January 15, 2026
Dear Minister Calandra and Mr. Plamondon,
I am writing to you as the City Councillor for Bay Ward in Ottawa, and as a former school board trustee, to express my concern for the future of Regina Street Alternative School, and to advocate for it to remain open as a community school in the Lincoln Heights neighbourhood. With kindergarten registration opening for the 2026- 27 school year, many families were shocked to learn that their local school, Regina Street Alternative, would not be accepting kindergarten registrations. The decision to stop kindergarten registrations at this local school is essentially a slow-motion closure, and it runs counter to the province’s stated intention of fostering thriving, local community schools.
Before I was the Bay Ward City Councillor, I was proud to serve eight years as a School Board Trustee for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board in Zone 4 (Bay and Kitchissippi), from 2010-2018. Not only was this one of the most challenging jobs I’ve ever held, it was also one of the most rewarding. In my role as Trustee, I acted as a liaison, and a local voice between schools, students and their families, and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board leadership. I regularly advocated on behalf of students and families to ensure they had the resources and tools they needed. I still hear from families who I supported in my time as Trustee, including those I worked with to ensure that Regina Street Public School remained open when it was recommended for closure in 2016. Closing Regina Street Public School was the wrong decision in 2016, and it’s the wrong decision now.
Community schools are a critical part of building thriving neighbourhoods, and Regina Street School is a gem in Britannia/Lincoln Heights, with distinct program offerings and access to excellent outdoor learning opportunities at nearby Mud Lake. I understand that the board is working on addressing the challenge of overcrowding in some schools, and under enrolment in others, and I firmly believe that Regina Street School could provide a solution to overcrowding in some of the neighbouring schools. I strongly encourage you to work with the board to expand program offerings at this school, and to reinstate kindergarten enrolment for the 2026-27 school year, to avoid a further decline in enrolment, and eventual closure.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am looking forward to working with you to ensure local, accessible public education is available for families in Britannia and Lincoln Heights for years to come.
Sincerely,
Theresa Kavanagh
Bay Ward Councillor | Conseillère quartier Baie
City of Ottawa | Ville d’Ottawa
613-580-2477
