SLOWest Fall seminar series

From SLOWest:

Interested in making a few changes to reduce your family’s environmental footprint?  Looking to save money and energy? Then attend one or more FREE local seminars in your neighbourhood!  Sustainable Living Ottawa West (SLOWest) in partnership with Maison Tucker House, presents The Seventh Generation Learning Series the forth Monday of each month, from 6:30 – 8pm hosted by Carbon Computing in their upstairs classroom, 1065 Wellington Street West.

Monday Sept 27 – Simple and Sustainable Living

Monday October 25 – Get Energy Smart!

Monday November 22 – Ecological Home Renovations

The series will also continue with more seminars in Jan 2011.  For more details about the seminars, visit www.SLOWest.ca.

Public Meeting to Discuss the Development Application for Les Soeurs de la Visitation

WHAT: Councillor’s 114 Richmond Road Meeting
WHEN: Sept. 1 from 7 to 9 p.m.
WHERE: St. George’s Roman Catholic Church (415 Piccadilly Ave.)

Councillor Leadman would like to invite area residents to a meeting she’s holding on Sept. 1 to go over the changes made to the development application for this site. The councillor will be discussing the Design Review Panel’s recommendations and the modifications made to the application as a result. She will also explain the next steps in the process and how the community can participate.

If you wish to contact the councillor in advance please call her office at 613-580-2485 or email email hidden; JavaScript is required.

More info here.

If you plan on attending the meeting and have a Twitter account, please  consider live-tweeting the event using the hashtag #ashcroftconvent so other residents can remotely follow the event. Thank you.

Solar Hot Water for Your Home

(from SLOWest)

Are you thinking about how to put the sun’s energy to good use?   Did you know that solar water heaters can provide approximately 50% of a household’s water heating needs?  Come to a free seminar given by Tucker House Renewal Centre in partnership with Sustainable Living Ottawa West (SLOWest) to learn about solar hot water systems for your home, and the installation subsidy available to you through Sustainable Ottawa Energy Cooperative.

Tues July 27 at 6:30pm @ Thyme & Again

(in the Exposure Gallery, second floor studio)

1255 Wellington Street West

You’ll also enjoy coming early to buy a gourmet meal or treat at Thyme & Again, who have generously donated their space for this event.

Wild Wild WESTboro Garage sale

From our friends at the WCA:

Hello neighbours,

In case you missed the news, the Wild Wild WESTboro Garage sale is scheduled for this Saturday June 5, 2010 from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.

This is an event you won’t want to miss. Come for the deals, and stay for lunch … and for the music! Saturday is the annual Music in the Park event too. (View the PDF for more info about Music in the Park.)

NEW this year: The WCA is selling rainbarrels as a special one-time only fundraiser. If you don’t already have a rainbarrel (or are thinking of picking up a second one!) now is the time to pick one up. These are very good quality barrels from Arbour Environmental Shoppe and are crafted from recycled food grade barrels. 

The use of rainbarrels for rain water collection gives gardeners and homeowners a convenient supply of cleaner water for use in their gardens, divert water from our overburdened sewer systems and it’s a neat way to save a few pennies on our water bills. Weather experts are predicting a dry summer. Let’s keep Westboro green!

The WCA is selling the rainbarrels as a fundraiser for only $79. We are almost sold out. Order by phone at Dovercourt 613-798-8950, online at www.dovercourt.org, or in person. All rainbarrels need to be picked up at the garage sale.

Here’s the nitty gritty for the Wild Wild WESTboro garage sale bargain hunters:
You will be amazed at what your neighbours have stored away in their closets and basements. Come early! Last year we had baby clothes, plants, toys, games, books, linens, records, furniture, crafts, artwork, DVDs, kitchen items, and much much more. Highlights included a hardshell Thule rooftop cargo carrier for the car, antique chairs, and one snazzy red purse. You never know what you’ll find.

Deets for the sellers (there are still tables available, but they’re going quickly):

• Garage sale tables are $10 to rent for the duration of the sale. Select your table on the map (PDF), and then book online, by phone or in person at Dovercourt. Online table rental is new this year. (Thank you Dovercourt for setting this up for us!)  
• Please be at the park by 7:30 a.m. to set up.
• Don’t have enough to fill a table? Please consider donating your goods to the WCA table. Thank you!

Please help us spread the world and forward this email to your friends and neighbours.

Thank you!

Andrea

andrea tomkins

Westboro Community Association

www.westborovillage.ca

Open House: Wellington Community Design Plan

Event Date: May 12, 2010

Event Time: 7 pm to 9 pm

Location: Connaught Public School, 1149 Gladstone at Rosemount

This Wednesday evening, you are invited to an Open House to review and discuss the Community Design Pl an (CDP) for the entire Wellington St W corridor and Parkdale Market area. This meeting is in advance of the CDP’s approval at the Planning and Environment Committee next month (on June 22, 2010). City staff and Councillor Leadman will be present to answer questions.

The CDP for Wellington Street W is a City-led process that results in a plan that will guide both the development of private lands and public works (of the City and other government agencies) within the study area. The CDP will create a vision, and a means to implement that vision, in ways that are meant to satisfy both community aspirations and the relevant strategic growth management policies of the Official Plan.

The CDP will guide the changes we will see over the next 20 years for this area including:

Zoning and urban design considerations
Land development proposals
Open space and community linkages
Streetscape and road improvements
Civic initiatives
This is an important meeting. If you would prefer to view the plan and comment online, click on this link http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/wellington_cdp/index_en

For more info, please contact:

Taavi Siitam
Planner II, M.Sc.Pl., MCIP, RPP
Zoning Studies and Area Planning Central
Community Planning and Design Division
Planning, Transit and the Environment Department
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West, 4th floor
Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1
Tel: 613-580-2424, ext. 27788
Fax: 613-580-2459

Fundraising Event

Traffic Concerns? Come, Learn and Talk

Elmdale School Gym

Thursday April 15, 2010

7:00 to 9:00

 Focus: West Wellington area

Speakers:

Councillor Christine Leadman

City Hall traffic expert Greg Kent

Green Communities travel specialist Wallace Beaton

Sponsored by Wellington West Community Association and Elmdale School Council

Planning charette on the Soeurs de la Visitation Convent site

From the Hampton Iona Community Group:

As we are all aware, the Soeurs de la Visitation Convent site was recently purchased by Ashcroft Homes for redevelopment.   The convent building will have historic designation and Ashroft has indicated its interest in providing some kind of community space in the Convent building as part of its adaptive re-use.  This could entail part or all of the building.  Several local community groups and individuals have come together to look at options for the adaptive re-use of the convent building.  There are many possibilities for the building which can include: 

• Art gallery
• Performance space
• Incubator for community organizations
• Recreation space
• Your idea???

On April 10, 2010 from 10:00 to 12:30, the community will be holding a planning charette to discuss potential uses for the convent building (Ashcroft is not part of this event but will be made aware of the results).  We are aiming for approximately 70-80 people to attend with about half being residents in the community and half from the arts, social enterprises, local businesses, recreations, the non-profit sectors.   Each of the local community groups will be approaching their membership for volunteers to attend.  We want to hear what you think of the various options, what are your ideas and how you would like to see the convent developed for your neighbourhood.

Given space limitations, however, we only have room for 4 residents from  West Wellington.  If you are interested in attending or would like further details,  please reply to this email and we will provide you with further details.  Unfortunately, given space limitations, we will have to take names on a first-come, first-serve basis, but we will have a waiting list.

Please note the purpose of the meeting is limited to only discussing the adaptive use of the convent building and not to address other issues regarding the proposed development. 

For additional information on the proposed convent development, check the website of our neighbours, the Hampton Iona Community Group: 

www.hamptoniona.ca

Christine Leadman: “114 Richmond Road Plans a cause for concern”

Concerned about the development of the Souers de la Visitation site?

Bought by Ashcroft Homes (who developed Central Park), the tentative plans call for:

• two 10-storey condos,
• several 6-7 storey buildings,
• a row of 4-storey buildings along the Byron pathway on the south side of the property,
• cutting another road through the Byron pathway extending Kensington into the site for vehicular access, meaning Byron and Kensington will become thoroughfares.
• for-profit retirement residence near Byron with 24-hour care, implying ambulances, delivery trucks, constant visitors potentially parking on residential streets

This could mean an increase in population of up to 1000 people on this 5-acre property,

significantly increasing the traffic flow and quality of life for the entire neighbourhood.

Why so important?

To express your concerns, email:

• Councillor Christine Leadman: email hidden; JavaScript is required
• Katherine Grechuta. Planner, FoTenn Consultants: email hidden; JavaScript is required
• Alain Miguelez, City Planner: Alain.Miguelez@ottawa,ca
• Ottawa City Council: complete list at http://www.ottawa.ca/city_hall/mayor_council/councillors/index_en.html

PDF

Ashcroft flyer

You may also have received this flyer in your mailbox.