In last week’s column, I provided a preview for the upcoming weekend’s events.  As a reminder, there are plenty of Christmas activities this weekend, including the following:

Saturday, December 5th
•    North Gower Farmers’ Christmas Market: Alfred Taylor Recreation Centre, 9:00am – 3:00pm
•    Christmas at Dickinson House
•    Manotick Santa Claus Parade: 1:00pm
•    Richmond Santa Claus Parade: 5:00pm
•    Mayor’s Christmas Celebration at City Hall
•    Christmas Craft Sale at Watson’s Mill

Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee

The next meeting of the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee will take place on Thursday, December 10th, beginning at 6:30pm at the Manotick Arena.  The purpose of the meeting will be to consider the update to the Manotick Secondary Plan as well as the Mud Creek Sub-watershed Study.  If you would like to speak to Committee, please contact [email protected].  If approved, both reports will go to full Council in January.

Peter Ryan receives Mayor’s City Builder Award

At the City Council meeting of November 25th, I was honoured to join Jim Watson in presenting a Mayor’s City Builder Award to Rideau-Goulbourn’s very own Peter Ryan, recognizing his many years of generous volunteering in Ottawa.

Peter was a firefighter with the City of Ottawa before amalgamation, from 1957 to 1996, when he retired with the rank of District Chief. In the almost 20 years since his retirement, he has devoted long hours to preserving and telling residents the history of the city’s fire services and the ways that fire, and firefighters, have shaped our community. 

Peter is still an active and passionate volunteer with the Bytown Fire Brigade, a non-profit historical society, and is the current president of that organization. He serves on the board of the Ottawa Fire Fighters Memorial, and volunteers with the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services as a cook on the canteen truck, serving meals and water to firefighters, police and other rescue workers at emergency scenes. 

He raises thousands of dollars for the Brigade and the memorial by auctioning seven-course gourmet dinners for up to 10 people, which he cooks and serves in his home. He also makes unique items from recycled, sustainable and exotic species of wood for fundraising events. He drives antique fire apparatus and vehicles to area parades, community events and car shows.

Shoreline Improvements at David Bartlett Park

As the many users of David Bartlett Park have seen recently, the shoreline within the park has recently undergone a makeover in hopes of stabilizing the shore and reducing erosion to the Rideau River. The park’s steep shoreline has experienced significant erosion for years. Soil and runoff have washed into the Rideau River to negatively affect water quality and fish habitat.
The City of Ottawa, in partnership with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) and park users, worked together to create a shoreline remediation plan that satisfied the needs of the shoreline and river environment and the needs of the park users.

The formal access points have been regraded and reinforced as gravel ramps. New fencing has been installed to direct park users towards the formalized access points. Trees and shrubs have been planted along the banks to help restore and protect the remaining shoreline area with more planned to be planted in the spring. Dog owners are strongly encouraged to use these new access points and prevent their pets from accessing the water at other locations along the fragile shoreline.

Permanent Signs By-law Review

Residents are invited to provide input on a City of Ottawa discussion paper regarding changes to the by-law that regulates permanent signs on private property.

These signs identify buildings or properties, provide information about what businesses or services are available at particular locations, advertise goods or services or provide directional information. The review will ensure the by-laws accounts for emerging technologies and trends, and that signs meet three key objectives:

• Public Safety: The design, location, maintenance, and operation of signs should not pose a safety hazard for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
• Good Design and Fit: Signs should be compatible with their surroundings, reflect the City's overall planning and design objectives and contribute positively to a liveable built environment.
• Economic Development: Signs should contribute to the economic well-being of businesses and communities and assist with way finding.

Visit ottawa.ca/permanentsigns to read the paper and to submit your feedback until Wednesday, January 13, 2016. Proposed recommendations for changes to the by-law will be circulated in February, 2016. A report and new by-law will be considered by Committee and Council in June 2016.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491