkathon
On May 25th, we held our 6th annual Dog Walkathon to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. It was incredible to see our community come together to support this cause. And, our furry four legged companions had a great time.
The generosity of the community let us raise $1,154 for the Canadian Cancer Society!
We want to thank everyone who came out and donated to the fundraiser. We also want to thank several local businesses that supported this event: Myers Orléans Chev Buick GMC, Myers Orléans Nissan, Myers Orléans Jeep RAM, Trinity Physio, Dogtopia of Orleans, Pet Valu Convent Glen, Aroma Pizzeria, Vêtements EnTK, and Easy Breezy Dog Training.
CGOWCA Bridge Committee Update
Just one piece of news this month. We are pleased to launch our new website:
Please visit it and tell us what you think! You are welcome to communicate with the Bridge Committee at cgnbridgecommittee@gmail.com, and to add your name to our database, so that we can better keep you in the loop.
Roundabout at Fortune and Vineyard
From the newsletter of Councillor Laura Dudas
The project team has continued to update the project website, and the presentation slide deck and presentation boards are now available online. They are currently working on finishing their first Q&A update, as well, they have prepared a 20-minute video presentation on the project. Both of those updates should be posted any moment now.
The project team is compiling all of their comparisons and assessments of other suggested locations. This will also be posted as soon as it is complete.
As well, the project lead is preparing information for the community on the construction aspect itself, including expected timelines, what traffic flows will look like, how pedestrians will cross the intersection during construction and provide an overview of the construction process.
A Company of Fools will be presenting Macbeth for the 2024 season.
Since 1990, Ottawa has enjoyed offerings of outdoor theatre from A Company of Fools. Their mandate is to present innovative, entertaining, and accessible shows based on the works of William Shakespeare. Their shows are pay-what-you-can and children and pets are welcome. You can plan a picnic in the park and take in the show at the same time!
Often, we have a show offered in Hiawatha Park in our neighbourhood. Although the schedule wasn’t published at the time of this newsletter being written, you can check www.fools.ca for up-to-date information about which parks they will visit between July 8th and August 24th.
