Community Voice - April 2, 2020 1 City Hall Ward Offi ce ELI EL-CHANTIRY 110 Laurier Ave. W. 5670 Carp Rd. Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1 Kinburn, ON K0A 2H0 Councillor, West Carleton - March Ward 5 T: 613-580-2475 T: 613-580-2424 ext. 32246 [email protected] www.eliel-chantiry.ca @Eli_Elchantiry @Ward5Ottawa Your WEST CommunityVoice CARLETON April 2, 2020 [email protected] 613-45-VOICE www.ottawavoice.ca [email protected] Vol. 2 No. 7 Photo by Adam Barnes Photo by Christina Eisner Photo by Laura Jane Nikolakakos Making the Best of It We asked readers to show us how they’re spending their time in isolation. ABOVE LEFT: Ethan Kingsberry, 8, left and his brother Marko, 7, made couch cushion forts at their Constance Bay home on March 17. CENTRE: Fitzroy Harbour’s Stacey Barnes enjoyed four-wheeling with Hudson, 3, and Cameron, 5, on March 18. ABOVE RIGHT: Leo Nikolakakos, 9, of MacLaren’s Landing, and his cat Alice played Battleship against Leo’s dad on March 16. Alice may have been complaining that the pair’s battleship was sunk. For more photos, please turn to pages 14 & 15. Your Community Voice, and hope wage subsidy program, we will be Wednesday April 8 instead of MESSAGE FROM OUR PUBLISHER that they continue with us in the able to continue to publish every Thursday, - as our offices will be Dear loyal readers and By advertising in Your future. two weeks. closed for Good Friday. advertisers; Community Voice, these great To our regular advertisers who As we will be mostly working from Let’s hope by then, these un- These difficult times are trying companies and elected officials couldn’t join us this issue, we un- home, you can still contact us on certain times will be over, and for every one of you, as well as this pay for our reporters and sales derstand and look forward to hav- our website ottawavoice.ca, or we can all go back to work, community newspaper. team, the printer, Canada Post, ing you back in the future. leave a message. and together build a stronger To those advertisers in this issue the rent, etc. Though our advertising revenue Our next paper will be pub- community. allowing us to publish this week, We hope you let them know how has greatly declined, with the assis- lished on April 16, having a dead- Mike Wollock we sincerely say THANK YOU. much you appreciate receiving tance of the Federal government line for advertising and news on Publisher,Your Community Voice 2 April 2, 2020 - Community Voice News ELI EL-CHANTIRY Councillor West Carleton - March Ward 5 CITY RESPONSE TO COVID-19 – KEY MESSAGING: Below is some key messaging residents need to be aware of relating to Covid-19. As the situation is ever-evolving, for the most up-to-date information please visit Ottawa Public Health’s website (ottawapublichealth.ca) and the City’s website (Ottawa.ca). • Mayor Watson has declared a state of emergency for Ottawa. Doing this helps the City deploy its emergency operations and staff in a more nimble fashion. It also enables a more fl exible procurement process, which will help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and fi rst responders. • Access to public sports fi elds at City facilities is prohibited until further notice. This includes: • Ball diamonds, soccer fi elds, basketball courts, tennis courts, skateboard parks, etc. • All playground equipment (swings, slides, play structures, adult fi tness stations, benches & picnic tables) • The City is implementing a property-tax relief package and water payment grace period for residents and small businesses impacted by COVID-19. For details visit ottawa.ca. • The City has established a Task Force to respond to emerging needs of the community such as: Photo by Sarah Keeling • Food security issues as it relates to area food banks Constance Bay resident Shannon Keeling has started a Facebook page where local residents • Help for isolated seniors (including in rural areas). The Good Companions’ Senior can help one another by offering extra supplies to others who are running low. Centres Without Walls program is ramping up to provide transportation to emergency services, medical appointments and shopping, and to deliver groceries and Meals on Wheels. • Transportation of vulnerable residents to COVID-19 assessment centres and medical Constance Bay resupply network launches appointments. • Volunteer management during the pandemic. Currently the City is not seeking volunteers, BY ERIN McCRACKEN for little things.” paycheque to paycheque but we are looking at ways to provide opportunities for those who want to help. While the group now has a and if their employment is • City of Ottawa client service centres are closed. Residents can still access services by calling Constance Bay residents solid following, there hasn’t now in jeopardy because of 3-1-1 or going online. in need of supplies yet un- been a lot of uptake on the the coronavirus crisis, the • Garbage and recycling services continue as normal, and City crews are still working to maintain able or uncomfortable to resupply offer. hardships may continue to our roads. If you see a pothole, please report it to 3-1-1. head to the grocery stores That could very well mount. • Practice social distancing. STAY HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! If you must go out, stay at now have backup. change as the physical dis- “So we need to get to those least 2 metres (6 feet) away from others. This is an imperative measure to reduce the transmission A Facebook page has been tancing requirement con- people and let them know of Covid-19. created so local residents tinues and as people get low there’s support,” Keeling • It is normal that situations like COVID-19 can affect your mental health and it’s OK to ask for can share what they’re out on essential items. said. help. If you need support, please call: of or running low on and “That’s the hope,” Keeling She planned to share the • Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 connect with other locals said. “We know too there’s concept of the Facebook • Good 2 talk 1-866-925-5454 who may have some ex- a big group of people on help page with other • Distress Centre Ottawa and Region 613-238-3311 tras to share, from food to Facebook locally.” nearby communities, like • Mental Health Crisis Line 24/7 613-722-6914 toiletries. Keeling, who teaches Dunrobin, so that they Shannon Keeling created Grade 4, is also looking at could consider starting FLOODING PREPAREDNESS: At the City Council meeting on March 25, Council the page after Heather loaning out some of her their own local resupply received an update from senior city staff on preparedness in the event of fl ooding this spring: Lucente, a Constance Bay own book collection to networks. • Pre-fl ood preparations are underway with a communication plan being developed. Public resident and director with teens and pre-teens who “I’m hoping people will messaging has begun and community outreach plans are being developed West Carleton Disaster are running out of fresh take the great idea and just • The City is receiving regular updates from Conservation Authorities and the Ottawa River Relief, made the request reading material, just until move forward with it and Regulation Board on another Constance Bay the schools reopen and the set something up in their • Current snowpack conditions are normal to lower than normal for this time of year Facebook page. self-isolation requirement local areas, and even reach • Principle reservoirs have capacity to manage spring runoff Keeling discussed the idea is lifted. out to people that they • There’s a slight rise in water fl ows due to the slow and ongoing melt of creating a simple page Meanwhile, she’d like know as well that might • The two-week outlook on the weather forecast is favourable with a few others. word about the neigh- not be as connected and • The City has a current inventory ready for use: The focus is needs not bourly resupply initiative on Facebook,” Keeling said, • Over 200,000 fi lled sandbags news. to spread and for people to adding that it may also in- • 387,000 unfi lled sandbags “We just wanted to keep reach out with offers of help spire people to check in • 21,000 tons of reclaimed sand from 2019 fl ood event it so that people could post or requests for assistance. with their neighbours. extra things that they have Some may already be Join the new Facebook City Hall - 613-580-2475 and people can post that struggling because of the group by searching for Ward Offi ce - 613-580-2424 Ext. 32246 they need certain things,” financial strain caused by ‘Constance Bay CoVid 19 [email protected] Keeling said. “Just to stop last spring’s floods. Help Page.’ www.eliel-chantiry.ca people from going to stores Plus if they’re living [email protected] News Community Voice - April 2, 2020 3 Supports available for vulnerable, isolated residents SStuarttuart BY ERIN McCRACKEN 613-832-5685 or email wcfoodaid@ BOOKKEEPING & TAX SERVICES gmail.com. ACCOUNTING FOR SMALL/MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESSES Need help? All you have to do is ask. The Western Ottawa Community The West Carleton Food Access Resource Centre is also supporting Our Services include... Centre is closed this week so that vol- vulnerable, isolated residents living in PERSONAL INCOME TAX (T1) unteers can restock their shelves. But the west end, including West Carleton, • E-File food hampers will be available again Kanata, Richmond, Stittsville and by appointment starting Monday.