Recap of Mechanicsville Winter Carnival

The Mechanicsville Winter Carnival in Laroche Park on Sunday saw over 100 people in attendance which was amazing for the first day of Winterlude on the Rideau Canal! People desended on Laroche Park from all directions with skates and toboggans. Pieces of cardboard also worked well on the toboggon hill, the skate rink had several games on the go and the skate puddle is just fun for those new to walking on ice.The fun-loving people with Somerset West Community Health Center led the kids activities such as snow tug-of-war and the snow jewel game. Snow pants were necessary as these activities involved lots of falling down and rolling around in the fresh snow. Inside the Laroche Community Center, every chair was full with residents warming up with hot chocolate and enjoying donuts donated by Suzi-Q and coffee donated from Bridgehead.

A huge thank you to these two businesses for their support of local homegrown events like this one. Lots of residents dropped in to bring cookies as well which was much appreciated. Any left over goodies are donated to the home work club and youth program operated by Somerset West Community Health Center at Laroche Community Center.

However, the star of this event is always the horse and sleigh ride. It always takes your breath away when you see those huge, handsome horses come across the fields of Laroche Park. Both kids and adults run from the toboggan hill and skating rinks to meet the horses. The annual Mechanicsville Winter Carnival has been held at Laroche Park for over 30 years and Gary Scharfe of Hollybrook Farms has provided the horse and sleigh ride every year! Its an important tradition in Mechanicsville and we are glad Gary returns every year. Huge thanks to Keith Brown with the Laroche Park Sports Association who maintain the rink and sponsor the horse and sleigh ride.The Mechanicsville Community Association is the community group who continue to work to improve our neighborhood and always seeking volunteers and board members. If you want to get involved, please send us an email at MechanicsvilleCA@gmail.com or on Facebook at Mechanicsville Community Association or see our website: mechanicsville.ca.

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Mechanicsville Community Association.

Kitchissippi Ward Forum

We’ve got a bit of a treat for our next ward forum! On January 11, we’re hosting it from 6-9 pm at the newly-opened Innovation Centre at 7 Bayview Road. I’ve had a chance to tour around, and it’s a gorgeous space. And, to top it off, as our guest we’ve got City Manager Steve Kanellakos to present and take some questions. Staff and I are really looking forward to this one. There’s a lot going on in Kitchissippi – be sure to attend this town hall format event to pose your questions, raise your concerns, and get up to speed on what’s happening in the ward.

Jeff Leiper

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Mechanicsville Community Association.

Laroche Park

Councillor Leiper’s office has notified MCA of an upcoming environmental drilling program at Laroche Park (52 Bayview Road). The City’s Environmental Remediation Unit has been working with the National Capital Commission (NCC) for a number of years to investigate/monitor a groundwater plume containing elevated concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which appears to be migrating from the adjacent NCC property at 80 Bayview Road onto the east portion of the park site. The environmental consultant working on behalf of the NCC has proposed an additional investigation on the two properties to investigate critical data gaps as a first step in evaluating potential remedial options for the VOC plume.

The NCC’s environmental consultant will be drilling monitoring wells at 6 locations across the east portion of the park as part of the proposed work program. Underground utility locates will be marked in the next two weeks, and the drilling program is scheduled to take place between November 7 and 25.

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Mechanicsville Community Association.

NCC property at Carruthers and Burnside

The contractor for the John Howard Society facility has secured the NCC property at Carruthers and Burnside for a construction staging area. There is a Sign Person on Burnside at the top of the hill slowing traffic to accommodate heavy equipment crossing. This was a request by the MCA Planning & Development Committee. Please message us with any concerns.

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Mechanicsville Community Association.

Donations for the kids in the community

Mechanicsville Community Association in Partnership with Somerset West Community Health Centre are gladly accept the following donations for the kids in the community as part of their program and use Laroche Park

 

  • Skates and skate helmets of all sizes

  • Gently used sports equipment

  • Winter hats, mitts, gloves and socks

  • Gently used running shoes, rubber boots and winter foot wear for children and youth.

  • School supplies

  • Craft materials

  • Lego

  • Gently used board games with all their pieces

  • Nintendo Wii games  ( specifically those with a physical activity component)

  • Gently used Halloween costumes (seasonal)


You can drop of your donations at the Laroche Field house on :

Mondays 3:00-8:30

Tues-Fri 3:00-5:30

 

 

 

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Mechanicsville Community Association.

Response from Jeff Leiper City Councillor of Kitchissippi Ward on LRT Noise complaint

September 20, 2016

Dear resident,

I have recently concurred with a noise exemption to work at night on the light rail site between Tunney’s Pasture and Merton Street inside the Transitway trench.

The work would consist of concrete chipping that can’t be done during the day while other work crews are sharing the space. I have agreed to allow the work from September 21 until October 5. The work will shift as they get various portions of the trench done, moving at about 60-90 meters per night. The noise level has been described to me as around 70-80 db at the source. Given that the work will be inside the trench and at a reasonably significant distance from the adjacent houses, I’m comfortable that this won’t be a prolonged or overly disruptive period.

I have put conditions on the exemption including that there will be no backup beepers, or light sources that affect the homes next to the trench.

I apologize for the short notice. The request was only made to me last week. I have let the project team know that we need much more notice so that I can in future consult fully with residents. They are aware that if the noise level is wholly unacceptable, that this will jeopardize future exemptions.

Thanks for your understanding and my apologies for the disruption.

Jeff Leiper

City Councillor, Kitchissippi Ward

613.580.2485 | jeff.leiper@ottawa.ca

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Mechanicsville Community Association.

News from your community association!

Crime Prevention Ottawa mural funding

Crime Prevention Ottawa mural funding was approved for Laroche Park Field House!!! The artist will start prepping walls on Monday Aug 8th. The kids from the SWCHS leadership program will be painting Aug 15 & 16th. Ribbon-cutting and cake with Jeff, Constable Neilly and Crime Prevention Ottawa people proposed for August 22nd. Drop by any day to meet the artist, Ranz, he's a really cool guy and loves to talk graffitti and mural art! Check out his FB page :

https://www.facebook.com/so.c.inx

Mechanicsville Fire Fundraiser

Mechanicsville Fire Fundraiser on July 28th at the Carleton Tavern raised about $2650 for the families affected by the fire at 59 Carruthers. Thank you to the musicians, volunteers, the donations and raffle prizes!

BBQ and propane tanks

MCA is seeking a sponsor for the purchase of a new BBQ and propane tanks for community events if you have any leads, let us know!

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Mechanicsville Community Association.

Ottawa Film Office

The Ottawa Film Office is drawing attention to Ottawa as a place for filming through a lookbook marketing tool. This lookbook should give filmmakers a visual understanding of all the different types of locations Ottawa has to offer. There is currently a gap in photos of residential locations that are usable for this lookbook. Should the community association have any useful pictures on file for this purpose, we would appreciate including them in our collection of pictures. The photos would need to show off the particular aesthetic of the community and be of good quality. They should not focus on any one specific building but should depict the overall feel of the neighbourhood as well as the style of architecture.

Thanks for your time,

Alexandra Karabatsos - Administrative Support

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Mechanicsville Community Association.

Fraud alert from the Ottawa Police Service

The Ottawa Police Organized Fraud Unit is advising the community about an emerging mass marketing scam/extortion where fraudsters call residents and threaten to arrest the victims and their families.

Messages have been left for victims to immediately call back a specific phone number or their family would be arrested and prosecuted.

The fraudsters eventually request the victim’s personal information and banking information (credit cards, bank accounts and passwords) as a way to avoid an arrest. This is also how fraudsters confirm a victim’s identity.

The fraudsters have been known to impersonate government agencies, attorneys; and sometimes no identity is provided.

The Ottawa Police Fraud Unit reminds Ottawa residents to be wary when receiving phone calls in which personal information and/or banking information is requested.

For further information on marketing scams and fraud, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre<http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/about-ausujet/index-eng.htm>.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service Call Centre at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300 or Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477.

 

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L'Unité des fraudes organisées de la Police d’Ottawa tient à mettre en garde la collectivité au sujet d'une nouvelle arnaque d'extorsion par mercatique de masse, lors de laquelle des fraudeurs téléphonent à des résidents et menacent d'arrestation les victimes et leurs familles.

Par le passé, des fraudeurs ont laissé des messages ordonnant aux victimes de rappeler immédiatement un numéro de téléphone spécifique, sinon leur famille serait arrêtée et poursuivie en justice.

Les fraudeurs demandent éventuellement les renseignements personnels et bancaires de la victime (numéros et mots de passe de cartes de crédit et de comptes bancaires) pour qu'elle évite d'être arrêtée. Les fraudeurs confirment ainsi, du même coup, l'identité de leur victime.

Les fraudeurs se sont fait passer pour des agents d'organismes gouvernementaux et pour des avocats. Parfois, ils ne prennent pas la peine de s'identifier.

L'Unité des fraudes organisées de la Police d’Ottawa rappelle aux résidents d'Ottawa de se méfier si on leur demande, au téléphone, de divulguer des renseignements personnels ou bancaires.

Pour obtenir plus de détails concernant la fraude par mercatique de masse et autres escroqueries, visitez le Centre antifraude du Canada<http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/about-ausujet/index-fra.htm>.

Toute personne ayant vécu ce type d’arnaque est priée de signaler l’incident en communiquant avec le Centre d’appels de la Police d’Ottawa au 613-236-1222, poste 7300, ou avec Échec au crime, sans frais au 1-800-222-8477.

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Mechanicsville Community Association.

Working together to stop graffiti

The City of Ottawa and Ottawa Police Service are committed to dealing with graffiti vandalism and strive to provide a clean, vibrant, safe and welcoming community for all residents, businesses and visitors.

http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/water-and-environment/green-living/working-together-stop-graffiti

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Mechanicsville Community Association.