Weekly newsletter: February 24, 2025
Hi everyone!
The above photo is from a Lunar New Year celebration I attended over the weekend. I got to dangle a head of lettuce in front of one of the lions!
New waste collection calendars, effective the week of March 30, have been distributed to households across the community. Please see last week’s newsletter for more information about changes coming around that time.
Three-stream bins at parks
Cresthaven and Stonecrest are the first Barrhaven East parks to receive new three-stream bins. Seeking your feedback on bin location.
Three-stream waste collection in parks has been formalised and will undergo a staged multiyear expansion from 2026 to 2029 to include all parks with sports field in Ottawa. The first two parks in Barrhaven East to receive the new service will be Cresthaven and Stonecrest parks.
The maps above show bin locations as proposed by City staff, my suggestions, and suggestions from residents following a round of informal public comment on Facebook. Please share any additional suggestions or comments before Friday, February 27 by replying to the newsletter or in a separate email to Wilson.Lo@ottawa.ca.
As background, City Council approved the new parks waste collection strategy in October 2025, which includes three-stream collection at all parks with sports fields, organic waste containers at all off-leash dog designated parks, and upgrading/standardising regular garbage containers.
Expansion of the three-stream bins begins this year, though it will be staggered across the next four years — 48 parks this year, 100 in 2027, 100 in 2028, and 101 in 2029.
In Barrhaven East, the following parks will receive three-stream bins (note the existing bins at Greenpointe, Ken Ross, and Water Dragon parks will remain unchanged):
Berry Glen Park (2027)
Chapman Mills Park (2028)
Cresthaven Park (2026)
Foot Guards Park (2029)
Grovehurst Park (2027)
Gus Este Park (2029)
Harbour View Park (2029)
Mancini Park (2027)
Mulligan Park (2028)
Neill-Nesbitt Park (2027)
Stinson Park (2028)
Stonecrest Park (2026)
Utman Park (2029)
Watershield Park (2028)
In 2027, parks not receiving three-stream bins but that have an off-leash dog designation will receive organic waste containers at entrances reachable by service vehicles. In Barrhaven East, these are:
Andy Moffitt Trail
Clark Bellinger ponds
Hearts Desire Forest
Holitman dog run
Kennedy-Craig Forest
Longfields/Jockvale stormwater management area
Nepean Woods (pending review of dog designation)
North Harrow Park
Redpath Park
Watters Woods
Lastly, all parks garbage containers, except those replaced by three-stream bins, will be updated to a design that’s larger, easier to service, and most likely include lids. The timeline for new garbage containers is unknown for now.
Progress updates will be reported annually to Council, which I will share via newsletter and social media.
One additional consideration City staff are exploring is the removal of all waste containers in parkettes with few or no amenities. This continues to be an item of discussion and may be presented to Council for consideration in the future.
Waste collection at parks is among the more frequent topics of emails and phone calls from residents over the last three years. The changes, though long overdue, are well aligned with what I have heard from you, and I believe will improve parks across our neighbourhoods, the ward, and citywide.
I’m grateful for the resident engagement so far on the topic and look forward to your continued feedback as the rollout of the new programs begin!
Beryl Gaffney Park
Information on the proposal to convert one of the fields to a cricket pitch.
The City’s parks planning staff are seeking public feedback↗ about a proposed cricket pitch at one of the fields at Beryl Gaffney Park. Over the last few days, I had the opportunity to review the drawing↗.
As proposed, the field closest to the parking lot would be converted to a 100-by-125-metre cricket pitch. The pathway leading from the parking lot through the field would be realigned, while a fence would separate the pathway from the pitch. The existing parking would also be expanded by 22 spaces.
A small picnic area and granular pad for a future storage shed are also proposed, both near the parking lot. No other hard infrastructure, such as lights, bleachers, or structures, are proposed, while the remainder of Beryl Gaffney Park, including four similar fields, will remain untouched.
Though the project is located outside Barrhaven East, the park is popular among some residents here, while the proposal will benefit other residents here. Understandably, I have received a few questions since last week about the proposal’s location, cost, process, and need.
On location, it’s my understanding the proposed location is the only municipally owned land in the area that’s outside a flood plain, not forested, and flat and large enough to accommodate a pitch.
On cost, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority pays rent to the City of Ottawa as their headquarters are located on municipal land. Per the agreement, money paid to the City can be used for park and programming at Beryl Gaffney Park only, which would cover the capital and future operational costs of the pitch.
Since the creation of that account, there have actually been two major proposals to use that money for the park, including one in 2008 to add amenities (e.g. ball diamond, amphitheatre, picnic area, etc.) to all fields and another in 2020 for a fenced off-leash dog park by the field where the cricket pitch is currently being proposed. Both proposals were abandoned.
However, most of the feedback and questions I’ve received relates to the planning process. Generally, an idea is put to staff to determine feasibility, an early cost estimate, and potential funding sources. Ideas can originate from the community, city staff, or the local Councillor’s office, or a combination.
If feasible, a plan is created and put to the public for comment. Those comments would inform how and if the plan proceeds, including any recommended changes. The Councillor may also share information earlier in the process or as it evolves (like what I did with the Nepean Woods dog designation a few weeks ago).
Demand for a formal cricket pitch has existed for several years — cricket is a fast-growing and popular sport. Several fields across Barrhaven and surrounding communities meant for other sports are currently being used as informal pitches, so this would satisfy some of that demand.
As mentioned earlier, the City is seeking public feedback on the proposal. The project’s EngageOttawa↗ page has a survey (which includes a text box for longer comments) for interested residents. The comment period ends March 11.
Bite-sized updates
Sorted alphabetically. New or updated items marked with an asterisk (*).
Beatrice/Queensbury (stop 3345) bus shelter – Delayed to the spring or summer. See explanation and update.
*Beryl Gaffney Park – Public feedback for proposed cricket pitch accepted via EngageOttawa↗ page until March 11. See above for more information about the proposal.
*Cresthaven Drive closure – Cresthaven between Versilia and Baypointe will be closed today (Tuesday, February 24) from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm for follow-up repairs from the watermain break. Crews will smoothen the road, but the asphalt will still be a coarser material requiring attention throughout the rest of the winter until a proper repair can be completed after the asphalt plants reopen in the spring. The sidewalks will remain open, but there may be periodic blockages of the sidewalk on the townhouse side of the street.
*Deerfox Drive closure – Deerfox between Ryland and Woodroffe will be closed until Friday, March 13 for a private development-related water connection. The closure was originally slated to begin last week, but the contractor did not meet all the closure permit conditions at that time.
Development application, 320 Bren-Maur West↗ – The City received an application to construct a three-storey apartment building with 35 units and underground parking. The lot is currently zoned development reserve, and the developer is seeking rezoning to permit residential development.
Development application, 3400 Woodroffe↗– The City received an application to construct 160 homes divided amongst stacked townhouses, back-to-back townhouses, and traditional townhouses. The developer is seeking rezoning to permit the desired density. Given public interest in the file, I am organising a public information session with the developer. Details to come.
Development application, 596 Via Campanale↗ – The developer is seeking to amend their development approval to increase the number of units from 92 to 99, following a market analysis. No changes to the building height or footprint.
*Kindergarten registration – Now open for the four public school boards. Please contact the individual schools, boards, or trustees for further information.
OCDSB (English public school): https://www.ocdsb.ca/our-schools/registration/kindergarten
OCSB (English Catholic school): https://www.ocsb.ca/our-schools/register
CEPEO (Écoles publiques françaises): https://cepeo.on.ca/inscriptions
CECCE (Écoles catholiques françaises): https://www.ecolecatholique.ca/inscription
*Police office hours – South District officers are testing out open office hours as an added form of community outreach. Officers will be upstairs at the Walter Baker Sports Centre from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm every other Thursday, with their next day on March 5. No registration or scheduling needed.
Recycling – Friendly reminder that all recycling inquiries, including service issues and replacement bin requests should be directed to Miller Waste at 1-888-852-2374 or Area2@MillerWaste.ca. Garbage, green bin, and yard waste remain responsibilities of the city.
Vacant unit tax – The 2026 vacant unit tax declaration portal is now open. Homeowners may complete their declaration through their ServiceOttawa account↗, at Ottawa.ca/VUT↗, by calling 613-580-2444, or in person at Ben Franklin Place or City Hall. Letters with access codes were delivered last week. The deadline to complete the VUT declaration is March 19, 2026.
*Waste collection calendar – Paper waste collection calendars have been distributed to homes across the community. The new calendar is effective the week of March 30 until April 2, 2027. See last week’s newsletter for more information.
Apparently, this February is known as a perfect month, for users of Sunday-first calendars. With the first of the month on a Sunday and the 28th on a Saturday, it forms a perfect rectangle in the calendar! The next time this will happen is in 2037.
Have a great week ahead!
-Wilson