Weekly newsletter: October 7, 2025
Hi everyone!
I hope you had the chance to enjoy what seems to be summer’s last hurrah. Much of the weather going forward seems to be cooler, including some nights close to freezing. Seems I might need to turn off and drain my outdoor faucets soon.
Also, I recently switched from Arial to Aptos in my emails. I held out during the Calibri years and will never use that typeface.
Waste collection at parks
Three-stream expansion begins next year, continuing until 2029.
Last month, City Council approved a new parks waste collection strategy, which includes three key service improvements:
Formalising three-stream collection and expanding the programme to all City parks with sports fields over the next three years
Introducing organic waste containers at all parks with an off-leash dog designation that are not part of the three-stream expansion
Improving and standardising regular waste containers and related signage
As the City operates more than 1,300 parks with 3,000 waste containers, deployment will be staged to prevent resource and service levels from being overwhelmed.
Perhaps most anticipated, at least based on the emails I’ve received over the last three years, is the formalisation and expansion of three-stream waste collection programme.
Starting with just recycling at seven parks in 2017, the pilot expanded to more parks in 2018 and the addition of organics in 2019. The pilot’s longevity is credited to the pandemic, uncertainty around provincial changes to recycling in Ontario (detailed in the September 23 newsletter), and last year’s Solid Waste Master Plan refresh.
Currently, 55 parks across Ottawa have three-stream waste collection, including three parks in Barrhaven East— Greenpointe, Ken Ross, and Water Dragon. The three parks were selected in 2018 to capture use and servicing conditions at different park types.
With the programme’s formalisation, three-stream collection bins can finally be introduced to more parks. In total, 349 parks classified as district, community, and neighbourhood parks with sports fields or major amenities will receive three-stream bins over the next four years — 48 parks in 2026, 100 in 2027, 100 in 2028, and 101 in 2029.
In Barrhaven East, parks receiving three-stream collection bins (and anticipated year of deployment), pending annual approvals, will be:
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)
The existing bins at Greenpointe, Ken Ross, and Water Dragon parks will remain unchanged.
Parks not part of the three-stream collection programme but have an off-leash dog designation will receive organic waste containers in 2027 at entrances reachable by service vehicles, including nine in Barrhaven East:
Andy Moffitt Trail
Clarke Bellinger ponds
Hearts Desire Forest
Kennedy-Craig Forest
Longfields/Jockvale stormwater management area
North Harrow Park
Redpath Park
Unnamed trail north of the railway
Watters Woods
Additional parks may be considered for three-stream or organics containers based on staff and resident feedback or changes in a park’s designation.
Lastly, all parks garbage containers (except those to be replaced by three-stream containers) will also be updated to a design that’s larger, easier to service, and most likely include lids. The timeline for new garbage containers is unknown and the procurement process has not begun. Relevant signage at all parks will also be updated and standardised.
Progress updates will be reported annually to Council.
One additional consideration staff are exploring is the removal of all waste containers in parkettes and small urban plazas with few 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 updated strategy begins!
Bite-sized updates
Sorted alphabetically!
Amazon public information night – An in-person public information session is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. City staff, and I will be there to share information about the project and listen to feedback for future consideration before and after the facility is operational. Amazon has been invited to attend.
Beatrice/Queensbury bus shelter – Following its untimely demise back in December, then a delay in May, the bus shelter at Beatrice/Queensbury (stop 3345) will soon be reinstalled. Utility locates were completed and concrete pouring will soon begin, followed by shelter installation by Thanksgiving.
Clearbrook/Bissett-Highpointe – Construction to improve safety and accessibility at the school crossing should begin early-November. The turning radius of the curbs will be tightened to slow turning vehicles and shorten the length of the crossing across Clearbrook. If the weather is uncooperative, this project will be delayed to spring 2026.
Deerfox-Fieldcrest pathway – New lighting for the pathway↗ connecting Deerfox and Fieldcrest west of Woodroffe has been approved and funded. The ambitious installation timeline is November, while a more realistic timeline will likely be next spring. Thank you to residents in the area for the requests over the last few years.
Greenbank Park – The slide at Greenbank Park is out of service due to a crack at the bottom. The manufacturer will be replacing it under warranty. Expected timeline for replacement is early/mid-October.
Household hazardous waste drop-off – Our local hazardous waste drop-off will happen on Saturday October 18 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Strandherd snow dump (first left off Dealership Drive behind the Toyota). Details are available at Ottawa.ca↗. Batteries, paint, and aerosols don’t have to wait for a drop-off event! See link for more information.
Limebank Station pick-up/drop-off – The pick-up/drop-off location has been moved to a temporary location↗ until November due to construction. From Earl Armstrong, turn right on Limebank, then LEFT at the signals, proceed to the end of the roadway to make a u-turn (yes, really) back to the pick-up/drop-off location. Signage is in place for guidance.
Low water conditions – The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s major low-water advisory↗ continues across the entire Rideau River watershed. Households on well water are strongly encouraged to suspend non-essential uses.
Shower facilities and water filling stations are available at the Minto Recreation Complex↗ and Walter Baker Sports Centre↗ for residents in Hearts Desire and Rideau Glen. Please call ahead to confirm availability (contact information and hours of operation in the links).
New pedestrian crossovers – Two new pedestrian crossovers at Paul Métivier/Beatrice and at Stoneway/Forest Gate east are currently under construction. The crossover on Paul Métivier will be raised to double as a speed hump. Expected completion is mid-November.
Road paint – Road markings across Barrhaven East were refreshed last week. Though the paint practically dries instantly (including a buffer set by a second vehicle), some residents have reported paint splattering onto their vehicles. If professional cleaning was required, please file a claim against the City in writing at Claims@ottawa.ca or by webform↗. Remember to include before/after photos and receipts.
Speed humps/cushions – Speed hump installation will happen on Springbeauty between Beatrice and Longfields, while speed cushions will be installed on Deerfox between Beatrice and Woodroffe this week. Expected completion is October 8 on Springbeauty and October 10 on Deerfox, with road makings and signage up to a week after.
Thanksgiving – Monday, October 13 is Thanksgiving Day. Most City services will be closed or operate on modified hours. OC Transpo will operate on a Sunday schedule and library branches will be closed, while the Minto Recreation Complex and Nepean Sportsplex will operate reduced hours. Detailed information will be published on Ottawa.ca↗ in the coming days.
Via Chianti and Via Modugno – With the completion of nearby development, the two streets will receive their final layer of asphalt starting next week until mid-October. On-street parking may become unavailable periodically during the paving. The City will assume control of the two streets upon completion.
Waste collection (next week) – Garbage, blue bin, and green bin collection next week will be delayed one day to Wednesday as Monday is Thanksgiving.
Woodroffe/Deerfox-Stoneway – Lane closures and shifts may be required to accommodate the ongoing private infrastructure connection project. Expected completion is late-October, and I have asked the contractor to smoothen the northbound road cut across Woodroffe in the interim.
Woodroffe/Queensbury-Rideaucrest – Hydro Ottawa is on site until October 17 to relocate their post at Woodroffe/Queensbury (northwest corner) and install a new post at Woodroffe/Rideaucrest (northeast corner) to improve spacing between posts to strengthen the overhead wire network. At no time will access be lost to Queensbury, Rideaucrest, the commercial driveways, or bus stops, though off-peak lane reductions are possible.
Lastly, we are entering peak yard waste collection season. Starting next week until the end of November, yard waste may be collected by a separate vehicle and could be as late as 8:00 pm due to higher volumes of material. No change is required in your part.
Speaking of leaves, Thursday is Leif Erikson Day!
Have a great week ahead.
-Wilson