NEWS ARCHIVESFebruary 29, 2008 Crime prevention in our community On Feb. 25 at a well-attended Neighbourhood Watch meeting for the Morningsun area, Const. Ryan Strotmann spoke about the need to have residents notifying police of criminal activity. The more statistics we can gather on criminal behaviour in Stittsville-Kanata West, the more need we demonstrate for increased police and crime prevention services in the area. For Neighbourhood Watch to be effective, each resident must take an active role in both security improvement and observation. It is not about being a vigilante and chasing down criminals. The role of volunteers with Neighbourhood Watch is to reduce the likelihood of criminal activity occurring by safeguarding your home and community while working together with police. I encourage residents to start up their own Neighbourhood Watch organization for their portion of the community. Contact Victor McNabey at 613-236-1222 ext. 2001 for further information. I cannot stress the importance of alerting the police at
613-230-6211 for suspicious activity, or 236-1222 ext. 7300 to file a report to
police after the fact. We must work together to ensure our community remains
safe. Volunteer awards Through the City of Ottawa Civic Appreciation Award, you can recognize the valuable work volunteers do in shaping our community. If you know of a deserving volunteer from our community, I encourage you to nominate them for this award and let them receive the recognition they greatly deserve. You can pick up a brochure at one of the Client Service
Centres, Ottawa Public Library branches or community centres. The deadline for
nominations is March 28. For more information, visit
www.ottawa.ca/volunteering. Spring/Summer Recreation Guides available The City’s Spring/Summer 2008 Recreation Guide is now available at recreation facilities, Client Service Centres and libraries. You can also obtain a PDF version from the City’s website at www.ottawa.ca/recreation. Registration for aquatic programs begins March 4. Registration for all other programs, including summer day camps, commences March 6. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the fantastic
programs the City has to offer. Outdoor rinks extended Outdoor rinks were scheduled to be closed on Feb. 29. However, the cooler temperatures have allowed city staff to keep approximately 60 of the 230 outdoor rinks open. Weather permitting, the rinks will remain open for use.
Please contact 613-580-2590 for rink locations and updated listings of the rinks
that remain open. You can also visit the city’s website at www.ottawa.ca and
follow the links residents/parks and recreation/seasonal activities/fall and
winter activities/outdoor rinks for additional information. On-street parking changes I would like to remind residents that effective March 1, the on-street parking meter rate will rise to $3.00 from $2.50 per-hour citywide. This is the first parking increase in the city since 2004 and places us on average with other major Canadian municipalities. A decision on other potential changes to on-street parking, such as weekend and evening charges, has been delayed pending a consultation with the business community following the recommendation of Council. My council colleagues and I, as well as City staff, are
working towards finding a solution to generate revenue without increasing
parking hours. City staff will report back to Council with alternative funding
opportunities on March 26. Earth Hour fast approaching For one hour on March 29, Ottawa residents will be living in darkness after flicking the switch for the worldwide campaign Earth Hour. Ottawa will join other cities, like Montreal, Vancouver, Dublin and Bangkok, in turning off their lights from 8p.m. to 9p.m. By turning off non-essential lights in government buildings, businesses and homes, we can do our part to help fight global warming. However, our efforts must go beyond one hour – it needs to
be a routine for all of us. I encourage everyone to take extra steps to ensure
you flick the switch on a regular basis. Hartsmere Lifting Part-Lot Control Extension Ashcroft Homes applied to the City for an extension to the approved lifting of Part-Lot Control at 166, 170, 174 and 178 Hartsmere Drive to allow for the legal division of 4 lots to construct 8 semi-detached dwelling units. These lots are located at the southwest portion of Hartsmere Drive between Monterossa Street and Upcountry Drive. This application was originally approved in April 2006 and expires in April 2008. These lands are currently zoned Residential Type 2 Zone (R2), which permits single detached, semi-detached and duplex dwellings. For more information please contact my office and the City
Planner, Sean Moore at Sean.Moore@ottawa.ca or 613-580-2424 ext. 16481. “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-Kanata West. Please contact our office anytime by phone at 613-580-2476 or by e-mail at shad.qadri@ottawa.ca. Visit my website at www.shadqadri.com to view photos from Winterfest. Please note that you can also contact my ward office every Monday and Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and every Wednesday from 1 p.m.-8 p.m. at 613-580-2424 ext. 33440 or 33442. Also, feel free to stop by anytime at 1532 Stittsville Main Street. Sincerely, [ close window ] |
