If you require immediate assistance, please email us at jfraser.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org or call us at 613-736-9573.
Remembrance Week
I would like to highlight the Remembrance Week Act. The Bill expands the scope of the Remembrance Day Observance Act, 1997 to proclaim the seven-day period in each year that begins on November 5 and ends at the end of November 11 as Remembrance Week. The Bill speaks to the importance of recognizing veterans and the sacrifices they made in service to our country.
A list of upcoming Remembrance Week events and activities across Ontario can be found on the Veterans Affairs Canada website.
I firmly believe that on Remembrance Day, we must honour and pay tribute to all the brave Canadian men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, in wartime and in peace, at home and abroad. The Remembrance Week Act helps to ensure that our recognition of that sacrifice is not limited to one day. We will remember them.
Free Flu Shot and New COVID-19 Vaccines Available for All Ontarians
Starting October 30, Ontarians will be able to receive their free flu shot and the new, most recent COVID-19 vaccine at local pharmacies, public health units and primary health care providers across the province. Staying up to date on vaccinations continues to be the best way for people to stay safe and healthy this respiratory illness season and avoid unnecessary visits to the hospital.
You can book a COVID-19 vaccine through participating pharmacies, through public health units or via our website or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007 toll free) from Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Eastern Time.
Heatherington Community Celebration – October 5th
My team attended the Heatherington Community Celebration hosted by the South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre. This event is always a big hit for the kids living in the Heatherington community and this time was no different.
OCH Aging in Place Announcement – October 20th
I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at Ottawa Community Housing’s announcement of the program expansion celebration. Aging in Place is operated by Ottawa West Community Support and provides services, short-term homemaking service, emergency meals, transportation and much much more to keep seniors healthy and living in their own homes.
Meeting with Ellwood House – October 27th
It was so nice to meet with members of the team at Ellwood House and discuss the important work they are doing to grow their facility to support more seniors here in our community.
Meeting with Ottawa Community Housing – October 30th
It was great to meet with OCH CEO Stéphane Giguère, OCH Manager of Public and Stakeholder Relations Danielle McGee and Ottawa City Councilor Theresa Kavanagh, along with my caucus colleague Karen McCrimmon to discuss Ottawa Community Housing’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan.
| The last few weeks have been contentious at Queen’s Park. Tensions have been high, but I think it is important for us to come together in these trying times. On October 19th, I rose in house to participate in the debate on Motion 19, the motion to censure MPP Jama and explain why I believe it is important for use to come together. |
| October is Islamic Heritage Month. It’s an opportunity for Muslim communities across Ontario to share their history, culture and faith with their neighbours. I was proud to rise in the legislature on October 24th and say a few words of celebration. |
| Perley Health is an important institution here in Ottawa South that touches the lives of many seniors and their families. I rose in the legislature on October 30th to congratulate the Perley Health Foundation on wrapping up their “Answering the Call” campaign, raising $10M to further support exceptional care for older adults and veterans. |
Your vehicle must have a valid licence plate and be insured to drive legally in Ontario. The licence plate renewal period varies depending on type of vehicle and if you choose to renew for 1 or 2 years. Renew online at: Vehicle registration | ontario.ca or visit a Service Ontario location.
When you renew:
- you will no longer receive a sticker
- you do not have to pay licence plate renewal fees
- law enforcement will be instantly aware your licence plate was renewed
Get ServiceOntario digital reminders!
Get free reminders by email, text message, or phone call 60 and 30 days before it’s time to renew your licence plate, driver’s licence, health card, or Ontario Photo Card.
Mailed renewal notices for driver’s licence holders and vehicle owners will continue for:
- individuals aged 70 years and older
- individuals with a driver’s licence class A, B, C, D, E, or F
Apply online: Get ServiceOntario digital reminders | ontario.ca
Ontario Providing Financial Stability to Employers
Free Flu Shot and New COVID-19 Vaccines Available for All Ontarians
Ontario Connecting More Women to Breast Cancer Screening
Ontario Strengthens Emergency Preparedness to Keep People & Communities Safe
Ontario Increasing Eligibility Thresholds for Ontario Electricity Support Program
Ontario Walking Back Plans of Developing the Greenbelt
Ontario Helping More Children and Youth Access Healthy Food
OTF announces its application deadlines for 2024
OTF has been investing in Ontario’s non-profit sector for more than 40 years to build healthy and vibrant communities. Our grants help organizations drive positive change in their communities. Each year, hundreds of projects are delivered to develop a stronger and more vibrant Ontario and benefit people across the province.
OTF is pleased to announce that the Seed and Grow grant streams will be offered in addition to Capital grants for 2024.
Review the grant application deadlines
To better adapt to the needs of communities and offer greater flexibility to organizations seeking funding, OTF is updating its grant investment framework. This refresh will enable OTF to continue to fund projects that have the greatest benefit for Ontarians. OTF is bringing back the Seed, Grow and Capital grant streams as part of this update.
The refreshed framework will be made available early November 2023 to help prospective applicants discover more about OTF’s investment approach as they prepare for upcoming grant opportunities. Application information and requirements for each grant stream will be updated to align with the investment framework and made available closer to the launch of each grant’s application period.
Eligible applicants will be able to apply for grants that help them to develop and grow relevant programs and services and expand essential community infrastructure that supports the needs of Ontarians.
Grant application deadlines
Capital grant: March 6, 2024, 5:00 pm ET
Seed grant: June 26, 2024, 5:00 pm ET
Grow grant: November 6, 2024, 5:00 pm ET
OTF will offer numerous supports to applicants and information will be made available prior to each application period.
211 is completely free, confidential and calls are answered 24/7 in 150+ languages. If you prefer, you can also text the number 2-1-1 or use the online chat at 211ontario.ca Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Ontario Volunteer Service Awards:
Eligibility
Organizations that have been in existence for a minimum of five years may submit a nomination.
Each organization may nominate up to nine volunteers (of which a maximum of 6 nominees may be adults).
The nominee(s) must:
- be living persons residing and volunteering in Ontario
- not have received payment for their volunteer work
- be active beyond simple membership in an organization
- not have performed the services as part of their regular business or professional duties
A youth nominee must:
- be under 24 years old and under
- have volunteered with one organization for at least two consecutive years
An adult nominee must have volunteered with one organization for at least five consecutive years.
Organizations with more than one branch can submit separate nominations for up to nine volunteers for each branch.
Required information
- Nominating organization name, address, email, phone number and year established
- Volunteer first name, last name, address, email, and phone number
- Head of organization (if applicable) first name, last name, email, phone number and position title.
Deadline
The deadline to nominate someone is November 15 of each year. Nominations received after the deadline will be considered in the following year.
Selection process
Recipients receive a personalized certificate and lapel pin acknowledging their years of service at a local award recognition ceremony.
Award presentation
Recipients receive a personalized certificate and lapel pin acknowledging their years of service at a local award recognition ceremony.
The Ontario Government medal and recognition program celebrate the people who make our province a better place to live.
Click to learn more and to nominate
How your property is assessed
We determine the assessed value of each property based on several variables, and we use different approaches to value properties depending on the property type. Click on the links below to learn more:
- Residential property (Urban)
- Residential property (Rural)
- Multi-residential properties
- Farm properties
- What makes property assessment fair?
- FAQ – is your assessment fair?
Property assessment and taxation toolkit
To better help property owners understand the relationship between property assessment and taxes, as well as the key roles different levels of government play, MPAC has developed a toolkit.
View the toolkit here.
When everyday people step forward to make a lifesaving connection, the impact is significant Lives are changed. Lives are saved.
Book now at Blood.ca
Exhibit your art at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario!
The Youth Arts Program celebrates the incredible artistic talents of young Ontarians aged 12-18. Each year, youth from across the province are invited to display their works of art throughout the Legislative Building, showcasing their creativity and diverse artistic abilities.
Online applications are accepted from October 10th to November 8th, 2023 – apply now!
The Page Program
Each year approximately 150 young students from across Ontario are selected to participate in Ontario’s Legislative Page Program. This unique educational program for Ontario students provides an opportunity to experience the provincial legislature in action and forge new lifelong friendships with peers from all over the province!
The program is designed for outgoing, high-achieving, community-involved students who have demonstrated responsibility and leadership. Legislative Pages meet key parliamentary and political figures, and learn first-hand about Ontario’s Parliament and the legislative process.
While at Queen’s Park, they are under the direction of the Page Program Coordinator who is a certified Ontario teacher. Pages also receive an honorarium during their term of duty.
For the spring 2024 period, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Attend school in Ontario and be enrolled in Grade 7 or 8 at time of application (Note: Students in Grade 6 are not eligible; applicants must be in Grade 7 or 8 at the time of application)
- Have an academic average of Level 4 or 80 % (or higher)
Students must also demonstrate an involvement in a variety of extra-curricular (in and out of school) and community based activities; leadership skills; responsibility, maturity and commitment; an interest in current affairs; strong interpersonal and social skills; and an ability to get along well with peers and adults.
Applications for the spring 2024 term are now open. We are accepting applications until November 15th, 2023. Contact us at the pageprogram@ola.org for more information or visit the About the Page Program page on the OLA website
St. Aidan’s Yuletide Bazaar
(November 4th)
St. Aidan’s church is holding their annual Yuletide Bazaar on Saturday, November 4, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Riverview Park Fall Social and Fundraiser
(November 4th)
The Riverview Park Community Association invites you to its community Fall Social and Fundraiser on Saturday, November 4th at O’Brien’s Roadhouse (730 Industrial Ave). Come meet your neighbours, support Matthew House Ottawa and the Riverview Park Community Association. The evening includes dinner, dessert, tea, or coffee; door prizes and a silent auction; with live entertainment by local musician Craig Cormier.
Matthew House is a local non-profit organization that provides shelter, furnishings, and community to refugees and those transitioning to permanent housing. The Riverview Park Community Association works to build community and advocate for residents of Riverview Park.
Tickets are $40 and can be purchased here through the Riverview Park Community Association Website. Deadline to purchase tickets is Tuesday, October 31st.
Rideau Park Christmas Treasures Bazaar
(November 4th)
Rideau Park United Church is hosting their Christmas Treasures Bazaar from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Saturday, November 4th. The Christmas Treasures Bazaar is an annual fundraiser that involves any and all in the congregation and local community who wish to work hard but enjoy more. Join them for a delicious, beautifully prepared tea in a decorated hall. Bid in the Silent Auction room. Load up with home-made, mouth-watering treats from the Deli and Bake Table to get you through the festive season
Emmanuel United Church Holiday Bazaar
(November 4th)
The Emmanuel United Church will be hosting their Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, November 4th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Find homemade goodies like baking, jams, and other preserves. We have a Scroungers Paradise with household items, toys, puzzles and sports equipment. Get your dazzle on from our jewelry and accessories room. We have treasures to bid on in the Silent Auction, a book room, sewing and knitting, woodworking, Christmas decor and crafts made by our youth. Enjoy a home-cooked meal in our Lunch Room and take home a meal-to-go from our Shantyman’s Deli.
Perley Health Remembrance Day Tribute
This Remembrance Day let’s pay a heartfelt tribute to the brave men and women who’ve selflessly fought for our beloved country.
For each donation, Perley Health Foundation will plant a Canadian flag as a symbol of remembrance to honour a loved one or hero from your past.
Today we are asking you to honour our Veterans, plant a flag and make a difference. For more information and to make a donation, please visit the Perley Health Foundation’s website here.
Blair Court Community Housing – Family/Couple Portrait Fundraiser
(November 18th)
On Saturday, November 18th from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Blair Court Community Housing will be hosting a Family/Couple Portrait Fundraiser at the Canterbury Recreation Complex. This event is a great way to capture those special moments with your loved ones while supporting the work of Blair Court Community House. More info to follow. Check out Blair Court Community Housing website for more information at www.blaircourt.ca.
Art in the Neighborhood Annual Fall Art Show
(November 19th)
The local artist group, Art in the Neighborhood, is holding its Annual Fall Art Show on Sunday, November 19th at Arch Street Public School (2129 Arch Street) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Many local artists and artisans will show their work including paintings, drawings, sculpture, clothing, jewelry etc. All the art can be purchased, giving visitors an opportunity to find unique gifts ahead of the holidays.
Canterbury Community Association’s Annual Christmas Craft Fair
(November 19th)
Joint the Canterbury Community Association for their annual Christmas Craft Fair on Sunday, November 19th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Canterbury Community Centre (2185 Arch St).
Over 80 vendors with something for everyone: crafts, home décor, food, jewelry, and much more! Also returning: the Kids Craft Corner, featuring the next generation of talented crafters. For more information click here to visit their website.
St. Patrick’s High School Fine Arts and Crafts Christmas Show
(November 25th)
St. Patrick’s High School is holding their Fine Arts and Crafts Christmas Show with 100 local vendors on Sunday, November 25th from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM to show off their handmade crafts and arts. As in the past we have a bit of everything from bird seed blocks to fancy socks, fudge and woodworking, knitting and photography, jewelry and beautiful art. Check out their Facebook page for more information here
Catching up on routine immunizations
If your child has missed a vital immunization required for school this fall, we can help! The Kids Come First Health Team, has launched their Vaccination and Up-to-Date campaign to tackle just that, and they are taking appointments now!
Find out the requirements and book your child’s vaccination today!
 |
| World Food Day World Food Day was on Monday, October 16, 2023. Founded by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945, it was created to “increase awareness of world hunger, food insecurity and poverty, and to inspire solutions for world change.” The theme for this year is “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.” Although water makes up 70% of Earth’s surface, water is not an unlimited resource and needs to be conserved. Land use planning (e.g., urban and rural development), population growth and climate change all contribute to the decline in the amount of water available. What we eat and how that food is produced all affect the amount of water used. Try to: Choose more foods that require less water to produce, such as in-season fresh fruits and vegetables, and eating more plant-based proteins, such as beans, peas, and lentils. Buy only what you need and reuse leftovers to reduce food waste. Water is needed to grow food and bring food from farm to table. Buy fish that has been caught or farmed sustainably and buy only what you need. For more information on what you can do to conserve water visit: https://www.fao.org/world-food-day/take-action/what-can-you-do/en World Food Day recognizes there is food insecurity and poverty in the world. Food insecurity and poverty continues to be a growing issue in our community. One in seven (14.8%) households in Ottawa were food insecure in 2022 (PHO Report, 2023). Even with a recent increase in minimum wage, the struggle for families to purchase food in Ottawa persists. Household food insecurity is the inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints. Food insecurity affects health – those who are food insecure have higher rates of poor mental health and chronic conditions and it is harder to manage their condition. Every year, Ottawa Public Health conducts the Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) survey to monitor food affordability in the region. The 2023 NFB survey results support local community partners to advocate for income-based policies to reduce food insecurity and will be presented at the Board of Health in November and publicly shared in a webinar on November 22, 2023, from 1:30-2:30pm. For more information about food insecurity, visit: Food Insecurity and the Nutritious Food Basket – Ottawa Public Health Back to School – Vaccination, Dental Screening and Vision Health Vaccination Vaccines are one of the greatest public health accomplishments of the 20th century. Vaccines have saved countless lives and in fact, save an estimated four million lives globally each year! As children and youth head back to school this fall, it is an important time to ensure they are up to date on their routine vaccinations. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted access to and delivery of routine childhood vaccines. In Ottawa alone, children and youth missed an estimated 40,000 doses of routine vaccines over the course of the pandemic. This means that many children are not fully protected against serious diseases that can have long-term impacts and result in hospitalization and even death. As children head back to school and resume their regular activities, getting caught up on vaccines not only helps protect each child, but it also helps protect the people they spend time with too. It helps keep children in school and doing the activities they love! In Ontario, all children attending school need to be immunized against nine diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease, whooping cough and chickenpox (for children born in 2010 or later). Over the past year, Ottawa Public Health has been working to notify families if their child’s record with Ottawa Public Health shows a vaccine is missing. This year, Ottawa Public Health will mail notices to children born in 2006 and 2016 who are missing one or more vaccines required for school. What is Ottawa Public Health asking parents to do?Review your child’s vaccine record to see if they are missing any vaccines given during childhood or adolescence.Make sure to report your child’s vaccine to Ottawa Public Health. Parents are responsible for reporting their child’s vaccines; health care providers do not do this for you.Visit your health care provider to catch up on vaccines you need. Don’t have a regular health care provider or are having trouble seeing one? Ottawa Public Health is working with community partners, including the Kids Come First Health Team and organizations from across Eastern Ontario, to help make it easier for children and youth to catch up on routine vaccines. Parents can now:Book an appointment on the Kids Come First website to review their child’s vaccine record or receive vaccines. Alternatively, Ottawa Public Health is offering routine vaccines through its Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs, on a walk-in basis. Parents can drop into one of the locations to review their child’s vaccine record and/or receive vaccines. Dental Screening Last school year, close to 10% of children screened in elementary schools presented with urgent dental needs such as cavities, signs of infection, and/or pain. School surveillance of grade 2 students and dental screening in other grades will resume in September. This year, three new schools will be offered dental screening services by our OPH registered dental hygienists, for a total of 228 elementary schools. The dental screening is done using a disposable tongue depressor and a flashlight to look into the child’s mouth. The dental screening is important as it helps identify children in pain and those who require urgent dental care. The school dental hygienists support families with referrals to our OPH dental clinics or to a private dental office and can help low-income families apply to the Healthy Smiles Ontario program. Dental problems can affect children in different ways, by leading to issues such as poor concentration and learning difficulties in school, limited choice of foods due to inability to chew properly, lower self-esteem and much more. Vision Health In September, OPH will distribute vision health cards to over 16,000 junior and senior kindergarten students. This vision health information will remind parents of the importance of taking their children to the optometrist for an annual eye exam. Vision problems can affect children’s learning abilities, social development, self-esteem and hand-eye coordination. If not identified early, some problems can permanently reduce a child’s vision. During Children’s Vision Month (October), OPH will be publishing a series of posts on social media (Facebook/Instagram), supported by a social media advertising campaign. This campaign will educate the audience on the importance of visual health, while also encouraging parents to take their children to their local optometrist for an annual eye exam. On October 19, a local optometrist will be invited to be a guest on Parenting in Ottawa’s Facebook and Instagram pages. The optometrist will address questions and concerns about common issues around children’s vision and eye health. Reminds eligible residents to get vaccinated against mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) Ottawa Public Health (OPH) would like to remind eligible residents at risk of contracting mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) to complete a two-dose vaccination series of Imvamune® as soon as possible. This reminder comes as OPH is following up with two individuals who recently tested positive for mpox in Ottawa. No individuals in Ottawa have tested positive for mpox since October 2022. It is believed the infections were acquired locally. Anyone can contract mpox. Currently, most affected by mpox are men who have sex with men. There is a vaccine to prevent the acquisition of mpox. To find out who is eligible to receive a two-dose series of the Imvamune® vaccine and to book an appointment for vaccination, please visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/MPOX. Ontario Health 811 A free, secure and confidential service you can call or access online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to get health advice from a registered nurse or to find health services or information. Toll free TTY line: 1-866-797-0007. You can visit Health 811 for more information. COVID-19 Vaccine Effective July 7, 2023, the Ministry of Health recommends individuals aged five years and older should consider delaying their COVID-19 booster until Fall 2023, as respiratory season commences, to maximize protection against COVID-19 outcomes when peak circulation of the virus is expected. For more information, visit COVID-19 vaccine. |
Recognition
Have a special day coming up? Commemorative Scrolls are available from the province of Ontario to recognize events and special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or other notable events like the anniversary of a church, a major act of heroism, recognizing outstanding community service, or winning provincial championships.
For 60th wedding anniversaries and 100th birthdays, greetings from His Majesty the King can also be obtained, but a minimum of eight weeks advance notice is required as well as proof of birth or marriage.
Ontario has a self-assessment tool:
If you think you have novel coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, use this self-assessment to help determine if you need to seek further care. Visit here.
If you require help in Ottawa South, please visit our website for Community links and contacts.
Ottawa Public Health
For the latest updates, please click here.
Government of Ontario
Every day at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET, the Province of Ontario’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) web page will be updated with the most up-to-date information including the status of cases in Ontario.
Government of Canada
For the latest COVID-19 updates, please click here.
For the latest on Employment and Social Development changes for employees and employers, click here.
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