Greetings Crystal Beach Lakeview. Here are a few updates for March.
It looks like we have turned a corner with the first signs of spring on its way. We have a lot of snow to get rid of, so if you have any storm sewers in front of your house, do what you can to keep them clear to help reduce street flooding. If you have a ditch and culvert, keep an eye on anything that may cause a blockage. If it is too big a job, such as clearing ice-filled culverts, call 311.
The CBLCA submitted our official response to the City of Ottawa’s Draft Official Plan last month. Thanks to the hard work of the Transit, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (TTIC), we have been receiving positive feedback from various community associations, some wanting to adapt from our 27-page report. This shows the city and potential developers that Crystal Beach Lakeview is an engaged community. And it highlights the great work being done on the community’s behalf by our unassuming yet highly capable neighbours.
Maki House is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, April 6. The City of Ottawa has updated Maki House with a new badge reader system and fresh coat of paint inside. That means the old system of mailbox key drops is over!
To prepare for the reopening, additional safety measures and cleaning procedures will be in place to adhere to Covid-19 provincial guidelines. Please know that the CBLCA is responsible — physically and financially — for stocking Maki House with disinfectant wipes and other supplies. We need everyone’s help to keep Maki clean and COVID free! The CBLCA’s Parks and Rec Chair, Amanda Firby, has been working with the various groups and the City of Ottawa to get Maki open.
A few groups have decided to start in the spring, and hopefully we will be back to normal in the fall. Guides, Brownies, Beavers, and Girls fitness groups will meet at Maki throughout the spring session. Details for summer outdoor programs at Maki Park will be available in the coming months, once the province has issued guidelines for outdoor activities and fitness classes.
The Green Party of Ontario has reached out to the CBLCA to see if there are any community residents who might be interested in becoming a provincial candidate for our area. To be clear, the CBLCA is not endorsing the Green Party or any other party. The CBLCA believes that choice is always a good thing, and more political parties ensure a chorus of voices are heard in government (okay, that’s just my opinion). You don’t have to be an “elite” to get involved—you just need to be a concerned citizen who wants to make a difference.For more information, check out their website at: https://www.owngreenparty.ca/our-candidates and or contact David Levesque, Green Party CA President, davidlevesque@gpo.ca
You may notice a few changes in the Newsletter going forward. Alan Morantz, the CBLCA’s Secretary, has kindly offered to lighten my work load and take over the production of the Newsletter. A big thanks to Alan for stepping up. The CBLCA is also still looking for Zone 2 rep (Lakeview). The work load is light: sharing your opinions, helping out at events, and keeping an eye on your one-fifth of the ‘hood. Join the team!