Jack Hanna
New councillor at CCA’s AGM
Newly elected City Councillor Ariel Troster will be the keynote speaker at the CCA’s AGM. She will speak about the opportunities and challenges facing Centretown in the coming year, including issues such as housing and community services.
The AGM will be held online at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31. All are welcome.
At the meeting, you can also hear about your community association’s plans for 2023, and perhaps find an activity to get involved with.
CCA volunteers organize festivals and a farmers’ market, garden in public parks, and provide input to proposals for new skyscrapers. We advocate regarding cycling, greenspace, good architecture, urban trees, affordable housing, equity, climate change, and much more.
To obtain the Zoom link for the AGM, email ccca@centretowncitizens.ca
Pay membership, vote at AGM
Anyone can attend the CCA’s AGM, but to vote you need to be a member.
Please renew your membership or join before the end of day on Saturday, January 28.
Memberships are a bargain at $5 and can be renewed or purchased at the CCA’s website.
To be a member you must reside, work, or own a property or business in Centretown.
Join the Board
The CCA elects its board of directors and president at the AGM.
To stand for election to the board, or for president, you must be a CCA member and email ccca@centretowncitizens.ca by 10 p.m. Friday, January 27. Be sure to say why you wish to serve on the CCA’s Board, and what skills and experience you offer. Include a resume.
Winter party in the park
The CCA in mid-December celebrated the holidays – and helped birds make it through winter.
The CCA’s Trees and Greenspace Committee held its annual holiday fest in Dundonald Park. People brought homemade decorations for the trees, especially things birds can eat, such as suet balls, and pine cones caked in peanut butter and bird seed.
“People liked the idea of providing treats for the birds,” said Barbara Sibbald, who heads the volunteers gardening Dundonald Park. “We might be helping the birds make it through to spring.”
There were carolers: the Girls’ Choir of Christ Church Cathedral and the Dickens Carolers (sponsored by Donna Holtom).
“The carolers brought a freshness to the old, traditional songs,” said Sibbald. “People were smiling and singing along.”
Skyscraper across from Museum of Nature
A skyscraper is being tentatively proposed on Gladstone east of Metcalfe, less than 100 metres from the front doors of the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Developer Claridge is proposing a soaring tower under the city’s Landmark Building Policy. This policy allows developers to vastly exceed height restrictions and go up to 27 storeys in return for putting up a building with “iconic” architecture and leadership in energy efficiency.
As yet there is no specific design, but Claridge’s team has told the CCA it wants a soaring tower. As well, the development would include a park or community-service building on 40 percent of the site.
The CCA will examine this proposal, as it evolves, and provide comment and advocacy.
The challenges of rooming houses
The CCA is holding a public meeting to begin understanding issues surrounding rooming houses, such as renoviction, soaring rents, and inadequate facilities for tenants.
The meeting will be held Monday, January 23, at 6:30 p.m. For the Zoom link, email: affordable-housing-champions@centretowncitizens.ca