Bulletin Quartier Orléans Ward Newsletter

Dear Neighbour,

Well, the days are getting shorter and the fall is in full swing. While it certainly was not the summer we would have hoped for, there was still plenty of great weather to enjoy while getting out with the family or enjoying a local beer on your favourite patio.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting our incredible local businesses during this time. It made a big difference to the families that own them and the families of those who work at them. Please consider continuing to support them as we move from this warm weather into the frost and snow. With the reduced capacity, it will be more important than ever to support local.

Like many of you, I spent some time on the weekends in my backyard playing with my daughter and taking the opportunity to spend time with my wonderful wife.

Our garden was incredible this year, and we had so much produce that I made several trips to the OCCRC with cucumbers, herbs, tomatoes, and other goodies. If you've got extras when you do your final harvest, the OCCRC is always looking to support local families!

Our weekly Good News videos on Facebook were a wonderful opportunity to highlight our incredible residents, not-for profit agencies and local businesses doing great work in our community. I enjoyed receiving all your suggestions this summer and had a great time connecting with you in this new way. While this segment has come to an end for now, we will continue to use video updates to keep you informed as to what we have been up to. As always, please visit the Social Media and News sections of my website for the latest info!

I know how many of you are feeling with the return to school and daycare. Libby is now attending daycare full time and we feel the same concern and worry as you. It is so important at this time to be limiting our close contact with those outside of our household, and the return to school routine has been stressful. I remain in close contact with our MPP and trustees, offering any help I can during this difficult time.

I'm so pleased that the first COVID-19 Care Centre in the suburbs is coming to Orléans. Hard work really does pay off and our partners at Montfort, OPH and have been wonderful to work with. I will always do everything I can to ensure Orléans gets the services we need. More details about the Centre can be found below.

I care deeply about mental health, so I'd be remiss not to mention that this pandemic and the pressures and stresses coming from it are affecting all of us, whether we recognize it or not. It is ok to not be okay. I use mindfulness guided meditations, do my best to read for pleasure for an hour a day and ensure that I am getting enough sleep. This pandemic has presented all of us with more work and it's hard to find the hours in the day to get it all done. Please make sure you are taking care of yourselves and each other. Call a friend you haven't seen in a while or a family member that lives alone and catch up. It is sure to lift both of your spirits. If you need someone to talk to and you want confidential help, please reach out to the Distress Centre 24/7 at (613) 238-3311.

The Ward Boundary review is underway, and I have been working with the consultants, my colleagues, and Councillor Kitts to ensure proper rural and francophone representation in the East. We have a strong team and are working hard to amend the options to ensure you are properly represented, key neighbourhoods are reunited (like Queenwood Heights and Fallingbrook) and rural voices are heard at the council table. While the boundaries will change and I may be losing some neighbours and gaining others in 2022, we are here for you through it all. I work for you, and nothing will change that.

The 2021 Budget Consultations have begun, and my Eastern colleagues will be holding a joint meeting virtually to hear your thoughts (details below). I'm always here for you, so reach out with your priorities any time. I have been out in the community every week hearing from you, and based on your comments, my focus this year is on pedestrian safety and infrastructure renewal. I'm very happy to see a pedestrian crossover being constructed on Orléans Blvd near Convent Glen Shopping Centre and Carine Wilson Secondary School to improve safety for our seniors, pedestrians, and students. It is these kinds of improvements that I will continue to push for.

Returning to the impending winter, another challenging season is being forecasted. Our roads crew are ready and if you see an area requiring service, please report it to 311 by phone or online as those are the quickest ways to get requests to front line staff. Their operations have been improved over the last year and I have my fingers crossed for a smooth winter.

Thanks for reading this far! As always, you can call us at 613-580-2471 during business hours or send an email to matt.luloff@ottawa.ca any time.

Looking forward to connecting with you in the community, at your door, or virtually! Take care and we will chat soon,

Matt

Sometimes it can feel like information around the COVID-19 pandemic is changing faster than we can keep up with it.

COVID-19 Care Clinic at Ray Friel

Hôpital Montfort will soon open a COVID-19 Care Clinic at Ray Friel Recreation Complex’s Rink 3. Its services will be similar to those available at the COVID-19 Care Clinic on Heron Road, which is also managed by Montfort.

Multiple City departments, Hôpital Montfort, and Ottawa Public Health have carefully prepared protocols and retrofit designs to safeguard all visitors – whether you are taking part in a recreation activity, visiting the library or going for a test.

The clinic’s function will be to provide COVID-19 testing and respiratory assessments for people with symptoms of respiratory illness – cough, fever and cold-like symptoms – that can’t be managed at home. Adults and children as young as six months of age will be able to receive care and be tested for COVID-19.

Details of the clinic's operating hours and booking system are expected soon. Once those details have been announced by Montfort, the OPH Testing Information page will be updated to include the information.

Provide your feedback on the 2021 draft City of Ottawa budget! Join myself and Councillors Dudas, Tierney and Kitts as well as to learn more about the budget, share your feedback or ask questions.

Registration is required

Residents can view budget details as well as provide feedback on Engage Ottawa.

Transportation Master Plan

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the City’s transportation system. It has affected how, when, and where people travel. Transit ridership, auto traffic, pedestrian volumes, and cycling trips have all fluctuated over the course of the pandemic, and things are still in a state of flux.

The update of Ottawa’s Transportation Master Plan will need to take these changes into account. The second phase of public consultation, focusing on policy connections has begun.

Until October 23rd, visit Engage Ottawa to participate in an online mapping activity and complete a survey on what a fair and equitable transportation system looks like.

Stage 2 LRT: Confederation Line East Extension

Stage 2 LRT work is steadily moving eastward. This fall, crews and equipment will be working along the north and south side (shoulder) lanes of Highway 174 to remove asphalt, relocate utilities and realign on and off ramps in order to relocate outwards the existing eastbound and westbound lanes so that LRT guideway construction can safely occur in the centre median.

View the latest updates on the Confederation Line extension project or better yet, subscribe to the Stage 2 LRT project newsletter and never miss an update!