The City’s Winter Maintenance Quality Standards (WMQS) are approved by Council and they define the “desirable level of maintenance and the executed outcome of each winter service by defining the timing and extent of each winter maintenance activity in the context of achieving the overall objective of safe and passable roads and sidewalks by reducing hazards caused by snow and ice accumulation.” Essentially, they provide guidance on when, and how, the City will address winter weather conditions (snow, ice, freezing rain) on roads, sidewalks, bicycle lanes and multi-use pathways to ensure that they are safe for drivers and pedestrians.
Southminster Renovation Update
An open letter to the Old Ottawa South community dated 9 November 2020.
Over the coming weeks you may notice some additional activity at Southminster United Church. The planned renovation and rejuvenation of the church will finally begin. Southminster has been working with local firm CH2 Architecture on the design and has recently engaged Bradford Construction Limited as the general contractor for the project. The renovations will include:
The Rewards of Fundraising - Save Our Firehall
Over the past few months we have kept you informed about the overall impact of the pandemic on OSCA's operations and finances. While we have tried our best to remain positive and optimistic, you will have noticed that over time the messaging has shifted from "we'll get through this" to "we are going to need help if we want to keep the Firehall open." Over the past months, Staff, the Board, the Executive, and countless volunteers have continued to work incredibly hard to come up with alternate ways to generate revenue. We have successfully transitioned to a full suite of virtual programming, secured a significant grant through Red Cross Canada, and managed to open up in-person After-4 in a safe and secure environment. But none of that will be enough to keep the Firehall open in the long term, and we are "ringing the bell" and calling on all residents to help Save Our Firehall!
Below is the article that was published in the November OSCAR, introducing the notion and benefits of a local community fundraising effort.
2020 OSCA AGM: Tue Oct 20th at 7:30pm - Registration deadline: Oct 16th
Registration is now open for OSCA’s AGM, scheduled for Tuesday 20 Oct 2020 commencing at 7:30pm. In order to be able to attend the 2020 AGM, registration is required and the deadline is October 16, 2020.
All Members of OSCA are eligible to register for, attend, and vote at the AGM. Membership is free, and is available to all adults who are residents of Old Ottawa South. You may register for the AGM, even if you are not yet an OSCA member, or do not know whether you are an OSCA member; your AGM registration will be considered to be an application for OSCA membership, if required.
Creativity on display in two neighbourhoods
Glebe Report and OSCAR showcase young artists
You can now see five fresh newspaper boxes on Bank Street in the Glebe and in Old Ottawa South, a collaboration between the Glebe Report and OSCAR to get their valued community papers out to readers who may not receive them at their doorstep, or who would like a copy to read while they sip their morning coffee at a favourite café – as many of us hope to be doing again soon.
Friday Coffee Conversations by Trinity Church's "Reaching Seniors in Old Ottawa South"
Beginning August 14th, Reaching Seniors In Old Ottawa South (RSOOS) will be implementing a new program: ‘Coffee Conversations’. These will be held bi-weekly on Friday afternoons from 2:30pm to 3:30pm.
The Windsor Park Fieldhouse Working Group is looking for your input!
After an initial round of community consultation, OSCA's Windsor Park Fieldhouse Working Group is putting pen to paper on the new design of the Fieldhouse. If you have ideas or suggestions of what the Windsor Park Fieldhouse should include and what kind of programming it should support, now is the time to let us know!
Remembering St. Margaret Mary Catholic School
The fate of two institutions, which formed a core element for generations of families in Old Ottawa South, may be coming together. Not the two institutions themselves, but their remnants.
Community Pillars for Seniors in Old Ottawa South
Who are the Community Pillars in Old Ottawa South? They are the three churches, Trinity Anglican, Wesleyan and Southminster United, the Sunnyside Library, Abbotsford House, the Community Association, our City Councillor, MPP and MP. Organizations and political elements that have been here “forever.” As a watchdog for seniors, Senior Watch Old Ottawa South (SWOOS) organized a meeting on May 28, 2020 on ZOOM to share and learn with one another outreach efforts and resources for seniors in Old Ottawa South living under COVID-19 distancing and isolation restrictions. Here is what we learned:
Butterflyway Ranger in Old Ottawa South
One of the members of the Enviro Crew of Old Ottawa South recently joined the David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway Program as a volunteer “ranger.” In its second year of operation, the program will have 300 such rangers across Canada.