Weekly newsletter: July 15, 2026
Hi everyone!
It’s another Wednesday newsletter, as some information I needed was not available until yesterday. The above photo is from the All-British Car Day at Clarke Fields Park over the weekend.
The hot weather will continue through the week. Heat can be dangerous, and heat-related illnesses and deaths are generally preventable.
Stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activities, and check in on vulnerable friends, family, and neighbours. If you’re without air-conditioning at home, consider visiting a recreation centre, library, or even ride the bus for a loop to cool off. For more resources during heat waves, visit the Ottawa Public Health’s webpage on extreme heat and humidity↗.
Canada Day rainstorm
Provincial disaster assistance funding to be activated for select areas of Ottawa.
Yesterday, the provincial government announced Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) funding would be activated for select areas of Ottawa affected by flooding from the Canada Day rainstorm.
Details have not been shared yet, including what the eligible area encompasses, but my worry is Barrhaven will be excluded as relatively few homes were impacted by flooding (22 in Barrhaven East, 71 in Barrhaven West as of yesterday morning) compared to parts of Nepean north of the Greenbelt.
All affected households, regardless of location, go through the same post-disaster stresses of the disposal of flood-damaged items, major unscheduled home repairs, and potentially temporary housing all while dealing with insurance, contractors, the City, and family.
I have reached out to MPP Tyler Watt expressing those concerns and will keep an eye out for new information.
DRAO funding helps homeowners (primary residence only), tenants, non-profit organisations, and small owner-operated businesses and farms with the costs of post-disaster recovery, such as clean-up expenses, repair costs for essential property, and basic expenses like evacuation travel costs.
The program functions like a reimbursement, so homeowners will have to pay for those expenses up front. Make sure everything, from receipts and photos to quotes and insurance letters, is documented.
The program does not replace insurance coverage. Applicants with insurance may apply, but only if their coverage is not enough to cover the essentials. Per the provincial government, homeowners with more than $275,000 in insurance coverage will likely not be eligible for DRAO funding.
Keep checking Ontario.ca/DRAO↗ for updates, including areas eligible for the funding.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), the national industry association representing most of Canada’s home insurance companies, has also shared a resource page↗ for affected households, including steps to take after a disaster, various stages of the claims process, and more. They have also activated their community assistance hotline, staffed by trained insurance personnel, at 1-844-227-5422 or ConsumerCentre@ibc.ca.
Residents who haven’t yet reported basement flooding to the City should do so as soon as possible by calling 3-1-1 or webform↗. City staff will inspect nearby underground infrastructure for anything the City may need to correct and to provide further guidance, including disposing of flood-damaged items.
Affected households should also check if they are eligible for the City’s compassionate grant program↗, which provides a one-time $1,000 grant to eligible property owners and tenants affected by flooding. Documentation of flooding damage is required.
For more general information about basement flooding, please see Ottawa.ca/flooding↗.
Heavy trucks on Crestway
Residents reporting an increase in through truck traffic.
Most cities have a network of heavy truck routes, designated roads and streets where through heavy truck traffic is permitted. Heavy trucks are defined by a gross weight of 4.5 tonnes or greater (for reference, an empty 18-wheeler is just over 15 tonnes).
Trucks servicing an address not on a truck route may access that address by the shortest practical route from the truck route. Truck routes, including no trucks signage, are enforced by the local police force, usually by asking for proof of destination or by following the vehicle.
Ottawa’s truck route network includes most suburban arterial roads like Fallowfield, Woodroffe, and Prince of Wales, but no collector streets in Barrhaven (e.g. Crestway, Paul Métivier).
In Barrhaven East, there are very few businesses located off arterial roads, meaning the opportunity for a truck to use a collector or residential street is virtually non-existent, other than Longfields Drive and very short sections (less than 100 metres) of a few other collectors.
Despite that, residents along Crestway Drive have reported an increase in through truck traffic using the street as a shortcut between Strandherd and Prince of Wales over the last year or so.
The Ottawa Police Service has occasionally monitored Crestway, but residents note through truck traffic continues using Crestway fairly regularly (sometimes Paul Métivier as well), mostly originating from local grocery stores and fast-food chains, based on the branding.
In response, I have asked our business association to consider including a request to their member businesses to remind their delivery drivers to remain on truck routes unless necessary to access the business.
Though I have also shared feedback with the police, residents are also encouraged to file a police report (traffic complaint)↗ when they observe through truck traffic using residential streets. Vehicle details, though helpful, are not required, as the data is also helpful in guiding future enforcement efforts.
Lastly, for good measure, I have also asked City staff to improve and supplement existing signage directing trucks to remain on Strandherd and on Prince of Wales instead of using Crestway.
The signage at Strandherd/Crestway and Prince of Wales/Crestway was initially part of a larger package of signage improvements tied to the Amazon development, but I separated the two intersections out as there is an immediate issue. The remaining items will be implemented in 2027 or 2028 as that facility nears completion.
Other known problem locations include Longshire Circle (plaza deliveries via the back) and Via Mattino (construction traffic). To my knowledge, Longshire has improved thanks to the effort of at least one resident.
Bite-sized updates
Sorted alphabetically. New/updated items marked with asterisk (*).
Beatrice/Queensbury (bus stop 3345) shelter – Tender in progress. Staff anticipate concrete pad extension and shelter installation in August.
*Community barbecue – Come by the Minto Recreation Complex this Saturday, July 18, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm for a community barbecue, swimming, performances, and more—all free and organised by the Half Moon Bay Community Association!
Development application, 3400 Woodroffe↗ – Minutes and supplementary information for April’s public information meeting were shared previously. The developer has indicated they expect to have an update some time in July.
*Earl Mulligan Drive – Final works related to traffic calming construction, including road painting, should be complete this week (originally last week), with pedestrian crossover activation early next week (originally this week). See Ottawa.ca/EarlMulliganDrive↗ for more information, including a project overview.
Fallowfield Road resurfacing – Resurfacing between Greenbank and the railway is in progress. Crews are currently completing catch basin, curb, and sidewalk repairs, including accessibility upgrades. Resurfacing should begin next week and will include overnight works. A separate request has been opened to smoothen the railway crossing, as work at the crossing requires additional permission from Transport Canada.
*Fieldgate/Grouse (north) – Crews will begin work in late-September (incorrect date shared last week) to replace the streetlight’s underground wiring and connect it to a new power source.
Free summer transit for youth – Youths aged 11 to 18 can use OC Transpo for free↗ until August 31. A Presto card is still needed to enter fare gates and board buses. Please ensure the card is set to youth fare to take advantage of the free fares (youths with school-issued Presto cards can use those over the summer). Kids aged 10 and under still ride for free year-round.
Highway 417 – The Lyon Street westbound onramp is scheduled to reopen July 31. The eastbound right lane from Parkdale to Rochester will be closed until the end of the summer for sound barrier replacement.
Household hazardous waste – This year’s drop-off depot near Barrhaven is noted below. See Ottawa.ca/HHW↗ for instructions and depots scheduled for other dates and further away from Barrhaven. Many items, like light bulbs, spent batteries, old tires, paint, electronics, and more, can also be dropped off at retailers and other locations↗ throughout the year.
October 17, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm – Strandherd snow dump, 4061 Strandherd Drive↗ (enter via Dealership Drive)
*Kennedy Craig Forest – The pathway bridges remain closed as they were shifted by large tree limbs carried by the creek runoff during the heavy rain on Canada Day. Crews will attend this week (delayed from last week) to remove the debris, reset the footings, and make any necessary repairs to the bridges. Updates will follow.
NCC Bike Days – The National Capital Commission’s weekend and holiday closures↗ of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway have resumed. Like previous years, the driveway will be closed to motorised traffic between Fifth Avenue and Somerset Street West weekends and holidays from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm until Thanksgiving. Similar closures also affect the Kichi Zībī Mīkan and the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway.
Ottawa Farmers’ Market (Barrhaven) – The market has restarted for the year and will continue every Sunday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, at the Nepean Woods Park and Ride.
*Power outages – Hydro Ottawa have shared last week’s two long power outages were both caused by a loss of supply from the provincial grid. Last Monday’s outage was the result of a broken transmission line, while last Wednesday’s outage was caused by a short circuit while Hydro One crews were reconnecting that line.
Riverside/Bank – As part of ongoing Bank Street construction, lane reductions on Riverside Drive at Bank are in effect until the end of the summer. Starting Monday July 13, Riverside’s travel lanes will shift to the other half of the intersection with Bank Street. See Ottawa.ca↗ for more information.
*Transitway resurfacing – Resurfacing of the Transitway between Berrigan and Fallowfield began last week. Works are expected to be complete at the end of this week, with minimal impact to transit service. Faulty traffic signal detection loops at Fallowfield Road will also be replaced during the project.
For a bit of a throwback (and maybe an earworm), on this day in 2012, South Korean rapper Psy released Gangnam Style. What a time.
Also, happy birthday to Adam Savage, former co-host of Mythbusters (another throwback)!
Have a great week ahead!
-Wilson