Frankly, an old wooden box makes a rather poor footing. As restoration of the OTLBC Clubhouse gathers steam in winter 2021-22 and a century of makeshift repairs is exposed, there have been some real surprises. One of these was the discovery of a wooden Coca-Cola box, filled with concrete and jammed in to support a beam holding up the floor. Clearly maintaining the Clubhouse has not been a priority in the past century. But why not?

In wintertime, until nine years ago, I used to love walking to and down the steps of the Colonel By Drive access and go for a skate on my beloved Dutch speed-skates. But now, two fractured hips and arms later, my fur-lined leather speed-skates are collecting dust and the same is happening with my cross-country skis.

Registration is now open for the fall campaign, from September 13 until October 15, 2021. Clean-up kits will be made available for pick-up at seven City of Ottawa facilities that are able to safely accommodate their distribution. 

What is important to you about your police service? Here’s your chance to let the Ottawa Police Service know. Take this survey to help determine budget priorities so that OPS can better-serve the community.

On September 15, 2021, at 6 p.m., join the Enviro Crew of Old Ottawa South on Zoom for a free vegetarian cooking class! You can participate from your own kitchen and learn how to prepare a savoury vegetarian paella from Chef Ben from Chef’s Paradise.

Abbotsford is bursting at the seams with donations that they were unable to sell while they were closed to the public. They are now planning to sell these items in a Blow-Out (Everything Must Go) Sale on Saturday, August 28, 2021. Bargains galore!

Access to public toilets is a universal need and a basic human right. The “Our Ottawa Needs Public Toilets” Project is looking for artists in the National Capital Region (City of Ottawa and City of Gatineau) to intensify advocacy efforts and challenge negative political and public opinion about public toilets. The main purpose of this campaign is to raise public awareness by fostering community solidarity around improving access to a network of safe, clean, and accessible public toilets throughout the National Capital.

The Green Dreamers are out and about once again! You may have seen a few recently at the Library and the corners of Bank Street and Sunnyside Avenue. Their silent green “tag” is unmistakable. They leave a trail of “loved lots” all along Bank Street and Sunnyside Avenue. And yes, there were a couple of Dreamers sighted at Grosvenor this last week tidying up one of OOS’s rain gardens. In late June another solo Green Dreamer was spotted on the grounds around the Firehall.

The OSCA Board, following a recommendation from its newly created Committee of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA), is sending our deepest condolences and sympathies to Indigenous communities as we mourn the remains of children discovered on the sites of Indian Residential Schools.

We were saddened to learn of the many children who died while attending Residential Schools as well as the ongoing impact on the survivors of the horrific system. This recent tragic news highlights the history of shameful mistreatment and cultural genocide, as vividly described by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, sanctioned and funded by the Government of Canada and perpetrated by several religious organizations, which saw Indigenous children forcibly removed from their homes and sent to Residential Schools. We offer our sincerest solidarity as we stand with survivors, their families, and communities.

On Thursday, June 24, 2021, the Enviro Crew will be talking with Seth Klein, author of A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency.