Oct 12

October 2022 newsletter

photograph of a carved pumpkin with a candle in it

Pumpkin parade November 1

After the trick or treating is over and the good candy is eaten, bring those beautiful Jack-o’-lanterns to Hiawatha Park (corner of Voyageur and Voyageur). The CGOWCA is hosting a Pumpkin Parade on Nov. 1st from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.

Residents are asked to bring their pumpkins and a battery-operated candle. We will line up the lighted pumpkins for people to see, and then vote on the best one.

There will be two categories for voting, each with their own prize: one category for kids 12 and under, and one category for 13+ years old.

We hope to see you there!

Annual General Meeting - Get Involved!

2022 Annual General Meeting

The CGOWCA held its AGM virtually on September 19. Thank you to all of the members who attended!

We heard an amazing presentation from Meg McCallum, Executive Director of the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa. She showed us that change is possible when it comes to affordable housing – all that is required is the will to make it happen. The Alliance launched the Starts With Home campaign ahead of the municipal election to raise awareness of this issue and encourage all candidates to build more and better affordable housing into their platforms. The CGOWCA has endorsed the campaign as an organization, and we encourage you to do the same as individuals.

During the AGM we welcomed three new board members: Cassandra Polyzou, Daniel Lamothe and Karen Chow. We are very excited to have them join us and wish them a warm welcome!

The board extends its gratitude to Gary Bradshaw, former board member, for his dedication and love for our community during his time on the board.

photograph of a little free library (location unknown

Little Free Libraries Near You

Have you noticed Little Free Libraries popping up around Orléans or other places in Ottawa? Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Their mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries.

Their vision is a Little Free Library in every community and a book for every reader. We believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege.

You can search on the Little Free Libraries website: https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/

Here are a few we have found in Orléans:

  • LANE Library at 1721 Meadowview Cres.
  • Librairie Des Prairies, 1751 Des Prairies Ave.
  • Radisson Way, between Amyot and Ethier.
  • Zunzun Little Free Library, 1895 Markwell Cresc.
  • Little Free Library Orleans, 2129 Avebury Drive.
  • Trish’s Little Free Library – Orleans, 443 Wincanton Drive.
image of a person putting a ballot into a box, a checkmark in a circle and a silhouette of the Ottawa downtown skyline

Reminder to Vote – Ottawa municipal election

Advanced polls are already open. We strongly encourage everyone to get out and vote. City Council has a huge impact on our day to day lives from garbage, to transit, to parks and recreation.

If you aren’t sure where to go, or what you need to bring, or have other questions – this website is a good starting place: https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/elections/2022-municipal-elections/information-voters

To see the Rogers TV Debate for our area (Orléans West-Innes – Ward 2) it is available online: https://youtu.be/6EsHMW48UWk

Get out and vote!

Sep 05

September 2022 Newsletter

Header image that says "Ottawa Cleaning the Capital"

Cleaning the Capital Fall 2022 – Registration is Open!

Register your clean up project until September 30, 2022.  Registering a project makes you eligible for a  free Cleanup Kit for you and your team. 

Your clean up can be as small and simple as your household heading out together to clean up a part of your neighbourhood.  It could be as large as a neighbourhood-wide event including a social get together after the clean up! 

Registering online means you’ll pick a location that isn’t already going to be cleaned by another group.  If you fill out the final report (just a summary of how much you picked up and how many people took part) then you can even win prizes.

Help pitch in and keep Convent Glen and Orléans Wood looking green and clean!

Register here: https://ottv3.ottawa.ca/en/cleaning-capital-program-registration-form

Convent Glen – Orléans Wood Community Association Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Please join us on Monday September 19th at 7pm for our virtual AGM.

Link to Register for the AGM is here: https://bit.ly/3JPxNaH

Annual General Meetings are a chance to come together, to hear about the activities of the Community Association for the past year and to elect the volunteer Board of Directors.

If you are interested in volunteering to help the Board of Directors, please reach out to conventglenorleanswood@gmail.com

a group of people doing a yoga class outside in a park

Yoga in the Park 2022

Mireille Brownhill has led the efforts that have allowed the CGOWCA to offer free yoga in the park for several years. In 2022, it was hosted in Hiawatha Park (in Convent Glen) and Décarie Park (in Orléans Wood). 

Thank you to the instructors who shared your time and expertise with neighbours. Thank you to the neighbours who attended!

Keep those Wednesday evenings open in July and August 2023 for our next offering.

image with a hand putting a ballot into a voting box, a checkmark inside a circle, and a silhouette of the Ottawa downtown skyline

Municipal Election – Monday October 24, 2022

All of us have a civic responsibility to vote.  The next regular municipal election to elect a Mayor, City Councillors, and School Board Trustees will be held on Monday, October 24, 2022. Eligible electors will have the opportunity to cast a ballot for the following offices:

  • Mayor – one elected at large
  • City Councillor – one elected per ward
  • School Board Trustee – one elected per zone: 
    • Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
    • Ottawa Catholic School Board
    • Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
    • Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est

The slate of candidates for our upcoming municipal election is set.  The ward boundaries changed since our last election and Convent Glen and Orléans Wood now fall in Ward 2.  You can confirm your ward and your slate of candidates by entering your address here: https://elections.ottawa.ca/UI/CandidateList/CandidateList

If this is your first chance to vote in a municipal election (or even if it isn’t and you just want to better understand the process), check out this Voters’ Guide prepared by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs:  https://www.ontario.ca/document/2022-voters-guide-ontario-municipal-council-and-school-board-elections

Mayors and City Councillors are responsible for making decisions about how property tax dollars are allocated.  Municipal government is responsible for things that affect everyone daily such as:

  • Infrastructure services:  snow removal, roads, garbage and recycling, water and sewer
  • Quality of life services: community centres, parks and recreation, libraries
  • Essential services:  public transit, affordable housing, public health, community services
  • Enforcement and Emergency services:  Police, Bylaw, Fire


School Board Trustees make decisions about how schools run by setting policies and strategic directions.  They are part of making decisions about how budgets and resources are allocated.  They are representatives of the community who are our advocates for public education.  Find out more here: https://elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org/WhatDoTrusteesDo/SchoolBoardTrustees.aspx

The work of municipal government affects all of us every day – VOTE!

Four kids under 10 years old who are on a beach and holding signs saying "save the earth" and "love the earth"

Call for Environment Committee Volunteers

Are you interested in environmental sustainability, protecting and naturalizing greenspaces, and engaging the community on sustainable transportation and climate resilience? Do you want to meet other like-minded folks interested in improving the biodiversity and environmental protection in our area? CGOWCA is starting an Environment Committee and we are looking for a group of committed volunteers who are interested in developing goals and projects for our community!
 
Please send an email to conventglenorleanswood@gmail.com with your interest, time availability (i.e. hours per month), and areas of interest (i.e. gardens, transportation, tree planting, etc.). We hope to set up our first virtual meeting sometime in October!

Jul 24

2022 Summer BBQ

All are welcome on Saturday August 6th from 11am to 1:30pm. Join us at Convent Glen Plaza by Golden Fries.

Jun 10

June 2022 Newsletter

Logo for the play: a hand holding an open book that is being struck by lightning.

A Company of Fools brings The Tempest to Hiawatha Park

Friday June 24, 2022 at 7pm

Pay what you can, suggested donation $20

This live performance has a running time of 90 minutes.  This year’s play is brought to you by 6 actors, and features an original score with live music and their signature cartoon-ish puppets embodying numerous supporting characters.

Who are a Company of Fools?

They are a local, professional theatre company.  Their mandate is to create accessible and interactive performances based on the works of William Shakespeare for all audiences regardless of their geography, income, or age.  This summer, they are touring to over 40 parks in and around Ottawa. 

Check them out at https://fools.ca/

person grilling hamburgers and hot dogs

CGOWCA Annual BBQ!

We’ve started planning our annual community BBQ and we are looking for volunteers to help. Please write to conventglenorléanswood@gmail.com if you’d like to get involved.  Stay up to date on our activities with our Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/CGOWAssociation

Let's Bike Ottawa logo

Let’s Bike Ottawa!

The weather is improving to make it easier to take part in Let’s Bike Month this June!  Let’s Bike Month is an annual campaign that encourages people to try cycling as a fun and healthy transportation option. Participants in the campaign:

  • Win prizes
  • Save money
  • Get access to free resources
  • See the GHG averted by choosing to bike
  • Have fun!

Whether you want to try biking for the first time, use the campaign to encourage your employer to support alternative commuting options, or encourage others in your life to give it a try, Let’s Bike Month provides the resources and motivation to help!

Find out more or sign up here: www.letsbike.ca

Let’s Bike Month, an EnviroCentre initiative, is made possible with the support of local businesses, sponsors, and our partnership with the City of Ottawa.

two women holding hands with arms raised. one woman has a rainbow painted on her skin.

Pride Orléans

Connect with others locally who care about support, respect and inclusiveness for everyone: https://www.facebook.com/groups/258762344501674/about

In Ottawa, Capital Pride hosts a parade in August.  There are events coming up soon too!

  • June 17th – Pride Prom 2022:  Through the Decades — Open to high school students from across the National Capital Region and featuring live music and performances plus a recognition ceremony.  More information here: https://capitalpride.ca/events/pride-prom-2022-through-the-decades/
  • June 22nd – Trey Anthony:  Black Girl in Love (with Herself) — Trey Anthony is a visionary creator, comedian, television writer, and award-winning playwright of international significance. The first African Canadian woman to have her own program on a primetime Canadian network, she is the writer of the critically acclaimed hit play and television show ’Da Kink In My Hair, which put her on the map as a mentor and role model.  More information here: https://capitalpride.ca/events/12548/
person holding a red maple leaf

Canada Day – How to mark the day

We recognize that celebrating Canada Day is problematic for many members of our community because it celebrates the colonization and oppression of the original owners of this land.  If you don’t know about the problematic parts of Canada Day, please learn more here:  https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/why-you-shouldnt-be-celebrating-canada-day-and-what-to-do-instead.  As stated by the Indigenous Foundation, you might want to use the day as a day of reflection and of mourning.

There are some local events for those who wish to celebrate the day:

May 01

May 2022 Newsletter

Photos from the 2022 Dog Walkathon held on April 30, 2022

Dog Walkathon a Success!

Thank you to everyone who came out for our 4th annual Dog Walkathon on April 30th to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society! We surpassed our goal and raised over $1,700! Thanks to Trinity Physio and Barber Stop for their generous donations.

photo of two hikers checking their skin for ticks

Tick Bite Prevention

As we start to spend more time outside in the warmer months, it’s important to protect ourselves from ticks.  Ticks are usually in areas with shade and humidity like:  the woods, shrubby areas, areas with long grass or leaf litter.

There are lots of steps we can take to make it less likely we will pick up ticks when out enjoying our outdoor spaces – wearing long clothes so that skin is covered, wearing insect repellant with DEET on exposed skin, and staying on trails.   The second part of staying safe is to do a tick check when arriving home and to remove any ticks you find as soon as possible. 

You can find more details here:  https://www.parentinginottawa.ca/en/youth/mosquito-and-tick-bites.aspx

photo showing the two sizes of green bins (46L and 80L) and a kitchen catcher.

Green Bin Tips for Spring and Summer

Just because the warmer months are coming, it doesn’t mean that your green bin has to be a stinky, bug-filled mess or that the only answer is to (gasp!) stop using it.  Here are some tips from the City of Ottawa – you can find more here: https://ottawa.ca/en/garbage-and-recycling/green-bin-and-leaf-and-yard-waste

Keep it clean

  1. Line your green bin with flyers, newspaper or yard waste paper bags to help keep it clean.
  2. Reuse a plastic bag such as: bread bags, milk bags, grocery and retail bags etc., for bagging organic waste 
  3. Rinse your green bin with a garden hose from time to time, especially if you don’t line your bin with paper.
  4. Rinse your green bin with lemon juice, vinegar or baking soda to reduce odours and keep bugs out. 
  5. Spray your green bin with cooking oil in the winter to minimize risk of items freezing to the bin and ensure easy removal of waste.
  6. Keeping your meat or fish scraps in the freezer until collection day helps reduce odours.

Keep animals and bugs away

  1. Keep your green bin away from fences and deck railings so that animals can’t get into it.
  2. If you do place your bin near a fence or deck railing, secure it with a bungee cord so it doesn’t get knocked over.
  3. Sprinkling a strong-smelling biodegradable repellent such as vinegar or detergent on your green bin helps keep pests away.
  4. Remember to lock the lid to keep animals out of your green bin.
  5. Capture fruit flies with a bowl of vinegar covered with plastic wrap with several small holes in it. Empty as required.
  6. Put salt or vinegar on maggots to kill them. If maggots appear in the green bin, a fly has laid eggs on some exposed food waste.
  7. Peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, chili pepper or hot sauce can act as anti-gnawing repellents and help deter animals from taking an interest in your green bin.
Engage Ottawa logo

Public Engagement – Have Your Say

The City of Ottawa created Engage Ottawa www.engage.ottawa.ca as a way to make it simple for residents to share their thoughts on various projects, initiatives, and policies that affect everyone.

You can register, and then submit your feedback.  You can sign up for alerts so that you don’t miss out on opportunities. Currently, the following opportunities are available:

a hummingbird drinking from wildflowers

Ways to Green Your Yard and Gardens

It’s almost time to start yard clean up and some avid gardeners are probably already planning out their gardens for 2022.  Have you considered ways to make your yard and garden more environmentally friendly?  Here are some possibilities that might work for you.