NEWS ARCHIVES

May 8, 2009

Sweden tour provides insight into modern waste practices

At a recent Planning and the Environment Committee meeting, Councillors approved my attendance at an upcoming Waste to Energy conference in Sweden.

The purpose of this conference, conducted by the Swedish Trade Council and the Embassy of Sweden, in co-operation with the Canadian Urban Institute, is to learn first-hand how municipalities and companies have implemented state-of-the-art technology within the energy and waste-to-energy sector. This is valuable information given the important role the waste sector plays in our community.

I have long been an advocate for converting our municipal waste into a positive resource for the City, while mitigating the amount of waste travelling to landfills, and I am certain this tour will give me tremendous insight into the practices European nations in particular have adopted to combat the landfill issue.

Visits are planned to the City of Södertälje to see a waste collection system based on different coloured garbage bags which are automatically sorted using an optical system in the transfer station; to Tekniska Verken/Usitall, a local utility company owned by the City of Linköping where the City’s transit buses, City vehicles and taxis are powered by locally produced bio-gas; a visit to SYSAV in Malmö, a company owned by 14 municipalities in southern Sweden, to see their waste to energy facility, recycling processes and policies and bio-gas production; and more Cities and companies throughout Sweden.

I will write a report based on my findings during this tour that will be presented to the City’s Planning and Environment Committee, and I will encourage the City to adopt some of these innovative practices to modernize our waste handling techniques. This should coincide with the introduction of an organics program in Ottawa, which is something our City needs to adopt, along with other pilot projects I am arranging for our ward, including a battery and metal recycling program.
 

Temporary closure on stretch of Maple Grove Road

Due to construction of municipal services along Maple Grove Road from Leveche Way to Montserrat Street, this portion of the road will be closed between May 11 and July 17. The detour route will be Hazeldean Road and Huntmar Drive.

Due to future development in this area, Maple Grove Road will require additional upgrades as development continues over the next couple of years. It is not possible to require all the work to be completed at once because it is the developer who is responsible for this work and there are other developers involved in the future development of lands abutting Maple Grove Road. I know this is an inconvenience to many; however, given the age of Maple Grove Road it will require a number of upgrades to serve our growing community. It is planned that eventually the road will be completed to an urban standard road. I thank the surrounding community for their patience and understanding.
 

Artists and Authors visit Village Square Park

On May 24, Village Square Park, located at the corner of Abbott Street and Stittsville Main Street, will be home to artistic and literary expression, as the Stittsville Village Association (SVA) hosts Artists and Authors in the Park between noon and 5pm.

This event will provide visitors a chance to talk to dozens of local artists and writers, while having the opportunity to browse or purchase paintings, ceramic works, photographs, and books.

If you are interested in participating, please contact the SVA’s organizing committee chairs, Metin Akgun, by e-mail at aysemetin@rogers.com or by phone at 613-836-5350, or Theresa Qadri by e-mail at theresaq@rogers.com or by phone at 831-9628.
 

Spring Flower Show takes root

The Stittsville-Goulbourn Horticultural Society Spring Flower Show is in full bloom, as green thumbs are invited to the Stittsville Arena just off Main Street on May 19.

If you are competing in the show, please bring your entries to the Arena between 5-7pm, with judging beginning at 7pm.
 

Summer Camp Open House

If you’re looking for more information on local summer camps within the Stittsville/Goulbourn community, please join Parks and Recreation staff at an Open House on May 23 at the Richmond Community Centre from 9-11am.

Directors and coordinators will be available to answer any questions or concerns you may have about summer camps or leadership programs for children and youth aged 3 to 17.

The event is geared to the whole family as a variety of fun activities are planned.
 

Household Hazardous Waste program

If it is corrosive, flammable or poisonous it is hazardous waste. If you have any household hazardous waste that needs to be disposed of properly, here is your opportunity to ensure it is done in an environmentally friendly way.

On May 30 from 9-4pm, the City will offer its household hazardous program at the Waste Management site on Carp Road.

Only household quantities accepted with a maximum of 100 litres. No commercial waste will be accepted. For more information on what products are accepted, please visit www.ottawa.ca/hhw.
 

Tequila Sunrise will not be tolerated

The Ottawa Police Service, in conjunction with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Carleton Catholic District School Board, wish to inform parents and guardians that the unsanctioned annual event, Tequila Sunrise, will not be tolerated.

Tequila Sunrise poses a considerable nuisance for many residents, as students gather in community parks and neighbourhoods and drug use, excessive consumption of alcohol, mischief and general disturbances generally takes place.

The Ottawa Police Service has informed my office that Police will be addressing Tequila Sunrise and any other events with a strict enforcement policy. Appropriate charges will be laid on any person where it is warranted and parents will also be held accountable under the Parental Responsibility Act for any damages caused by their children.
 

Fire hydrant testing: coming to your street this summer

Throughout the summer months you may see a City of Ottawa crew opening and flushing fire hydrants on your street.

The fire hydrant testing initiative is an ongoing program that is performed each summer between May and September. It takes two years to complete testing of every one of Ottawa’s 18,060 fire hydrants.

Flushing water through the hydrants at a very high flow rate checks their operation and flow capacity.

Staff are unable to predict the exact day crews will be in your neighbourhood; however, a flyer will be delivered to affected residents notifying them that testing will be done in the near future.

For more information about fire hydrant testing, call the City’s helpline at 311 or visit www.ottawa.ca for a list of neighbourhoods and weeks when testing will be carried out.
 

Always listening and acting on your concerns

As your Councillor, I always welcome your keen input and ideas on how we can sustain and improve Stittsville. Please contact our office anytime by phone at 613-580-2476 or by e-mail at Shad.Qadri@ottawa.ca.

My ward office is located in the Goulbourn Recreation Complex, located at 1500 Shea Road. The hours of operation are Mondays 9-2pm, Wednesdays 3-8pm, Fridays 9-5pm, and Saturday 9-1pm. Please do not hesitate to pay us a visit,  

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