Air Quality Statement in effect for the City of Ottawa

6 06 2023

Forwarded from Councillor Theresa Kavanagh:


Good afternoon,

A Special Air Quality Statement has been issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) because high levels of air pollution are expected or occurring. High levels of air pollution are possible throughout the day today, due to wildfire smoke migrating into the City of Ottawa. As a result, the City of Ottawa is advising of outdoor recreation impacts on Tuesday, June 6 until further notice.

  • All recreational outdoor programs and leagues directly operated by the City of Ottawa will be cancelled for the remainder of today, Tuesday, June 6. Registrants will be contacted directly with either a refund, credit or rescheduling of their program.
  • Sport fields, ball diamonds and city parks will remain open. Cancellation requests should be emailed to sports@ottawa.ca. Following the inclement weather process, credits on account will be provided.
  • All splash pads will remain open.
  • All drop-in programs that operate outdoors will move indoors, where possible. Please check the drop-in schedules at your local facility for up-to-date information.

It is anticipated that the air quality for tomorrow, Wednesday, June 7, will continue to impact these services. Please continue to monitor ottawa.ca/recreation for up-to-date information on outdoor recreation service impacts.

All City facilities will remain open and there are no impacts to indoor programming. City-wide impacts and updates related to the ongoing air quality issues can be found on ottawa.ca. For more information about outdoor air pollution and the current status of Ottawa’s air quality, visit the Ottawa Public Health website

Please note that small children, pregnant woman, older adults, people with lung or heart conditions, and people involved in strenuous outdoor work or sports are at greatest risk from poor air quality and should monitor their symptoms and take precautions if warranted until the air quality improves.

Air pollutants including smoke from wildfires can irritate the lungs, eyes, nose, and throat and can cause coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. People with heart or lung conditions may be more sensitive to the effects of smoke and should monitor their symptoms and take steps to reduce their exposure to smoke and, if necessary, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.

When wildfire smoke is affecting our air quality, residents and visitors should: 

  • Make a plan to avoid breathing in smoke. depending on your risk factors, and what resources you have available to you. Consider postponing outdoor exercise until the air quality has improved. If your breathing becomes difficult or uncomfortable, stop the activity and go indoors.
  • Consider staying indoors, shutting windows, and putting your HVAC system on recirculate. 
  • Be aware of your symptoms. Call 8-1-1 Health Connect Ontario for non-emergency medical advice and seek medical attention if needed.
  • Follow your asthma or personal care plan if you have asthma or other chronic illnesses.
  • If needed, consider visiting a location like a shopping mall with filtered air.
  • Keep your vehicle windows closed and set the ventilation system to recirculate.
  • Check on neighbours, friends, and family and share this information. 
  • Pay attention to local air quality reports since air quality may be poor even though you may not be able to see smoke.  Information is available at www.airhealth.ca and www.airqualityontario.com and on our Ottawa Public Health website.

 Take care everyone.

 
Theresa Kavanagh
Bay Ward Councillor | Conseillère quartier Baie
City of Ottawa | Ville d’Ottawa
613-580-2477
BayWardBulletin.ca 





Movies in the Village

6 06 2023

Westboro Village BIA presents:


Movies in the Village

June 6th, 2023

Westboro Village is thrilled to partner with Capital Pop-Up Cinema to bring a collection of  musical movies to the neighborhood this summer.

July 14th – Singin’ in the Rain

Poster: July 14, "Singin' in the Rain"
Churchill Seniors Recreation Center
Film starts at dusk

August 11th – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

September 8th – School of Rock

Vintage Pop-Up 613 will have a mini market each movie night, and the Ottawa Art Gallery Art Tent will at the July and August dates. Come down early, grab dinner, browse through Vintage 613 Pop-Up vendors, and enjoy the movie at dusk.

Vintage shopping, dinner, and a movie sound like the perfect summer evening.





Parkway Lane Closures Extended through September

5 06 2023

[A post from mid-April described similar closures to end July 9. In this new notice from the City of Ottawa Rail Construction Program, the stated end date is September 30th, with other changes.]


Notice of Temporary Lane Closures and Construction Activities

Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway: between Island Park Drive and Woodroffe Avenue
June 2023

As part of the Stage 2 O-Train Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, there will be temporary lane closures and construction activities on the Sir John A. Macdonald (SJAM) Parkway between Island Park Drive and Woodroffe Avenue.

What

SJAM Parkway temporary lane closures between Island Park Drive and Woodroffe Avenue.

On weekdays, there will be one lane in each direction, available to general traffic on the SJAM Parkway just east of the Transitway off-ramp to just past Westboro Beach.

On weekends, during the NCC Weekend Bikedays a paved surface will be available for cyclists. 

When

Daytime hours only. 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday. 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., on Sundays.
Monday, June 12 at 6:00 a.m. to Saturday, September 30 at 6:00 a.m. 2023.

Read the rest of this entry »




Westboro Village Presents Shop the Village!

30 05 2023

Courtesy of Westboro Village BIA:


Join us for an evening of entertainment, shopping, and delight. Saunter the tree-lined streets and visit our local businesses to enjoy the experiences each store has planned for you, from hors d’oeuvres and bubbly while shopping, to in-store live performances, to curated fashion shows, and more. While shopping, stop and take a selfie at our MDRN photo booth at Flowers Talk, watch Corinne Blu artfully transform the sidewalks and the buildings scapes, and enjoy live jazz performances at the corner of Eden and Richmond Rd.

It is City Life with a Village Feel.

Check back frequently for updates. We look forward to seeing you around Westboro Village! 

Make it a date night! Register the kids for the Dovercourt Date Night Drop In Care: Drop the kids off with our experienced program leaders for a special pizza dinner and a movie, and outdoor play (weather depending). Blankets, stuffed animals, and pyjamas are welcome!

Read the rest of this entry »




Online Public Meeting: New Multi-Use Pathway and Intersection Modifications at Golden/Richmond

29 05 2023

This Wednesday, May 31, at 6:30 pm, an on-line presentation and public discussion will address project plans, as described below.


Golden Avenue to Dominion Avenue Multiuse Pathway

Project Description

The City of Ottawa invites you to provide your comments on a new active transportation connection from the intersection of Richmond Road and Golden Avenue to Dominion Avenue. The proposed project includes a 3.0 m wide paved multi-use pathway (MUP) through Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) lands at 445 Richmond Road, subject to final property agreements with OCH. The MUP provides direct access to the Kichi Sibi LRT Station under construction as well as Crosstown Bikeway #2 along Scott Street. The project also includes modifications to the intersection of Richmond Road and Golden Avenue to provide a cycling crossing and to reduce crossing distances for pedestrians. This will make it safer and easier for people on foot and bike to access the new MUP from Richmond Road and neighbourhoods to the south.

Location and project details can be viewed by clicking on the link at the upper right side of the screen.

Summary of Impacts

  • An eastbound cycle track will be added to Richmond Road for 135 m on the approach to Golden Avenue. A westbound cycle track and protected bike lane will be added to Richmond Road for 100 m on the egress from Golden Avenue. The eastbound right turn lane is expected to be shortened to accommodate the changes.
  • The eastbound bus stop on Richmond Road is expected to move to the east side of the Golden Avenue intersection. Some on-street parking on the south side of Richmond Road will need to be relocated from the east side to the west side of Golden Avenue to accommodate this change.
  • Up to eight trees may be removed. Any impacted trees will be replaced or compensated in accordance with the Tree Protection Bylaw.
  • The Richmond Road/Golden Avenue intersection will receive a bidirectional crossride on the west side, curb extensions, widened sidewalk space and shortened crosswalks.
Read the rest of this entry »




Richmond Road Closure, Detour on Ambleside, both ways until October

16 05 2023

Notice from City of Ottawa Rail Construction Program:


Notice of Long-Term Closure and Detour

Richmond Road Between New Orchard Avenue and McEwen Avenue
May 2023

As part of the Stage 2 O-Train Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, Richmond Road will now be closed to eastbound vehicles, along with the existing westbound Richmond Road closure, travelling between New Orchard Avenue to McEwen Avenue. Vehicles will be detoured along Ambleside Drive.

What

Eastbound motorists traveling on Richmond Road will be detoured onto Ambleside Drive to facilitate the closure of Richmond Road between New Orchard Avenue and McEwen Avenue.

When

As early as Tuesday, May 23 until Sunday, October 1, 2023.

Read the rest of this entry »




Emergency Preparedness Week 2023: “Be Prepared. Know your Risks”

9 05 2023

Information from the City of Ottawa:


City of Ottawa

Over the past several years, Ottawa residents have experienced first-hand several different types of emergencies: tornadoes and a derecho damaged homes, uprooted trees, and downed power lines; two major floods in 2017 and 2019 caused significant damage to homes in impacted communities; and, a recent freezing rainstorm caused branches and power lines to freeze, impacting the hydro infrastructure and leaving many residents in the dark.

Emergency Preparedness Week is May 7 to 13, which is a good time to reflect on lessons learned and better prepare for the next emergency.

In the event of an emergency, everyone should aim to be able to take care of themselves and their families for up to three days. The following provides some guidelines to help you get started.

Emergency kit – supplies for 72 hours
One of the easiest tools to prepare in advance is an emergency preparedness kit. Some items that are useful for your kit can include:

  • Two litres of drinking water per person per day
  • Battery-operated or crank radio
  • Power banks for wireless charging
  • Flashlights and extra batteries
  • Medication
  • Non-perishable, ready-to-eat canned foods and a manual can opener (note: be sure to rotate the food in your emergency kit to keep them fresh)
  • Pet food for our family members from the animal world
  • Blankets or sleeping bags
  • Copies of important documents in a waterproof and portable container (e.g., insurance cards, birth certificates, passports, etc.)
  • Clothing and footwear (one change per person; more for children)
  • Toilet paper and other personal hygiene supplies
  • First aid kit

It is also a good idea to be prepared by ensuring you have:

  • A paper or digital note with a list of contact names and information of family members, daycares, schools, etc.
  • Trusted people in place as emergency backup to pick up your children from school or daycare, check in with vulnerable family members and neighbors, and/or take care of and feed your pets.
  • Emergency money or a Presto card on-hand for transportation home.
  • A small quantity of your prescriptions on-hand, should you be unable to get home to take them.
Read the rest of this entry »




Safe Wings Ottawa needs our help preventing bird deaths

6 05 2023

Safe Wings Ottawa, a not-for-profit volunteer-based program of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club that aims to reduce bird mortality from window collisions through research, prevention, and rescue provided the following information: 


In anticipation of World Migratory Bird Day 2023 (WMBD) on May 13, Safe Wings Ottawa is launching a Residential Bird Collision Solutions Spring Campaign to share information about the issue of bird-glass collisions and existing small-scale solutions. I have attached two illustrative posters, one is about the campaign and the other is about the cause of collisions and how to bird-proof a home/cottage. I would be very grateful if you could share or display these documents with members of your community to help raise awareness. 

Spring migration has begun and thousands of birds who fly through or choose Ottawa as their summer home are arriving daily until late June and will be returning back starting in September. Safe Wings Ottawa estimates that over 250,000 birds, in Ottawa alone, collide with windows every year, including Species At Risk. Birds don’t perceive glass; what they see are reflections of trees or sky and they will fly towards them at full speed. The first four stories of buildings tend to have the most collisions, and they can occur at any type of building, including residences and cottages, or with clear deck railings. It’s especially important to make your windows bird-safe if you attract birds through feeding or plantings. Luckily there are simple solutions to make glass bird-safe!

One collision solution proven to work by scientific studies and local users is Feather Friendly window markers on the outside glass surface. From May 13 to 28, residents can take advantage of a 15% discount on Feather Friendly products from Wild Birds Unlimited by purchasing online or in-store at their Ottawa and Kanata locations.

In closing, should anyone in your community find an injured or dead bird, please call Safe Wings Ottawa at 613-216-8999.

On behalf of Ottawa’s residents and migratory birds, I would like to thank you for your collaboration in raising awareness of the problem and solutions. 

Read the rest of this entry »




Woodroffe Ave Closure, late May-June

28 04 2023

Notice from City of Ottawa Rail Construction Program:


Notice of Construction and Temporary Road Closure

Woodroffe Avenue between Byron Avenue and Richmond Road
May 2023

As part of the Stage 2 O-Train Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, crews and equipment will be closing Woodroffe Avenue at Richmond Road to remove the temporary bridge that allowed the tunnel to be excavated below. Woodroffe Avenue will be reinstated to its original configuration during the closure following the removal of the temporary bridge.

What

The removal of the temporary bridge and the reinstatement of Woodroffe Avenue over the cut & cover tunnel. Activities include the removal of the steel decking, the demolition of abutments, hydro-vac operations related to utilities, waterproofing, followed by backfilling of the cut & cover tunnel, and road construction prior to re-opening for general traffic.

When

As soon as Friday, May 26 for approximately three weeks. Work will be occurring day and night, on weekdays and weekends.

No hydro vac or rock breaking will occur between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Why

Woodroffe Avenue must be closed to allow for the removal of the temporary bridge currently supporting the roadway between Byron Avenue and Richmond Road.Day and night construction is necessary to complete critical project work that is time sensitive, and to limit the traffic impacts of the closure.

Pedestrian connectivity will be maintained throughout the closure.

Where

Woodroffe Avenue, between Richmond Road and Knightsbridge Road. Byron Avenue, between Compton Avenue and Lockhart Avenue.

The construction work outlined in this notice is subject to change.
Work may be delayed or extended due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Read the rest of this entry »




Farmers’ Market in Westboro to open May 20th

24 04 2023







%d bloggers like this: