FEBRUARY 2015 A Voice of Riverview Park VOL.7 NO.1 Riverview Park teetered on the brink of commercial development by Bill Fairbairn and Carole Moult hanging over their heads. Clear- roposed zoning revisions ly the change in policy was the for four properties ad- result of a spirited reaction at a jacent to Balena Park in public meeting at City Hall on PRiverview Park had many resi- January 21, and in particular, the dents upset. A zoning by-law efforts of Councillor Cloutier. amendment in the works since Andrew McCreight of the 2013 for review by the Plan- planning and growth manage- ning Committee and approval ment department outlined his by City Council before this team’s proposals for commercial summer had proceeded virtu- development in residential ar- ally without consultation and eas of Ottawa. Attendees, with little understanding of the pos- a large contingent from Alta sible consequences for residents. Vista Ward including Council- Until City Planner Andrew Mc- lor Cloutier, generally opposed Creight’s letter of January 29 to changes from residential to Councillor Cloutier announcing commercial zoning that would the cancellation of the zoning allow small local businesses to Janina Nickus and Bastian Kruidonier examine the Alta Vista Ward 18 plan, the threat of commercial development map. development penetrating into Photo credit: Bill Fairbairn Continued on page 3 the heart of the community was Eastway not a pleasant garden due to LRT work, Councillor Cloutier told by Bill Fairbairn he name Eastway Gardens at present gives a some- what false impression of aT community of eight streets and about 250 homes tucked away at the intersection of Belfast and Tremblay roads. That is why Alta Vista City Councillor Jean Cloutier and Ottawa community liaison officer Matt Eason gave talks at a meeting on area light rail construction held at the White Horse restaurant on Belfast last month. The City information mission fundamentally was to try to ensure residents of Eastway Gardens Continued on page 10 A Tremblay Road view of tunnel construction – bigger in real life than it looks from here. Photos on page 15 Photo credit: Carole Moult Page 2 Riverview Park Review FEBRUARY 2015 Vincent Massey SOLE update by Emily Money best spend their money and realise Further advertising is going to be projects the class has learned skills r.McKean’s grade 8 class is how much goes to witch project. It’s done using social media - Twitter that will hopefully help them in again working with Rus- time to get down to business and Facebook accounts as well further years to come. By writing sell Heights on the “Sole” One of the first things they had as Instagram and of course the the grant application and having Mproject. This year they have named to create was a poster that would Riverview Park Review newspaper. it be successful they have learned themselves “Community of Sole”. advertize their work and promote The class had to split up into groups how to write one and how to have In order for the class to get it’s pro- their activities. In order to make the and some of them were given the job it in on deadline. They have also jects started, they had to apply for a final decision, the class invited Sarah of creating and maintaining these learned financial literacy and how SPEAK UP grant which they then Dwyer (the community housing projects. You can now follow our to get value for your money. Finally sent to the Ministry of Education coordinator) and a community progress on: Facebook’s community they have learned the most efficient in late november. The applications member to review the designs. In of [email protected]; Twitter’s @ way to run each project and how to must have been persuasive because the end, the final poster was chosen justcos2015; and Instagram’s manage each other. they got the grant in early january. and will be reproduced to advertize communityofsole. The class now has to learn how to the SOLE Project. By creating and running these the Sarah Dwyer and Mr. McKean’s class cheering McKean’s Sarah Dwyer and Mr. SOLE Project. Noonin Photo credit: David Business Hours: Mon – Fri 10am - 8pm Saturday 10am - 6pm Sunday 10am - 5pm 5 - 1571 Alta Vista Drive Ottawa 613-733-6657 See us for our Services Grand Opening February 4, 2015 Bio-Gel Solar-Gel UV-Gel Porcelain Acrylic Pedicure Manicure A World Away Waxing Paraffin Wax Right Next Door Tinting FEBRUARY 2015 Riverview Park Review Page 3 compli for the zoning plan, and he (Somerset), 15 (Kitchissippi) and 17 Commercial development outlined micro-business restric- (Capital) where staff was available Continued from page 1 tions that would alleviate the po- to answer individual questions, but tential disruption and problems it was difficult for the attendees to operate in residential areas. Op- that could arise from new com- gain a complete perspective on the position was primarily based on mercial developments, but it was overall plan. Planner Andrew poor coverage and extremely low difficult to discern any plan for Totally surprised McCreight addresses the participation in the initial survey public review and amendment. The busiest huddle was at the audience in City Hall. and no provision for community The rationale for the proposals Alta Vista ward map where Mc- Photo credit: Bill Fairbairn feedback. It was noted that in six was explained as a response to the Creight presided. Riverview Park wards targeted in the study there growth of the city and the need to Community Association Treasurer were 250,000 residents, but that promote vibrant and healthy com- Alan Landsberg, whose house on the total of 359 people who re- munities. Balena Avenue was targeted for sponded to a survey on commer- After 10 minutes of questions zoning change from residential cial zoning was less than .15% of and answers the audience was di- to commercial, questioned Mc- the total population. rected into groups around maps of Creight on the plan’s practicality. McCreight denied that the 359 Wards 18 (Alta Vista), 12 (Rideau- Jean Cloutier responses would result in a fait ac- Vanier), 13 (Rideau-Rockcliffe), 14 Continued on page 7 Photo credit: Sean Sisk Alan Landsberg outside his home was faced with Three bungalows on Devon Street next to commercial rezoning on Balena Avenue. Balena Park were targeted for zonal change from Photo credit:Bill Fairbairn residential to commercial. Photo credit:Carole Moult Depicted were commercial buildings within residential areas. Photo credit:Bill Fairbairn 2651 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa In the VISTA PLAZA at the corner of Bank and Alta Vista (613) 680-8883 Get your Jewellery work done by a PROFESSIONAL ON-SITE Targeted houses for zonal change – 1 on Balena Avenue and 3 on Devon JEWELER Street Photo credit: Google Earth Repairs and Services • Ring Sizing • Necklace & Bracelet Repair • Pearl Restringing • Free Jewellery Cleaning • Watch Repairs • Watch Battery Replacement Custom Jewellery Designs by a world class artisan Bring in this ad for a Free Gift A Devon Street photo in front of the Balena Park and rink snapped on a with Purchases over $149 recent Saturday afternoon. Photo credit: Carole Moult FEBRUARY 2015 Riverview Park Review Page 5 Love with power as King loved, multicultural audience told by Bill Fairbairn Story on page 25 A skit by some 30 Carson Grove Grove skit by some 30 Carson A Elementary School students battles King’s depicting Dr. against racism peace-to-all gesture from one A student suits the Grove Carson Luther King credo Martin A big handclap follows the Carson Grove A platform of Ottawa civic leaders joined Mayor Elementary School’s live tribute to the struggles Jim Watson and Rev. Dr. Anthony Bailey at of Martin Luther King centre Dr. Qais Ghanem of Alta Vista received a DreamKeepers award for his many civic contributions Vanessa London-Lumpkin is about to sing the Canadian National Anthem. Rev. Dr. Anthony Bailey presided over the celebration with aplomb. Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemens went out among the audience eulogizing Martin Luther King Page 6 Riverview Park Review FEBRUARY 2015 Board of Directors: Peter Bishop, Bill Fairbairn, Michelle McLellan, Rob Column Coordinator: Catina Noble Southcott – [email protected] Distribution Manager: Cheryl Khoury – [email protected] Editor: Carole Moult – [email protected] Cartoonist and Masthead Artist: Greg Money Advertising Manager: Carole Moult – [email protected] Bookkeeper: Anne Jackson Staff Writer and Editor Emeritus: Bill Fairbairn 613-737-3212 Printer: Performance Printing Layout and Design: François Allard harlie Brown once said, yards and those who maintain There are three things them maintain more than ice– Howzit goin’, eh? in life that people like they maintain community, just Cto stare at: a flowing stream, a like the numerous people who crackling fire and a Zamboni volunteer at our local schools, clearing the ice. programs and organizations. While there are no Zambonis So heres to these rink regu- to watch grooming our local lars. They probably dont attract outdoor ice surfaces, we are for- many onlookers, but they help tunate to have well maintained us to embrace the chilly months outdoor rinks in Balena and of winter, right in the neighbor- Dale parks. hood. This is thanks to dedicated Bruce Aho is Rink Coordin- residents who, day after day ator for the Dale Park Rink, and and often year after year, clear, Chris Khoury is Rink Coordin- flood and maintain these rinks. ator for the Balena Park Rink. Because of their efforts, kids of A huge thank you to both, and all ages skate and play hockey, to all the wonderful volunteers events like annual winter car- who assist them in keeping both nivals take place and our local rinks in such beautiful shape parks get used throughout the and in all kinds of weather.