Art from the Heart Craft Show:

Love is in the air! With 40 Local Vendors to choose from, come down and find your sweetheart something sweet.

We'll have everything from Soap, Beeswax Candles, to Wood Works, Quilts and Knitted Goods. Jewelry, Pet Supplies, and Herbal Remedies Macrame, and Native Crafts. Baked Goods, and Clothing, Stained Glass, and so Much More!!

There will also be Live Music on the Stage to keep us entertained. The Snack Shack will be serving up some yummy delights such as Delicious Baked Goods, Hamburgers, Veggieburgers, Hot Dogs, and, Gourmet Grilled Cheese, and Refreshments!

So come on down and join us for a Cozy Craft Show in Nepean!
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Special Thanks to all the Musicians for sharing their wonderful talent with us, and to Groovy for cooking us yummy delights!

Ottawa West Little League:

Being a Hydrant Hero this Winter:

In an emergency every second counts - and when a fire hydrant is covered in snow, crews lose precious time trying to dig it out.

If a fire hydrant is located on your property, you are responsible for ensuring nothing obstructs access to the hydrant, as per Ottawa's Water By-law.

The City encourages you to be a hydrant hero this winter and keep your local hydrant clear of snow. Clearing 1.5 metres around a hydrant maintains access for our firefighters and helps them keep you, your family and your community safe.

Contractors are reminded to not pile snow over or against hydrants when clearing pathways and driveways in the winter.

If you are unable to clear the hydrant on your property, please call 3-1-1.

2020 Cycling Network Winter Maintenance Update:

The purpose of this memo is to provide Mayor and Members of Council with an update of new cycling facilities completed during 2019 and plans for their winter maintenance.

During the winter months, most cyclists (approximately 57%) shift to transit, walking or carpooling while approximately 28% shift to driving. However, cyclists are increasingly interested in riding year-round as cycling connections and facilities are improving each year.

Ottawa's Winter-maintained Cycling Network offers a network of cycling facilities cleared of snow to the same standard as the neighbouring sidewalk or vehicle travel lanes. The winter network is concentrated in core areas along the cycling corridors that have the highest activity levels during the fair-weather months. The up-to-date winter cycling network map is available on the City's geoOttawa mapping platform.

As new cycling facilities are completed each year, whether as stand-alone projects or as part of other City road construction projects, the General Manager, Transportation Services in consultation with the General manager, Public Works and Environmental Services, have delegated authority to modify the network in accordance with winter cycling needs, connectivity and affordability.

Table 1 (below) lists the cycling facilities that have been added to the City's Winter-maintained Cycling Network in 2020, in consultation with Public Works and Environmental Services, because of their connectivity to the existing winter-maintained cycling network and their high activity levels outside winter months.

Table 2 lists the new multi-use pathways completed in 2019 that are being winter maintained in accordance with pedestrian maintenance requirements, which may also benefit cyclists. Table 3 lists the major new cycling facilities completed in 2019 that will not be winter maintained because they are not connected to the Winter-maintained Cycling Network and do not have sufficient activity levels during fair weather to warrant the cost of winter maintenance. These facilities may be considered for winter maintenance in future years.

It takes time for activity levels on new cycling facilities to warrant the cost of winter maintenance. Staff are developing standardized warrant thresholds for winter maintenance of cycling facilities as part of the ongoing update to the Ottawa Cycling Plan.

Table 1 - 2020 Addition to Winter-Maintained Cycling Network

Location	Facility Type	Facility Length
Flora Bridge across Rideau Canal (Fifth Avenue to Clegg Street)	Multi-Use Pathway	200m
Mackenzie Avenue (Rideau Street to Murray Street)	Cycle tracks	400m
MUP along the O-Train Line 1 guidway (Laurier Avenue to Hurdman Station)	Multi-Use Pathway	2,300m

Table 2 - Multi-Use Pathways Completed in 2019 Winter-Maintained for Pedestrians Only

Location	Facility Type	Facility Length
Chapel Hill Park and Ride MUP Connections	Multi-Use Pathway	800m
Hospital Link MUP	Multi-Use Pathway	1,200m
MUP link (Industrial Avenue to Coronation Avenue)	Multi-Use Pathway	110m
Pimisi Station MUPs (Lett Street to Pimisi Station; and, Pimisi Station to Albert Street between Preston Street and Booth Street)	Multi-Use Pathway	400m

Table 3 - Major Cycling Facilities Completed in 2019 not Winter-Maintained

Location	Facility Type	Facility Length
Bank Street underpass at Riverside Drive	Multi-Use Pathway	200m
Byron Avenue eastbound only (Golden Avenue to Island Park Drive)	Painted Bike lane	1,500m
Byron Avenue westbound only (Eden Avenue to Island Park Drive)	Painted Bike lane	900m
Dynes Road (Prince of Wales Drive to Fisher Avenue)	Painted Bike lane	800m
Fisher Avenue southbound only (Baseline Road to Dynes Road)	Painted Bike lane	600m
Prince of Wales Drive (Forest Hill Avenue to just south of Dynes Road)	Cycle tracks	600m
Sherbourne Road (Carling Avenue to Byron Avenue)	Painted bike lane	1,300m

Speaking Notes for Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Vera Etches Briefing to Ottawa City Council - January 29, 2020:

Mayor Watson and Members of Council,

As many are aware, Wuhan, China reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia on December 31, 2019, which were later confirmed as caused by a new type of coronavirus not previously identified in humans.

Ottawa Public Health is following the lead of the Ontario Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario and the Public Health Agency of Canada in responding to the Novel Coronavirus with a focus on keeping the people of Ottawa well.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. They can cause infections ranging from the common cold to more severe infections such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS. Symptoms of infection with this new coronavirus range from mild to severe respiratory illnesses, including fever, cough, runny nose and shortness of breath. Complications can cause pneumonia and deaths are mainly being reported in older adults with underlying chronic disease.

Chinese officials in Wuhan as well as other cities in Hubei Province are implementing exceptional measures to reduce further spread of the virus. Given the safety and security risks associated with these measures, the Government of Canada recommends that Canadians avoid all travel to Hubei province, China.

At this time, the population at risk for infection with the novel coronavirus is people who have visited Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei and people who have been in close contact with someone who has a respiratory illness who has been to the Hubei province within 14 days prior to their illness onset. The incubation period is the time between when someone was exposed to the virus and infected and the time when symptoms first appear. The typical incubation period for the novel coronavirus appears to be more like a few days, though information is evolving.

There are travelers who have returned from the affected area who were screened in airports in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver and who were given messaging about how to take precautions to limit exposure to others if they develop symptoms in the 14 days after their return.

Ottawa Public Health has strong partnerships with local hospitals, which test for novel coronavirus, and we are sharing provincial guidance to support primary health care providers in the community. I can confirm that rigorous processes are in place to screen individuals suspected of novel coronavirus exposure; people undergoing assessment are isolated and employees are protected from infection. We have information on our website and we are receiving phone calls to guide health care practitioners as well as members of the public regarding assessment for novel coronavirus. I encourage all who visit a hospital to read and follow instructions on hospital signage.

As of last evening, about 40 people in Ontario have been investigated with a lab test to rule out or detect infection with the novel coronavirus, given their history of travel to an affected area or exposure to someone ill who traveled to an affected area. Most of these tests have been negative. Two cases have been identified in Toronto. There has been one instance in the City of Ottawa where the decision was made to order the lab test to rule out the novel coronavirus. If this test becomes positive, I will be communicating about this.

If a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus were to be identified in Ottawa, Ottawa Public Health would work with the Ministry of Health, the Public Health Ontario Laboratory, and local hospitals in the management of the case and any contacts. Of the three confirmed or presumptive cases in Canada, all are doing well.

As I mentioned earlier, this situation is evolving and prevention of transmission of the respiratory virus is key. There are things that residents can and should do to reduce the spread of infection, which are useful for limiting the spread of infection, which are useful for limiting the spread of influenze, which is present in our community at this time.

I recommend that everyone:

• Wash your hands and wash them often with soap and water, or use alcohol hand santizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just washed your hands
• Cover your cough and please sneeze with a tissue or into your arm, not into your hands
• And if possible, stay home if you are sick
• Avoid visiting people in hospitals or long-term care centres if you are sick
• And it is still important to get your flu shot as the influenza season is ongoing

You will have likely seen in the media discussion surrounding face masks. In Ottawa there is no reason to wear a mask if you are well. Masks can provide a false sense of security, as people continue to touch the masks and then their face. The best advice is to wash your hands frequently and refrain from touching your face.

The Ottawa Public Health team has activated an incident management structure to focus efforts on being vigilant to detect and limit spread of the novel coronavirus. Ottawa Public Health is keeping a close watch on the evolving situation and responding in collaboration with partners. I will keep the public updated.

Road Close Authorization for Riley Avenue:

Riley Avenue, from Placid Street to Tompkins Street will be closed for 2 days - Tuesday, 3 March 2020 & Wednesday, 4 March 2020.

A mobile crane and equipment will be placed to assist Hydro Ottawa with the replacement of hydro poles.

Notification signs will be posted. Local and emergency vehicle access will be maintained.

Information on Novel Coronavirus:

On the 31st December 2019, the World health Organization was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan City. A Novel Coronavirus was identified as the causative virus by Chinese authorities on January 7th 2020. As of January 22nd, 2020, there are no cases reported in Canada, however there have been a bit over 400 confirmed cases, mainly in China, but also in Japan, Thailand, South Korea, and 1 case in the USA. Screening has been employed in some airports to prevent the spread. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Standard recommendations to prevent infection include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs, and avoiding close contact with those showing symptoms. Additional information on the virus can be found at ipac-canada.org and who.int/health-topics/coronavirus.

Hydro One Vegetation Maintenance:

Ontario government sets official end date for red-and-white health cards to July 1st 2020

25 years after the Ontario government announced the red and white cards would be phased out, the official deadline has been set to July 1st. Those who still have the old health cards will get notices this month, and after that they will get monthly reminders to get a new card. After the deadline the card will not be accepted for services, and the owner of the card will receive a bill for the services. The bill will be reimbursed once the owner of the red and white card gets a new card. Photo health cards can be obtained for free at ServiceOntario locations including Ottawa City Hall, the location at 1948 Merivale, and the location at 1309 Carling

Update on the Office of Rick Chiarelli:

Although Councillor Chiarelli must currently focus on his recovery, he collaborates with us here at the office daily, with the due authority delegated to him by Council.

As his health permits, the Councillor will be assuming more active duties however our team is empowered with the ability to assist yourself and other College Ward residents. Additionally City staff are also available to help via 3-1-1 through the City of Ottawa website. We welcome all inquiries and strive to ensure that we provide the same level of services our residents expect and deserve.

2020 Community Economic
Development Grants Fund:

The City of Ottawa is pleased to announce the 2020 CED grants program. The application closing date is Friday March 20, 2020.

The annual Community Economic Development (CED) Funding Program provides financial support to selected projects (not ongoing program expenses) that are anticipated to result in:

• Job Creation
• Business creation
• Entrepreneurship skills development
• Employability skills development

The CED Funding Program is focused on having a positive impact on disadvantaged populations (e.g. lower income youth and older adults, rural residents, new immigrants, visible minorities, etc.), while also demonstrating social justice and inclusion, and/or cultural diversification benefits.

Projects should help build community capacity to support these objectives beyond the project funding period. Projects should help targeted populations to overcome identified disadvantages. Projects should build inclusivity for populations that are under-represented in the mainstream economy.

The CED Grants Funding Program awards a total of up to $280,000 per year, distributed among the top-ranked proposals that are selected by a jury panel of reviewers. While proposals may have inherent merits, funds are awarded only among the top-ranked projects, until the annual funding maximum is reached.

Please follow this link for more information and to submit your proposal.(English) or (French)

If you would like to discuss your project idea before submitting your proposal, please contact Ian Scott, Economic Development Officer at ian.scott@ottawa.ca

OC Transpo
Winter Service Improvements

New Winter Service
New Winter schedules and service improvements start Sunday, January 5.

Winter Service Highlights
Starting on December 22, 2019 there will be:

• Extra trips or minor scheduling adjustments on Routes 7, 24, 34, and 225

Starting on January 5, 2020 there will be:

• Extra trips added to many weekday routes to improve the morning and afternoon commute
• Larger buses on key routes to reduce crowding
• Schedule adjustments on some routes to improve bus stop arrival times
• Extra stops added to Routes 258, 282, and 284 to increase service to transit stations in the west end
• Direct non-stop service from Tunney's Pasture to Fallowfield on Routes 270, 271, 272, 273, 275, 277, and 278
• Minor schedule adjustments on School Routes 12, 631, 686, 689, and 691 to align with bell times

Route changes and adjustments
The Winter Service Change on January 5, 2020 and the earlier adjustments on December 22 include improvements based on customer feedback that will:

• Better match service to ridership
• Reduce platform crowding
• Replace unscheduled supplemental bus service
• Accommodate early start times for customers working downtown
• Adjust trips to provide service when it is most needed
  
  
  For more information, visit the OC Transpo Website

Outdoor Rink Tips for a Successful Season:

• Rink users should wear a CSA approved hockey helmet at all times.
• Children under the age of 7 should be accompanied by a responsible person aged 14 and up.
• Respect signage indicating the rink is closed. It means volunteers have recently flooded or the ice is too soft for skating.
• Avoid walking on the rink, as this is hazardous and amages the ice surface.
• Keep all pets off the rinks. Please do not use boarded rinks as dog runs.
• For the safety of users, hockey is not permitted on puddle rinks.
• Hours of operation and access to warming facilities where available for supervised rinks is determined by the local community operator at each location and avalaible on Ottawa.ca
• Take the time thank the volunteers who dedicate their time to creating a rink in your community and lend a helping hand when possible!
• Report and site hazards or deficiencies to 3-1-1 or the Seasonal Recreation Office

Winter 2020 OC Transpo Service Improvements in Ward 8

Route 55

• Increasing service in the eastbound direction from every direction from every 30 minutes to every 15 minutes between 07:30 and 08:30 by adding two new trips to increase capacity and reduce waiting times for customers.
• Increasing service in the westbound direction between 15:00 and 16:00 from every 30 minutes to every 15 minutes by adding two new trips to increase capacity and reduce waiting times for customers.

Route 61

• Adding five westbound afternoon trips at 14:45, 16:08, 16:25, 16:50, and 17:20, from Tunney's Pasture Station via Bayshore and Eagleson Stations to Terry Fox Station to increase capacity, reduce waiting times for customers, and alleviate bus platform crowding.

Route 62

• Added a morning eastbound trip from Cardelrec Recreational Complex Goulbourn at 7:10 and an afternoon westbound trip from Tunney's Pasture Station at 16:28 to increase capacity and alleviate bus platform crowding (began in November).

Route 63

• To improve connections to Gatineau, two eastbound morning trips from Tunney's Pasture Station at 06:49 and 07:25 will be extended to end at Sacre-Coeur.
• To improve connections from Gatineau, four westbound afternoon trips will be extended to start at Sacre-Coeur at approximately 15:13, 15:43, 16:43, and 17:16 to provide approximately 15 minute service from gatineau for most of the afternoon peak period.

Route 66

• Added an afternoon eastbound trip at 16:00 from Carling Campus to Tunney's Pasture Station to improve capacity for customers (began in November).

Route 75

• Adding new westbound trips every 5 minutes between 14:40 and 19:00 from Tunney's Pasture Station to Baseline Station. These trips are marked as "75 Baseline". The addition of these trips increases capacity and reduces waiting time for customers travelling to Westboro, Dominion, Lincoln Fields, Queensway, Iris, and Baseline Stations. This reduces pressure on the 270-series Connexion routes to Barrhaven, which makes more capacity available and improves reliability of those routes. This also reduces crowding at Stop G on the bus platform at Tunney's Pasture Station.
• To improve connections to Gatineau, an eastbound trip from Tunney's Pasture Station at 07:41 will be extended to end at les Terrasses de la Chaudiere.
• To improve connections from Gatineau, two westbound trips will be extended to start at Place du Portage at 15:16 and 15:30.

Route 80

• Added an afternoon southbound trip at 16:41 from Tunney's Pasture Station to Barrhaven Centre to provide for increased capacity for customers (began in November).
• Improving service reliability by adjusting the time allotted for buses to complete their trips.

Route 82

• Added an afternoon westbound trip at 16:35 from Tunney's Pasture Station to Greenbank and Craig Henry to reduce waiting time for customers (began in November).
• Improving service reliability by increasing the length of time between scheduled trips in order to start the next scheduled trip on-time.

Route 83

• Added a morning Northbound trip at 08:24 from Woodfield and Merivale to Tunney's Pasture Station to reduce waiting time for customers to provide for increased capacity for customers (began in November).
• Improving service reliability by increasing the length of time between scheduled trips in order to start the next scheduled trip on-time.

Route 86

• Added an afternoon southbound trip at 18:15 from Tunney's Pasture Station to provide for increased capacity for customers (began in November).

Route 88

• Improving service reliability by adjusting the time allotted for buses to complete their trips.

Route 89

• Added a morning northbound trip from Colonnade Road at 07:58 and an afternoon southbound trip from Tunney's Pasture Station at 17:05 to provide for increased capacity for customers (began in November).

Route 111

• Added a morning eastbound trip at 07:40 from Baseline Station via Billings Bridge Station to Carleton University to provide increased capacity for customers (began in November).

Route 251

• Improving service reliability by adjusting the time allotted for buses to complete their trips.

Route 252

• Improving service reliability by adjusting the time allotted for buses to complete their trips.

Route 256

• Improving service reliability by adjusting the time allotted for buses to complete their trips.

Route 257

• Adding an afternoon westbound trip from Tunney's Pasture Station at 15:00 to provide increased capacity for customers.
• Improving service reliability by adjusting the time allotted for buses to complete their trips.

Route 258

• To provide additional capacity along the Transitway, the route will serve Pinecrest, Queensway, Lincoln Fields, Dominion and Westboro Stations in the morning and afternoon.
• Improving service reliability by adjusting the time allotted for buses to complete their trips.

Route 282

• To provide additional capacity along the Transitway, the route will serve Queensway, Lincoln Fields, Dominion and Westboro Stations in the morning and afternoon.
• Will be moved to Stop F on the bus platform at Tunney's Pasture Station to improve travel choices for customers travelling on Routes 82 and 282 and to reduce crowding at Stop G.
• Improving service reliability by adjusting the time allotted for buses to complete their trips.

Route 284

• To provide additional capacity along the Transitway, the route will serve Baseline, Iris, Queensway, Lincoln Fields, Dominion and Westboro Stations in the morning and afternoon.
• Will be moved to Stop F on the bus platform at Tunney's Pasture Station to improve travel choices for customers travelling on Routes 82 and 284 and to reduce crowding at Stop G.
• Improving service reliability by adjusting the time allotted for buses to complete their trips.

Route 404

• To provide customers with more direct service to Canadian Tire Centre, trips that currently bypass Eagleson Station will also bypass Terry Fox Station. The remaining trips that currently serve Eagleson Station will continue to serve Terry Fox Station.

Route 686

• Adjusting the afternoon school trip from Ecole Secondaire Omer-Deslauriers to arrive earlier to better match the end time of school.

Route 691

• Adjusting the afternoon school trip from Ecole Secondaire Omer-Deslauriers to arrive earlier to better match the end time of school.

Holiday Season Schedule Changes

The City of Ottawa reminds residents to expect schedule changes for the holiday season, between Tuesday, December 24 and Thursday, January 2. Visit the City's website for a complete list of impacts to the following services:

• Client services centres
• Garbage, green bin and recycling collection
• Parking
• Transit services
• Recreation services
• Public health services
• Cultural services
• Archives services
• Municipal child care services
• Library services

Great News for Parents of St. Gregory Students

This week automated speed enforcement, or photo radar, was approved for a few more Ottawa streets with the intention of slowing down motorists near schools. One of the conditions, is that signs alerting motorists that a camera will be coming soon must be installed for 90 days wherever cameras will be located. In March of 2020, these "coming soon" signs will be replaced with new signs that will warn motorists that cameras to catch speeding motorists are "in use".

Speed Cameras, much like red-light cameras, will be set up wherever these signs are located. The locations were all recently approved as community safety zones near school where aggressive driving is a risk to children. Locations were selected based on data including previous incidents of speeding vehicles, the number of children walking to school, and previous collisions. The Locations across Ottawa are:

• Innes Road (Ecole secondaire catholique Beatrice-Desloges)
• Bayshore (St. Rose of Lima School)
• Ogilvie Road (Gloucester High School)
• Smyth Road (Vincent Massey Public School, Hillcrest High School and Ecole secondaire catholique Franco-cite)
• Meadowlands Drive West (St. Gregory School)

Three additional sites will have a 90-day warning signs installed in the near future:

• Watters Road (St. Francis of Assisi School)
• Longfields Drive (Ecole elementaire catholique Pierre-Elliot-Trudeau, St Mother Teresa High School and Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School)
• Katimavik Road (Holy Trinity Catholic High School)

Motorists photographed speeding through the area are likely to get a ticket. Tickets will be mailed to the registered plate owner of the vehicle and will show up in the mail within about 30 days. The amount of the fine will be based on how much the driver was exceeding the posted speed limit. And because the offence occurred in a community safety zone, the fine will be doubled.

There is a very simple way to avoid getting a ticket - just don't speed. Slow down and help keep our communities safe. Think Safely, Act Safely!