City of Ottawa Recreation - 10 Ways to have the ultimate November in Ottawa

1. Get a group together to get fit for less

If you're a part of a company, community group or team, our Corporate or Group Fitness membership can save you money just in time for the holidays! The City of Ottawa offers a 20% savings on CLASS A, All-Inclusive or One Option memberships for employees or members of participating Corporations and Groups. Grab your book club, hockey team, or choir and join now. Contact us at CorporateMemberships@ottawa.ca for more information.

2. Start your Christmas shopping early

The 44th annual Nepean Sportsplex Christmas Craft Show is happening November 2 to 5! Find unique one-of-a-kind items, featuring over 140 talented artisans, artists and designers and their creations including clothing, jewellery, gourmet food and Christmas decorations.

3. Get excited for a holiday workshop

Show some love with a Sweet Hearts Workshop, or make impressive-to-wear Jewellery! Register for a winter break camp (pages 13-14) and have some fun with games, sports, crafts and skating! Try your hand at Clay Wheel Workshop, Canvas and Cocktails, and Abstract Painting. Grab the family and do a Theatrical Make up Design Workshop. Change things up!

4. Plan a party!

It's almost Christmas Party Season! Is your living room big enough for the staff holiday get-together? Don't panic! Check out our 20 featured facilities with rooms of many sizes, all across the City. Photos and video tours will help you find your ideal location. Our affordable and accessible spaces come with tables, chairs and parking.

5. Jump, jive and wail at the City's Big Band Dances

Adults of all ages are invited to Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre to swing to the hits of the 40's and 50's. Join us for the Yuletide Ball on Thursday, December 1, featuring The Pharaohs. Tickets are $20 in advance or $24 at the door and include a light lunch. Cash bar available. Call 613-828-4313 for more information.

6. Pretend like it's still summer, and ride the surf at the City's wave pools

Who cares if it's cold outside, the city's wave pools are indoors, offering the ultimate swim experience to beat those cold-weather blues.  Plunge through metre-high waves at three convenient locations - Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool, Splash Wave Pool on Ogilvie and the Ray Friel Recreation Complex in Orléans. Use our swim schedule search tool to find the next wave swim at the facility closest to you.

7. Get social at our seniors' centres

The City of Ottawa's seniors' centres offer residents ages 50-plus the opportunity to participate in exceptional recreational programs and activities while being social and having fun. Specialized programs are designed to support healthy and active adult lifestyles.Come get a sense of our unique seniors' centre communities by calling your local facility to book a tour today.

8. Become a volunteer or work with us

Become an Aquafitness Instructor The City of Ottawa is seeking motivated and outgoing individuals to lead a range of aquatic fitness classes. Aquatic fitness instructors are in high demand not only in the City of Ottawa but across the country! Are you: Looking for a fun and rewarding part time job? Love fitness, recreation health and wellness? Looking for a part time job while your children are in school?  A student seeking a fun and flexible part time job to save for post secondary? If you answered yes to the above, then find out more about the benefits of joining our team! The community outdoor rink program is recruiting! Join the hundreds of community-based volunteers who devote their time to provide access to affordable winter recreational activity every year! If you are a committed group or individual interested in operating or supporting a neighborhood outdoor rink for the 2016-17 season, please call 613-580-2590 or e-mail the Seasonal Recreation Office at seasonalrecreation@ottawa.ca for more information.

9. Youths can try something different

Ottawa youth have plenty to keep them busy - school, homework, extracurricular activities and social media. If you're fourteen years or older, why not try something different by grabbing a friend for a workout? All you have to do to claim your free fitness pass is to bring a piece of photo ID to your local facility - no appointment necessary. Try out any of the following: weight and cardio rooms, squash and racquet ball courts, aquafitness classes, indoor cycling classes, public skating sessions, and  group fitness classes

10.Chat with us!

Follow us on Facebook and join in on the conversation! Recreation, Cultural and Facilities Services Nepean Visual Arts Centre Nepean Creative Arts Centre

At Your Museum - October

Get Spooked this October at Your Local Museums

Play in the past. Make happy memories for the future.

Prepare for the Haunted Historic Village

Back by popular demand, the Haunted Historic Village at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum is sure to provide chills and thrills on Friday and Saturday nights in October. Book your tickets now to make sure you and your friends can enter the village to walk throught the buildings, fields, and woods under the cover of darkness. If you're brave enough to finish the route, you can even enjoy some time relaxing by a campfire with your friends before catching the wagon back to safety.

Sit in on a Séance

Looking for a unique experience? Try out a seance to get in touch wtih the other side at Billings Estate National Historic Site on Sunday, October 22 and Sunday, October 29. At this event, visitors will participate in a traditional séance, led by psychic medium Connie Adams. Ages 18 and up only. Reservations are required for this popular experience, so email us to reserve your place at the table.

Halloween Fun for Families

Halloween is so much more than a candy grab at the City of Ottawa Museums! On Saturday, October 21, come to Billings Estate National Historic Site to our Monster Mash Halloween Party for face painting, games, crafts, and more. On Saturday, October 28, visit Nepean Museum for a Pumpkin Party and decorate a pumpkin, have your face painted, and enter a costume contest. On Sunday, October 29 bring the family to Cumberland Heritage Village Museum to enjoy some Halloween Hijinks complete with a potions lab and retro crafts. There are plenty of options - so put on your costumes and come out for some Halloween fun!

Artefact Showcase

Did you overdo it at the Thanksgiving dinner table? These Phillips' Milk of Magnesia tablets date from the early 20th century. This digestive aid was first patented in 1818, and popularized as "Phillips' Milk of Magnesia" in 1872 by the American pharmacist Charles Henry Phillips. Milk of Magnesia is still used by people today, but we're going to leave these particular tablets in the box for posterity's sake.

A Store Older than Ottawa

Before there was Bytown, there was the Town of Sherwood, dating from 1822 and located at Chaudière Falls. One of the stores that flourished there between 1824 and 1828 was Bellows & Stacey, until the townsite vanished. Join Dr. Bruce S. Elliott, Professor of History at Carleton University, as he shares the story of a newly-discovered ledger from Bellows & Stacey's store and the tales it can tell about early Ottawa's residents. This special talk takes place at the Nepean Centrepointe Library on Monday, October 16. Visit the Ottawa Public Library website to reserve your space. The ledger, which is part of the City of Ottawa Museums Collection, will be exhibited at the event.

Celebrating 225 Years of Nepean's History

Did you know that this year marks not only Canada's 150th, but also the 225th anniversary of the founding of Nepean Township? To mark this special occasion, the City of Ottawa Museums created a special exhibition: "The History of Nepean: A 225-year journey". This travelling exhibition highlights the changing boundaries, trades, and society of Nepean prior to Confederation and is now on display at the Nepean Centrepointe branch of the Ottawa Public Library. Be sure to check it out next time you're there!

Looking for Ways to Give Back this Christmas?

Do you want to give back to your community and discover more about our local history in the process? Are you, or is someone you know, looking for volunteer hours for school or work? Volunteer at your local City of Ottawa Museums! With opportunities to help bake for our traditional Christmas Tea at Billings Estate National Historic Site, or assisting families with crafts at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum's Vintage Village of Lights, there's someone for every interest. Contact us for more information about how you can get involved.

Like us on Facebook!

Get the most up-to-date details about special events and programs, and lots of other neat information by following us on Facebook. Billings Estate National Historic Site Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Fairfields Heritage House Nepean Museum Pinhey's Point Historic Site Doors Open Ottawa

EcoFest Ottawa

Get ready for EcoFest, Ecology Ottawa’s 10^th anniversary celebration!

When: Thursday, October 12^th, 2017

Where: Abeerdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park

Tickets: $35.00

Link: eo_ecofest.eventbrite.ca

This event will be an opportunity to celebrate not just Ecology Ottawa’s successes, but that of the entire environmental community in Ottawa.

Ecology Ottawa would like to demonstrate the scale, strength and diversity of the environmental movement with 1200 guests attending, over 80 community partners, organizations and businesses. There will also be a series of speakers and a keynote from Olivia Chow.

Lastly, this event will not be complete without your participation. Would you consider purchasing your ticket, and encourage your team/staff to attend?

Tickets are only $35, and Ecology Ottawa offers a discount if you buy 10 or more tickets. Please find the link to buy your ticket here: eo_ecofest.eventbrite.ca.

Women Becoming Elected Leaders

(La version française suit) Women Becoming Elected Leaders Action Forum   Wednesday, October 4, 2017 6:00-8:30pm Colonel By Room, 2nd Floor Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave W   Inspiring a Diversity of Women to run for office or work on campaigns at the municipal level. The 2018 Municipal elections (City Council and School Boards) are just over a year away. Ottawa City Council has only four women out of 23 City Councillors and does not reflect the diversity of Ottawa’s population. Our city could benefit greatly from the wisdom and life experience that a greater diversity of women could bring to these important positions. Whether you are thinking of running for a municipal position next year, or would like to work on a woman’s campaign, this forum is a good place to start. Hear from several women with experience in elected office, including Councillor Catherine McKenney and previous-Councillor Diane Holmes. What does it take to put yourself forward or to support a woman’s campaign? Ask questions. Discuss. Be inspired! Register at EventBrite. A light supper will be provided. Reimbursement Expenses: We have limited funds for those who need childcare, bus tickets, or transportation in order to participate. This is made possible thanks to funding from Status of Women Canada.                                  « Devenir des élues dirigeantes » Forum des femmes d'action   Mercredi 4 octobre 2017 18 h – 20 h 30 Salle Colonel By, 2e étage Hôtel de Ville d’Ottawa, 110, avenue Laurier O.   Inspirer une diversité de femmes pour qu’elles se portent candidates ou qu’elles participent activement à une campagne électorale à l’échelle municipale. Les élections municipales de 2018 (conseil municipal et conseils scolaires) auront lieu dans un peu plus d’un an. Ottawa City Council has only four women out of 23 City Councillors and does not reflect the diversity of Ottawa’s population. Notre ville pourrait grandement bénéficier de la sagesse et de l’expérience de vie qu’une plus grande diversité de femmes pourrait apporter à ces importantes fonctions. Si vous songez à poser votre candidature à un de ces postes ou si vous aimeriez participer à la campagne d’une autre femme, ce forum est un bon point de départ. Hear from several women with experience in elected office, including Councillor Catherine McKenney and previous-Councillor Diane Holmes. What does it take to put yourself forward or to support a woman’s campaign? Posez des questions. Discutez. Soyez inspirées! Inscrivez-vous à Eventbrite. Un léger repas sera fourni. Remboursement des dépenses : Nous disposons d’une quantité limitée de fonds pour celles d’entre nous qui ne peuvent participer que si les coûts de garde d’enfants, des billets d’autobus ou du transport sont couverts.   This is made possible thanks to funding from Status of Women Canada.

Copyright © 2016, City for All Women Initiative (CAWI), All rights reserved. City for All Women Initiative draws upon the strengths, cultural expression, values and knowledge that women across diversity have to offer. We promote and create systemic change by starting with concrete changes in our lives and in our city. Our areas of work focus are Equity and Inclusion, Making Voices Count and Facilitation for Change.  Our mailing address is: City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) 1439 Tedder Avenue Ottawa, On K1H 6A5 Canada

Thanksgiving Day activities and schedule changes

Ottawa - The City of Ottawa reminds residents of the following schedule changes for the Thanksgiving Day holiday on Monday, October 9.

 

Client services:

·         Ottawa City Hall and all seven Client Service Centres, including the Government Service Centre located at 110 Laurier Avenue West, will be closed. Business will resume as usual on Tuesday, October 10.

 

·         The City’s Provincial Offences Court, located at 100 Constellation Crescent, will also be closed. Business will resume as usual on Tuesday, October 10.

 

·         The City’s 3-1-1 Contact Centre will be open for urgent matters requiring the City’s immediate attention. Call 3-1-1 or 613-580-2400 to speak to a customer service representative. For persons with a hearing-related disability, call TTY: 613-580-2401.

 

Green bin, recycling and garbage collection:

·         There will be no curbside green bin, recycling or garbage collection on Thanksgiving Day. Monday’s pick-up will take place on Tuesday, October 10. In addition, the collection of green bin, recycling materials and garbage will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week. For curbside collection enquiries, refer to the collection calendar tool.

 

·         There will be no multi-residential, bulky items, green bin, recycling and leaf and yard waste collection on Thanksgiving Day. Monday’s pickup will take place on Tuesday, October 10. Multi-residential, bulky items, green bin, recycling and leaf and yard waste collection will also be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week. However, multi-residential garbage container collection is not delayed and collection will take place on its regularly scheduled day during the week of October 9.

 

·         The Trail Waste Facility will be closed.

 

Parking:

·         All City of Ottawa parking regulations and restrictions will apply during this time.

 

Transit service:

·         OC Transpo will operate a Sunday schedule and the DayPass will be valid as a Family DayPass. A family or group may travel all day with a DayPass which can be purchased for $10.25 from the bus operator upon boarding. A family/group can include up to six people with a maximum of two individuals aged 13 or older. Call 613-560-1000 or text 560560 plus your four-digit bus stop number for real-time schedule information. For more information, holiday schedules and travel planning, phone 613-741-4390 or visit octranspo.com.

 

·         All OC Transpo Customer Service Centres will be closed, with the exception of the Rideau Centre, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

·         Transit Information Centre (613-741-4390) will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

·         OC Transpo Customer Relations Office (613-842-3600) will be closed.

 

·         Para Transpo will operate a holiday service on October 9. Regular scheduled trips are automatically cancelled. Customers may book trips for Thanksgiving Day on or after Monday, October 2 by calling 613-244-7272.

 

·         Para Transpo operations:

o   Customer service (613-842-3681) – closed

o   Administration (613-244-1289) – closed

o   Taxi coupons (613-842-3670) – closed

o   Reservations line (613-244-7272) – open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

o   Trip cancellation and general inquiries (613-244-4636) – open 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

 

Recreation services:

·         Some indoor pools and fitness centres will be open for public swimming, fitness schedules, aquafitness and public skating with modified schedules. Please check on ottawa.ca or with the facility of your choice for details.

 

·         Most registered programs at swimming pools, community centres and arenas are cancelled; however, participants should check with their facility to confirm, as some exceptions will apply.

 

Ottawa Public Health:

·         The Sexual Health Centre and Satellite Clinics will be closed.

 

·         SITE program:

o   SITE office at 179 Clarence Street will be closed Monday, October 9, however, the site mobile van will be operating on a regular schedule from 5 to 11:30 p.m.

 

·         The Dental Clinics and Well Baby Drop-in will be closed.

 

·         The Ottawa Public Health Information Line will be closed; however, you can leave a message by phone and inquiries will be responded to within one business day. You can also connect online for the latest health information at OttawaPublicHealth.ca.

 

Cultural Services:

·         The Barbara Ann Scott Gallery and the Karsh-Masson Gallery at City Hall will be open, however, the City Hall Art Gallery is closed for installation.

 

·         City of Ottawa Archives, arts centres, galleries, theatres and museums will be closed; however, clients should check ottawa.ca or their facility to confirm, as some exceptions may apply.

                                                     

Archives Services:

·         The City of Ottawa Archives Reference Services and Gallery 112 will be closed. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, October 10.

 

Municipal child care services:

·         All Municipal Child Care Centres will be closed.

 

Ottawa Public Library:

·         All branches and services of the Ottawa Public Library will be closed. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, October 10.

 

- 30 -

 

For more information:Media contact
613-580-2450

 

Public inquiries
3-1-1

Pinecrest Neighbourhood Rain Project

The City of Ottawa has started a new project called the Pinecrest Creek/ Westboro Stormwater Management Retrofit plan to reduce the harmful impacts of stormwater.

The Pinecrest Neighbourhood Rain Project is a part of this larger plan that is designed to teach residents how to manage rainwater runoff, add beauty and value to their properties with low maintenance landscaping, protect their homes from flooding, and keep our creeks and rivers healthy.

You can fill out a survey on the site for the opportunity to win a rain barrel kit.

Find out more about the project at http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/water-and-environment/air-land-and-water/beaches-rivers-and-streams/stormwater-management