City of Ottawa - Cleaning the Capital - Registration starts August 15th. Let's get cleaning!

 

Show your civic pride and join the thousands of community volunteers that help keep Ottawa clean and green as part of the Cleaning the Capital Fall campaign!  Register your cleanup project first (by the October 1st deadline) and then get cleaning between September 15 to October 15!

Cleanup kits, which include garbage bags and nitrile gloves, will be available for pick-up (upon request) at one of 14 City of Ottawa facilities. This fall, based on participant feedback and increased demand, we have added four additional pick-up sites (including two rural pick-up locations).

Volunteer Opportunity for High School Students

Do you know a high school student who is looking to get a head start on their community involvement hours? Cleaning the Capital is a flexible opportunity for students to complete their volunteer hours and help keep our city looking beautiful. For more information, please review Student Volunteer Hours on ottawa.ca/clean.

Important Cleanup Project Information:

• Check out the interactive map before registering! Don’t forget to check the interactive map on ottawa.ca/clean to ensure there are no other cleanup projects registered at your desired location.
• Registration confirmation: Registrants will receive an email confirmation immediately after their registration form is submitted.  Don’t forget to check your spam folder!  If you need to make any changes to your registration, please email cleaning@ottawa.ca.
• Save your registration code: You’ll need it to submit the online cleanup report for each project you complete by November 1, 2024. The registration code is a five-digit number located at the top of your registration confirmation.
• Proper disposal of Cleaning the Capital waste/litter: Please review the instructions and options for proper disposal of collected waste/litter on ottawa.ca/clean prior to your planned cleanup project.
• Leave the leaves:  Leaves should be left in open spaces that are maintained by the City, including parks, and in all naturalized and natural areas. Fallen leaves provide overwintering shelter for many species of butterflies and bees.
• Wood is good!  Coarse woody debris such as downed logs and fallen branches contributes to long-term forest health. Please do not "tidy up" fallen branches or dead wood from our open spaces and natural areas. City staff will handle any potentially hazardous trees or woody debris as needed.
• Discarded needles and other drug related waste: Never touch a needle with your hands. For more information on the disposal of discarded needles, please visit Discarded Needles in Our Communities on the Ottawa Public Health website.
  
  

For more information on the Cleaning the Capital Fall campaign, please visit ottawa.ca/clean.

Thanks for keeping Ottawa clean and green!

Fall 2024 Cleaning the Capital - Important dates:

August 15, 2024                                   Registration begins 
September 15 - October 15, 2024       Cleaning the Capital Fall campaign
October 1, 2024                                   Last day to register your cleanup project
November 1, 2024                               Deadline to submit your online cleanup report

City of Ottawa: City warns residents about automated speed camera text scam

 

The City warns residents about a new text message scam that tells the recipient an automated speed camera recorded their vehicle exceeding the speed limit in a school zone and provides a link for immediate payment. If you receive this message, delete it and do not click on the website link.

 

Remember, the City does not send text messages about payments or balances owing, including property taxes, water utility bills, and all provincial offence tickets Protect yourself. If you receive this or a similar text message posing as the City of Ottawa, delete it. Do not click on any links and never provide any personal or financial information.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.

QTSR Community Association Meeting

The QTSR Community Association will be holding our next meeting on Monday, May 27th.

When: Monday, May 27th, 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Sonny's Bar and Grill (1119 Baxter Rd, Ottawa, ON K2C 1M1)

City of Ottawa - Accessibility Spotlight - April 2024

 

Register for the 2024 AccessAbility Day Event

You are cordially invited to celebrate the City of Ottawa’s 21st annual AccessAbility Day event, held each year as part of National AccessAbility Week. This event will be in-person at Ottawa’s City Hall. The morning event will be livestreamed via the City’s YouTube channel.  Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024  Time: 10 am to 2:30 pm     Location: Ottawa’s City Hall – 110 Laurier Ave. West With the AODA’s goal of becoming a fully accessible Ontario by 2025 fast approaching, this year’s theme will be: “Looking towards 2025 and the future of accessibility.”  Please join Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, City Councillors, senior leaders, staff and residents as we mark this important day.    During the morning opening ceremony, Mayor Sutcliffe will provide remarks and proclaim AccessAbility Day in Ottawa. The event will also feature a keynote address from Phillip B. Turcotte, advocate, disability champion, and former chair of the City’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. In the afternoon, attendees will have the opportunity to provide feedback on accessibility at the City during consultations on the new City of Ottawa’s Municipal Accessibility Plan (COMAP), launching in 2025. Please register online.  Registration will be open until Monday May 20. If you are unable to attend in-person, you can watch a live stream of the morning ceremony on the City of Ottawa's YouTube channel.   To promote the inclusion of all participants, the following supports are in place for the event:     American Sign Language (ASL)     Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ)     Continuous real-time captioning in English and French     Simultaneous French audio translation     Personal Support Workers     When registering, please let us know if you require any additional accommodations to participate.     We look forward to celebrating with you!

Accessibility During Construction - Site Assessments

With the start of a new construction season, the Standards Unit in the Quality Management Branch of the Infrastructure and Water Services department will be performing assessments at multiple construction sites to ensure accessibility.   An accessibility assessment is an important tool to evaluate measures in place, as required under the contract, and to ensure that construction sites remain accessible by any pedestrian, regardless of their abilities.    The assessment consists of a walkthrough of the construction site, noting accessibility features, such as: characteristics of material underfoot (What type of surface is provided? Is the grading acceptable? Are transitions smooth?) signage provided barriers provided (Are barriers cane detectable?) While the assessment is performed by a member of the Standards Unit, representatives from the project team are encouraged to walk through the site as part of the assessment. This not only results in the quick resolution of any issues noted, but also provides an opportunity to educate project teams. After an assessment is complete, a report is prepared detailing what was noted and sent out to the project team, including the City Project Manager, the Contractor, and the Contract Administrator. Assessments and input are well received by on-site construction staff as they assist them in making the necessary changes to ensure an accessible site and make continued improvements related to site accessibility.   To choose which sites will be visited, the Standards Unit typically selects from the City’s list of active capital construction projects, with an emphasis on sites that are likely to have more of an impact on pedestrian traffic.  Site assessments are mostly conducted from April to October. Members of the community can provide valuable input based on their lived experiences. The Standards Unit looks forward to that involvement as part of the 2024 construction season, and would encourage anyone interested in participating to contact StandardsSection@ottawa.ca. A site visit may take a couple of hours to complete, and a hard hat and vest are provided to volunteers.

Jordan Danger - Electric Sheep: AI & Human Collaboration for Creativity

From the artist: “With AI touted as a threat to human-driven creation, I wanted to question that assumption. Through text-based conversation with AI, I have sought collaboration on concepts, and then applied my human hand to these ideas. The result: a surreal collection of works made possible through communication with this new entity.” Jordan Danger is an emerging Canadian queer-identified artist. The challenges of living with an invisible disability have incited an exploration of feminism as well as functionality: the divide between art and craft, function and form. Her early career in animation and illustration inform her dynamic sculptures and paintings. March 28 to May 28, 2024 Vernissage: Thursday, March 28, 2024, 5:30 - 7:30 pm For more information, please visit the Gallery 112.

Accessibility spotlight- Special Edition - Special Events By-law Reviews

 

The City of Ottawa is looking for your input on how to make special events more accessible, safe and inclusive.

The City is currently reviewing its Special Events By-laws to ensure that they effectively support festival and event organizers, and ensure that all participants can have a safe, enjoyable experience.

Ottawa hosts a great variety of festivals, charity runs, and cultural and community events throughout the year. As Canada’s capital and host to both the federal government and 128 diplomatic missions, we are also a place for political expression. Special Events in the City of Ottawa are regulated by the
Special Events on Private and Public Property By-law (No. 2013-232)
and Special Events on City Streets By-law (No.2001-260)

As a part of this by-law review, staff are conducting a survey asking questions about the safety, accessibility and inclusivity of special events in the City of Ottawa. This survey covers a range of issues including, accessibility, harassment, sexual harassment, drugs, and alcohol, smoking and vaping and extreme weather events. This Survey is regarding outdoor events with more than 500 people and events that occur on city roadways, it does not cover indoor events.

For updates on the City’s Special Events By-law Reviews, visit Engage.ottawa.ca and please complete the survey on safe and inclusive events before April 29, 2024. Additional surveys on specific topics related to special events will follow in the coming months.

City of Ottawa Accessibility spotlight- February 2024

 

Emergency Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities Event

The City of Ottawa recently hosted a virtual public information session and discussion on emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities. Coordinated by the Accessibility Office, the session included presentations from staff in the Office of Emergency Management and Ottawa Public Health who provided information and resources with a focus on key emergency preparedness considerations for those living with disabilities and older adults. There has been an increase in climate-related emergencies in recent years, including heavy winds and tornadoes, heavy rainfall and flooding, as well as extreme cold and heat events. Additionally, as the City of Ottawa is the Nation’s Capital, political demonstrations and protests have also contributed to various recent emergency events and responses. As such, when planning for emergencies, whether that requires sheltering in place or evacuating, all residents, including those with disabilities, should consider emergency planning that is tailored to their personal situation. During the event, staff in the Office of Emergency Management highlighted the importance of social connections and personal support, having a plan for assistive devices, including back-up options in the event of a power outage, as well as considerations for the management of your health, including ensuring you have an adequate supply of medication. Staff in Ottawa Public Health presented on the diversity of our personal experiences, and that emergency preparedness is not "one size fits all". Staff provided considerations for either sheltering in place or evacuating, such as providing emergency contacts with extra keys to be able to access your home, as well as important elements to include in your emergency kit and/or a go bag, including supplies needed for pets and service animals. Following the presentations, participants had the opportunity to engage with City staff with concerns, questions and feedback on the topic. Staff in the City’s Accessibility Office will be compiling all feedback, shared during the event, the evaluation survey and post-event, for discussion with the Office of Emergency Management and Ottawa Public Health to inform future actions. For those unable to attend the virtual event live, you can watch the recording on the City’s YouTube channel.

Snow Angel Program

A Snow Angel is a neighbour or friend who volunteers to help older adults or persons with disabilities improve their accessibility during the winter by shoveling and/or de-icing their private driveway, steps, or walkway. Snow Angels generate a sense of community by lending a helping hand. "My snow angel is a neighbour who works 12-hours shifts, and still finds the time and energy to ensure I am safe and that my steps and walkway are cleared and salted. She does not tell me or ask for gratitude. Although we received so much snow and it was very windy, somehow that path stayed clear for 2 days. I felt protected, safe, cared for and so very grateful. She works in security downtown, keeping other people safe too. I am disabled and falls for me are very serious. I am glad to have someone who is helping and looking out for me like this." - J Wilson The Snow Angel Program recognizes these shoveling and de-icing efforts with a certificate of appreciation signed by Mayor Sutcliffe. If you know a Snow Angel and would like to show them your appreciation, please visit ottawa.ca/snowangel to nominate them. Nominations close March 31, 2024. If you’re looking to get involved and make a difference in your community, contact communitypride@ottawa.ca to learn more.

Text us at 57272

Looking for a quick answer to a question about Para Transpo service? Para Transpo customers can text 57272 to connect with OC Transpo Customer Service representatives from 6am to 12:30am every day! Standard rates apply. Text us to: Find out the estimated arrival time of your upcoming Para Transpo vehicle Make a direct cancellation for an upcoming trip Ask general questions about Para Transpo service Simply send a text message to 57272. You’ll receive a reply asking you to select your language and service before being connected to a Customer Service representative. Find out more at octranspo.com

Longest-Serving Para Transpo Operator retires after 45 years

In February, OC Transpo’s longest serving Para Transpo operator handed in her keys for the last time. After 45 years behind the wheel, Para Transpo operator Trish is celebrating a successful career helping Para Transpo customers get to where they need to be, with a smile. The Next Stop Blog Team caught up with Trish on her last day of work to reflect on her time with Para Transpo and what her secret was to achieving a successful and fulfilling career. Read the whole story on octranspo.com