Submitted by Jeff Leiper, Kitchissippi ward councillor –
It’s springtime in Kitchissippi, and the Ward is coming alive! With so many fun events coming up, keep reading to discover what’s happening in our neighbourhoods.
I’m teaming up with the Parkdale Food Centre to bring you an interactive theatre experience from the Creative Well Theatre Project. “The Un-Merry-Go-Round” addresses the systemic barriers and stigmas associated with mental illness and poverty. The Creative Well Theatre Project is a program that partners with Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa and gives adults living with mental illness the opportunity to participate in weekly creative programming that culminates in a play of their own creation. Audience members are encouraged to intervene in the play and engage with the ways poverty and mental illness intersect to affect the lives of many. This free performance will happen at the Hintonburg Community Centre on May 15th, 7:30-9 pm.
On May 1st I’ll be at the Parkdale Food Centre from 1-4 pm for some pop-up office hours. I’ll also be holding a Saturday session of pop-up office hours on May 5th from 2-4 pm at the Churchill Senior’s Centre. Check the newsletter for future pop-ups and more events.
This summer, there will be construction at the Lemieux Island water plant, which will reroute access to the park. The entrance to the park on the east side of the plant is closed, but the park is still accessible via a pedestrian by-pass between the road and the river. In further summer news, Westboro Beach, Hintonburg, Civic Hospital, Champlain Park, Island Park, and Mechanicsville have all coordinated to hold their community garage sales on the same date! Get ready to travel the Ward in search of unique finds and great deals on June 2nd. In April, I received a commitment from staff to put forward a review of the Richmond Road/Westboro secondary plan in the next term of council. It will be a lengthy process, but I’m happy about this commitment. I’m confident there will be many opportunities for public input. As well, Council passed the City’s first Music Strategy, implementing new funding for the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition. I’ve been pleased to champion this at City Hall for three years, and I’m thrilled it has come to pass! Finally, don’t forget that May is Bike to Work Month! Visit biketoworkottawa.ca to register; logging your commute automatically enters you to win awesome prizes. Ride on, Kitchissippi!