| If you require immediate assistance, please email us at jfraser.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org or call us at 613-736-9573. |
Children are returning to school and many will be bussing, walking and riding their bikes to their destinations. I want to remind motorists and pedestrians to be aware of the increase of children and youth on city streets. I wish all students a safe and successful new school year.
Ottawa Public Health experts remind everyone to stay up to date on COVID-19, flu, school and routine childhood vaccinations.
Please feel free to contact me at my community office if there are any provincial issues I can assist you with. My staff and I will always do our best to help you.
Read the following news release for more information on this change.
Ontario Begins Automatic Licence Plate Renewals | Ontario Newsroom
Saint Charbel Parish’s 30th Annual Family Gathering – August 15th
I was honoured to attend Saint Charbel Parish’s 30th Annual Family Gathering. This incredible event truly brings the community together.
Herongate Summer Fun Day – August 17th
My team and I joined members of the community at the Heron Gate Summer Fun Day at Sandalwood Park. I had a great time meeting and chatting with residents about their summer over some ice cream.
Ridgemont Block Party – August 24th
It was great to stop by and chat with neighbours at the Ridgemont Block Party. It is always nice to connect with new and old residents and discuss the work I do here in Ottawa South and at Queen’s Park.
RPCA Summer Carnival and Movie Night – August 24th
I was pleased to join the Riverview Park Community Association for their 1st ever Summer Carnival and Movie Night. What a great turnout!
Association of Municipalities of Ontario
From August 18-21, mayors, city councillors, and municipal leaders from across Ontario assembled in Ottawa for the 125th annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference.
Our Ontario Liberal team met with delegations from across the province to discuss the issues that matter most in their communities. We heard their concerns and will continue to advocate for the government to address their needs.
Ontario Reaches Tentative Agreement with Principals and Vice-Principals
Ontario Releases 2024–25 First Quarter Finances
Premier Doug Ford Makes Changes to Cabinet
Municipalities Getting Tools They Need to Build Homes
Province Changing Direction on Addiction Recovery
Province Limiting Cellphone Use in Cass, Banning Vaping in Schools
Upcoming grant application deadlines
Grow stream: November 6, 2024 at 5 PM ET
Visit otf.ca for more information about our grants, resources and supports.
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.
Value Matters – Awareness Campaign
MPAC recently launched Home Values Matter, a new awareness campaign that aims to help homeowners and prospective homeowners better understand the role MPAC plays in property assessment.
We’ve launched a new Home Values Matter page to host helpful resources for Ontarians and have started promoting these tools with our new Home Values Matter YouTube video.
You can view our recent social media posts on this campaign at the below links. X (Twitter), Linked-In, Facebook.
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.
Home prices are top of mind for property owners throughout Ontario. That’s why MPAC recently created the Property Pulse dashboard which can be accessed through mpac.ca. This free new resource allows users to access the very latest residential sales data so they can research price changes throughout the province.
Users can search through their own neighborhoods or explore the entire Province by comparing up to 5 municipalities simultaneously. The data is updated monthly which allows users to monitor how the property landscape continues to shift over time. Property owners can visit mpac.ca to create an AboutMyProperty™ account and view the new dashboard.
OCBN Workforce Development News Announcement
The Ottawa Community Benefits Network, in partnership with the Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec Building Trades Council, is pleased to provide tenants in community housing with an introduction to the skilled trades and the opportunity to gain industry recognized certifications in the construction sector.
The OCBN will be hosting information sessions in person and virtually.
Information on this program and to express interest can be found at www.ottawacommunitybenefits.ca/workforce.
Please contact workforce@ottawacommunitybenefits.ca for more information.
French Language Services Commissioner releases new report about out-of-home advertising
French Language Services Commissioner Carl Bouchard today released a report, entitled Missed Messages, urging the Ontario government to make all of its out-of-home advertising bilingual, after his latest investigation found it systematically failed to meet its obligations under the French Language Services Act (FLSA) – even when communicating important public health information.
The investigation, led by the French Language Services Unit of the Office of the Ombudsman, examined 17 advertising campaigns by or on behalf of the Ministry of Health between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2023 – a period when many messages were about the COVID-19 pandemic. Only three of these campaigns included any out-of-home advertising in French.
The investigation was launched by Commissioner Bouchard on his own initiative in light of the French Language Services Unit’s observations of unilingual ads in public places, and trends in cases received over the years. The investigation reviewed the process of developing government advertising campaigns, which is centralized in Cabinet Office.
Commissioner Bouchard makes seven recommendations in the report, including that the government use a bilingual format for all out-of-home advertising, to ensure messages are delivered across the province in English and French in an equivalent fashion and at the same time.
The report and all related materials are available on our website here: https://www.ombudsman.on.ca and here: https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/resources/reports-and-case-summaries/reports-on-investigations.
When everyday people step forward to make a lifesaving connection, the impact is significant Lives are changed. Lives are saved.
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More than 90% of Ontarians are in favour of organ donation.
However, only one in three Ontarians have registered their consent to donate. It only takes two minutes to register…
BeADonor.ca is the simple, electronic and quick way for you to register your consent for organ and tissue donation. It only takes a moment to register with results that will be long-lasting and positive. Register today.
Ontario Senior Achievement Award
This award recognizes individuals for significant contributions to their communities after the age of 65. Up to 20 individuals are recognized each year.
Eligibility
The person you nominate (the nominee) must:
- have contributed to the community after the age of 65
- be a resident of Ontario
Seniors who qualify for this award may have contributed to many different fields such as the arts, literature, community service, volunteering, education, environment, fitness, and humanitarian activities.
You cannot nominate:
- yourself
- someone who has passed away
- someone currently holding political office
- elected federal, provincial, municipal representatives or political appointees
Required information
To submit a nomination, you will need to provide:
- The nominee’s first name, last name, address, email and phone number.
- A detailed description of the nominee’s achievements and why they should receive the award.
- At least two signed testimonial letters. The letters must be from two different people who are not the nominator. An electronic signature or scanned copy of the signed letters are acceptable. The testimonial writers should:
- know the nominee
- be able to explain the value and impact of the nominee’s achievements
- support the nomination
- The testimonial writers’ first name, last name, email address and phone number.
Additional information
You may include optional supporting documents to give more insight into your nominee’s accomplishments, such as:
- supplementary testimonials
- publications
- media stories and news articles
The annual deadline for nominations is October 1st. You can submit a nomination online by registering through the Ontario Honours and Awards Portal.
Hunt Club Community Association Fall Festival – September 7th
Join us for a day of fun, celebrate with your neighbours the end of the summer with activities for the whole family!
Lots of live music, fun (lawn games and face painting) and food (halal BBQ and corn on the cob and snow cones!).
Date: September 7, 2024
Time: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Location: 3320 Paul Anka Drive, Ottawa k1V OJ9
Volunteer Expo
Volunteer Ottawa is holding its Fall Volunteer Expo on Friday, September 20, 2024 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Nepean Sportsplex (1701 Woodroffe Ave, Nepean). This is a free, in-person event where you can speak with dozens of local charities about volunteer opportunities. More information and the full list of participating charities are available on the VO website.
This is a great event for high school students looking for community service hours, seniors and retirees wanting to stay active, and newcomers interested in getting to know the community. And anyone else interested in volunteering.
Riverview Park Community Association Fall Social – September 29th
The Riverview Park Community Association will be hosting its Fall Social on September 29th at O’Brien’s Roadhouse, 730 Industrial Ave. Share some delicious food, enjoy the music, meet some neighbours and take part in the Silent Auction.
As a bilingual and inclusive Council, their vision is respected, informed and engaged older adults living in an age-friendly city.
Visit them at 217 – 815 St. Laurent Blvd. Ottawa, Ontario K1K 3A7 and for more information give them a call (613) 789-3577, send them an email coa@coaottawa.ca or visit their website at The Council on Aging of Ottawa – The Council on Aging of Ottawa (coaottawa.ca).
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!
Beware of a scam, impersonation of Ottawa Police and Ottawa Victim Services
(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit is warning the public of a reported scam.
Victims have received calls from persons pretending to be victim support workers from Ottawa Victim Services.
The fraudster typically tells the victim that their personal information has been compromised and appeared on the dark web relating to crimes against children. The victim is then instructed to attend their banking institution and transfer funds or offered help by the fraudster to transfer money out of their compromised accounts into the one that has been specially prepared for them.
To further complicate matters, the fraudster references a partnership with Ottawa Police Service investigators and the calls appear to be from a telephone number that belongs to Ottawa Victim Services (613-238-2762).
People are reminded that, should they receive unsolicited calls from a person requesting money or personal information, they should advise the person on the line that they will call them back. They should then verify the correct number for whatever agency is supposedly calling and call them back, as applicable.
It should be further noted that the actual Ottawa Police phone number (613-236-1222) as well as Ottawa Victim Services (613-238-2762) will not show up on your call display when you are receiving a legitimate call from either of them.
If you have been a victim of fraud, please make a report online with the Ottawa Police Service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free).
You can read more about scams and tips to protect yourself. You can also visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for information on popular scams and the Toronto Police Service for tips on how to protect yourself from scams.
| In Ontario, all children going to school need to be vaccinated against certain diseases. These vaccines are offered at no cost and are given to protect children and youth from serious diseases like measles and meningitis. The summer is a great time for families to catch up on any missed vaccines before the next school year. What can parents/caregivers do to make sure their child(ren) are up to date? Check their child’s vaccine record: compare the records they have with the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule to make sure it is up to date. Speak to their child’s health care provider about any vaccines their child needs. Report their child’s vaccine(s) to Ottawa Public Health (OPH): It is possible that the child (ren) are up to date on their vaccines, but OPH was not notified. Health care providers do not report vaccinations to OPH, so even if they are up to date, OPH might not have this information. If they need a vaccine: OPH is working with the Kids Come First Health Team and other partners to make it easier to get children vaccinated. For children without access to a primary care provider or an Ontario Health Card (OHIP), parents or guardians can book an appointment to have their child’s vaccine record reviewed or to receive a vaccine. Routine childhood vaccines are also offered on a drop-in basis at the Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs . For any additional questions about immunization records or accessing a clinic, parents can call Ottawa Public Health, Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 613-580-6744. Beat the Heat” Resources When the temperature and humidity are high, our bodies can overheat, especially in the first few days of hot weather while our bodies adjust. Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and can result in the Air Quality Health Index approaching the high-risk category. It is recommended that you Download the WeatherCAN app to your mobile device to stay informed of all weather alerts. Extreme heat affects everyone. The risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors. Watch for the effects of heat illness: swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and the worsening of some health conditions. Heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable. There are many public places residents and visitors can cool off in Ottawa including splash pads, wading pools, swimming pools, parks, libraries, and community buildings. The public is welcome to seek access to air conditioning at any City facility during regular hours of operation. The Beat the Heat resources on the Ottawa Public Health Extreme Heat and Humidity website include: A Beat the Heat factsheet that identifies the many public places people can go to cool off in Ottawa, and tips on how to cool off when it is hot outside. An interactive map of public places to cool off in Ottawa including City pools, splash pads, libraries, shade structures, parks, and more. What to do if there is a power outage during a heat wave. Other things you can to do prepare yourself include: Download the WeatherCAN app for mobile devices. Who to call for advice and support when it is hot out: Call 2-1-1 for social services assistance information such as locations and to access information about day programs, meals, and how to access homeless shelters. Find out more about shelters in Ottawa. Call 3-1-1 to get assistance for someone who needs transportation to a shelter to get out of the heat. Call Ottawa Public Health 613-580-6744 for information on staying cool during a heat wave or email healthsante@ottawa.ca. Call 8-1-1 Health Connect Ontario for non-emergency medical advice. Call 9-1-1 for medical emergency such as heat stroke. The “Find Your Way Community Resource Guide” provides contact information for services such as shelters and drop-in centres. Printable posters from Health Canada on ways to protect you and loved ones during an extreme heat event. Stay tuned to our Facebook, X (twitter) and Instagram channels for more resources and tips. West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease in Ottawa When ticks and mosquitoes are active, they have the potential to spread infections to Ottawa area residents. What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), most commonly during the spring, summer and fall months. If a person finds a tick on their body, they should remove it as soon as possible. The risk of Lyme disease increases the longer the tick is attached. Because blacklegged ticks in Ottawa are known to carry this bacteria, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) recommends that, if a person finds a tick on their body that has been attached more than 24 hours, they speak to a healthcare provider or pharmacist. The healthcare provider or pharmacist will provide recommendations on what to do, which may include monitoring for symptoms for the next 32 days and, if appropriate, taking post-exposure prophylaxis (antibiotics). Early signs of Lyme disease occur three to 32 days following a tick bite. This may include an expanding, circular rash, which may look like a “bull’s eye,” but is not present in all cases. Other symptoms can include fatigue (tiredness), fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle and joint pain. If untreated, the infection can cause additional rashes on other areas of the body, fatigue, weakness, and may harm the heart, liver, nerves and joints. What is West Nile virus? West Nile virus (WNV) is a disease primarily spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes, especially the Culex type, can become infected after biting a bird with the virus which can then spread the virus to humans by a bite. It can take between three and 14 days before symptoms occur after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Most people infected with WNV will remain asymptomatic, but approximately 20% will develop symptoms of usually mild (through to sometimes debilitating) febrile illness, which may include headache, fatigue, body aches, rash, nausea and vomiting. Less than 1% of those infected may develop severe neurological illness. In Ontario, locally acquired WNV occurs in the summer months, with the majority of cases occurring in August and September. What is OPH’s Role? OPH works to prevent Lyme disease and West Nile virus through a variety of measures, including:OPH investigates every report of a person being infected with WNV to identify the likely source of infection and, where appropriate, takes action to minimize further risk to the population.OPH conducts epidemiological surveillance of reported infections of Lyme disease and WNV to identify trends and populations at risk.OPH in partnership with University of Ottawa researchers, conducts surveillance of tick populations to assess for spread and the presence of the bacteria or virus that causes Lyme and other public health relevant diseases spread through ticks.OPH conducts surveillance and management of mosquito populations through its West Nile Virus Prevention Program.OPH provides information to healthcare providers to aid in clinical diagnosis.OPH also conducts public education on tick and mosquito bite prevention.OPH contracts services to:Apply Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks approved and environmentally-friendly biological larvicides (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis – Bti or Bacillus sphaericus) or chemical larvicide (methoprene) to treat for mosquito larvae.Altosid pellets (methoprene), Vectolex pouches (Bacillus sphaericus) or Altosid briquettes (methoprene) placed into catch basins of storm drains in the city.Vectobac (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, liquid) or My-Crobe (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, liquid) and Vectobac (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, granular) or My-Crobe (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, granular), applied to ditches and temporary or permanent pools including storm water management ponds within the city if found to contain Culex pipiens/restuans larvae.Vectolex (Bacillus sphaericus, granular) applied to sewage lagoons or similar facilities if found to contain Culex pipiens/restuans larvae.If necessary, conduct mosquito control using adulticide (malathion), based on assessment of increased transmission and risk. No adulticide treatment has been used to date in the history of OPH’s West Nile Virus Prevention Program.How can individuals protect themselves from these infections?Apply a Health Canada approved insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin to exposed skin and clothingWear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, shoes, and socks to cover exposed skinTuck your pants into your socksWear light-coloured clothing to spot ticks more easily; this is also appropriate for mosquitoes as they are attracted to darker coloursStay on the trails when hiking in the woods and other natural areas. Enjoy mowed and maintained areas in parks and playing fields but be mindful of the borders adjacent to natural areas and tall grass that may be suitable tick habitatFor ticks, do a “full body” check on yourself, your children, and pets. Pay careful attention around your toes, back of the knees, groin, armpits and scalpFor mosquitoes, avoid being outside during dusk and dawn – periods when they are most active – and at any time in shady, wooded areas – remembering to use repellent and protective clothing if you must be out during these periodsMake sure all windows and doors in your home have well-fitting screens that are in good condition to prevent mosquitoes from enteringMosquitoes need water to breed. Decrease mosquito numbers around personal property by reducing or eliminating areas or objects that can accumulate or retain water (e.g., old tires, garbage or recycle containers, flowerpots, toys, bird feeders, ornamental ponds, pool covers, etc.). Empty and refill them regularly, turn them over when appropriate, or dispose of them accordingly. For more information about West Nile virus and Lyme disease, visit the OPH website at Insects, Animals and Bites – Ottawa Public Health. 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. |
| Helpful Links – Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health Stop Overdose Ottawa Webpage: StopOverdoseOttawa.ca Public Online Learning Platform: OLearn (Ottawa.ca) Ottawa’s Overdose Response Strategy: What is Ottawa’s Plan?Harm Reduction Services: Ottawa Public Health – Harm Reduction Services Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health Resources:English – Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health Resources ListFrench – Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health Resources ListEnglish – African, Caribbean, Black (ACB) Mental Health and Substance Use Resources ListFrench – African, Caribbean, Black (ACB) Mental Health and Substsance Use Resources ListOttawaPublicHealth.ca/WellnessResourcesAndServices: Additional resources for children, youth and young adults, parents, newcomers, older adults, postpartum families, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, 2SLGTBQ+ communities, people experiencing violence, people experiencing loss, people looking for suicide prevention supports, health care workers, and people who are deaf and hard of hearing.Discarded Needles in Our Communities: Discarded Needles – StopOverdoseOttawa.caSafe Handling and Disposal of Sharps (Training Video)Needle Drop-BoxesReturning Medical Sharps to PharmaciesIntegrated Strategies to Collect Discarded NeedlesWorking with Individuals Who Use NeedlesWebsite for Parents: Youth and Opioids – What parents need to know – Parenting in Ottawa Multilingual Print Resources: Ottawa Public Health – Opioid Signage Multilingual Opioid Overdose Recognition Cards:English – Signs of an Opioid Overdose CardFrench – Signs of an Opioid Overdose CardArabic – Signs of an Opioid Overdose CardSomali – Signs of an Opioid Overdose CardOverdose Detection Technologies Cards:English – National Overdose Response Service (NORS) & The Brave App Card French – National Overdose Response Service (NORS) & The Brave App Card |
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.