Action Sandy Hill notebook
January – March 2020
COVID Response Team start-up
Hilary Duff has initiated a community response team to help neighbours who may need help during the pandemic. ASH and neighbourhood block captains are pleased to support her effort. (See also story here)
Update on outreach services in the neighbourhood during the pandemic
Councillor Mathieu Fleury reported:
• uOttawa told students to go home when the pandemic was announced in March, but some from outside Canada remain in residence. An empty residence building is being set up as an emergency shelter by the City.
• The Youville Centre is supporting their clients with ongoing distribution of food and diapers.
• Strathcona Heights in partnership with the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre is operating a pop-up food bank. During the last week of March, 60 hampers were delivered to families in need.
• Ottawa Community Housing (160 Charlotte, 730 Chapel) is keeping its maintenance department operating 24/7, but only for essential safety services such as plumbing, electrical and heating repairs.
• Volunteer Ottawa and the United Way are working at connecting the many community help efforts popping up across the city. However, their outreach could be better.
• The Food Bank will be under lots of pressure in April and community members are urged to do what they can to support it with donations of money and food. (See also story here)
Cannabis shops
Action Sandy Hill receives notifications of applications sent to OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming) for licensing of cannabis shops, which are allowed pretty much anywhere except near schools. New applications are for Rideau and Dalhousie (former Second Cup), Clarence near William, and one on Elgin Street. The councillor noted that these shops do not need to adhere to the City’s accessibility rules.
Prime Ministers’ Row
Community focus groups, possibly virtual ones, are being planned for this spring.
Gazebo in Strathcona Park
In March, architect Barry Padolsky, who is volunteering his services, presented some design suggestions to the ASH board. Claude Jobin is the ASH lead on this project.
Rideau River winter trail
The 2.5km trail (east side of the river, Cummings to Hurdman bridges) opened in January, with grooming organized by ASH (using City funds).
ASH donates to youth programs
In March, ASH presented $800 to Awesome Arts, which steers community-based youth art projects. The money came from the proceeds of the One and Only Craft Fair—it was half of the sale’s profit. The organizers of the book sale that ran in tandem with the fair donated their profits, $1125, to the Homework Club.
New MPP
Lucille Collard, Liberal, won the Feb. 28 by-election. Her constituency office is at 237 Montreal Rd., Ottawa (ON) K1L 6C7 613-744-4484. lcollard.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Proposal to rename Sandy Hill park
Community member Stephanie Plante proposes renaming Sandy Hill Park after Inuit artist Annie Pootoogook, who died in Ottawa in 2016. ASH has written a letter of support that you can read at its website. It notes that there are more than 200 Inuit students living now in Sandy Hill. Comments to Stephanie (Stephanie.plante@gmail.com) with a copy to ASH (info@ash-acs.ca) are requested before April 15.
ASH members
A new date for the Action Sandy Hill annual meeting will be noted in the June issue of IMAGE. In the meantime, you may sign up as a member at the ASH website. The fees are $8/year, $21/3 years; 5$/12$ students/seniors.This would be a very good time to join.
– with notes from Jan Finlay, Kathy Moyer and Jane Waterston