ROCKCLIFFE PARK RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2019 Annual General Meeting of the RPRA and The Rockcliffe Park Foundation’s Report to the Community February 26, 2020 at 7:00 pm | Community Hall, 380 Springfield Road TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Report...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Heritage and Planning................................................................................................................................................ 5 Heritage Outreach ................................................................................................................................................ 5 Federation of Citizens Associations (FCA) of Ottawa-Carleton............................................................................ 6 Finance and Membership........................................................................................................................................... 7 Treasurer’s Report................................................................................................................................................ 7 Membership .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Community Events ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Speakers Program................................................................................................................................................ 7 Spring Book Sale and Rockcliffe Park Branch of the Ottawa Public Library........................................................ 8 Spring Village Clean-up ........................................................................................................................................ 9 Political Candidates’ Meetings..............................................................................................................................10 Outdoor Movie Night.............................................................................................................................................10 Christmas Tree Lighting and Carol Sing...............................................................................................................10 Community Get-together and Fundraiser.............................................................................................................10 Children’s Christmas Party ...................................................................................................................................11 Sports and Recreation ...............................................................................................................................................12 Soccer Field and Running Track ..........................................................................................................................12 Field House and Rink ...........................................................................................................................................12 Field House Hours................................................................................................................................................12 Environment ...............................................................................................................................................................13 Caldwell-Carver Conservation Area: Environmental Remediation 2019..............................................................13 The Pond: Water Quality ......................................................................................................................................13 Pond Committee Report: Water Levels and Conservation...................................................................................13 Jubilee Garden and Village Green .......................................................................................................................14 Rockcliffe Park Safety and Security...........................................................................................................................14 Neighbourhood Watch ..........................................................................................................................................14 Community Policing..............................................................................................................................................15 Communications ........................................................................................................................................................16 Website and Email Communications....................................................................................................................16 Newsletter Team ...................................................................................................................................................16 Appendix A: RPRA Financial Statements for 2019 ....................................................................................................17 Cover: As the Village’s Centennial project in 1967, Village architects Humphrey Carver, Andrew Hazeland and Don Graham transformed the area north of Mariposa Avenue and east of Springfield Road from a vacant plot of land into the Village Green. The two parts of the Village Green include the Jubilee Garden to the East (a formal square) and the Centennial Garden to the West (designed as a circle), with the two parts separated by a cedar hedge. They embellished a grove of Black Locust trees and created a central stone circle from glacial boulders on the site, surrounded by concentric rings of flagstone paving, benches and sugar maples. The boulders were formed into a druid’s circle facing two central stones – the taller one named “Humphrey” after Humphrey Carver, and the horizontal one named “Henry” for its resemblance to a Henry Moore sculpture. This work of art is an excellent example of Modern Landscape Architecture and has heritage significance. 2 RPRA Annual Report 2019 PRESIDENT’S REPORT It gives me great pleasure to present the 2019 Annual Report to the Annual General Meeting of the Rockcliffe Park Residents Association. On December 6 of this past year, our community came together for the second annual Community Get-together, the launch of our annual fundraising campaign in support of Rideau- Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre (RRCRC) and its many programs to help needy families. Attendees were treated to Prosecco, excellent catering by Yasmin Syrian Cooking, gorgeous harp music from Susan Sweeney-Hermon and a performance by young violinists who attend free music classes each week at RRCRC. Watching the children play was a moving experience and reinforced the value of the services that RRCRC provides. Thank you to Nicolas Temnikov and his team of volunteers, including many from outside Rockcliffe Park, who worked hard to bring this event to fruition. A big thanks, too, to all the businesses in the region who contributed items and gift certificates for the silent auction. This event marked the fourth year that we have had an annual campaign for RRCRC and I am delighted to report that our community raised over $30,000 in support of the Centre’s work. A few days later, our annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Carol Sing attracted a large crowd, including many young children who were delighted by the fresh snow. A couple of intrepid youngsters thought the Christmas tree was intended for more than simply gazing at and decided that it ought to be climbed and, acting on their convictions, proceeded to do so. The accidental unplugging of the lights alerted me to their activities and the young explorers were encouraged to seek alternative arboreal adventures. For many years, this event has been opened by the Elmwood Junior School Choir and The Salvation Army Citadel Band has provided music and carol sheets for the carol singing. I thank these groups for their long-standing and continued support. Many thanks also to Jim and Nancy Carr, who, over the last few years, have generously hosted this event, providing decorations, biscuits, hot chocolate and warm cider. Our annual Children’s Christmas Party was another great success this year. Many thanks to Mirelle Boulos and her crew of volunteers who pulled this together. We are also very grateful to Shawn Steinburg, store manager at Metro Beechwood, who generously sponsored the event. Congratulations to everyone involved with this year’s Rockcliffe Park Spring Book Sale. The extraordinary preparation and hard work by the management team of Linda McDonald, Jane Newcombe and Kevin Phillips, assisted by dozens of enthusiastic volunteers, ensured yet another record-breaking Sale in support of the Ottawa Public Library, grossing over $50,000 – an increase of 14 percent over last year. This is a remarkable achievement involving a lot of people over the course of the year and everyone deserves a huge thank you. In the week following the Book Sale, we held the annual Village Clean-up. Although this event was hardly as well attended as the Book Sale, we were able to spruce up the grounds around the Community Hall and the Village Green. Many thanks to Councillor Rawlson King, who attended and wielded a rake for a few hours, and to the other volunteers and students