Jack Hanna
Check out the candidates for mayor
You can still catch a live debate among candidates for mayor in the October 24 election.
The CCA, along with several other community associations, is hosting a debate Monday, October 17, at 7 p.m. in the Horticultural Building at Lansdowne Park.
The debate is limited to candidates showing strength in the polls, garnering more than five percent support from respondents. That’s Bob Chiarelli, Nour Kadri, Catherine McKenney, and Mark Sutcliffe.
You can attend in person, or watch the live-stream; check CCA social media and The BUZZ website for details.
Check out candidates for councillor
Here are a couple of ways to check out the three candidates for councillor in Somerset Ward, which includes Centretown.
The BUZZ has run articles in its past three editions that ask Stuart MacKay, Brandon Russell, and Ariel Troster about fixing the LRT, Lansdowne 2.0, and what truly fresh ideas they have this area. The articles are available on The BUZZ website. There’s a fourth article in this issue, with candidates’ proposals for improving walking in Centretown.
Rogers TV also has an hour-long debate among the three candidates on its website.
Vote for homes
Two of the CCA’s committees – the Housing Affordability and Anti-racism Working Groups – ask voters to look closely at candidates’ plans for tackling Ottawa’s housing emergency.
According to the most recent statistics available (from 2019) 12,000 people were on the waiting list for affordable housing.
About 8,000 needed spaces in shelters.
Indigenous folks disproportionately experience homelessness in Ottawa. They make up about three percent of the city’s residents, but 30 percent of its homeless population.
How to face climate change
A CCA workshop will address what the City of Ottawa and individual residents can do to mitigate the climate-change impacts forecast for Ottawa.
The workshop is planned for the first half of November. See the CCA’s website or Facebook page for the date, time, and Zoom link.
Climate change is expected to inflict increased heat and rainfall on Ottawa.
The workshop’s speakers will discuss climate-mitigation practices tried in other cities: for example, innovations in architecture or urban forestry practices.
As well, they will discuss practical measures individuals can take.
The workshop is sponsored by the CCA’s Climate Change Working Group and the Glebe Community Association.
CCA shapes new heritage regulations
The CCA helped shape the new regulations just coming into force for Centretown’s Heritage Conservation Districts (HCDs).
Several ideas advocated by the CCA are in the new regulations, including multiple levels of heritage designation, a special heritage zone around the Museum of Nature, strong protection of the tree canopy, and more human-friendly architecture on Bank Street.
The new regulations for the Centretown HCD (from Elgin to Kent) and the Minto Park HCD (houses surrounding the park) were scheduled to take effect this month.
Energizing downtown
CCA President Mary Huang was invited to join MP Yasir Naqvi’s task force to revitalize downtown Ottawa.
The task force has talked with local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown and the convoy occupation, and heard from the Centretown Community Health Centre about homelessness in Centretown and what to do about it.
Elgin market moves online for the winter
Those who enjoyed the Elgin Street Market over the summer can continue to support local vendors online this winter.
Folks can order from some 40 local vendors at www.elginstreetmarket.ca
Place an order by Thursday and pick it up at Lemongrass Thai Cuisine, 331 Elgin, on Saturday afternoon.