Thank you for making our first virtual AGM a success!
AGM thanks and documents
Ward boundary appeal
Youth Engagement for Safety project
Speaking with one voice
Find out about Census 2021 job opportunities!
City of Ottawa survey
1. AGM thanks and documents
Our first ever virtual AGM last week was a success: we had over 60 participants and raised more than $800 in donations. Thank you all for your generosity!
Special thanks to Knowledge Keeper Doreen Stevens, who acknowledged the Algonquin land we all live on and blessed our meeting.
Congratulations to OCA’s new Board of Directors, elected at the AGM. A special welcome to new Board members Christine Beauchamp (Twitter Manager), Khadija El Hilali (Safety Committee Chair) and Paul Pagliuso (Four Corners Chair)!
2. Ward boundary appeal
We are still accepting donations at overbrook.ca/donate to support our appeal of the recent Bylaw moving the ward boundary between Overbrook and Vanier south to Donald Street.
3. Youth Engagement for Safety Project
OCA is proud to announce the start of an exciting new Youth oriented project, the Youth Engagement for Safety (YES) Project, fighting discrimination and preventing hate crimes through art. Thanks to a grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General, OCA’s Digital Team will run the project over the next two years. Using the creative power of the arts, project partners will work together with youth to increase community awareness about hate crimes and the impact of discrimination, and about prevention and available reporting mechanisms.
We are thrilled to be partnering with our councillor Rawlson King and the Anti-Racism Secretariat at the City, the Ottawa Police Neighbourhood Response Team and the Hate Crime Unit, the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, Jamaal “Just Jamaal the Poet” Jackson Roger, local artist Kalkidan Assefa, as well as the Youth Services - Boys and Girls Club (BGC). Stay tuned for more details like how to sign up and how to help!
4. Speaking with one voice
The Community Collective, comprised of the Presidents of Ward 13 and Vanier community associations, have written a joint letter expressing their significant concerns with the City’s draft Official Plan. The letter offers some high-level observations and concerns about the draft Official Plan, and the process surrounding its creation and its implementation. We’re keeping an eye on this plan, because we care deeply about the future Ottawa this plan is intended to shape. Read the letter here.
5. Find out about Census 2021 job opportunities!
6. City of Ottawa survey
According to census data, in 2016, there were more than 20,000 empty and temporarily occupied homes in Ottawa. These vacant homes are a potential source of housing supply. In December 2020, City Council approved a motion which directed the City to study the power to impose an optional property tax on the assessment of vacant residential units and report back on the feasibility of such a tax, which could encourage property owners to maintain, occupy or rent their properties.
This survey is designed to gather residents' opinions on the vacant unit tax and should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete: https://engage.ottawa.ca/vut.