The Ottawan Newsletter

🌊 The City has launched an Ottawa River Flood page. It’s a central point of access for what to do, who to call, and where to find help for people at risk of flooding. Ottawa Spring Flooding Page

↪ Road, park, and pathway closures are here

↪ The live current conditions map of the river is here

↪ Anyone can help fill sandbags at one of the City’s sandbag stations

On the other hand, the high runoff creates a rare opportunity for surfers to hang ten on the Ottawa River. The Ottawa Citizen has pix.

🍷 Alcohol will be permitted in select Ottawa parks for a second summer. Last summer, eight parks were opened to picnicing with booze. City staff reported that it ‘did not result in increased operational, enforcement, or public safety concerns’. — Josh Pringle at CTV

🗯️ The ‘Bubble Bylaw against Protest’ will be debated at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. Operators of ‘schools, daycare centres, places of worship, healthcare facilities, and long-term care facilities’ could apply for a safe access zone that would ban protests in a 50 metre zone for one year. Advocates say the zone protects vulnerable people who are not the target of protests, opponents say it infringes upon legal, peaceful protests. — Alayne McGregor in the Centretown Buzz

🏒 Alta Vista ward councillor Marty Carr wants the City to investigate creating a city-owned grocery store. She is bringing the request to Wednesday’s City Council meeting and, if approved, City staff will report on the feasibility of the idea by the end of June 2027. By then, the many other cities who are also looking into the idea will have either succeeded or failed with the concept. — Josh Pringle at CTV

🦆 If you think taking care of your yard is hard work, this job is not for you. The Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust is seeking a new executive director, responsible for 3,657 acres of forests, 470 acres of wetlands, and 74 acres of grasslands. The deadline is May 4. — Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust