Bicycle Maintenance Clinics

April 25th and May 12th – FHACA Centre

During this 2hr HANDS-ON Bicycle Maintenance Clinic, you’ll gain practical experience in various essential tasks such as changing a tire, removing and reinstalling your back wheel, adjusting brakes, mastering the use of each tool, and much more. There’s nothing quite as empowering as learning how to handle basic mechanical issues while out riding. By the end of the session, you’ll feel more confident to venture further on your bike without fear of encountering any mechanical problems.

Things you will learn in this HANDS-ON Clinic:

  • Remove the back wheel with ease
  • Change a flat tire
  • Adjust brakes
  • Repair a broken chain
  • Patch a tube & tire

NEW ADDITIONS:
– How to patch a TUBELESS Tire
– How to fix a bent DISC Brake

With these skills you will reduce the fear of cycling alone and build the confidence that you can handle a basic bike mechanical should something happen. You will LOVE learning how easy it is to take care of your bike and ride safely!

Register HERE : Thursday, April 25 @ 6-8pm – Fisher Heights Community Centre
Register HERE : Sunday, May 12 @ 3:30-5:30pm – Fisher Heights Community Centre
Website: www.bmcclinic.ca

Wood Chips in Upper Gilbey Park

It was a family affair in Upper Gilbey Park last Saturday, as about 20 neighbours of all ages came out, in spite of the cool, drizzly weather, to spread wood chips along the trails through the forested area. Many thanks to all these volunteers! You are contributing to the enjoyment of nature for the whole community.

The trails were originally cleared by the City in 2012 as part of improvements to this area of the park, and for some time have been badly in need of revitalization. So this spring when the City cut and cleared much of the dead wood in the forest, FHACA suggested that the wood chips be left on site, and we would use them to renew the trails. We managed to get the job done in a couple of hours, and it was great to see young folks learning what it means to be a good neighbour.

This effort is part of FHACA’s long-term commitment to improving our community’s parks. Watch for our next event – in May – another phase of our attempts to control invasive Buckthorn in this same area of Gilbey Park.

Gilbey Park Work Party Postponed

Mother Nature has thrown us a nasty curved ball.  The wet conditions in Gilbey Park have made it near impossible to spread the wood chips that have been produced so far.  As well, the City has been unable to complete their part of the agreement i.e. cutting the dead wood and making it into wood chips.  They have agreed to return this coming week to finish their part of the job and we have agreed to postpone our efforts one week, to SATURDAY, APRIL 13th at 9 am.

Looking forward to a nice sunny day and many helping hands.

Lyn McCaw

Community Skating Rink – Closed

The community skating rink is now closed for the season.

It was a short season but the ice was well used. Thanks to all community members who came out for a skate. And thank you to all those who helped make the rink possible. 

The FHACA will be looking for a team of ice maintainers next season. Let us know if you can flood the rink a few times, help is needed: info@fhaca.ca

Forestry Maintenance in Upper Gilbey Park

End February / Early March – 3 Days

The City’s Forestry Department has contracted with a company to cut dead trees and branches in the Upper Gilbey forest area.  We have negotiated with the City to wood-chip this dead material on site, so that we can spread it  on the paths that run through this area in the spring. The work is scheduled for the END OF FEBRUARY / EARLY MARCH and will last for three days. We would recommend that you not use this area of the park during the work period, as the contractor will be using large pieces of equipment which could result in a personal  accident.

As an additional item: Please keep this in mind — Come Spring, we will need all the help, wheelbarrows, shovels and rakes, we can muster to spread the wood chips on the paths. Please help us accomplish this task. We’ll be in touch  at a later date as to when we’ll be “spreading.”

Upcoming Events

A few events are coming in the next few weeks which may interest community members:

  • February 15th – The Nepean Horticultural Society presents – Dahlias: Blooms and Blooms – More information below
  • February 16th – 19th – The Great Backyard Bird Count – Brought to you by Wendy and Ottawa U – More information to come
  • February 21st – Hydro Ottawa Outreach: Keeping Ottawa Connected – Hosted by Councillor Devine at the FHACA community centre from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm – the session is to discuss how Hydro Ottawa is building resiliency in our neighbourhood which has experienced significant power outages in recent years.