Last week, I, like many, was surprised by the sudden resignation of the Mayor of Gatineau, France Belisle. She delivered…

Yesterday, I had the privilege to join my colleague, Councillor Jeff Leiper, for a Stage 2 LRT tunnel tour from…

Last week’s debate on a volunteer contribution of $300,000  toward traffic calming and affordable housing in Capital Ward was a…

As we bid farewell to 2023 and embrace the possibilities that lie ahead in 2024, I am filled with gratitude…

As we approach the end of another remarkable year, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest wishes…

Committees and Councillors continue to gear up towards the 2024 budget being brought to Council December 6th. Several 2024 budgets…

This week City council voted on the Lansdowne report in addition to tabling the 2024 Budget.   Over the next few…

This past week I attended, along with many of my council colleagues, the public meeting “Let’s Talk Lansdowne” held at…

Update from City Council this week The major item on this week’s council agenda was the approval of the budget…

As the school year gets started so do committee meetings at city hall! This past Tuesday, the Finance and Corporate…

As Chair of Ottawa Community Housing and a Councillor, affordable housing is a top concern of mine, and I am…

This will be the last newsletter from my office until August 18. I will be out of the country from…

This week we held the final City council meeting until September, and I am very proud of the work we’ve…

Zoning changes will be required to accommodate the provincial legislation C-23 This week at Planning and Housing Committee we discussed…

This week we made some great steps forward to permitting residents to garden in the City’s Right of Way (ROW)…

Use and Care of Roads By-law update proposed by City Staff This week at Transportation Committee discussion took place regarding…

Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference – A time to share and learn Last weekend I attended the Federation of Canadian…

On Thursday morning I was pleased to have my motion on creating an inventory of high rise building over 6…

Here are some highlights from this week’s council meeting: We voted on a motion from Councillor David Hill to refer…

This week City Council approved the Part One of the Transportation Master Plan. This is a positive moment in what…

Spring Freshet Update for Bay Ward Every spring the city in conjunction with Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) monitors the…

It’s hard to believe, as we bask in the sun these past couple of days, that just last week and…

My team and I would like to wish all who are celebrating this weekend a happy Passover and a happy…

Here is what my week at city hall looked like. On Tuesday at Community Service Committee there was a motion…

On Wednesday, March 1st Ottawa City Council passed its first budget of this council session for a total of $5.5 billion,…

This past week we saw the examination of 2023 city budgets sections at Environment and Climate Change Committee as well…

The weather has been challenging this week and I thank residents for their patience while crews work their way across…

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it is packed full of many important dates and work…

Overall, it has been a very busy week at City Hall with the first City council meeting of 2023 in…

Positive steps from the National Capital Commission As a City Councillor I have the opportunity to liaison with all levels…

Reliability is what we expect in our public transit system.  This past week our Light Rail Transit system had one of the longest disruptions in service…

Happy New Year Bay Ward! The Bay ward team has been busy responding to residents’ phone calls and emails regarding the…

Wishing Bay Ward a Happy Holiday! Please note that our office will be closed from December 24 to January 2.…

Report of the Ottawa Light Rail Transit Public Inquiry In October 2021, I wrote an op-ed article for the Ottawa…

16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence Today we join with people around the world to begin the annual…

Celebrating Diversity – Welcoming Larga Baffin Neighbours This week, one of my team members Sue Garvey and I had the…

Remembrance Day Last year, when the Carlingwood Mall Remembrance Day ceremony was unable to take place due to restrictions on…

Thanks again to all who sent congratulatory messages to my office on my re-election.  It’s great to be back focusing…

It’s so nice to be able to bring the Bay Ward Bulletin back into your inbox after a two month hiatus.  My team and…

AMO conference sessions touched on Climate Change, Homelessness, Strong Mayor & more This week I attended the Association of Municipalities…

2475 Regina Street Public Meeting Update On Wednesday August 10th my office hosted a virtual public meeting on the development…

Please note that the Bay Ward Bulletin will not be published from August 26 until after October 24 when the…

This has been a less than stellar week for the City`s train service but I am happy to see that…

Strong Mayor Model? This week Premier Doug Ford stated that he plans to bring in legislation that would give the…

It was my privilege to welcome students who are participating in the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) SAIL program…

LRT Public Inquiry concludes after four weeks The four weeklong Public Inquiry into the LRT wrapped up this week bringing…

Congratulations to the Class of 2022! Class of 2022, you have completed your schooling while studying through a global pandemic.…

Preparing for the next time In the aftermath of the largest and longest power outage experienced by the City of…

What started out as quiet anticipation for a long weekend turned into a frightening Saturday afternoon storm on May 21 that…

Bay Ward Tea Party Even Alice herself would have envied the Bay Ward Tea Party my team put together for…

The pandemic has taught us lessons that will forever change the way we think of health care and live in…

Motorcycle Convoy Event Starting today Ottawa will see the arrival of hundreds of motorcycles to the downtown core. The group…

Earth Day Weekend Earth Day, celebrated on April 22 each year, is a time for communities around the world to…

Wishing Everyone a Safe and Happy Long Weekend This weekend is the first holiday weekend without any restrictions on social…

Road & Pathway Safety in Bay Ward Over the past couple of weeks, with the warmer temperatures and snow melting,…

Working towards Reconciliation I am pleased to share that a new protocol to frame the City’s relationship on cultural matters…

Back to the Council Table Wednesday March 23rd marked the first in person City Council meeting since February 12, 2020.…

Spring is in the air! After what feels like a long winter dealing with some challenging weather, we are finally…

March 11 – An Anniversary for Reflection It was two years ago today that the World Health Organization officially declared a…

Recorded in January 2022, Bay Ward Councillor Theresa Kavanagh provides insights and updates on projects and priorities in the City…

Breaking the Bias on International Women’s Day Tuesday March 8th is International Women’s Day. An annual date where we encourage people to…

After a very long and frustrating three weeks, Ottawa’s downtown is finally getting back to a state of normalcy following…

For the past three weeks we have watched helplessly as a protest in our City’s downtown core turned into an…

We are now heading into the third week of the Truck Convoy Occupation and although some progress has been made…

Not Acceptable! Earlier this week I shared my thoughts on social media about the futility of the truck convoy protest.…

Deserving Recognition At City Council this past Wednesday the Mayor announced that Dr. Vera Etches and the staff at Ottawa…

Thank you to our City’s Roads and Parking Services Team If you love winter as much as I do you…

The Great Outdoors! Living in Ottawa means winter will happen so we might as well find ways to enjoy it.…

There were many positives in this year’s budget, you can read the highlights in this week’s issue. However, I decided…

Calling all people age 12 and under to grab their colouring pencils and crayons! On December 17th , I will be…

16 Days of Activism Every year, from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December…

Thank you for joining me to Remember On Thursday November 11th at 11am I joined with community members at the Blood…

Round Table Discussion: Alleviating the Impacts of COVID-19 on Women I had the privilege of co-hosting a round table discussion…

Halloween – Kids can go Door to Door this year! The days are getting shorter and Halloween is a couple…

How to save tax dollars by spending more on preventative measures on community well-being Along with the City of Ottawa’s…

This Plan is your Plan. This Plan is our Plan. There was impressive participation in the City’s New Draft Official…

Giving Thanks Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful for the many positive aspects of our lives.  Including the beautiful…

What does City of Ottawa parks and recreation mean to you?  Are you a senior who uses city recreation centre…

Recovery Day Ottawa I had the privilege of attending Recovery Day Ottawa at City Hall today, an annual community event…

Today advanced polls opened for the upcoming federal election on September 20th. With COVID protocol in place, the waiting time…

Labour Day weekend traditionally marks the end of summer holidays and the beginning of the school year. We were hoping…

This coming Monday many students will be heading back to school in the Francophone school board system while the English…

Capital PRIDE is a time to celebrate equality! Sunday August 22 kicks off this year’s capital Pride week in Ottawa!…

On Thursday, August 12th, I received notice that the City had postponed the tabling of the draft New Official Plan…

Congratulations to our Canadian Women’s Soccer team winning the gold medal! Over the past week the stands may have been…

Bringing art to Bay Ward I recently saw the Vincent Van Gogh exhibit and saw how visitors reacted to the…

At Ottawa City Council this past Wednesday, the Mayor announced that at 12:01 am on Thursday July 22, the State…

Is the above listed residential waste flow good enough? We can do better. How do we get there? Recycling (Waste…

On July 8th, 2021, we reached 50% of residents 18+ with a 2nd dose. This is another HUGE and EXCITING…

Canada Day Traditionally Canadians have celebrated nationwide on July 1 – a date that has evolved to mean many things…

It is part of the role of a municipal council to ensure the accountability and transparency of municipal operations. A…

On Wednesday, June 16th, the Transit Commission approved a report, Zero-Emission Buses for OC Transpo, which provides a framework to…

Tragedy in London, Ontario As a city councillor my heart is heavy and frankly, horrified regarding the news of a…

Indigenous Month: Time for a Closer Look at Truth and Reconciliation In 1996, Canada celebrated the first annual Indigenous Day…

Women and Gender Equity Strategy Event The May 28th, Women and Gender Equity Strategy event was a big success and…

In my role as City Council Liaison on Women and Gender Equity it was my honour and privilege to host…

What does the City’s Official Plan mean to Bay Ward?  The Official Plan is back in the news as city staff sort through…

Happy Mother’s Day! Each year my office has the pleasure of putting together The Bay Ward Mother’s Day Tea. A…

Looking for young women, gender-diverse and gender non-binary youth to take part in a simulated Council Meeting Inviting all young…

What a week! It has been over a year since The World Health Organization declared the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak…

Two Good News Stories from City Council this Week First, the Women and Gender Equity Strategy As the City Council’s Liaison…

Stay-At-Home Order As of Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., under the direction of the Ontario Government, we are…

Notice of Motion Passes with Unanimous Consent  As a City Councillor for Bay Ward I am very proud of our…

Women and Gender Equity Strategy In late 2018, City Council voted in favour of creating the City’s first Women and…

Covid Vaccination Update This morning at 12:01 Ottawa moved into the Red-Control Level Framework as a result of worsening trends…

This past Thursday marked the one-year anniversary since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. So much has…

International Women’s Day March 8, 2021 #ChoosetoChallenge On Monday, March 8, we will celebrate International Women’s Day. It’s a time…

Motion for Chalk River referred to Standing Committee on Environmental Protection and Waste Water Management One of the most important…

Community and Protective Services Committee Update This past Thursday I attended, the first Community and Protective Services Committee (CPSC) meeting…

This week City Council voted to add 1,281 hectares of land to our city urban boundary and designated where those lands would be located.…

In May 2020, after much debate, Ottawa City Council adopted a framework on how to deal with the City’s future growth to the year 2046.  …

At City Council’s first meeting of 2021, this past Wednesday, I put forward a motion seconded by Mayor Jim Watson…

Blue Monday and the mental health and well-being of Ottawa parents This past Monday, or what has come to be…

I have received many questions from residents who are confused about the new measures imposed to control COVID-19 in our…

Come outside! There has been a lot of discouraging news with the latest pandemic lock-down here in Ottawa and it…

Hindsight 2020 If I was to describe 2020 it would be the year that we would most like to forget but should not.…

2021 City Budget Vote After many months of meetings with community groups and individual taxpayers, City Council met on Wednesday,…

This past week City Council’s Finance and Economic Development Committee voted to accept a consultant-recommended ward boundary change and voted…

Beginning November 25th , the City of Ottawa’s Heritage Building will be illuminated in orange until Dec. 10 to mark…

Public transit is essential in Ottawa and it needs permanent federal funding Published in the Ottawa Citizen on November 17th,…

Decision on 100 Bayshore From time to time a development application comes to City Council that meets City planning policies…

Remembrance Day is a solemn occasion when we give thanks and remember those who served their country.  My own father…

Halloween has always been one of my favourite holidays. I love seeing the costumes of the children at my door.…

Many people start to retreat indoors and subconsciously begin the act of hibernating this time of year as the temperature…

Announcing the Bay Ward Community Youth Task Force This past Thursday evening, I had the privilege of launching a Community…

This afternoon the provincial announcement that we are reverting to a modified Stage 2 response to COVID-19 for the next 28 days. This includes prohibiting indoor dining at restaurants and…

As a City Councillor I spend a major part of my time working with residents on local issues as well…

This Sunday my office team and I will be joining participants from 18 Cities across the country in the Walk/Run…

Decision made:  Bus Route on Richmond Road Will Remain Status Quo The LRT Stage 2 construction on Richmond Rd between…

Over six months ago Covid-19 forced us to significantly alter the way we engaged with each other. We had to…

Labour Day weekend traditionally marks the end of summer holidays and the beginning of the school year, although because of…

This week at City Council we considered a number of amendments to the Temporary Mandatory Mask By-law that included: extending…

The new school year is fast approaching and parents are faced with challenging decisions. Be assured that Ottawa Public Health…

Over the past five months we have had to come to terms with adapting to significant changes in our in…

Over the past few weeks Bay Ward has experienced shooting incidents that have shaken the Britannia Woods community and beyond. …

As the community continues its gradual staged approach to reopening, (Stage 3), Ottawa Public Health (OPH) encourages you to go…

Heading into stage 3 of re-opening and economic recovery As we gradually head into Stage 3 today, with public health…

It’s been a hot week and it’s important to stay cool. The City’s pools, both outdoor and many indoor, are…

Phewf it’s been a hot one! Over the past couple of weeks, we have been experiencing both high temperatures and…

Happy Canada Day! This year Canada Day will be celebrated very differently from years gone by.   Although we will not…

Covid-19 has shone a bright light on our greatest strengths and our worst vulnerabilities as a city. Our leadership, our…

Have Your Say on Ottawa Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan  What Does Community Safety and Well-Being Mean to You?…

The ugly face of racism has dominated our media this week. And although the murder of George Floyd happened in…

Problems at Carlingview Manor This week’s report by members of the Canadian military about their experience working in 5 Toronto…

This past long weekend we had lovely weather and it was a great opportunity to be outside while still maintaining…

Last weekend we received the welcome news from the City that residents could have restricted access to the open green…

As we look ahead to Mother’s Day this Sunday, it’s a perfect time to stop and remember the women in…

No to Expanding Urban Boundaries On Monday, May 11th, there will be a special joint meeting of the Planning Committee…

I have just learned about an exciting community initiative happening in Brampton and are thinking about trying it out here…

Despite already weathering a few weeks of staying at home, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic will not be…

This week the rules for physical distancing have been tightened up so that people are not allowed to hang out…

While we are all physical distancing, we can still stay in touch virtually. I would like to invite you to…

My message to you this week from my home. Wash your hands – Don’t touch your face – Stay well

In response to Health Officials strongly recommending Social Distancing, I will be changing the format of future Bay Ward meetings…

This year’s International Women’s Day theme “Each for Equal” calls for everyone to carry a responsibility and grasp opportunities to…

The return of winter weather this week was a test to our LRT system that did not go well.  We…

This past week was the Transit Challenge and for commuting purposes to city hall it was mostly uneventful.  I managed…

Happy Valentine’s Day  I hope everyone has someone to love in their life regardless of who they are. Love is…

Winter is not coming.  It’s here! As we deal with this latest snowfall we can at least appreciate that there…

This week Council declared an affordable housing and homelessness crisis and emergency in Ottawa.  I fully supported this important motion. We, the…

Frustration with LRT system Yesterday I attended a special Transit Commission meeting to give an update on OC Transpo, LRT,…