September 2023
Hello Centretowners,
As September draws to a close, the CCA would like to take time to reflect on our part in the process of Truth and Reconciliation. As we reside and gather on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory, we appreciate that the land is home to generations of Indigenous Peoples. Our community honours the memory of those who perished in systems of Colonization, including the Residential School system, the Sixties Scoop, and the difficult legacy of thereof.
For information on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and resources, we invite you to visit The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
Temperatures continue to drop, sweaters are coming out of storage, and the CCA is proud to offer a variety of seasonal events: CCA's Trees and Greenspace Committee headed by Brian Beaven is hosting the annual Fall Festival at Dundonald Park on Saturday, September 23rd, from 10 AM - 2 PM.
The Elgin St Market is open Sundays until October 29 with your favourite vendors, artists, and neighbors. Join the final free Yoga class of the season offered by Cattleya Yoga at Jack Purcell Park this Sunday at 10 AM.
On Monday September 25th, 6:30 PM, at the Jack Purcell Community Centre, Emily Essex will present her Carleton masters thesis in which she proposes a community meeting place at the former Ottawa Public School Board building, a heritage property located at 330 Gilmour St.
The CCA's Safety and Emergency Preparedness Working Group recently held its second meeting. CCA members are welcome to join and bring your experience to the table. Please contact Brenda at anti-racism@centretowcitizens.ca for details. Please note that the Anti-Racism Working Group will be operating under a new name: Diversity and Inclusion Working Group. The CCA remains ardently committed to inclusivity and anti-racism.
Fall Festival at Dundonald Park on Saturday, September 23, 10 AM - 2 PM
The annual Fall Festival returns to Dundonald Park, at Somerset and Lyon, Saturday, September 23, from 10 AM - 2 PM.
Activities for kids include a variety of crafts and hands-on art tables, courtesy of the CCA and the Ottawa Art Gallery. The ever-popular read-aloud at 10:45 AM will bring you the book Jamilah at the End of the World. Magician Mark Montreuil is on at 11:30 AM. As always at CCA festivals, there’s free popcorn.
For adults, there is live music, live theatre, and information booths on everything from pollinators to bike maintenance to early childhood. The Ottawa Outdoor Gear Library will be there, along with the Ottawa Wildflower Seeds Library.
Curious about your community association? There will be a slew of CCA groups, from the guerrilla gardeners to the heritage group working to create new heritage districts.
The rain day is Sunday, September 24.
The festival is sponsored by the CCA and the Centretown Community Health Centre.
Centretown Community Association at Capital Pride 2023
Thank you to everyone who stopped to chat by CCA's booth at the Capital Pride Street Festival in August! The CCA thanks Board Member Stuart MacKay for organizing, as well as our Committee Chairs who came out to support. It was a great chance to meet Centretowners and share about the ongoing work at our Planning Committee, Heritage, Housing Affordability, Anti-Racism, Safety, Climate Change groups, and more.
The Elgin Street Market is at Boushey Square every Sunday until October 29
The Elgin Street Market - Centretown's only farmers' market - operates every Sunday until October 29 from 9am to 1pm in Boushey Square at the corner of Waverly and Elgin. Many of your favourite vendors continue to offer fresh produce, bread, baked goods, prepared foods, and arts and crafts.
With the arrival of autumn, the tables are stacked with hearty root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and beets. Lettuce, kale and onions still are available. Treat yourself to a big cookie from Je Suis Sweets. Torshi offers picante pickled vegetables. And there is the art of Victoria Dark Illustrations, featuring warm, engaging prints of local architecture.
Last Chance to Catch a Free Yoga at Jack Purcell Park on September 24
Attention all yoga enthusiasts! Come and join us for free, one hour Yoga in the Park class this Sunday, September 24th in Jack Purcell Park. Classes are led by instructors from Cattleya Yoga Studio on Bank Street. The class starts at 10am. Make sure to bring your mat or a towel. This free summer yoga program is brought to you by the CCA in partnership with the Elgin Area Business Association. Stop by the Elgin Street Farmers Market before your class to say hello!
Heritage Committee Walking Tours Explore New Heritage Conservation Districts
The CCA is working with city officials to define a new Heritage Conservation District (HCD) in the area between Kent and Bronson in Centretown West. The big challenge for the CCA is to recommend where exactly the boundary of the new HCD should be drawn.
To do so, the CCA is conducting a series of leisurely Saturday afternoon walking tours to experience the streets of this area and discuss whether particular city blocks should be included in the HCD or not. The remaining walk will take place on Saturday, September 30th, starting at 2 PM from Dundonald Park (Somerset and Lyon).
Later this Fall, the CCA will propose a new Heritage Conservation District (HCD) for The Golden Triangle. A series of Saturday afternoon walks to set a proposed boundary for the proposed Golden Triangle HCD will take place in October.
For more information please reach out to jack.2014@icloud.com and visit Engage Ottawa.
Image Credit: Centretown Buzz
Seeking Donations for John Howard Society Welcome Wagon
The CCA, along with Councillor Ariel Troster and the John Howard Society (JHS), is collecting donations to create welcome baskets for residents moving into the soon-to-open supportive residence on Lisgar near Bay.
Donations will be accepted at the CCA table at the Elgin Street Market on the Sundays of September 24 and October 8, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. They are looking for donations of socks, undies, pyjamas, house coats and slippers (sized M, L and XL); and hygiene items such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, loofah, bars of soap, and bubble bath. They also need bath towels, coffee mugs, travel mugs, reusable water bottles, laundry baskets and cleaning supplies. Gift cards to Dollarama or Tim Hortons would be terrific.
The residence will provide supportive housing for women experiencing homelessness, with a focus on Indigenous women. For more information: edavis@jhsottawa.ca
Ottawa Architecture Week: September 25 - 29
Presented by ORSA, Ottawa's Regional Society of Architects, Ottawa Architecture Week invites you to immerse yourself in a captivating exploration of the transformative power of play within the realm of architecture. Beyond mere entertainment or recreation, the concept of play in architecture embodies a dynamic and multifaceted approach that emphasizes the inherent potential of built environments. It embraces curiosity, imagination, and risk-taking, fostering creativity and innovation throughout the design process and resulting spaces. By prioritizing the human experience, playful architecture creates environments that inspire joy, promote social interaction, and enhance well-being. This year's theme, "City of Play: Fun in the Capital?" celebrates the integration of play within Ottawa's urban fabric, showcasing how the interaction between people and spaces can create lasting connections and enrich the quality of life for individuals and communities alike.
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Help Us Address Community Safety and Well-being Concerns
The CCA is currently looking for volunteers to work with us and neighboring Community Associations within the Safety and Emergency Preparedness Working Group to address community safety among other issues. If interested, please reach out to ccca@centretowncitizens.ca.
We always welcome new members and volunteers to contribute to CCA's many initiatives. To help us continue hosting virtual workshops and in-person events, maintaining community gardens, and so much more, please consider supporting the CCA with a donation.
Kind regards,
Mary Huang
CCA President
