NEWS ARCHIVES

July 31, 2009

Investigation forthcoming following flood

City Staff, led by City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick, made a formal apology to residents affected by the recent west-end flooding at a public meeting on July 30, organized by my office, and offered assurances that an investigation is forthcoming.

No doubt the reassurances were cold comfort for the countless residents who have been impacted, but I am making a commitment to the residents of the community that I will work with Staff to ensure measures are in place to mitigate future risk.

This will need to come from a multi-faceted approach. Firstly, we must investigate the design, operations and maintenance of the infrastructure currently in place, and whether it is sufficient for the existing community, as well as capable of handling planned expansion. While Staff’s preliminary indication is that the system was operationally successful but overwhelmed given the deluge of rain, it is evident that enhanced infrastructure is needed to not only meet capacity, but also handle unpredictable weather patterns.

In addition, the communication breakdown between senior management and front-line staff, along with poor communication with residents, was completely unacceptable. The investigation into what occurred cannot be limited solely to the mechanical aspect of the response; there needs to be a thorough review of the operational and staffing procedures to determine what went wrong and accountability is in order.

Staff are aiming to have the investigation into how the sanitary and storm systems performed completed by the end of August and a public meeting will follow. As any new details emerge, I will be sure to relay those to the community.

If your home has been flooded, please report the incident to your insurance company and contact the City’s 311 call centre. The City can arrange for a public health nurse and a City inspector to visit your property. My intention is to raise with my Council colleagues the possibility of a tax rebate or some other form of compensation for affected residents. A donation fund is in the process of being established through Scotia Bank. More information will be available shortly.

For more information on what services are presently in place, please visit the City’s website at www.ottawa.ca.
 

Get active this Fall

With help from the Goulbourn Recreation Complex, you could be in the best shape of your life as the GRC rolls out its Fall and Winter programs.

The Fall/Winter recreation guide is now in circulation and an electronic version can be found on my website at www.shadqadri.com.

Registration for Aquatics programs begins on August 11, and registration for land programs begins on August 13.
 

Youth events planned for August

The City’s Youth Connexion program has lined up a series of events for the youth of our community, kicking off with Skatejam ’09 on August 8 from 11-3pm at the Goulbourn Recreation Complex.

An all-day trip to Mont Cascade highlights the middle of the month, occurring on August 17 at a cost of $25 with pick-up at the GRC.

For the girls aged 9-16 in the community, a Spa Night is planned at the GRC on August 20 from 6-8:30pm. The cost is $10.

Lastly, the summer is capped off with an Amazing Race themed camping trip to Lac Philippe, with pick-up at the GRC, from August 24-26. This event is open to youths aged 9-16.

For more information on these and other events for the youth of our community, please contact Sarah Mullen, Stittsville Youth Connexion Supervisor, at 613-580-2424 ext. 43307.
 

Are you interested in improving interprovincial transit in the Region?

The Interprovincial Transit Strategy, which is a collaborative effort between the National Capital Commission (NCC), the City of Ottawa, and the Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO), with direct participation by the City of Gatineau, is seeking public feedback on how best to create a seamless transit service between the downtowns of Ottawa and Gatineau.

An on-line questionnaire is intended for anyone that lives, works or commutes in the core area of the National Capital Region.

You can access the questionnaire by visiting www.interprovincial-transit-strategy.ca. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete and focuses on the evaluation criteria that will be used to determine the best solution for the Region. The closing date to complete and submit the Comment Sheet is August.
 

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 9-4pm, and Saturday 9-1pm. Please do not hesitate to pay us a visit.

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