City of Ottawa - Who to Call

Know who to call
There are 3 key numbers in Ottawa to call for help and information. These numbers may be confusing, especially to newcomers, immigrants and vulnerable seniors. Take a few minutes to review these numbers with the seniors you know and work with.

Help them make the right call:

• 911 for life-threatening emergencies: fire, medical, or crime in progress.

• 311 for any questions on services provided by the City of Ottawa: garbage and recycling, recreation programs, emergency and social services, property tax bill, transit, etc.

• 211 for information on government and community based health and social services: housing, elder abuse, meals for seniors and people with disabilities, etc.

Order your "Who to call" Neighbourhood Toolkit fridge magnets in English, French, Chinese, Arabic, Somali, Russian, Farsi and Spanish. To order your free fridge magnets, email Crime Prevention Ottawa at cpo@ottawa.ca.

Additionally, you can order free 211 promotional materials.

September QTSR Meeting Cancelled

The QTSR meeting scheduled for Monday, September 17th has been cancelled. Our next meeting will be in October 2018.

Thank you!

City of Ottawa Accessibility Spotlight

New for the 2018 Municipal Elections Para Transpo customers can reserve their trip to and from a voting place 48 hours in advance. Contact Para Transpo at 613-741-4390 for more information or call 613-244-7272 to book your trip.

OC Transpo’s interior and exterior bus announcement systems improve transit accessibility for everyone – and they work better with your help

It has been more than a year since OC Transpo launched its exterior bus announcements and for many customers this new technology has positively transformed their transit-riding experience. Generated from a speaker located outside the front door, OC Transpo buses automatically and audibly announce, in both official languages, the same information seen on the bus destination sign – namely, the route and destination of the bus at the stop. "When there were no exterior bus announcements, I often depended on other people at the stop to tell me when my bus arrived," said Kim Kilpatrick, one of several stakeholders and community members who worked collaboratively with OC Transpo on the introduction of the announcements. "But, since the exterior announcements began, I now listen for the tone and the announcement, and know that I am boarding the right bus. It has made taking the bus much less stressful." For OC Transpo, the implementation of exterior bus announcements was the next logical phase in the evolution of its stop announcement system. In 2011, the transit agency completed the installation of the interior next-stop announcements on all of its buses, which proved to be universally beneficial to all customers – whether one was partially sighted or blind, unable to gaze out a window due to frost buildup, or immersed in an interesting book. However, as with any technology, there are times when the interior or exterior announcements unexpectedly stop working. In these instances, OC Transpo looks to its Operators and its customers to let them know. "Our stop announcement systems are not perfect. There are times when the technology unexpectedly malfunctions, such as when a speaker needs to be replaced or when the bus location is not tracking properly" said David Pepper, OC Transpo’s Manager of Customer Services. "If customers notice that the system is not working or not loud enough, we encourage them to let the Operator know. With all the activity on the bus, the Operator may not have noticed, so pointing it out will alert them to the problem. And, if customers don’t feel comfortable speaking to the Operator, we ask them to please contact OC Transpo – noting the bus route, destination, time, direction and, if possible, the bus number."      Once an Operator or customer reports a problem with the interior or exterior announcements system, that information is provided to OC Transpo staff, who then investigate and make the necessary repairs to the equipment or the tracking system. These repairs ensure that all customers, of all abilities, get the information they need when riding the bus. To report an issue with a bus’s exterior or interior announcements, or any other transit accessibility feature, customers may contact OC Transpo Customer Relations at 613-741-4390 (TTY 613-741-5280), or fill in an online feedback form at octranspo.com.

Accessibility Advisory Committee

Beginning in November, the City of Ottawa will be recruiting residents to serve on the Accessibility Advisory Committee. The mandate of the Accessibility Advisory Committee is to fulfill the duties of a Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee as outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and to provide advice to Council on programs, policies and services provided to persons with disabilities and seniors. Make a difference in your community by becoming a volunteer member. The City could greatly benefit from your expertise and knowledge. For more information: contact Carole Legault at 613-580-2424, ext. 28934, (TTY: 613-580-2401) or by email at committees@ottawa.ca.

Pinecrest Neighbourhood RAIN project

The Pinecrest Neighbourhood RAIN project has a number of fall activities you may be interested in:

1.       RAIN Home Demonstration Visits – an interactive tour of rainwater management at a home in the Pinecrest/ Westboro Watershed area. We will look at how downspouts, rain barrels, gardens and other solutions help protect your home, community and waterways by managing rainwater where it falls. This “rain or shine” home tour will be led by a certified RAIN Guide from Green Communities Canada on Thursday September 20, 6-7:30pm and Saturday September 22, 9:30-11. Space is limited, so please register early! This is a free event but pre-registration is required.

For registration and more info see: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rain-home-visit-visite-a-domicile-rain-tickets-50012786591

2.       Ready for RAIN Workshops – EnviroCentre and f.d.fountain Landscape Architecture and Design are co-presenting Ready for Rain - an informal, fun and engaging look at managing rainwater around your home. This 1-hour workshop will include: rain gardens, rain barrels, the dos and don’ts of downspouts and other tips to SLOW IT DOWN, SOAK IT UP, KEEP IT CLEAN.

There will be several interactive displays and plenty of time for questions at this workshop. Participants will receive a downspout extender and takeaway resources at the workshop. Tickets are $5.00 each. This workshop will take place at Dovercourt Recreation Centre on Thursday, October 18, 6:30-7:30 pm and Saturday, October 20, 9:30-10:30 am. Pre-registration is required.

For registration and more info see: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ready-for-rain-workshops-ateliers-pare-pour-la-pluie-tickets-50087857129.

3.       Want to stay up to date? Follow our RAIN Ottawa PLUIE Facebook page for rainwater management tips and information on RAIN project activities in Ottawa https://www.facebook.com/RAINOttawaPLUIE/  or visit www.ottawa.ca/rain.

4.       Have you completed our questionnaire yet?  Answer a short survey on how you manage rainwater on your property and you could win a rain barrel! Visit www.ottawa.ca/rain

City of Ottawa - Cleaning the Capital

Let's get cleaning! Early bird registration ends September 14th.

Register your cleanup project for the 2018 GLAD Cleaning the Capital fall campaign by September 14th and you’ll have a chance to win an early bird prize generously donated by our sponsors. Registration continues until October 15th. GLAD Cleaning the Capital volunteers who submit their online cleanup reports by October 31st are also eligible to win one of the many prizes donated by our sponsors. Join the thousands of community volunteers to help keep Ottawa clean and green in 2018! For more information on the GLAD Cleaning the Capital campaign, please visit ottawa.ca/clean. Thanks for keeping Ottawa clean and green! The GLAD Cleaning the Capital Team

City of Ottawa Recreation and Culture - September 2018

Call for Artists

The Community Galleries Annual Call for Artists invites local artists to exhibit artwork at one of four visual art exhibition spaces: Archives Gallery 112, Atrium Art Gallery, and Salons A & B of Trinity Art Gallery. Application forms are available now. The deadline is Friday October 5, 2018 at 4:30 pm.

Fall and winter registration is officially open

Now is the perfect time to register yourself and your children in a dance class, swimming lessons, or a skating program! With so many amazing recreation programs being offered, why not try something new or learn a new skill? Registration is simple, with three easy ways to do it: Online By phone: 613-580-2588 In person at recreation or culture facilities The Recreation eGuide are now available online. You can also browse programs by facility with: JoinOttawa

Corporate Memberships

Healthy employees are happy employees! Did you know that the City offers discounts of up to 20% on fitness and aquatics memberships to employees of participating Ottawa employers? If your business has 10 or more employees, you may qualify for big savings! Businesses pay no additional fee to participate, flexible options make it easy for everyone to join and benefits extend to members of each employee’s immediate family!  Click here for more details.

Community Galleries

Atrium Art Gallery Sharon Collins - Atmospheric Textile Art Trinity Art Gallery Diane Laundy - Kaleidos Sanjay Sundram - Silent Cities

The City is hiring!

Qualified lifeguard or on the path to becoming one? We want you!  Our next screening session is Wednesday, September 5, apply today!

K-pop (Routhier Community Centre)

When you hear the name BTS, EXO and Big Bang do you struggle to stop yourself from gathering your friends and breaking into a super slick choreographed dance number? Us too! That’s why we’re signing up for Routhier Community Centre’s K-pop class. So we can learn the moves of our favourite K-pop bands, build confidence and have fun k-poppin’ out!

Civic Events Funding Program

Is your community looking to host an event in 2019? We invite local not-for-profit organizations, such as community groups and recreation associations, to apply for up to $3,000 in funding to deliver community events that take place in local, geographic communities and neighbourhoods in the City of Ottawa. Find out more about the Civic Events Funding Program.

After school programs

Keep them engaged before and after school! Look no further than the City’s exceptional Before and After School programs! Activities are focused on healthy child development and are delivered by certified staff who are passionate about providing an outstanding experience. These programs are a fantastic opportunity for kids to stay active and make friends.

Seniors events in Ottawa!

The Nepean Seniors Recreation Centre is having a travel showcase on September 21 at 10 am to talk about exciting travel opportunities for 2019! Churchill Senior Recreation Centre is collaborating with Breast Cancer Action Centre of Ottawa on September 9 for a wellness day event. The Kanata Recreation Complex is introducing new seniors programs this fall! Programs start September 10 and include cribbage, mah jong, shuffleboard and senior’s fitness classes!

KLC's 30 Anniversary Celebration

Kanata Leisure Centre is having a 30th anniversary celebration on Saturday September 15 and there’s going to be a lot happening! We’ve got crafts, we’ve got swimming, we’ve got  cake there’s even a duck race in the waves. To top it all off and to help ensure everyone’s having as much fun as possible Dexter is going to be there. It’s the recreation centre anniversary event of the season!

Baby Party at Ray Friel

Attention parents and soon-to-be-parents! You're invited to a Baby Party at Ray Friel Recreation Complex on Thursday, September 6. Admission is free and the fun will be abundant:   Connect with community parents & enjoy food Learn from experts in our community  Win prizes Take part in free fitness classes (pre-natal & post-natal) Find out more.City of