Residents raise concerns at public consultation; Derby and Picnic Aug. 27

Career Goals: “After

Community Events

• Ottawa Futsal Club entering their 29th season indoor soccer. Youth boys & girls, women, men & coed. Players / teams wanted. All skill levels. League starts October ends April 2020. Please go online at www.futsalottawa.com.

• Ottawa Futsal Club entering their 29th season indoor soccer. Youth boys & girls, women, men & coed. Players / teams wanted. All skill levels. League starts October ends April 2020. Please go online at www.futsalottawa.com. Early bird ends September 21st

Early bird ends September 21st

• Ottawa Newcomers Club - For women who have recently moved to this area; (and those who have experienced a significant life change), and would like to meet new people of similar interests by joining our many group activities. More information at: ottawanewcomersclub.ca or by contacting newcomersclubottawa@gmail.com.

MVCA invites all residents to the 11th Annual Allan Haan Manotick Soap Box Derby and Picnic in the Park. Mark your calendars! Sunday Aug.27 – 9:00am – 1:30pm Summer is the time for kids and their parents to explore their creativity by building a soapbox cart and racing it in the derby. Taking place on Beaverwood Road next to Centennial Park at the Manotick Community Centre, this is a fun neighbourhood derby welcoming all those 7 yrs or older to participate. Participants can build their own carts or for those who don’t have one, we can provide sponsored carts. For registration and derby rules go to https://www.manotickvca.org/soapboxderby Join us as well at our BBQ picnic, compliments of Minto Communities, starting at 11:30am at the Pavillion and continuing to 1:30. Featuring entertainment by the Manotick Brass, mural painting for young artists and more. Fun for the whole family!

• Old Time Fiddle Music & Dance - East Osgoode Greely Assoc, First Friday of each month, invites & welcome all Musicians, Dancers & Listeners. Greely Community Centre, 1448 Meadow Drive, Greely. For additional info call 613 489-2697.

• Ottawa Newcomers Club - For women who have recently moved to this area; (and those who have experienced a significant life change), and would like to meet new people of similar interests by joining our many group activities. More information at: ottawanewcomersclub.ca or by contacting newcomersclubottawa@gmail.com.

Manotick Farmers Market – This ‘producer-only’ Market is open Saturdays 9am – 2pm, until Octo-

Paul’s Pharmacy 990 River Road (across from Tim Hortons)

613-692-0015

Transferring a prescription is easy to do

These cards accepted Monday-Friday: 9am-8pm Saturday: 9am-5pm Sunday: 10am-4pm

Thanks ber 14 at the Carriage Shed. For more info go to https:// www.facebook.com/ManotickFarmersMarket/

Watson’s Mill Used Book Store –A book lover’s treasuretrove! Proceeds are used for operations of Watson’s Mill and Dickinson House. https://watsonsmill.com/bookstore/

• Friday Night Country Music & Dance Club The Greely Legion the fourth Friday of each month. Bring along an instrument to play, or come in to sing, listen and dance. Admission is FREE. Greely Legion, 8021 Mitch Owens Road, ON. Information: 613-822-1451 or 613-826-6128.

• Old Time Fiddle Music & Dance - East Osgoode Greely Assoc, First Friday of each month, invites & welcome all Musicians, Dancers & Listeners. Greely Community Centre, 1448 Meadow Drive, Greely. For additional info call 613 489-2697.

• Thursday Fun Night for adults and children. An optional supper at 5:45 pm. Indoor soccer/games, crafts, or nursery for ages 0-11. Parenting course, Alpha course, or Growing in Faith/Hearing God course for adults, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. To try it out contact, discipleship@trinitybiblechurch.ca

Get your Summer Read On! Summer is here, it’s time to celebrate: The Ottawa Public Library has a variety of programs planned to keep kids to keep kids reading and learning while having fun all summer long! Check out the awesome programs being offered this summer at the Manotick branch.

• Tuesday Dance Party The Greely Legion hosts live music on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Bring along an instrument to play, or come in to sing, listen and dance. Admission is FREE. Greely Legion, 8021 Mitch Owens Road, ON. Information: 613-822-1451 or 613826-6128.

• Thursday Fun Night for adults and children. An optional supper at 5:45 pm. Indoor soccer/games, crafts, or nursery for ages 0-11. Parenting course, Alpha course, or Growing in Faith/Hearing God course for adults, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. To try it out contact, discipleship@trinitybiblechurch.ca

Expressive Body and Social Body- Senior movement and dance class with Lola Ryan: Aug 23, 11:00 am-12 pm, inperson and virtual program held at MACAW, Manotick United Church, 5567 Manotick Main Street. Registration required. Play Bridge every Wednesday 1-4 PM at the Manotick Legion

SHADES

SHUTTERS

Stevens Creek Shutter Co

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613-706-1250 stevenscreekshutterco.ca

• Friday the fourth play, Greely 613-822-1451 voice continues from page 8

• Tuesday the 1st pm. listen Mitch 826-6128.

Councillors Repeal Vacant Unit Tax

Councillors Darouze and Brown have both voted to repeal the Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) levied by the City. The motion to repeal will be considered at the City Council meeting of August 23rd, 2023. The full motion can be read in the minutes of July 12th, listed as item 22.2. We encourage all property owners to review these minutes and take note of the cited statistics. (https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/Meeting. aspx?Id=30f1b490-e24e4321-8364-20a832886c17& Agenda=PostMinutes&lang =English&Item=92&Tab=at tachments).

The repeal decision is in response to concerns raised by many rural residents who have older abandoned buildings on properties such as farms. In addition, the VUT is viewed to disadvantage citizens such as seniors, those who are not techsavvy, and deployed military personnel.

Around the Village Veteran Memorial Banner

This year, the Manotick

/ South Carlton Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is coordinating a program to erect banners in honour of those Veterans who fought and sacrificed for our freedom. The deadline for guarantee display this fall was Monday July 31 but as the program is on going, banners ordered after this deadline which don’t arrive in time for this year, will be ready and waiting for next year. Close to 20 banners will be displayed this year. The MVCA is proud to sponsor a banner on behalf of our members and will be sharing more details on the selected veteran in the weeks ahead. We will Remember them!

Youth of Manotick Association (YOMA) –Celebrating 10 years

YOMA offers social programs and activities for youth in the area in Grades 4-12. We also have volunteer opportunities, special events and outings. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, visit the website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. https://www.yoma.ca/

Need for commercial and infrastructural growth comes with residential growth

On July 31st, my office was pleased to host a community information session for residents of Manotick regarding the proposed commercial development at 5646-5650 Manotick Main. Many in the community may have heard of this proposal as it is the one involving the development of a Starbucks and car wash.

At the community meeting, residents had the opportunity to ask questions of Fotenn, who is representing the developer, and discuss the development proposal with me and my office. With changes introduced by the provincial government, these kinds of information sessions are no longer required. I hosted the event because I believe that providing residents of Manotick with the opportunity to voice their opinions was important. Moreover, representatives of the developer are not required to attend these sessions. I want to thank Jillian, Jacob, and Daniel from Fotenn for making themselves available to answer tough questions and address community concerns.

Over the course of the evening, roughly 50 residents attended. Many had pointed questions about the development, with concerns including traffic, wastewater management, site use, trees and fences, and much more. Of these concerns, traffic was the largest one raised and the one most frequently raised by those who have contacted my office.

I believe that measures can be introduced to better manage traffic on Manotick Main as part of the proposed development. In particular, I would be supportive of a Northbound left turn lane being added to Manotick Main near the site, as this will reduce traffic congestion and will reduce the risk of drivers becoming impatient and driving erratically. Additionally, as there is soon to be a roundabout at Bridgeport and Main, I would also support having the exit of the site be a right hand turn only, routing Northbound drivers leaving the site to the roundabout rather than having them cut through traffic.

I have raised these points with the developer. I have also shared with the developer

David Brown, Councillor , Ward 21

some of the concerns from the community with respect to noise and privacy from the site, and provided some suggestions as to how to best ensure that these concerns are properly mitigated as part of the site plan.

While these concerns are worth consideration, I believe it is worth keeping in mind that, since the project was first proposed, I have heard a roughly equal amount of support and opposition to the project, including support from some residents who attended the information session. Generally, residents do not reach out to my office to share their views on these matters unless they are opposed to a proposed development. That they have done so this time means that there is certainly demand for this project to proceed.

Moreover, many of the issues identified by residents – such as traffic concerns and the potential impacts of the development on existing businesses – are contingent on demand. That is, there would be no traffic to the site unless there is demand for this project to proceed.

Manotick is growing quickly with the community welcoming thousands of new residents in the Mahogany development. As the number of residents grows, so too does the need for new commercial developments in the community, offering both amenities for residents and job opportunities for young people. It is important to keep in mind that since the addition of the Mahogany community, there has been virtually no new commercial development in Manotick. I believe these are important factors to keep in mind as the project is considered by City staff.

Additionally, over the course of the information session, I heard a great deal of concerns about issues impacting the village which are