Weekly newsletter: June 23, 2026
Hi everyone! Happy summer!
The photo above is from the 25th anniversary celebration for Monsignor Paul Baxter Catholic School on Beatrice Drive, where MPP Tyler Watt and I signed a commemorative ceiling tile. Congratulations on the milestone!
My wife and I completed a move over the last week, so I’m coming off a physically labour-intensive week, which included several reminders that I’m not in my 20s (or at peak physical fitness) anymore. Although we didn't move far, wow have we accumulated a lot of stuff.
On this day in 1611, Henry Hudson was mutinied in what’s now Hudson Bay. He, his son, and a few loyal crew members were set adrift in a small open boat and were never heard from again. Also, Reddit was founded on this day in 2005.
Construction/renovation waste
City staff asked to outline options to accept small amounts at the curb.
At least week’s Environment and Climate Change Committee meeting, I submitted a formal inquiry for City staff to outline options for accepting small amounts of construction/renovation waste and material at the curb.
Throughout the year, especially now with home improvement season in full swing, some residents across the ward complete minor projects that produce small amounts of construction and renovation waste for garbage day — a few pieces of scrap wood here, a square metre of drywall there.
Most have had that material rejected, left at the curb, and tagged by waste collection operators.
Under the current rules, residents are responsible for bringing construction/reno waste to a landfill, which charge a disposal fee, known formally as a tipping fee.
At Trail Road, the municipal landfill, a flat rate for any amount of construction/reno waste under 250 kilograms is $43.20, meaning those few pieces of scrap wood or the square metre of drywall would cost a resident $43.20 to dispose of at the landfill.
It’s no surprise that it has contributed to illegal dumping, including a few local cases over the last year where residents have found surprise construction/reno waste on their lawn on collection day. Without proof, solid waste services staff are unable to help, and the resident was essentially stuck with the responsibility of that waste.
The rule isn’t new or unique to Ottawa. In fact, almost every municipality in Ontario requires its residents to bring their construction/reno waste to a landfill or transfer station.
In my research, though, I found that the Town of Carleton Place allows its residents to place up to the equivalent of an 80-litre bag (maximum 15 kilograms) of construction/reno waste at the curb. For reference, the most common garbage bag size at major retailers is 113 litres, so the allowance is basically one of those bags tied up.
I reached out to town staff in Carleton Place, who unfortunately didn’t have any specific data to construction/reno waste, but they stated that they had no intention of changing or removing that allowance. My formal inquiry also asks City staff to find out if any other municipalities have such an allowance.
Ottawa’s landfill has about 10 years of capacity remaining (though there may be updated data soon), so I understand the need to reduce what goes to landfill.
However, our policies must still be practical and reasonable. Having to bring a few pieces of wood to the landfill and pay the flat rate tipping fee is neither practical nor reasonable, especially when considering most households are already producing far less garbage than the three-item limit.
City staff will provide a response to my inquiry some time over the summer, but any related action will likely not happen until after the start of the next term of Council. I will share updates as appropriate!
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.
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 – Traffic calming construction is anticipated to be complete by late-June (previously mid-July). See Ottawa.ca/EarlMulliganDrive↗ for more information, including a project overview.
*Fallowfield Road resurfacing – Resurfacing between Greenbank and the railway is scheduled to begin June 26 (previously July 9) and will include some overnight work. Catch basins will also be relevelled and repaired where needed. A separate request has been opened to smoothen the railway crossing, as work at the crossing requires additional permission from Transport Canada.
Fallowfield Via Rail Station – Construction will happen 10:00 pm to 10:00 am nightly until June 30 (excluding Fridays and weekends, unless delayed by weather during the week) to partially rebuild the train station’s island platform. No impacts to the OC Transpo station are expected.
Free summer transit for youth – Youths aged 11 to 18 can use OC Transpo for free↗ from July 1 to 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. Kids aged 10 and under still ride for free year-round.
*Highway 417 – Construction in the median near Pinecrest Road is complete, and the westbound left lane has reopened. 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 depots near Barrhaven are 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.
June 28 (coming Sunday), 8:00 am to 4:00 pm – Trail Road Landfill, 4475 Trail Road↗
October 17, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm – Strandherd snow dump, 4061 Strandherd Drive↗ (enter via Dealership Drive)
*Longfields/Via Verona sidewalk – Construction of a missing section of sidewalk on the west side of Longfields between Via Verona and Via Chianti is complete. Originally, this was to be done with the adjacent parcel’s development, but with a horizon of seven to 10 years, an arrangement was made with the developer to install an interim sidewalk made of asphalt, which will be winter maintained. Thank you to the resident and their daughter who raised this at my town hall last autumn!
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.
*Police office hours – Due to space conflicts at Walter Baker, police office hours have been suspended until the end of August. Residents may still reach out to the Ottawa Police Service for general inquiries, non-emergency concerns, and more from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm every day at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300. Call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
Queensway-Carleton Hospital – The QCH is seeking candidates↗ for their Patient and Family Advisory Council. The council works with the hospital to ensure patient and family voices are reflected in their work. Applications are accepted until June 30.
Riverside/Bank – Ongoing Bank Street construction will affect residents whose commute includes the Riverside/Bank intersection, including lane closures and roadway shifts now until August 31. See Ottawa.ca↗ for more information.
South end truck route study – City staff are hosting a public information session about an ongoing review of heavy truck routes↗ south of Hunt Club Road. The session for Barrhaven is scheduled for June 24, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, at the Salvation Army Barrhaven Church and Community Centre (102 Bill Leathem Drive↗).
Walter Baker Sports Centre – The swimming pools are closed for structural and deck repair works until June 28. Annual maintenance will also be completed during the closure.
*Waste collection (next week) – For households with a Thursday collection date, garbage, blue bin, green bin, and yard waste collection will be delayed to Friday next week as Wednesday is Canada Day. No changes for households with a Tuesday collection date.
Lastly, but not least, congratulations to high school graduates across the community, and welcome to the start of the rest of your lives!
Have a great week ahead.
-Wilson