Accessibility spotlight- Special Edition - Special Events By-law Reviews

 

The City of Ottawa is looking for your input on how to make special events more accessible, safe and inclusive.

The City is currently reviewing its Special Events By-laws to ensure that they effectively support festival and event organizers, and ensure that all participants can have a safe, enjoyable experience.

Ottawa hosts a great variety of festivals, charity runs, and cultural and community events throughout the year. As Canada’s capital and host to both the federal government and 128 diplomatic missions, we are also a place for political expression. Special Events in the City of Ottawa are regulated by the
Special Events on Private and Public Property By-law (No. 2013-232)
and Special Events on City Streets By-law (No.2001-260)

As a part of this by-law review, staff are conducting a survey asking questions about the safety, accessibility and inclusivity of special events in the City of Ottawa. This survey covers a range of issues including, accessibility, harassment, sexual harassment, drugs, and alcohol, smoking and vaping and extreme weather events. This Survey is regarding outdoor events with more than 500 people and events that occur on city roadways, it does not cover indoor events.

For updates on the City’s Special Events By-law Reviews, visit Engage.ottawa.ca and please complete the survey on safe and inclusive events before April 29, 2024. Additional surveys on specific topics related to special events will follow in the coming months.

City of Ottawa Accessibility spotlight- February 2024

 

Emergency Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities Event

The City of Ottawa recently hosted a virtual public information session and discussion on emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities. Coordinated by the Accessibility Office, the session included presentations from staff in the Office of Emergency Management and Ottawa Public Health who provided information and resources with a focus on key emergency preparedness considerations for those living with disabilities and older adults. There has been an increase in climate-related emergencies in recent years, including heavy winds and tornadoes, heavy rainfall and flooding, as well as extreme cold and heat events. Additionally, as the City of Ottawa is the Nation’s Capital, political demonstrations and protests have also contributed to various recent emergency events and responses. As such, when planning for emergencies, whether that requires sheltering in place or evacuating, all residents, including those with disabilities, should consider emergency planning that is tailored to their personal situation. During the event, staff in the Office of Emergency Management highlighted the importance of social connections and personal support, having a plan for assistive devices, including back-up options in the event of a power outage, as well as considerations for the management of your health, including ensuring you have an adequate supply of medication. Staff in Ottawa Public Health presented on the diversity of our personal experiences, and that emergency preparedness is not "one size fits all". Staff provided considerations for either sheltering in place or evacuating, such as providing emergency contacts with extra keys to be able to access your home, as well as important elements to include in your emergency kit and/or a go bag, including supplies needed for pets and service animals. Following the presentations, participants had the opportunity to engage with City staff with concerns, questions and feedback on the topic. Staff in the City’s Accessibility Office will be compiling all feedback, shared during the event, the evaluation survey and post-event, for discussion with the Office of Emergency Management and Ottawa Public Health to inform future actions. For those unable to attend the virtual event live, you can watch the recording on the City’s YouTube channel.

Snow Angel Program

A Snow Angel is a neighbour or friend who volunteers to help older adults or persons with disabilities improve their accessibility during the winter by shoveling and/or de-icing their private driveway, steps, or walkway. Snow Angels generate a sense of community by lending a helping hand. "My snow angel is a neighbour who works 12-hours shifts, and still finds the time and energy to ensure I am safe and that my steps and walkway are cleared and salted. She does not tell me or ask for gratitude. Although we received so much snow and it was very windy, somehow that path stayed clear for 2 days. I felt protected, safe, cared for and so very grateful. She works in security downtown, keeping other people safe too. I am disabled and falls for me are very serious. I am glad to have someone who is helping and looking out for me like this." - J Wilson The Snow Angel Program recognizes these shoveling and de-icing efforts with a certificate of appreciation signed by Mayor Sutcliffe. If you know a Snow Angel and would like to show them your appreciation, please visit ottawa.ca/snowangel to nominate them. Nominations close March 31, 2024. If you’re looking to get involved and make a difference in your community, contact communitypride@ottawa.ca to learn more.

Text us at 57272

Looking for a quick answer to a question about Para Transpo service? Para Transpo customers can text 57272 to connect with OC Transpo Customer Service representatives from 6am to 12:30am every day! Standard rates apply. Text us to: Find out the estimated arrival time of your upcoming Para Transpo vehicle Make a direct cancellation for an upcoming trip Ask general questions about Para Transpo service Simply send a text message to 57272. You’ll receive a reply asking you to select your language and service before being connected to a Customer Service representative. Find out more at octranspo.com

Longest-Serving Para Transpo Operator retires after 45 years

In February, OC Transpo’s longest serving Para Transpo operator handed in her keys for the last time. After 45 years behind the wheel, Para Transpo operator Trish is celebrating a successful career helping Para Transpo customers get to where they need to be, with a smile. The Next Stop Blog Team caught up with Trish on her last day of work to reflect on her time with Para Transpo and what her secret was to achieving a successful and fulfilling career. Read the whole story on octranspo.com

City of Ottawa - Cleaning the Capital registration starts March 15!

 

Registration starts March 15th. Let's get cleaning!

Spring into action!  Register your cleanup project for the Cleaning the Capital 2024 Spring campaign by May 3.   Gather your friends, family, neighbours, or colleagues and get cleaning between April 15 – May 31!  Cleanup kits, which include garbage bags and gloves, will be made available for pick-up at ten City of Ottawa facilities. Calling all high school students! Do you know a high school student who is looking for opportunities to complete their community involvement hours? Cleaning the Capital is a flexible way for students to complete their volunteer hours and help keep our city looking beautiful. For more information, please review Student Volunteer Hours on ottawa.ca/clean.   Take note of these important cleanup project tips!    Save your registration code: You’ll need it to submit the online Cleanup Report for each project you complete by June 15, 2024. The cleanup report only takes a few minutes to complete and will help staff measure the impact of the campaign. Cleanup kit: If you request a cleanup kit for your project, you will receive an email notification indicating when it is ready for pick up.  Please kindly pick up your kit as soon as possible, as storage space for these is limited. Set waste out on collection day: If you can, please set out all collected waste/litter at your home on your regularly scheduled waste collection day. Visit Garbage and Recycling for more information. Too much to take home?:  If you can’t take it home, or if you have collected large quantities of waste/litter, please contact the Cleaning the Capital team at cleaning@ottawa.ca on the day of your cleanup project so that we can arrange for on-site pick-up. Remember to provide your registration number, quantity of bags, detailed pickup location, and a photo of the waste/litter you have collected.  Please note: Waste/litter pick-up will occur during regular business hours (Monday to Friday). Pick-up requests submitted on the weekend will be actioned on the next business day.   Report needles to 3-1-1: Never touch a needle with your hands. If you find a discarded needle or other drug paraphernalia, call 3-1-1 to dispatch appropriate staff to retrieve the item(s). For more information, visit Ottawa Public Health:  Discarded Needles in our Communities.  For more information on the Cleaning the Capital campaign, please visit ottawa.ca/clean.    Thanks for keeping Ottawa clean and green!  Spring Cleaning the Capital - Important dates for 2024:    March 15, 2024                   Registration begins   April 15 - May 31, 2024       Cleaning the Capital Spring campaign  April 22, 2024                      Earth Day 2024 May 3, 2024                        Deadline to register June 15, 2024                     Deadline to submit online cleanup reports

Kilreen Park: Engage Ottawa Survey

The City is soliciting feedback on investments in Kilreen Park (1250 Southwood Dr) including a small basketball court, gazebo, and the installation of accessible pathways. If you could please share this news with your neighbours and direct them to the Engage Ottawa page to provide feedback, it would be greatly appreciated.

EN: Kilreen Park – Small Basketball Court and Gazebo Addition | Engage Ottawa

FR: Parc Kilreen – Ajout d’un petit terrain de basketball et d’un belvédère | Participons Ottawa

Thank you in advance!

City of Ottawa Accessibility spotlight - December 2023

 

Mayor’s Annual Christmas Celebration

Come celebrate the holiday season at City Hall! Festive activities await you, including: Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus in their very own cabin Roast marshmallows over a campfire Enjoy delicious hot chocolate and BeaverTails Live entertainment indoors! Admission to this sponsored event is a donation to the Ottawa Food Bank and you can also indulge in delicious BeaverTails for only $2 with all proceeds going directly to those in need. While all of the event spaces are fully accessible, please advise us of any other accessibility-related accommodation you may require by contacting 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401 or VRS: 613 580-2400). Additional information is available on the event webpage at Mayor’s Annual Christmas Celebration.

Snow Go & Snow Go Assist

With the arrival of ice and snow, Ottawa winters can be a challenging time for older adults and people with limited mobility. The City funds two programs, Snow Go and Snow Go Assist, which help older adults and people with disabilities with their snow removal. The City partners with nine community agencies to run these two programs. The Snow Go program matches snow removal contractors with older adults and people with disabilities to get their snow cleared. Residents pay the workers directly for their services. The Snow Go Assist program goes one step further and helps low-income older adults and people with disabilities with the cost of their snow removal. To be eligible for the Snow Go Assist program funding, applicants must:   Be an older adult of at least 60 years old or a person with a disability. Have a low-income and show proof (annual income below $36,075 if single and below $44,160 for a household of two persons or more)   Eligible residents may be reimbursed up to 50 per cent of snow removal costs to a seasonal maximum. To apply, contact the partnering local agency in your area. For a list of these agencies, please visit ottawa.ca/snowgo, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613 580-2401) or call 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service (VRS).

Winter maintenance reporting

The cold weather is officially upon us, and snow and ice will be here for the months to come. The City has several channels available to help you report winter maintenance-related requests and accessibility concerns.   Online Non-urgent requests, such as those that can wait for the next business day may be reported on Ottawa.ca. Here are some quick links to some of our popular winter topics: Winter road maintenance  Winter sidewalk maintenance  Gravel Shoulder  Area Between Road and Sidewalk (Easement)  For more information about our winter operations, please visit Ottawa.ca. Phone No access to the web or need to report a concern that requires immediate attention? Please call 3-1-1 or TTY 613-580-2401.