Together with Neighbours
We stand with our neighbours
What have you been doing to stay active in the pandemic? Share your story in the Summer issue of ConneXions!
Save the dates! Overbrook Day 2021 and 2022
Vaccination news
Update on the new Official Plan
Ottawa-Vanier Volunteer Recognition: Congratulations Joanne! Félicitations Ismaël!
Good news for the Rideau Winter Trail
What do you do if a tree has been removed illegally?
1. We stand with our neighbours
OCA would like to express its sadness and heartbreak in the face this month of the tragic discoveries of 215 Indigenous children’s remains at a former residential school in Kamloops, BC and 751 unmarked graves at the former Marieval Residential School in Saskatchewan.
The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides 24-hour national crisis support for former students and those affected: 1-866-925-4419
Read about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and its 94 Calls to Action and access other reports and learning resources about residential schools on the website of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
2. What have you been doing to stay active in the pandemic? Share your story in the Summer issue of ConneXions!
Do you have a story about your favourite park or or did you take up a new hobby, start running or meditating or making sourdough bread during the pandemic? Are you going to continue? What plans are you making for post-pandemic life? What are you most excited/hopeful about? The theme for the next issue of ConneXions will be active living and wellness and we are looking for articles (in French or English), photos, poems and drawings that tell us your stories. Other stories of interest to the community are also always welcome and so are advertisers and sponsors. Please send inquiries and submissions to editor@overbrook.ca. The deadline for submissions and ads is Friday, July 16, 2021
3. Save the dates! Overbrook Day 2021 and 2022
People are working behind the scenes to create a simple and COVID-safe outdoor event at the Overbrook Community Centre for Overbrook Day this summer. Watch for news and pencil in the date, Saturday, August 28, 2021!
2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of Overbrook as a "police village" - which provides us with another great reason to celebrate. We will all be looking for ways to celebrate emergence from COVID by then, and hopefully Overbrook Day will be particularly special next year. Contributions, ideas and leadership welcome! Email president@overbrook.ca.
Let’s have some fun!
4. Vaccination news
Residents of Overbrook and Castle Heights who are eligible for a first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine are also eligible to attend any Ottawa Public Health (OPH) pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic. Pop-up clinic appointments can only be made in-person no earlier than two hours or so before the clinic opens, on a first come first served basis, while supply lasts. If there is a waiting period, residents may receive an appointment card with a time to return to the clinic for their vaccine.
For more information and to stay up to date on pop up clinic locations and more, sign up for the COVID-19 vaccination update e-subscription or follow OPH on Twitter.
5. Update on the new Official Plan
Councillor King published a paper on the New Official Plan at the end of May to outline his position on the issues. His position statement can be found here.
On June 10, the City released its New Official Plan City-Wide Interim As We Heard It report, which highlights the key city-wide themes captured through stakeholder engagement and how City Planners propose to amend policies to address feedback. A Ward 13-specific Interim As We Heard It report is available here / est disponible ici.
Click here for information on further opportunities for public input.
6. Ottawa-Vanier Volunteer Recognition: Congratulations Joanne! Félicitations Ismaël!
Ottawa-Vanier’s elected representatives, MP Mona Fortier, MPP Lucille Collard and City Councillors Mathieu Fleury, Rawlson King and Tim Tierney joined together to host a virtual celebration of community volunteers on June 9th. We are delighted to report that two very committed OCA members were recognized for their outstanding contributions in the community.
Joanne Lockyer loves to create occasions that bring people together and build and support community, which she has done as a long-time OCA board member, as a parent and as an artist and craftsperson. Joanne’s vision, persistence and hard work also led to the development of Riverside Memorial Park. Joanne is past OCA VP and events coordinator.
IsmaëlAwaleh has welcomed new immigrants and refugees from Africa to Canada and helped them navigate our society for many years. Through the pandemic, he has been instrumental in providing information, meals and other support to vulnerable residents in Overbrook. His dedication to alleviation of fear created by the pandemic has been a true gift to OCA and to our residents. Ismaël is OCA VP & Safe Welcome Ambassador.
7. Good news for the Rideau Winter Trail
Congratulations to the Rideau Winter Trail team, who were thrilled to learn at the end of May that they would receive funding through the Community Foundation of Canada’s Healthy Communities Initiative. The grant will allow them to purchase equipment that will enable them to better respond to weather events and a greater variety of snow conditions. It also allows them to accelerate their plans by about 2-3 years. Plans include to improve and extend the trail, hold events and provide equipment rental opportunities. This good news for the Rideau Winter Trail is also good news for our neighbourhood!
8. What do you do if a tree has been removed illegally?
Thanks to Councillor Shawn Menard’s newsletter for the following information.
If you see a tree being cut down, there are several ways to check if a tree permit has been issued:
1 - Check if there is a development sign on the property. If there is an active planning application for the property, there will be a large sign with information about the proposal. Call the City’s Planner identified on the sign and ask if tree removal has been approved.
2 - Check if there is a distinctive tree permit posted on the property and/or on the tree. The by-law requires that all distinctive tree permits are posted on the property for 7 days prior to removal and 7 days following the removal. Notice of the permit must also be posted on the tree itself for 7 days prior to removal.
3 - Call 3-1-1 and ask if a tree permit has been issued for the address
If you determine that a tree permit has not been issued for a tree removal or if it is unclear if a permit has been issued, please phone 3-1-1 and indicate the address of the tree removal. A service request will be sent out to the City Forestry Inspector for the area and they will visit the site to investigate.
If you have, or believe that you have, witnessed an illegal tree cutting, please note down any pertinent information related to the removal to provide to the city’s Forestry team if requested.