City of Ottawa - Cleaning the Capital Registration starts August 15

 

Registration begins August 15.  Let's keep Ottawa clean and green! Join the thousands of community volunteers helping keep Ottawa clean and green this fall! Register your litter cleanup project for the Cleaning the Capital Fall campaign by September 30th and then get cleaning between September 15 and October 15!  NEW this Fall: Standard cleanup kits This fall, Cleaning the Capital is making it easier and faster for participants to pick up their cleanup kits. Standard cleanup kits will be made available for pickup at participating City facilities between September 2 and October 12, 2025.  These kits include large gloves and garbage bags and will be offered in a variety of sizes.    You do not need to wait for a kit pickup notification email – you may collect your standard kit(s) at any time during the designated pickup timeframe.   To receive a standard kit, registrants will be required to provide the following details to staff at the pick-up location:  Registration code  First and last name  Number of volunteers participating in their project  Attention school groups: Cleaning the Capital staff will prepare custom cleanup kits for large school groups with 100 or more participants. These kits are individually packed and will include the appropriate number of gloves and bags based on your school’s group size.  You will receive a confirmation email when your kit is ready for pickup.   Tips for planning a successful litter cleanup project: Choose a public space to clean:  You can choose to clean up litter at a City park or green space, roadside, or shoreline. Check out the interactive map to ensure there are no other cleanups registered at your desired project location.  Register your cleanup project:  It helps staff keep track of the areas that have been cleaned across the city. Don’t forget to save the six-digit registration code provided in your confirmation email.  Pick up a cleanup kit (if required) between September 2nd and October 12th: Keep your registration code handy – you'll need to provide it to staff at the kit pick-up location.  Review the instructions for proper disposal of Cleaning the Capital waste/litter on ottawa.ca/clean prior to your planned cleanup project:  A reminder that Cleaning the Capital does not provide special pick-ups at residential curbsides for collected waste/litter.  Ensure safety first!  Share the general safety tips with your cleanup team.  Leave the leaves – pollinators need them!  Leaves should be left in open spaces that are maintained by the City, including parks, and in all naturalized and natural areas.  Submit your online cleanup report by October 31, 2025.  You will require your registration code to submit the report. Remember: The ward with the highest number of reported cleanup projects *WINS* The Great Ward Cleanup Challenge – so make your cleanup efforts count by submitting your report!   High school students: Need volunteer hours?  Cleaning the Capital is a flexible opportunity for students to earn their community involvement hours while making a positive impact in their community. Please review Student Volunteer Hours on ottawa.ca/clean for more information.  Fall 2025 Cleaning the Capital - Important dates

August 15, 2025:                                       Registration opens  September 2 - October 12, 2025:           Cleanup kits available for pickup at participating City facilities September 15 - October 15, 2025:         Cleaning the Capital Fall campaign  September 30, 2025:                                Last day of registration October 31, 2025:                                     Deadline to submit your online cleanup report  For more information on the Cleaning the Capital campaign, please visit ottawa.ca/clean.  Thanks for keeping Ottawa clean and green!

City of Ottawa - Cycling in the City - August 2025

 

Cycling Route Planning in Ottawa: Avoid Sidewalks

Many cyclists assume that the route they use for driving will also work for biking, but high-speed roads often lack safe cycling infrastructure. As a result, some people ride on sidewalks which is illegal in Ottawa unless clearly marked as a shared facility. Pedestrians always have priority in these areas and cyclists risk being fined.    Sidewalk riding is unsafe for a number of reasons:   Drivers expect slow-moving pedestrians on sidewalks, not fast-moving cyclists.   Sidewalk riding endangers pedestrians, especially in narrow areas.   A better option is to plan routes that avoid major roads that lack cycling infrastructure. Some tips for this are:    Take parallel residential streets: these tend to have lower vehicle speeds and be more comfortable.  Safe crossings: Use Google Maps Streetview to preview bridges or underpasses over rivers, highways, or arterials to find a route you are comfortable with.   Parks & pathways: some multi-use paths connect neighborhoods and avoid busy roads. Check Geo Ottawa or the City’s cycling map to see which ones allow cycling.     If you must use a sidewalk, walk your bike until you reach a safer route.   Some route planning tools that might help you are listed here: Transit App, Bike Ottawa’s Route Planner, Cycling Guide App, City of Ottawa’s GeoOttawa (enable “Active Transportation” layer), and paper maps available at libraries and community centres.

Smyth Road at Riverside Drive, Cycling Safety Improvement Project

With the recent pavement markings added, the Smyth Road cycling safety project at Riverside Drive has been completed. The intersection of Smyth Road and Riverside Drive was previously identified through the Cycling Safety Review of High-Volume Intersections. This project extends cycling facilities along Main Street and the McIlraith Bridge, to east of the Riverside Hospital Campus, and makes improvements to the intersections to reduce vehicle conflicts. Some minor additional works will be completed as part of the current construction on the hospital campus; this will include additional signage and pavement markings at the intersection and is currently anticipated for 2026.

Carling Road Safety - Bridge Removal

In July, a notable cycling safety concern along Carling Avenue was addressed on the approach to Kanata. A former CN Rail line crossed Carling Avenue on a bridge in this location since the early 1900s. With the rails removed in 2014 and the City acquiring the corridor in 2021, the bridge was recently removed as the first part of a cycling safety and connectivity project in this location. By removing the bridge and its abutments, the City has eliminated the pinch point and provided continuous paved shoulders along this segment.   A subsequent phase of this project will reconstruct the intersection of Carling Avenue and the entrance to the Shirley’s Bay federal campus. The reconstructed intersection will connect the Watts Creek Pathway south of Carling Ave to the former Beachburg rail corridor which will be repurposed into a multi-use pathway. This new multi-use pathway will extend along the rail corridor from Carling Avenue to Celtic Ridge Crescent. Look out for future updates on this project.

Bank Street Active Transportation Improvements – Public Consultation Coming This September

A large segment of Bank Street is currently under construction as part of a renewal project between Riverside Drive and Ledbury Avenue. At the southern end of this segment, additional safety and connectivity improvements for residents walking and cycling are being considered between Kitchener Avenue and Johnston Road. The City has developed a functional design that includes new dedicated cycling facilities along Bank Street and the bridge, improved crossings of the  on and off-ramps at the Bank Street loop near Ledbury Avenue and the Home Depot, and a more direct pedestrian link via a ramp and stairs down the embankment to the Banff-Ledbury community. The design  focuses on enhancing safety and connectivity to Greenboro Park and Ride and surrounding amenities such as South Keys. These changes aim to improve comfort and safety while working within the constraints of the existing infrastructure.   An in-person public consultation is planned for September 2025 and on Engage Ottawa (webpage live in September); stay tuned to your local Councillor’s newsletter (Ward 16 and Ward 10) for details on how to find out more and share your feedback.

City of Ottawa Accessibility Spotlight - July 2025

 

AccessAbility Day 2025 Summary

On May 29, hundreds of dignitaries, staff and members of the public gathered at Ottawa’s City Hall to celebrate the 22nd annual City of Ottawa AccessAbility Day, which happens annually during National AccessAbility Week.  National AccessAbility Week started in 1988 to celebrate Canadians with disabilities and to raise awareness about accessibility and inclusion. This year, the biggest highlight was our keynote speaker, Rick Hansen, during which he provided an engaging account of his lived experiences as a person with a disability. The event also hosted a resource fair, showcasing accessibility-related projects and initiatives from across the City of Ottawa. Some of the highlights included the new Para Transpo bus, a traffic signals display with Accessible Pedestrians Signals push buttons and information about Inclusive Recreation programs, including integration and day programs.  AccessAbility Day 2025 was a celebration of the collective efforts and action of Council, staff, the Accessibility Advisory Committee and community advocates with lived experience who work tirelessly to identify and remove barriers throughout the City of Ottawa. If you missed it, you can watch the event, including Rick Hansen’s keynote address, on the City’s YouTube channel.  As part of the event, it was also announced that Ādisōke, the new Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada joint facility, recently achieved pre-construction certification through the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification program. This recognizes that accessibility was integrated from the earliest phases of design and planning. The project team remains committed to achieving post-construction certification, which will ensure that accessibility is verified and maintained once the building is complete.  Federation of Canadian Municipalities Tour On May 30, the City of Ottawa and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) partnered to provide a tour showcasing accessibility advancements in the design of public spaces as part of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference.  Councillors and municipal leaders from across the country participated in this guided tour, which highlighted how accessibility-related feedback from the community can be integrated into infrastructure design. The tour showcased various accessibility-related projects, including the new tactile plates recently installed on the Mackenzie King Bridge as part of a pilot project. These plates act as a visual and tactile separation between the pedestrian space on the sidewalk and the bike lanes, ensuring a higher level of safety and accessibility.  Please stay tuned for updates to the City’s Accessibility Design Standards and opportunities to provide your feedback in the future.   The TD Summer Reading Club During the summer months, Ottawa Public Library staff work to engage children, including those with disabilities, with literacy and learning through our summer reading initiative and library programs.   Reading in all forms is a critical life skill, and our libraries have resources and supports to ensure that each child can participate accessibly and reach the end of the summer feeling proud of their skills and reading accomplishments.  When a child joins the summer reading club, they are offered a bilingual reading notebook, which is also available in Braille or large print.  Additional accessible and inclusive considerations, as recommended by the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA), are incorporated into our offered programs, such as adapting existing materials, providing coloured glue and left-handed scissors, offering accessible seating, and ensuring our instructors wear auditory devices when presenting.   To request accessibility-related accommodations to participate in any Ottawa Public Library program, please fill out the accessible services request form.  Community Safety and Well-Being Plan Review  The City of Ottawa is reviewing its Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan and is seeking your input.  The Community Safety and Well-Being Plan advances safety and well-being at the community level in seven priority areas: Discrimination, Marginalization and Racism Financial Security and Poverty Reduction Gender-based Violence and Violence Against Women Housing Integrated and Simpler Systems Mental Well-Being Youth Social Development These priorities were developed through community engagement and data analysis. Based on ongoing engagement, data and research with the community, these priorities still maintain relevance and importance for the City.     What safety and well-being issues matter most to you or your community? We invite you to share your thoughts through our online survey on Engage Ottawa, available until August 19, 2025.    Please feel encouraged to share this opportunity through your networks.    To learn more about the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan priorities and stay informed, visit and subscribe to the Engage Ottawa page.  For questions or feedback, please contact: CSWB/SBEC@ottawa.ca.

Monthly fare capping with Presto available August 1

Beginning August 1, enjoy monthly fare capping with your Presto card!    How does it work?   Load funds to your Presto card and tap your card as usual to pay per ride. When you take enough trips to reach the price of a monthly pass, your charges for that month will be capped and the rest of your trips for that month will be free.  For Senior, EquiPass, and Community pass holders, monthly fare capping on your Presto card offers you the flexibility of monthly savings without the upfront cost.   For example, if you are not sure how many trips you will take in a given month, don’t worry about buying a monthly pass at the beginning of the month. Just load your card with funds to pay as you go. If you only ride a few times, you’ll only pay for each trip. If you end up taking many trips, you won’t pay more than the price of a monthly pass!

Para Transpo Talk: August 19 to 21

Join OC Transpo for a Para Transpo Talk event celebrating summer and accessible transit! We’ll be out at the following locations in August: Tuesday, August 19, at Bowesville Station: 10 am to 2 pm and 6 to 9 pm Wednesday, August 20, at Hurdman Station: 10 am to 2 pm and 6 to 9 pm Thursday, August 21, at Tunney’s Pasture Station: 10 am to 2 pm and 6 to 9 pm Para Transpo Talk is a series of customer engagement events that are open to all Para Transpo customers, their families, companions and support persons. Everyone is welcome, no matter how often you use Para Transpo.   This time, we’ll be chatting about accessibility and navigating the O-Train. Have questions about how to make the train a part of your trips? Staff will be available to answer questions and provide interested customers on tours of stations or the O-Train.

City of Ottawa - Fall into fun!

 

Fall registration dates Autumn adventures await! Fall activities are online now. View, browse and add fall activities to your wish list today. And don’t forget about our upcoming registration dates:   Fall swimming activities: August 12 at 9 pm online.  All fall activities: August 14 at 9 pm online.

Ottawa Book Awards Even if we’re planning for fall, there’s still time to add some local talent to your summer reading list with the 2024 Ottawa Book Award winners! English fiction: Vixen by Sandra Ridley (Book*hug Press) English non-fiction: Agent of Change: My Life Fighting Terrorists, Spies and Institutional Racism by Huda Mukbil (McGill-Queens University Press) French fiction: Deux heures avant la fin de l’été by Sébastien Pierroz (Les Éditions David)

What's happening Billings Estate National Historic Site  Wednesdays in August – Time Travellers Thursdays in August – Can You Dig It? City Hall Wednesday, July 30 – City Hall Salsa Tuesdays in August – City Hall Yoga Wednesdays in August – City Hall Salsa Fairfields Heritage House Thursdays in August – Can You Dig It?  Sunday, August 10 – Weekend Crafters Lansdowne Park Thursday, August 7 – Lansdowne Park Movie Nights: Despicable Me 4 Saturday, August 9 – Full Moon Yoga Nepean Museum Sunday, August 3 – Weekend Crafters Pinhey’s Point Historic Site Saturday, August 2 – Pinhey’s Past-Times Saturday, August 9 – Grounds tour Trinity Art Gallery Friday, August 8 – Opening of the TOPOS OPS OPUS exhibition

City of Ottawa Recreation: Summer starts now!

 

Summer camps Ready for the best summer ever? Camp is the place to be! Spots are still available at many locations around the city. Find one near you today.

Tony Graham Youth Workout Pass Summer vacation is a go! Ottawa youth between the ages of 13 and 17 can make the most of their time off with the Tony Graham Youth Workout Pass! Enjoy free access to weight and cardio-rooms at 16 participating facilities from now until August 31.

Upcoming registration dates   Summer may have just started, but we’re already dreaming of fall! Don’t miss out on next season’s programming. Mark your calendars today with these upcoming registration dates.  Fall activities   View online on July 29.   Register online for:   Fall swimming activities August 12 at 9 pm.   All fall activities August 14 at 9 pm.

Museum and heritage activities Can you dig it?  Every Wednesday in July, kids aged 8 to 11 can join us from 10:30 am to noon at Billings Estate National Historic Site to dig for artefacts and identify mysterious objects in a simulated excavation site. Can you dig it? Advance registration is required, so secure your spot today.   Time Travellers  Step back in time and discover everything  Billings Estate National Historic Site has to offer! Every Thursday in July, kids aged 5 to 7 can become Time Travellers from 10:30 am to noon to explore heritage chores, skills and pastimes through fun, hands-on activities. Advance registration is required.  Vintage Vehicle Experience   Car lover? On Sunday, July 13 from 10 am to 4 pm, explore the rapid design and mechanical advancements made during the earliest years of the automotive era with the Vintage Vehicle Experience at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum.   Introduction to woodcarving    On Friday, July 18 from 1 to 5 pm, join us for an outdoor whittling and woodcarving workshop! Participants aged 16 plus are invited to join us at Pinhey’s Point Historic Site to carve their own “comfort bird,” while enjoying beautiful views of the Ottawa River! Advance registration is required.