Calming coyote concerns

Coyotes are once again front and center as concerns expressed by residents about the increasing presence of coyotes across the City lead to a debate at Committee.

The City’s Emergency and Protective Services Department is approaching the issue with the mindset of public awareness and education, and will respond to some of the so-called myths about human safety.

We need to temper our reactions to what has unfolded. To put in perspective, on average, there is one domestic animal bite that occurs daily in our City – far outweighing the risk of confrontation with a coyote. According to staff, the true threat of danger is exceptionally rare.

Staff will develop a report concerning potential education and awareness campaigns and associated expenses and will present the matter to the City’s Community and Protective Services Committee.

Crime flyer provides faulty data

Recently, a flyer designed to solicit business for a security system company has been distributed within the community. The flyer notes rather alarming statistics about crime rates in Stittsville.

My office provided a copy of the flyer to the Ottawa Police for their investigation. The review revealed inaccuracies in the information and the Police have spoken with the company in question. The Police are preparing a summary of the 2009 data and will make it available to my office and the community shortly.

Please note the Ottawa Police website is a bridge to the actual crime statistics contained in their annual Police Crime and Traffic Statistics report. It is the belief of Police that the information contained on the flyer was derived from the Police’s website and may have been blended with other sources. There appears to have been accidental misinterpretations or misunderstandings of the police data, which has contributed to the faulty conclusions.

Winterfest blowing into town

Seasonal favourite Winterfest is just around the corner and you are your family are invited to celebrate the festivities.

Hosted by the Stittsville Village Association, Winterfest will be held on February 28 from noon until 4pm at Ralph Street Park located on Ralphpark Avenue, two streets east of Stittsville Main Street between Orville Street and Carleton Cathcart Street.

Once again the popular bed races will make an appearance, and there will be a broomball game between the Stittsville Volunteer Firefighters and the Ladies Team.

There will also be plenty of entertainment for kids and adults, including hockey games, chicken and jam-can curling and horse-driven sleigh rides.

For more info, please contact Marion Gullock at marion.gullock@sympatico.ca or at 613-836-5254.

Test your mental strength

Your brain deserves a good sweat, too. Trivia Night, organized by the Ottawa-Stittsville Rotary Club, will be held on February 19 at the Lions Club Hall on Stittsville Main Street.

Doors will open at 6:30pm and the trivia will start at 7:30pm. At a cost of $160 for groups of 8, there are a limited number of tables, so act quickly. For tickets and more information, please contact Theresa Qadri at theresaq@rogers.com or at 613-620-6245.

Trivia Night fundraising will go directly to the West Ottawa Drug Treatment Centre. Your support is appreciated by the many volunteers who are working to make this event successful.

City seeks young artists for Young at Art 2010

For the fifth consecutive year, the City of Ottawa invites young artists between 12 and 19 years-of-age to enter Young at Art 2010.

Works selected for Young at Art 2010 will be displayed in Ottawa community galleries and will be recognized at award presentations. Three Young at Art exhibitors will be awarded studio space at the Nepean Creative Arts Centre for the months of July and August.

Application forms are now available at secondary schools across the city as well as Ottawa Public Library branches. Application forms and guidelines can also be obtained by visiting www.ottawa.ca/youngatart or by contacting Mike Taylor, Young at Art Co-ordinator at 613-580-2424, ext. 29288 or mike.taylor@ottawa.ca. The deadline for Young at Art 2010 submissions is March 5.

Family Day schedule changes

The City of Ottawa would like to remind residents of the following schedule changes for Family Day, which occurs on February 15.

The City’s Client Service centres and Government Service Centres will be closed; however, 3-1-1 is still in operation.

There will be no curbside green bin, garbage or recycling collection on Family Day. Family Day’s pick-up will take place on the Tuesday. In addition, the collection of garbage and recycling materials will be delayed by one day for the week of February 15.

OC Transpo will offer a revised weekday schedule with minor reductions. Call 613-560-1000 plus your four-digit bus stop number for schedule information or visit www.octranspo.com.

Most recreation facilities will be maintaining regular operating hours on February 15, and most instructional programs will run on their normal schedule for the day. Additional swimming and skating sessions will be offered at many sites. Please contact the facility of your choice for more information.

All branches of the Ottawa Public Library are closed on Family Day.