City of Ottawa Accessibility Spotlight - April 2026

 

Register for the 2026 AccessAbility Day Event Please register for the City of Ottawa’s 23rd 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. As part of AccessAbility Day 2026, the City is proud to be partnering with Wheelchair Basketball Canada in anticipation of the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships, which will be hosted in Ottawa this fall. In recognition of this partnership, the theme of this year’s AccessAbility Day is Game Changers: Accessible Sport in Action.  Date: Friday, May 29   Time: 9:30 am to 3 pm   Place: Ottawa City Hall (110 Laurier Avenue West); the morning portion of the event will be livestreamed via the City’s YouTube channel     RSVP: Please use the AccessAbility day registration form to register by Friday, May 22  Please join Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, City Manager, Wendy Stephanson, City Councillors, senior leaders, members of our Accessibility Advisory Committee, staff and residents as we mark this important day. In keeping with our collective commitments to equity and inclusion, the event will include accessible and bilingual communication services and will feature speakers from diverse backgrounds. During the morning ceremony, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe will provide remarks and proclaim AccessAbility Day in Ottawa. This will be followed by a variety of engaging speakers, including a presentation from the City’s Inclusive Recreation team on accessible and inclusive Recreation and Culture programs and services. Following this, our panel discussion will feature representatives from a range of accessible and inclusive sports organizations, including wheelchair basketball players. There will be light refreshments and lunch available to registered attendees. The event will also feature a resource fair showcasing accessibility‑focused projects from various City departments and will provide opportunities for participants to share feedback.   Try it experience! Throughout the event, guests will also have the chance to try wheelchair basketball, supported by staff from Wheelchair Basketball Canada.  To promote the inclusion of all participants, the following accessibility supports will be in place for the event: American Sign Language (ASL) Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) Continuous real-time captioning in English and French Simultaneous French translation Personal Support Workers When registering, please let the Accessibility Office know if you require any accommodations to participate. We look forward to celebrating with you!   Accessibility Advisory Committee Updates

The Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) provides advice to Council and consults on projects required under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) and many more, where the City benefits from an accessibility lens.    The Committee meets at least eight times per year, with additional special meetings as required. In addition to their meetings, the group provides feedback by email, and many members participate in working groups or other sub-committees.      Next Meeting   Date: May 19 Time: 6pm     Members of the public are encouraged to attend AAC meetings, which take place via Zoom.  If you have any questions or are interested in speaking or providing comments to the AAC about an item they are considering at a meeting, please contact Committee Coordinator,  Jérôme Courchesne.  Nepean Creative Arts Centre Refresh The City of Ottawa is planning to update the Nepean Creative Arts Centre (NCAC) and we want your input. NCAC has been a creative home for artists, performers, instructors, and community members since 1990. Recognizing that community needs evolve over time, the City wants to ensure the current space supports those needs. Please complete the survey to provide your feedback. The survey will help the City understand how people use the centre today, what barriers they experience, and what improvements or new opportunities they would like to see. We encourage persons with disabilities to complete the survey. The deadline to complete the survey is May 5, 2026.  OC Transpo Customer Satisfaction Survey OC Transpo would like your feedback on train and bus services. You can give your feedback, whether you use these services frequently, occasionally, or even if you hardly ever use them. Cities around the world are conducting the same survey and we will compare results to learn from each other about how we can improve our services. The surveys on train and bus services include questions about reliability, security, ease of use and other service factors. Deadline to complete the surveys is May 10, 2026.

City of Ottawa Recreation - Ready, set, spring!

 

Workshops for children   Did you know that the City has workshops to keep your children entertained? Throughout May, join various facilities for some prehistoric fun with our dinosaur workshops, discover your bestie era and make best friend bracelets, show some love with a Mother’s Day craft, and make your own slime! Throughout June, join a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) workshop at Lansdowne Park.

Registration reminder   Summer activities, PA days, Before and After School Programs and winter camps will all be available to view online on Tuesday, May 5. Registration opens for swim lessons on Tuesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 14 for all other activities.

Support young artists  Enjoy the incredible artwork from Ottawa’s youth at the annual Young at Art exhibition. Each piece has been selected by a committee of professional artists to create a dynamic exhibition. Artwork can be viewed from Thursday, May 14 until Monday, June 8 at the Shenkman Arts Centre, Salons A and B of Trinity Art Gallery. Join the celebration and meet the artists at the Vernissage on Thursday, May 28, 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

Mother's Day gift certificates With such a huge variety of recreation and cultural offerings, a City of Ottawa gift certificate is a great choice to for this Mother's Day. Use them for registered programs, like courses and camps, drop-in activities and memberships. If your mom loves theatre then pick up a gift certificate for Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe and Shenkman Arts Centre. Purchase on their websites or in-person during box office hours.

What's happening Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe  Men of the Deeps - Diamond Sunset, The 60th Anniversary Tour – Wednesday, April 22  Jeff Allen – My First “Final” Farewell Tour – Tuesday, May 5  Studio2Be Dad Jokes – Friday, June 19  Cumberland Heritage Village Museum  Introduction to Leatherwork – Saturday, April 25  Atrium Art Gallery  Friends of the Print Studio - The World Around Us: Real and Imagined opening – Thursday, April 23  OWAA Gallery  Echoes of Nature – until Saturday, June 6  Gallery 112   Drag the Archive: Photographs of Queer Gender Performance – Until Saturday, December 12   Barbara Ann Scott Gallery   Cultivating Community: Agriculture Rooted in Ottawa’s History – Until Sunday, November 5, 2028

City of Ottawa - Develop Culture - April 2026

 

National Poetry Month and the City of Ottawa’s Poet Laureate Program  April 2026 marks the 28th anniversary of the National Poetry Month in Canada. Each year, publishers, schools, libraries, and poets gather to celebrate poetry’s place in culture.   City of Ottawa’s Poet Laureate Program exists as a symbol of the importance of poetry to civic life.  Ottawa was the first city in Canada to have a Poet Laureate. Currently, the program is a municipal initiative delivered in collaboration with VERSe Ottawa, supporting two Poets Laureate, one English- and one French-language.   The Poets are appointed on a two-year cycle to champion poetry across the city. VERSe Ottawa brings together poets, organizations, and audiences engaged in the literary arts and organizes VERSeFest, Ottawa’s international festival of poetry.   Currently, David O’Meara and Véronique Sylvain serve as Ottawa’s English and French Poets Laureate.   Over the last two years, the poets sponsored public readings, held fully bilingual poetry workshops, promoted openness to voices from diverse communities, brought together francophone and anglophone poets across Ottawa-Gatineau region, explored non-traditional settings for engagement with poetry, and collaborated with artistic and cultural organizations.   Some highlights include:   Laureates Reading with Chimwemwe Undi, Canada’s Parliamentary Poet Laureate   Pride poetry workshop and Readings in collaboration with Great Canadian Theatre   Current Conversations: Poetry by the River, in collaboration with Riverkeeper Organization, to raise awareness on Ottawa River watershed   Words and Image, in partnership with Ottawa Art Gallery, to bring literary and visual art audiences together  Poetry Picnic day on Lac Brassard, to provide an open mic to community and surprise poets.

City now accepting commemorative naming spring nominations The City of Ottawa is now accepting spring nominations for the commemorative naming of municipal assets, including new streets, minor indoor and outdoor assets, major facilities and parks. This is your chance to honour the people, histories and legacies that have shaped Ottawa’s community. The nomination period runs from March 20 to May 1. All submitted proposals will be reviewed by the City and the Commemorative Working Group against established policy criteria.  Nominations that qualify will then undergo a minimum 30-day public consultation. For minor assets, final decisions will be made by Recreation, Cultural, and Facility Services in consultation with the Ward Councillors. Major asset nominations will advance to the appropriate standing committee and Council for final consideration. The next nomination period will take place from September 8 to October 20. For more information, visit the commemorative naming page or contact the commemorative naming team by email at namingottawa@ottawa.ca. Youth in culture program Deadline: May 6, 2026, at 4PM (ET) Objectives: To support youth aged 18 to 30 working towards professional careers in arts, culture and heritage To empower youth to identify needs and gaps in their career development and support their project goals First-time applicants are encouraged to apply. We will fund projects up to $2,000. For more information: Program information - Youth in culture program | City of Ottawa Contact information: infoculture@ottawa.ca Equity and inclusion in the arts fund – Seed award: microgrants for individuals Deadline: May 6, 2026, at 4PM (ET) Objectives: Reduce barriers and advance artistic expression within Indigenous and equity-seeking communities by providing opportunities for: Self-expression Encourage and inspire self-expression by Ottawa's diverse artists and communities to support artistic growth, engagement and leadership. Capacity Building Support inclusive knowledge-sharing between communities that builds resources and services for Indigenous and equity-seeking communities and artists. Visibility and Celebration Provide opportunities to share, highlight and celebrate diverse arts practices. For more information: Equity and inclusion in the arts fund – Seed award: microgrants for individuals Contact information:  Yasmina Proveyer, Cultural Funding Officer Email: Yasmina.proveyerllopiz@ottawa.ca

City of Ottawa - Spring into action

 

Date reminder  Summer activities, PA days, before and after school care and winter camps will all be available to view online on Tuesday, May 5. Registration opens for swim lessons on Tuesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 14 for all other activities.

Virtual courses for everyone  There are lots of options to enjoy a City of Ottawa activity from the comfort of your own home. Virtual options range from 50+ fitness and book clubs, art for all ages, music and even some cooking.

City Wide Sports Get active in a City Wide Sports league! Whether you're joining a team or starting your own, sign up at ottawa.ca/citysports. Registration for beach volleyball, basketball, soccer and pickleball leagues is open until Friday, May 1.

Mother’s Day Craft  Join us at various locations to make a special Mother's Day project to take home and show a little love to mothers, grandmothers or a good friend. With activities for kids aged 3 to 12, there are lots of opportunities to get creative around the city.

Have your say – Nepean Creative Arts Centre The Nepean Creative Arts Centre is getting a refresh, and the City needs your input! Have your say on Engage Ottawa or the in-person engagement session on Thursday, April 9, 6 – 7:30 pm at the Nepean Creative Arts Centre.

Nominations for commemorative naming   The City is now accepting spring nominations for the commemorative naming of municipal assets, including new streets, minor indoor and outdoor assets, major facilities and parks. This is your chance to honour the people, histories, and legacies that have shaped Ottawa’s community. The nomination period runs until May 1.

What's happening Various locations  Up-Cycled Eathday Workshop - Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19  Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe  Emma Lamontagne – Friday, April 10  Dino light – Saturday, April 11  Just for Laughs Road Show 2026 – April 18  Men of the Deeps – Diamond Sunset, The 60th Anniversary Tour – April 22  Shenkman Arts Centre  Ten Thousand Hours – Saturday, April 11  Les souliers d’Angélie (Angélie’s Shoes) - Saturday, April 18  Cumberland Heritage Village Museum  Hop into Spring – Saturday, April 4  Billings Estate National Historic Site  Easter at the Estate – Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5  Gallery 112  Drag the Archive: Photographs of Queer Gender Performance – Thursday, April 9 – Saturday, December 12  Barbara Ann Scott Gallery  Cultivating Community: Agriculture Rooted in Ottawa’s History – Until Sunday, November 5, 2028

City of Ottawa - Cleaning the Capital registration starts March 27!

 

Registration starts March 27th.  Join in to help keep Ottawa clean!

Spring is finally here!  It’s that time of year when volunteers across our city come together to clean up litter from our public spaces. You can choose to clean up a park or green space, roadside, shoreline, or even the areas around bus stops.  Register your project Registration for the Spring campaign opens Friday, March 27. Cleanup projects will take place between April 15 and May 31. Check out the interactive map to ensure there are no other cleanups registered at your chosen location.  Need a cleanup kit? Standard cleanup kits will be available for pickup at participating City facilities from April 2 to May 15, 2026.  Each kit includes large gloves and garbage bags.    For school groups and other groups with 100 or more participants, staff will prepare custom cleanup kits just for you which include the appropriate number of gloves and garbage bags.  Leave the leaves, branches, and wood! Leaves should be left in open spaces that are maintained by the City, including parks, and in all naturalized and natural areas.   Please do not tidy up fallen branches or dead wood from our open spaces and natural areas.  Coarse woody debris such as downed logs and fallen branches contributes to long-term forest health. City staff will handle any potentially hazardous trees or woody debris as needed. Disposal of Cleaning the Capital waste/litter Review the instructions for proper disposal of Cleaning the Capital waste/litter prior to your planned cleanup event.  A reminder that Cleaning the Capital does not provide special pickups at residential curbsides for collected waste/litter.  Submit your online cleanup report Cleanup reports help us track the waste/litter that is collected and give you an opportunity to share feedback about the program.  Did you know that since 1994, more than 1.5 million volunteers have helped clean up over 1.2 million kilograms of waste across Ottawa?    Don’t forget to submit your online cleanup report by June 15!  Earn volunteer hours! Do you know a high school student who needs volunteer hours?  Cleaning the Capital is a flexible opportunity for high school students to earn their community involvement hours. To learn more, visit Student volunteer hours.  For more information or to register, visit the Cleaning the Capital webpage.