You’re invited to the first Convent Glen Pumpkin Alley!
The Convent Glen Orléans Woods Community Association is thrilled to host our first pumpkin alley on Friday November 1st, 2024 from 6 – 8 PM. Join us in Voyageur Park (south end) and bring your carved pumpkins with battery powered tea lights (no candles) to light the path for a wonderful post Halloween tradition. If kids (or adults!) want to have a chance to get at least one more use out of their costumes as they grow, this is it!
Our mission includes fostering community connections through the creation of local events that allow members to engage with one another. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to enjoy the following:
Free coffee and hot chocolate
You’re welcome to wear a costume
Kids games and glow in the dark fun
Bring your carved pumpkins to light the path
Prizes will be awarded for pumpkin carving
We will collect and donate pumpkins to local farms
We will need volunteers to help with kids games, moving pumpkins (anyone with a truck would be greatly appreciated), organizing the contest, and prizes. Reach out to [email protected] if you’re able and willing to help out.
Let’s come together to celebrate our vibrant community. We can’t wait to see you there!
Editor’s Note: If you’re a regular reader of the newsletter, you will notice that starting last month the association has started posting news and updates more frequently on the website, with the newsletter serving up a summary of the news and activities for the month. Check the website regularly or subscribe to updates to stay connected.
Jeanne d’Arc Roundabout and Transit Improvements – Virtual Public Information Session on October 9
The Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard Transit Measures project is currently underway, focusing on the construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard, Fortune Drive, and Vineyard Drive. This project aims to improve traffic flow and safety in the area, addressing long-standing concerns from the community. The detailed design plan highlights the integration of modern traffic management solutions, including a bus bay to facilitate smoother public transit operations. The construction is expected to be completed by summer 2025, coinciding with the opening of the LRT East Extension.
To keep the community informed and engaged, a virtual public information session is scheduled for Wednesday, October 9, 2024. This session will provide updates on the project’s progress, address community concerns, and offer a platform for residents to ask questions and provide feedback. Registration is required to attend the session, ensuring that all interested parties can participate and stay informed about the developments in their neighborhood. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the improvements coming to Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard and how they will benefit the community!
2024 Annual General Meeting
The CGOWCA held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 24, 2024. The meeting, which took place at the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex, covered several key topics, including a presentation from our President and the launch of the new 5-year strategic plan, updated financial reports, and updates on ongoing community projects. The association discussed the progress of the Jeanne d’Arc roundabout construction and the community’s response to it. The meeting also included elections for new board members.
The AGM provides a platform for community members to voice their concerns and suggestions, fostering a collaborative environment. The association emphasized the importance of community involvement in local projects and encouraged residents to participate in upcoming events and initiatives. Overall, the meeting highlighted the CGOWCA’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the Convent Glen-Orléans Wood area through active community engagement and transparent governance.
A Weekend in the Suburbs with No Car (and Two Kids)
Rob Attrell, Secretary and Member of CGOWCA Board of Directors
For many suburban parents, reading the title of this article might send shivers down your spine. For a lot of families, one car per adult in the household is pretty typical, unless a car is in the shop or out of commission for some other reason. In my case, one of the reasons we are a one-vehicle household (a minivan, which is great by the way), is to accommodate our financial priorities. We would rather spend our money elsewhere rather than finance a second car for the rare occasion we are doing two things at once that require one. We are a family of 5 with one income at the moment, and not looking to change that.
This past weekend was a great opportunity to demonstrate that I was perfectly capable of getting around the suburbs with kids (who are 6 and nearly 4), with just my long-tail cargo bike.
Despite the cold, we had a solid turnout at our Community BBQ on September 8. Thanks to our neighbours who stopped by and participated in the event. The weather held out and warmed up by early afternoon, and attendees had a great view of the nearby airshow with jets crisscrossing the sky.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Golden Fries, Trinity Physio, Allegro Music School, Metro Convent Glen, and Councillor Laura Dudas for your support, as well as to Station 52 Fire Hall and MPP Stephen Blais for your involvement. Until next time!
Spotlight on Earthub
Savanna Symons, CGOWCA Environment Committee
Reducing our waste to benefit environmental conservation is something we can all do. Thanks to Earthub, it’s easier than you think! Earthub is a local organization on a mission to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to embrace eco-friendly solutions that preserve our planet for future generations. It was founded in 2019 by Ottawa’s own Brittanny Belanger after she was startled to find that medicine bottles were not recycled, but ended up as more trash.
At our annual general meeting on September 24, we were lucky to have Robin van de Lande come to present on the Orléans Corridor Secondary Plan Study which is in the final stages of being adopted (pending Ontario Land Tribunal case OLT-23-000243). In May, a first development application was published which is an example of the type of developments that we can expect coming out of the plan. I thought it would be good to present the short-, medium- and long-term benefits that the community will see as these developments start to appear and a little bit on how I see the community association handling these developments.
This fall, the City of Ottawa is hosting a series of in-person workshops to discuss the new Zoning By-law. These workshops aim to engage the community, gather valuable feedback, and ensure that the new Zoning By-law aligns with the Official Plan and meets the needs and aspirations of all residents. The workshops are an excellent opportunity for residents to learn about proposed changes, ask questions, and provide input on how zoning regulations can better serve their neighborhoods.
Attend the Orleans session October 1st at Ray Friel.
A handful of exciting updates from the association have also come in for the month of October.
First, our new bylaws have been approved and come into effect on October 1st. You can read a summary of the changes and see the new bylaws here.
Next, as far of new rules governing non-profit organizations in Ontario, we have set up a form to register as a member of the community association, which also comes into effect on October 1, so get registered to continue to vote in CA matters.
Finally, at the AGM we also elected 5 new Board members, bringing the total number to 8, you can read about the board here.
Special thanks to Mykal Ibrahim
For about the last two years, Mykal has been translating our newsletter issues to French. Mykal has started getting much busier with work and graduate studies, and so will be stepping away from translation duties. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for their incredible and dedicated work for the community, helping make the work of the association and the community more accessible.
At our annual general meeting on September 24, we were lucky to have Robin van de Lande come to present on the Orléans Corridor Secondary Plan Study which is in the final stages of being adopted (pending Ontario Land Tribunal case OLT-23-000243). In May, a first development application was published which is an example of the type of developments that we can expect coming out of the plan. I thought it would be good to present the short-, medium- and long-term benefits that the community will see as these developments start to appear and a little bit on how I see the community association handling these developments.
Short Term
In the short term, these developments will start providing more housing options for people. I currently live on a street off Voyageurs. I walk and bike a lot which provides me a more detailed look at the community. I see two types of people that I think can benefit from these developments: the young and the old.
I see a lot of young adults living with their parents. One The telltale signs areis the number of cars in a driveway. A lot of young people can’t afford to leave the family homes because rents are getting quite ridiculous ($1960 median rent according to Zumper). Having more supply in Ottawa will reduce the price of rents across the city because of basic supply and demand.
I also see a lot of people who are aging out of being able to live in single family homes. Single family homes need a lot of maintenance and I see a lot of people having to hire contractors to do basic maintenance tasks such as mowing the lawn. Moving out of their homes though is hard. Financially, there is are often very little benefits due to the cost of rent or condos. Considering the additional uncertainty with a new home, there are also very limited options in our community for downsizing. These developments could provide older members of our community with options to stay in the community.
Another benefit is that workers for businesses in the community will have options that are more in line with the wages provided by a lot of small businesses such as restaurants and retail. Having those workers means less people commuting in and out of the community which is often done by car which means less congestion.
Medium Term
In the medium term, those developments which will come with development charges will help fund key infrastructure projects in our community and bring new places and services for our community.
The Transportation Master Plan and the secondary plan has a lot of wonderful things for people looking to reduce their dependence on cars. There are a number of improvements to the walking and cycling experience. Active transportation infrastructure is typically undervalued by the city with most capital spending going on bigger projects such as roads and transit across the city. With development charges, it is possible to work with our councillor to prioritize where the funds will be used in the community without having to compete for funding with from the rest of the city. These developments could help develop our active transportation network which will also help mitigate the impact of those developments by reducing car dependency.
The development pattern presented in the plan is focused on multi-use buildings meaning that buildings will be expected to have retail or public space on the ground floor along with housing. This will lead to more opportunities for businesses to emerge. Those businesses will also be supported by the new people that will be able to move into the community.
Long Term
In the long term, these developments will lead to a more financially sustainable city and provide residents with a better and more affordable life.
For example, the current proposal is for seven apartment buildings from 7 to 18 stories at 1887 St-Joseph with retail space at the ground floor. These buildings would replace the current Jeanne D’Arc Medical Centre building. This would bring a lot of new homes for people in the area.
The current value assessment of the property is $6,638,000 for a lot size of 5.7 acres so a value of $1,164,561 per acre. The retirement home on Belcourt which is 4 stories (used because the data on condo buildings would require a lot more work to process) has a value of about $5 million per acre. Municipal taxes are calculated based on the value of property so we can expect this development to significantly increase the value of the property. A higher value property will take on a greater tax burden than lower value properties. This would allow for the cost associated with running the city to be shared with more people placing a lesser burden on the average citizen. Considering the city is facing a cash crunch, this tax uplift is definitely needed.
In the long term, this more sustainable financial model will allow the city to address its current maintenance deficits. There are a lot of potholes that could be filled and programs delivered using the better financial position.
For residents, access to more housing choices, more amenities and a better maintained city will be an obvious boost to quality of life. Life will also be more affordable. To get around in Orléans without a car is currently very difficult and, according to Ratehub, the average cost of car ownership is $1387 a month and increasing. By allowing more people to walk or bike, the city will allow more households to only operate one vehicle as opposed to 2-3. Some families may also make due with no vehicle or just a car share service like Communauto for their occasional use. That could be a huge boon to household budgets that could be spent locally instead of diverted to car and oil and gas companies outside of the community.
Growing Pains
As a community association, I think it will be important that any developments be built in a way that helps the community achieve the benefits expected in the plan. We need to make sure that when development applications come in that they are in line with the plan. We also need to push for the infrastructure to be built alongside any development to ensure that newcomers to our community are not forced into car dependency from the start which could create a huge impact through additional congestion. We also need to ensure that the construction of those developments have a minimal impact on the surrounding community.
It is clear that with the coming of the LRT that those changes are inevitable since they will be needed to pay for the infrastructure costs. Those changes can be beneficial to our community. I encourage everyone to provide comments on development applications with their concerns and share those comments with the community association so we can better advocate for you.
We will do our best to communicate development applications as they are posted through our Facebook Page, our newsletter and other communication means that we may develop in the future. However, you can look up development applications on the city’s development application website.
Reducing our waste to benefit environmental conservation is something we can all do. Thanks to Earthub, it’s easier than you think! Earthub is a local organization on a mission to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to embrace eco-friendly solutions that preserve our planet for future generations. It was founded in 2019 by Ottawa’s own Brittanny Belanger after she was startled to find that medicine bottles were not recycled, but ended up as more trash.
Some of our most common everyday items are accepted as recycling but regularly end up in landfills. She decided to find solutions to re-use these items. Earthub now accepts and re-homes a wide range of items for reuse. This reduces environmental waste and emissions and benefits the broader community. The egg cartons collected by Earthub, for example, are re-used to distribute eggs at local food banks.
In 5 years, Earthub has kept more than a million items out of landfills – over 672,000 of them were able to be re-used. Earthub will find homes for a variety of items. You can donate clean egg cartons, milk bags, yogurt containers, bread tags, water bottle caps, mascara wands, pop tabs, lip balm, glue stick tubes, and much more to be re-used and/or properly recycled.
It’s easy to participate in the Earthub movement and keep everyday items out of the landfill. We invite you to join us in this endeavor. To learn more about what items are accepted visit earthub.ca, and to find your nearest drop-off location, email [email protected].
