Hi neighbour,
I hope you all had a great week and are enjoying the return of wintery weather! It’s been another busy week here in Bay Ward. I’m looking forward to seeing some of you in the community over the next few weeks- either at one of the many upcoming winter carnivals (see the events sections for more details!) or at my next informal coffee chat on Tuesday, January 20th at the Bridgehead at Fairlawn Plaza (2140 Carling Ave). Here’s a quick look at what my team and I have been working on this week:
Public Transit Reliability
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to my office recently to voice your concerns regarding unacceptable service levels at OC Transpo. I share your concerns and frustration and am worried about the impact this unreliable service will have on ridership numbers. People in Ottawa expect and deserve affordable, reliable transit, and right now we’re not meeting that standard. Last Friday, OC Transpo shared this memo acknowledging that there has been an increase in undelivered bus trips and detailing how they plan on addressing these issues. I am going to be following up with Transit Services to see what improvements can be made in the short term for Bay Ward residents, particularly for high-volume commuter routes like the 87 and 57. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office (bayward@ottawa.ca) if you have any specific questions or concerns regarding transit service in your neighbourhood.
Advocating for Regina Street Alternative School
Over the past week, I’ve heard from families in Lincoln Heights and Britannia with concerns about the decision by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) to not accept any kindergarten registrations at Regina Street Alternative School for the 2026-27 school year. 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. Earlier this week, I wrote an open letter to Ontario’s Minister of Education, Paul Calandra, and OCDSB Supervisor Robert Plamondon, asking them to reverse this decision. You can read the full letter here. I will continue to advocate for this community school, and will share updates as we receive them from the board.
Upcoming Coffee Chat: Tuesday, January 20th at Bridgehead Coffee (2140 Fairlawn Plaza)
I hope you can join me for my next informal coffee chat on Tuesday, January 20th at the Bridgehead in Fairlawn Plaza (2140 Carling Ave). Pop by anytime between 4:00 and 6:00 pm to ask questions, share your views, and meet some of your neighbours! Staff from the Stage 2 LRT team, Planning and Development, and By-law will also be joining us to answer any questions from the community.
Read on the full newsletter for more news and events across Bay Ward!
