Feb 05

February 2020 Newsletter

A photo of community members using the outdoor rink

3rd Annual Winter Carnival

Only a few more days until our 2020 Winter Carnival on Saturday February 8th!  Bring the whole family out to the community outdoor rink at Jeanne d’Arc Park.  It’s located behind Convent Glen Catholic Elementary School.  There will be fun for people of all ages.  You can bring your skates to enjoy the rink.  If you aren’t a skater, there will be other activities too. 

We’ll be there between 10:30am and 12:45pm.  This event is free, but donations to the Convent Glen-Orléans Wood Community Association are welcome.  We hope to see you there!

photo showing the trail after the grooming machine passes.
close up image showing the grooming machine

Expanding Winter Recreation in Orléans

Guest article by Ski Heritage East

Winter can be a long season if you don’t get out and enjoy it. That’s why Ski Heritage East put in operation a plan to groom a multi-use winter trail along the banks of the Ottawa River.

The Ski Heritage East Trail was launched in 2017 and, now, in it’s third year of operation, is enjoyed by approximately 5,000 users a winter. A group of local volunteers raises funds and grooms the Trail for use by cross-country skiers (skate and classic), snowshoers, fatbikers and walkers.

In addition to donations from individuals in the community, operation of the Trail is funded through support from the City of Ottawa, Brigil, the NCC and several local businesses. This funding has enabled the group to purchase and operate grooming equipment including snowmobiles, drags and, new this year, a Ginzu Groomer. Our volunteer grooming team grooms regularly and their hard work shows in the excellent quality of the trail!

Stretching 13.5 km from Shefford Rd. in the west to Trim and Jeanne d’Arc, the Trail is walking distance from several bus stops and is easily accessible from many access points, including the north ends of Trim, Champlain and Orléans Blvd. The full Trail map, trail conditions, and a complete list of local sponsors is available at www.skiheritageeast.ca.

To lend your support you can visit the Ski Heritage East GoFundMe page or e-transfer funds to skiheritage.east@gmail.com. Come out and enjoy the Trail soon!

Butterfly Garden

Our community is looking for a group or individual who could tend a garden near the Orléans YMCA.  There is a butterfly garden on Centrum that was established by the Lions Club in 2014.  They are looking for someone (an individual or group) to adopt this garden.

Do you love gardening?  Do you know of a Scouts, Brownies, or Girl Guides group that would be interested?  The garden is not too large, so it should be manageable for people of all gardening ability (approximately 10 square metres).

For more information about the origin story of this garden, check out this article in the Brampton Guardian: https://www.bramptonguardian.com/news-story/6778021-butterfly-garden-officially-opens-in-orl-ans/ If you would like more information or you are interested in caring for this garden come spring, please contact Councillor Luloff’s assistant, Peter MacDonald.   Peter’s email address is Peter.macdonald@ottawa.ca

Permanent link to this article: https://www.conventglenorleanswood.com/february-2020-newsletter/

Jan 12

January 2020 Newsletter

This edition of the CGOWCA Newsletter is brought to you by Myers Orléans.

image of father and son on the rink

“See you at the ODR!” – Jeanne d’Arc Park Outdoor Rink

The outdoor rink (ODR) will open soon! Thanks to dedicated volunteers, Convent Glen Orléans Wood has one of the best outdoor rinks in Ottawa. Located in Jeanne d’Arc Park, behind Convent Glen Catholic School, at 1155 St. Moritz Court.

Come out anytime. Bring family and friends. It’s a great place for pick-up hockey, learning how to skate and getting some exercise outdoors!

Our rink is one of 255 outdoor rinks in Ottawa. More than any city in Canada and probably the world. The rinks are all made and maintained by volunteers! It’s an Ottawa “thing” and it says a lot about the pride we take in our communities. If you would like to help out in our area, meet some new friends and neighbours, or do your volunteer hours, we are looking for volunteers. Please contact the Association at: conventglenorleanswood@gmail.com

Special thanks to Robertson Rent-All for the lawn roller used to prepare the rink.

image of family playing in the snow with a sled and making a snowman

3rd Annual Winter Carnival

This year’s Winter Carnival will be here before we know it!  Come out to Jeanne d’Arc Park on Saturday February 8, between 10:30am and 12:30pm for some family-friendly fun.  Previous years have had games and skating mixed with hot chocolate and time to connect with neighbours.  We hope to see you there.  This event is free. Donations to the Convent Glen Orléans Wood Community Association are welcome.

a snow removal tractor in a parking lot with two people holding shovels standing nearby

Snow Go Program

The Snow Go Program can help you! This program is divided into two parts to match your individual needs to the appropriate service. The two programs are as follows: 

  • The Snow Go Program provides a matching service for seniors and people with disabilities looking to hire an individual or contractor to clear snow from private driveways and walkways.  Residents who participate in this program are responsible for paying the individual or contractor removing the snow. 
  • The Snow Go Assist Program provides financial assistance to eligible low-income seniors or persons with disabilities looking to hire an individual or contractor to clear snow from private driveways and walkways.  Approved participants may be reimbursed for 50 % of the cost of snow clearing per event, up to a seasonal maximum of $250. 

In our area, contact the Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre at: 613-741-6025 or info@eorc-creo.ca

4 people standing with their arms around one another, all wearing blue t-shirts that say "volunteer"

Rink Volunteers Needed at Pierre Rocque Park

If you’d like to help with a community rink but live in Convent Glen South, the volunteer rink coordinator at Pierre Rocque Park is looking for help!  This rink is not managed by the Convent Glen Orléans Wood Community Association.  

Details about requirements and expectations:  

  • Be minimum 14 years of age 
  • Have a police record check (cost covered by the City of Ottawa)  
  • Commit to working 3 to 6 shifts per week (during the day, late evenings and weekends). Depending on weather and ice conditions.
  • Work starting at the end of December and ending February 28, 2020. 
  • Shovel and operate a snowblower
  • Water ice rinks 4 days a week.

If you are interested, or would like more details – please contact [contact information removed by request December 2022].   

Permanent link to this article: https://www.conventglenorleanswood.com/january-2020-newsletter/

Dec 01

December 2019 Newsletter

blurry lights in a christmas tree shape

CGOWCA 3rd Annual Winter Carnival

Our 3rd Annual Winter Carnival will be held in February 2020.  Look for more information in the January 2020 newsletter!

Are you a walker? Join SNOW MOLES 2019!

cartoon image of a mole coming out of a burrow

Age-Friendly Winter Walkability and Pedestrian Safety Audits for Seniors and Other Pedestrians

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). There are two ways you can be a snow mole:

  1.  On your own:
    1. 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).
    2. Use the Snow Mole questionnaire to audit your walk.
    3. Complete the questionnaire online or send a completed paper copy to the COA (address below).
  2. With a neighbourhood Group:
    1. For Orléans, contact Alton Legault at alegault10@hotmail.com.  
    2. Your community contact will let you know dates, times, locations and routes.

There is an online questionnaire as well as a paper questionnaire you can print:  https://coaottawa.ca/snowmoles/

Winter is coming, here’s what to expect during and after a storm

image of a snowplow pushing snow

When roads get plowed

Snow removal is based on a road-priority system, with high-use roads and emergency and transit routes cleared first.

  • Major roads, arterials and major collector roads: Plows are deployed at the start of accumulation.
  • After the last snowflake falls:
    • Major roads, arterials and major collectors: Within four hours
    • Roads will not be bare pavement during a storm.
    • Minor collector roads: Within six hours
    • Residential roads and lanes: Within 16 hours

Under extreme winter storm conditions (i.e. those that exceed normal conditions), snow and ice control operations will be carried out based on the capacity of resources in as continuous a manner as practicable. This will give crews the flexibility to provide relief in residential areas while simultaneously maintaining and clearing priority roads.

When sidewalks get cleared

After the last snowflake falls:

  • Sidewalks in the downtown core: Within 6 hours
  • Downtown residential sidewalks: Within 12 hours
  • Residential sidewalks: Within 16 hours
  • Intersections and pedestrian crossings: Within 16 hours
  • Bus stops: Within 24 hours after clean up

If your sidewalk has not been cleared 72 hours after the end of a snowfall, please call 3-1-1. The City does not clear snow from driveways or private sidewalks leading to a residence.

Clearing snow from your property

  • Do not push snow and ice on the street, sidewalk or park.
  • Keep fire hydrants free of snow.
  • Use wood, plastic or fibreglass driveway markers, which should be no larger than a hockey stick.
  • Open catch basins or drains in front of your property when the weather becomes mild.
  • Catch basins are identified by a yellow “T” bar painted on the roadway.

A snow “windrow” is the pile of snow that accumulates at the end of driveways and on the sides of streets during plowing. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to remove their own driveway windrows.

Garbage and recycling collection

Place garbage containers and bags and recycling bins at the curb. Do not place them behind or on top of snow banks.

Get out and enjoy Orléans pathways with Parkrun

Parkrun is a network of free, weekly timed five-kilometre runs held every Saturday morning (year-round) in almost 2,000 parks in 20 countries around the world.  Since the first one was held in London’s Bushy Park in 2004, more than four million different people have participated.  The first Canadian event, in Kelowna, B.C., started in 2016; there are now 35 locations from coast to coast (listed at parkrun.ca).  You only need to register once and when you travel you can use your athlete’s barcode, anywhere in the world, where your personal time(s) and the event(s) you participate in are recorded. One key difference between parkruns and typical races, is that they take place every week at each location. The fact that the events are purely volunteer-driven also gives them a community feel.  

A parkrun was started in 2017 in the west-end of Ottawa, the “Kanata parkrun.” A core-team decided to start the “Orleans parkrun” in 2018 for residents of the east-end Ottawa community, so that they could also benefit/participate in this weekly fun and fitness event – “It’s all about sharing an experience of well-being, a connection with our community, as well as with the rest of the world!” 

The Orleans parkrun Saturday morning event takes place year-round on the beautiful multi-purpose “Ottawa River Pathway East” trail alongside the Ottawa river. The course starts at the entrance to the path, located near Cairine Wilson Secondary school. After the event, participants gather for a post run coffee or breakfast at a local restaurant. We are very privileged to be able to use the trail throughout the winter season, as Ski Heritage East (https://www.facebook.com/skiheritage.orleans.ontario/) grooms the trail for winter activities.

For more information on the Orleans Parkrun visit: https://www.parkrun.ca/orleans/  and Follow-us/Like us on Facebook “Orleans parkrun” It’s FREE, here’s how to register: https://www.parkrun.ca/register/

Explore the Vintage Village of Lights

image of the Cumberland Museum with Christmas lights decorating the house and trees

A favourite Christmas tradition returns to the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from November 29 to December 22. Tour the picturesque 1920s and 30s village, visit with Santa, enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride and more!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.conventglenorleanswood.com/december-2019-newsletter/

Nov 09

November 2019 Newsletter

a field of poppies with the setting sun behind them.

Your Board of Directors for 2019-2020:

photo of the board of directors

At the first full board meeting of the Convent Glen Orléans Wood Community Association, the officers were determined.  Serving you for the coming year are:

  • Mireille Brownhill, President
  • Louise McLaren, Vice President
  • Ben Gorley, Treasurer
  • Toby Bossert and Miranda Gray, Co-Secretary
  • Garth Williams and Gary Bradshaw are Directors at large.

Community Compassion Centre Opens in Convent Glen South

aerial shot of various types of fruit and vegetables in paper bags

Residents whose postal code begins with K1C have a new resource close to home. The Community Compassion Centre is co-located within the Community Pentecostal Church at 1825 St. Joseph Boulevard, just west of Jeanne d’Arc. The Centre will provide K1C residents with a food bank closer to home than the one at the Eastern Ottawa Community Resource Centre in the Gloucester Centre.

If you would like to volunteer, please email ccc@cpcorleans.ca or call 613-837-3555 x332.

First CGOWCA Walkability Audit

person walking along a forest trail with an umbrella

On October 24th, a mighty group of community members met at the Place d’Orléans Park and Ride and walked north to assess safety concerns.  Women’s Initiatives for Safer Environments (WISE) and the Council On Aging provided guidance and some training prior to the audit.  There will be further walkability audits in various conditions in the coming months.  If you are interested in taking part in a future walk, please reach out to the Board at conventglenorleanswood@gmail.com

Tell the City of Ottawa what you think

Engage Ottawa is the new platform that folks at City Hall are using to get your feedback.  You can take short 1 or 2 question surveys and learn about issues at the municipal level.  Current opportunities for providing feedback include: Draft Budget 2020, The New Official Plan, Women and Gender Equity Strategy, 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan Refresh, Cultural Funding Information Sessions 2020, Stinson Park, Springhurst Park, Recreation Facility Infrastructure Standards and Strategy, and more! 

Take a few minutes and help shape the directions being taken at the City of Ottawa.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.conventglenorleanswood.com/november-2019-newsletter/

Oct 06

October 2019 Newsletter

The words "Annual Meeting" with silhouettes of different colours standing below.

2019 Annual General Meeting

The 2019 Annual General Meeting of the Convent Glen-Orléans Wood Community Association was held on September 23, 2019. There were 20 members present to review the year’s activities and finances, elect a new Board and hear a presentation from M.J. Proulx, Director, Watershed Network, of the Ottawa Riverkeeper organization.

Vice-President Mireille Brownhill presented a review of the year and, thanks to the participation of several volunteers, the members were made aware of important renovations needed to maintain the community rink. The following officers were then elected to the Board for 2019-20: Toby Bossert, Gary Bradshaw, Mireille Brownhill, Ben Gorley, Miranda Gray, Louise McLaren and Garth Williams. The Association thanks Karen Chow and Fran Childs for their service in recent years. Although they will no longer serve on the Board, they will continue to assist the Association as volunteers.

Ms. Proulx spoke about the work of the Ottawa Riverkeeper during the spring floods and throughout the year. She encouraged community members to avoid single-use plastics (for example, avoid buying bottled water) and to help keep the shoreline clean. For more information or to subscribe to the Riverkeeper’s newsletter please visit: https://www.ottawariverkeeper.ca.

Traditional Approach: Traffic deaths are inevitable, perfect human behaviour, prevent collisions, individual responsibility, saving lives is expensive VS Vision Zero: traffic deaths are preventable, integrate human failing in approach, prevent fatal and severe crashes, systems approach, saving lives is not expensive

Road Safety: In Support of Vision Zero

Recently, we had a cycling tragedy in our neighbourhood.  At the September meeting, Board members discussed this and the need for better road safety policy in Ottawa.  According to Vision Zero Canada, each year some 2,000 people die on Canada’s roads, and some 160,000 are injured (10,000 are seriously hurt). Vision Zero Canada recognizes that this carnage is predictable and preventable, and campaigns for the elimination of harm to all road users including drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.

The Vision Zero approach is rooted in the principle that safe independent mobility is a natural right and that no loss of life is acceptable. Emulating countries that are leading the way in the reduction of traffic violence, Vision Zero Canada promotes results-driven policies and practices with a strong focus on public investment in failsafe design.

The Swedish government, who coined the term “Vision Zero” in 1997, is now talking about Moving Beyond Zero with a dual focus on the elimination of traffic violence and the promotion of active mobility (e.g. walking and cycling). These twin goals are at the root of the Vision Zero Canada mission. If you support Vision Zero and would like to see our city establish policies using these principles, we encourage you to reach out to our Councillor, Matthew Luloff, to encourage him to support them at City Hall.

the letters spelling out "community" tacked to a wall

What is a Community Association Anyway?

Sometimes folks see our newsletter or join our Facebook group but are not too sure what the Convent Glen-Orléans Wood Community Association is. We found a definition that we like and would like to share. A Community Association is an organization formed by the residents of an area:

  • To support the social, educational and recreational needs of the neighbourhood
  • To build connections in the neighbourhood through volunteer opportunities, events and programs
  • To act as a community liaison in civic matters (planning and development)
  • To plan, develop and maintain community facilities and amenities such as community gardens and skating rinks.
Map showing detour along pathway - information available via calling 311

Upcoming Sewer Work Near Cairine Wilson S.S.

There will be renovations made to the OCC Overflow outfall located on the shoreline of the Ottawa River just west of Bilberry Creek between Orleans Boulevard and Bilberry Drive. The work involves removal of four sections of existing sewer pipe adjacent to the river, installation of a new headwall structure at the outlet and provision of scour protection where the pipe is exposed in the flood plain.

The exact timing of construction is uncertain but will likely begin in October 2019 and is planned to be completed by December 2019. To enable construction, the Ottawa pathway between Orleans Boulevard and the north-south site access road will be closed for short periods to enable movement of construction vehicles and materials. Access for pathway users (pedestrians and cyclists) will be controlled by flaggers located on either end of the path. Throughout construction, the gravel site access road between the pathway and the Ottawa River will be closed.

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

Community Ice Rink: Volunteers Needed!

We are looking for volunteers to help maintain the community outdoor rink in Jeanne d’Arc Park again this year. The rink gives children, families and everyone in our community the chance to have fun, play pickup hockey, make new friends and stay active all winter long.

If you want to do something for the whole community, if you like being part of a team and want to make some good friends, and you have a couple hours free each week between December and February, please contact us at conventglenorleanswood@gmail.com. A Board member will respond to you directly.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.conventglenorleanswood.com/october-2019-newsletter/