The Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department (PIED) of the City of Ottawa undertook the development of a Rural Economic Development Strategy which was approved by Council in the spring of 2020. One of the key recommendations of the Strategy was to give business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs ready access to information on programs and services to facilitate and support the creation, expansion, and success of businesses in rural Ottawa.

Toolkit for businesses in rural Ottawa [ PDF 2.319 MB ](link is external)PDF opens in a new tab or window

The Department prepared this toolkit of programs to be employed by rural residents to build and strengthen the rural economy in answer to that identified need.

Rural Ottawa was identified in the City’s economic development strategy as one its four pillars of focus, along with the tourism sector, the small business sector focused on local markets and the knowledge intensive business sector.

PIED is commited to working with business owners/operators to realize opportunities for job creation and business expansion in rural Ottawa. This toolkit may be seen as a step forward. If you have any questions on the toolkit or ideas to enhance it, please let us know.

You may contact your local Ward Councillor or Economic Development directly.

As we approach Spring/Summer, the City of Ottawa is planning on moving forward with running Bike Rodeos safely with Covid safe measures in place.

At this time, they are looking to see what interest there is for bike rodeos this Spring/Summer throughout the City.

If you are interested in a Bike Rodeo in your area, you can email them directly at  cycling@ottawa.ca with your community interest or with any questions😊.

The City of Ottawa will be holding six bilingual online facilitated consultation sessions to get your opinions and ideas on the City’s first-ever combined Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan (PRFMP), in support of the new Official Plan (OP).

You are invited to share your knowledge and experiences to help us plan for the future of municipal parks, recreation and community activity spaces. We want to hear from residents, community associations, sports organizations, arts and cultural organizations, the homebuilders, residents interested in accessibility, equity and diversity and other recreation partners and user groups. Targeted stakeholder outreach with school boards, colleges and universities and the Nation Capital Commission are also being planned.

To participate, register on the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan page on Engage.Ottawa.ca for one of the following virtual bilingual consultation sessions:

• Wednesday, February 17 from 9:30 to 11:30 am; Register here
• Monday, February 22 from 1 to 3 pm; Register here 
• Tuesday, February 23 from 1 to 3 pm; Register here   
• Tuesday, February 23 from 7 to 9 pm; Register here
• Wednesday, February 24 from 7 to 9 pm; Register here (see note below on session focus)

Thursday, February 25, 2021 from 9:30 to 11:30 am; Register here 

For those who cannot attend the live virtual sessions, you can have your say:

• Two online surveys – on Engage.Ottawa.ca
  • Parks and Outdoor Recreation Facilities survey: open now until Sunday, February 21
  • Indoor Recreation Facilities survey: open now until Friday, March 12
• Email us:
  • RCFS-PublicEngagement@ottawa.ca
• Send us a note:

City of Ottawa c/o Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan
Attention: 26-51,100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON, K2G 7E6

Effective at 5 a.m. January 8th 2021
New Order Issued for ODRs and the City’s Four Outdoor Rinks
Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Vera Etches, has issued an order under the Health
Protection and Promotion Act to restrict the number of people at skating rinks and sledding
hills to 25 at one time – ensuring physical distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
For the City’s four outdoor refrigerated rinks, the City will implement an online reservation
system to book free 45-minute skating times at ottawa.ca/skating. Starting this Saturday,
January 9, reservations will be required to skate at the following peak times:
• City Hall Rink of Dreams, 9 am – 11 pm daily
• Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink of Dreams, 10 am – 10 pm weekends, 8 am – 10 pm
weekdays
• Lansdowne Park Skating Court, 9 am – 10 pm weekends, 5 pm – 10 pm weekdays *hours
subject to change
• Ben Franklin Place Skating Rink, 9 am – 10 pm weekends, 5 pm – 10 pm weekdays
*hours subject to change
Those who have made a reservation must show a copy of their confirmation email upon entry,
either on a mobile device or on a printed-out paper. Refrigerated rink openings are weatherdependent, so be sure to check ottawa.ca before arriving for your reserved skating time. The 25-
person limit remains in effect at all times.
The reservation system will open on Friday, January 8 at 6 pm for residents to book skating
times for Saturday and Sunday. Moving forward, reservations can be made up to two days in
advance with new spots opening at 6 pm daily. A maximum of four skaters can be booked on
each reservation.
For community outdoor rinks and sledding hills, the 25-person capacity also applies. Think
about others and limit your time during busy periods so everyone can get a chance to skate or
sled. Residents are encouraged to come back at another time if the rink or hill is at capacity.
On-site signage will be posted, and rink ambassadors will help to make people aware of the
25-person limit. Additionally, a dedicated team from By-law and Regulatory Services will
proactively monitor these areas.

In addition to the Order, under Provincial Regulations no team sports are permitted, and the
City is directing that only skating take place on all rinks with no sticks, pucks, balls or other
sports equipment permitted on the ice. People are reminded that masks must be worn in
public accessibility areas that are within 15 metres (50 feet) distance of the edge of the ice
surface. While masks are not mandatory when skating, OPH recommends wearing one for added protection.

The Vernon Community Garden at the Museum is for all residents.

Did you like the sunflowers etc. in the garden last year

We have seeds for sale

Sunflower, cosmos, broom corn, beans, cornflower, tansy, etc.

The sale of these seeds helps us purchase seeds for 2021

email manager@osgoodemuseum.ca if you are interested

Check out the perennial flower beds also.

If you would like to help with the garden please email Helen at h_wyatt@hotmail.com subject line Museum garden

This garden is maintained by volunteers from as far as Finley Creek, Metcalfe, Vernon etc.

We enjoy gardening and meeting new people

Hope to see you there!

Reopening March 2!

We’re very happy to be back at the Museum and plan to open our doors again on Tuesday, March 2! In the meantime, we’re taking the opportunity to do some early spring cleaning so we can serve our visitors and community better. Please be sure to pre-book your visit online here: https://osgoodemuseum.as.me/schedule.php.

A few things to note before you visit us:

• Masks must be worn at all times and should fully cover the nose, mouth and chin (we have extras onsite at no cost)
• You’ll be asked to apply hand sanitizer upon entry and exit of the building
• The Museum building is limited to 6 visitors at one time
• Social distancing markers are in place to guide your visit through the exhibit space
• Exhibit space is sanitized after every visit
• At this time, all exhibition interactive elements will not available

The rink is being worked on and will open!!

We will have it running as some as the weather permits

If you would like to help clean and or flood please let us know

thank you

The board is all volunteers and appreciate all the help we can get

call Keith McWhinnie at 613-826-3609

or Helen Porteous at 613-821-3685

ORDER
This Order is issued pursuant to Section 3A of the City of Ottawa
Temporary Mandatory Mask By-law 2020-186 (as amended) and
establishes Designated Unenclosed Public Spaces where masks must
be worn for public health and safety reasons
Mandatory Mask in Designated Unenclosed Public Space
Requirement:
Every person who enters or remains on outdoor ice skating rinks operated
by the City of Ottawa or on the City’s behalf, including publicly accessible
areas that are within a fifteen (15) meter distance of the edge of the ice
surface, shall wear a Mask in a manner that covers their mouth, nose, and
chin.
Duration:
Effective December 30, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. until January 28, 2021 at 12:01
a.m., twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week.
Exemptions:
 As prescribed by By-law 2020-186 (as amended) including but not
limited to young children, persons with medical or cognitive conditions,
persons engaged in athletic/fitness activity
 Outdoor rink operators when performing rink maintenance when the
public is not on the surface of the ice rink
Anthony Di Monte
General Manager
Emergency and Protective Services

Friendship club is for all seniors around the ward

every Wednesday 1pm

Vernon hall boardroom

John & Diane VanZeeland at 613-774-5002.

Shuffleboard will start again October 21

for more info call June at 613-821-3289

John & Diane VanZeeland at 613-774-5002.

Every Monday and Thursday

9:30 am to 10:30 am

All adults welcome

FREE