Serving Fisher Heights, Skyline, Orchard Park, & Parkwood Hills North in Ottawa
Our incoming Ward 9 Councillor Sean Devine has invited residents across the ward to subscribe to the new Ward 9 Newsletter. Many of you are likely subscribers to Councillor Keith Egli’s weekly newsletter.
Due to privacy concerns, the subscriber info can’t be transferred over from Keith’s office to Sean’s office, so Sean has provided a sign-up link if you’d like to subscribe to his upcoming Ward 9 newsletter https://forms.gle/su8UWCTkYf9rCJ7f7
For those who weren’t able to attend the recent AGM, here is the president’s message as referred to in our latest November 2022 newsletter. It was also included in the AGM package sent to all members.
This year has been another interesting year. COVID has pretty much been top of everyone’s mind once again and it severely limited operations of our community building as well as our activities. Yet, we were able to start up our clean up the park event, our highly successful community garage sale and our bike day in the park. Several of our indoor activities started up indoors too, depending on the comfort level of the participants. The newsletter is being delivered again to all households in Fisher Heights.
Continue reading “President’s message at 2022 AGM”On Saturday October 15, we are going to battle the Buckthorn in Gilbey Park
Time: 9:00 – Noon
The Common Buckthorn bush/tree is an invasive species that doesn’t belong in Canada. You can recognise it from the prickly spikes it has on its shoots and the black little berries it produces. To avoid it taking over Gilbey Park, we are organising a morning to remove the Buckthorn. The Common Buckthorn is listed as a noxious weed under Ontario’s Weed Control Act.
We will meet in the upper park near the benches (just off the curved paved path from Beaver Ridge). Bring your garden tools loppers, small saws, clippers, rakes, gloves, tarps, etc.
This is a great way to give kids some extra exposure to the natural areas in our neighbourhood and to encourage them taking ownership of our direct surroundings.
We especially encourage residents in the Gilbey Park area to come out and help, even it is only for an hour.
Adults & children are welcome (the children can help gather twigs). This community effort is organized and sponsored by Fisher Heights & Area Community Association. Many hands make light work.
More on this invasive species here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/common-buckthorn (you may have it in your own back yard too!)
Nepean Gardeners meet on October 20: “Putting your garden to bed for winter”
At the recent AGM, councillor Egli shared some updates regarding parks, developments in Fisher Heights
At the Annual General Meeting in September 2022 Councillor Egli brought updates to several community issues.
The proponent of the780 Baseline Road redevelopment has bought a second house, 9 Hilliard, to accompany his previous purchase of 7 Hilliard. The adjacent properties, which abut the 780 Baseline property, are to be used as a construction staging area if the project is approved, and will then become a city park.
It is not clear where the funds to equip the park – which could include a play structure, benches and/or picnic tables, perhaps a basketball half court – will come from. Will that be funded by the developer as part of that project, or from direct city funding, or from the parks-in-lieu funds that accumulate in the ward and citywide? He said this proposal will not advance to Planning Committee until 2023.
As mentioned in the November 2021 community association newsletter, federal infrastructure funding has been approved to replace play structures in Gilbey Park (in 2023, value $161,000) and Parthia Park (in 2024, value $160,000). The funding is guaranteed, but can only be used to “renew the active play elements in the park,” the city says, not add new ones. Community consultations are to begin this fall for Gilbey Park and in fall 2023 for Parthia Park.
Councillor Egli said that replacement of Fisher Heights Park play structures is slotted for 2024, but this funding is not guaranteed as it must be included in the city budget, along with competing park priorities.
The Islamic School has found sufficient funding to proceed with the full exterior cladding of the addition. This will improve considerably the appearance of the building. But occupancy is still a long way off, as after all exterior construction is completed, funds must be found to do the major work in finishing the interior – ceilings, walls, plumbing, electrical work, painting, furniture, equipping the science lab, construction and equipment of the gym floor and so on.
The 56 Capilano development proposal is scheduled to go to the city Planning Committee on Oct. 27. councillor Egli shared that the proponent has negotiated an agreement with a social housing provider where it will operate the building after construction and will provide its specific recommendations regarding elements of the zoning amendment and if that is approved, the site plan.
A new speed camera will soon appear on Fisher Ave in Ottawa.
We received the information below from traffic staff on the new automated speed camera on Fisher.
Testing is occurring on the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) camera on Fisher Avenue, between Deer Park Road and Kintyre Private, and tickets will begin to be issued within the next few days. that is an area just south of Deer park.
‘Coming Soon’ signage that has been on site since last fall has been replaced with ‘Municipal Speed Camera in use’ signage. As you know, in October 2021 (Transportation) committee identified this location for an ASE camera. Note it can take a couple weeks for a motorist to receive a ticket in the mail.
Please visit Automated Speed Enforcement for more information.
October 16: all candidate Ward 9 debate at the Sportsplex
Watch again:
A mayoral eco debate was held September 26, watch the debate back here. Topics are housing, traffic, active transportation, LRT and more. Watch it again.
If you rather watch a video about our ward, here is the debate for Ward 9 on Rogers TV, that can be found here. 2022 Ward 9 Debate
And finally the elections on October 24.
This week, the members of FHACA chose a new board for the Fisher Heights & Area Community Association.
Isabelle stepped down as it was hard for her to combine work, family and attending the board meetings but Isabelle will stay involved in the background. Maria stepped down earlier this year. We thanked both Isabelle and Maria for their work in the community.
Continue reading “Welcome to the new board of FHACA”Recently the candidates for city councillor in Ward 9 debated in the studios at Rogers TV. Get a coffee as it is 56 minutes.
What to do to attract more birds to your garden? An informative talk by Berit Erickson
Fisher Heights & Area Community Association 