Why is there a global climate strike? Today I attended the Ottawa Global Climate Strike that draws attention to the climate change crisis we are facing. It was inspiring to see the number of youth who are concerned for their future. Climate change is a problem that will not go away without buy in from…
As a member of the Ottawa Board of Health I was happy to receive and approve the recommendations submitted to Health Canada by the Medical Officer of Health on the proposed vaping products and packaging regulations. It is extremely concerning to see vaping among youth continue to rise. Serious illness and even deaths have been…
The waste collection from last week was finally been completed by Thursday when regular collection resumed. This is good news. This was very frustrating for residents of Bay Ward. We need to be assured that these prolonged delays will not be repeated. More information should be provided on what caused these delays in the first…
The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers is awarded to individuals who have made significant, sustained and unpaid contributions to their community in Canada or abroad. The medal, first presented by the Right Honourable David Johnston, former Governor General of Canada, in April 2016, is the highest volunteer honour in Canada. Today, Mayor Watson and I were…
It’s back to school time, which means it’s time to start packing lunches again. If you were lucky enough to be off lunch duty for the summer months, you might be looking for inspiration – and Ottawa Public Health has got you! Yes, healthy lunches can require a bit of planning ahead, but it is…
I am very excited to announce that the first day of the Confederation Line 1 service of our Light Rail Transit system will be on Saturday, September 14. Buses will still run on the old schedule up to Sunday, October 6th. We hope to see more reliable reliable service on all routes and we look…
Public engagement is an important part of making our community a better place to live. Currently I am working with city staff in planning a number of meetings to give residents an opportunity to ask question and engage in a number of municipal topics including the New Official Plan Consultation process. Please mark your calendars…
On Thursday August 8th, I had the pleasure to honour the community service and lasting impact of Marlene Catterall and welcome her family, friends and colleagues attending this special event. Marlene Catterall’s engagement with Michele Heights began as Chair of the Citizens Committee for the Pinecrest Queensway Neighborhood Planning Study and continued as a City…
This week I attended a meeting organized by community members in the Britannia Woods neighbourhood located on Ritchie Street. The residents had safety concerns stemming from the recent shooting that took place in their neighbourhood. Like all parents they want their children to be safe and expressed their fear from this situation. I appreciated that…
Summer is a wonderful time of year. It’s warm, sunny, the pools and beaches are full of people and many residents are on vacation. Questions about health-related issues like extreme heat, insects and toxic plants come up during the summer months. Ottawa Public Health offers a wealth of information on how to stay safe and…