Board meeting minutes: 2026-03-10

Attendees

• Board Members: Joseph Sleiman, Mark Dermer, Anthony Leaning, Jamie Brougham, John Dance, Georgia Blondon, Matt Francino
• Other attendees: Don Fugler Lee Jacobs, Phyllis Odenbach Sutton, Heather Jarrett, Brian Coleman, Mitch Vlad, Lori Streefkirk, Jim McQuaid, Stuart Inglis, Denise Inglis, Meghan Kitts, Ron Rose, Ariela Summit (Councillor Menard’s Office)

1. Welcome

Acting chair Joseph Sleiman called the meeting to order.

2. Approval of agenda

March 2026 agenda

• Discussion: Concern was raised about agenda / minutes not posted sufficiently in advance. Improvements have been made – more may be required.
• Motion to approve the agenda moved by Georgia Blondon, seconded by Mark Dermer. Carried.

3. Approval of minutes

• OOECA February 2026 draft minutes for approval
• Consideration deferred until next meeting.

4. Chair’s report

• On February 14, OOE Hosers won the Capital Ward Cup for the fourth consecutive year.

5. Proposed new community garden (Catherine Gucciardi Garcez)

Issue

• Catherine Gucciardi Garcez (not present) had written to the association noting she’d like to apply to the “Community gardens and greening initiatives” at the City of Ottawa on behalf of the Old Ottawa East community association (application deadline April 30)
• Specifically, she would “like to apply for funds to build a new community garden with raised beds for food production; a place that can promote community involvement, food security, environmental stewardship.”
• Discussion included: lack of vacancies at the two existing community gardens (Lees and Saint Paul University); feasibility of a community garden at existing parks (Ballantyne – no because will be staging area for 417 bridge replacement; Brantwood and Grande Allée – inadequate room; Springhurst / People’s / Lees apartments (166 Lees) – contaminated soil – would have to be in raised beds.
• Decision: A/Chair Joseph to write Catherine, positively noting her initiative and suggesting that further investigation and consultation with those involved in OOE’s community gardens is needed.

6. Municipal Election Candidates at OOECA Board Meetings

Issue

The campaigns of two possible mayoral candidates for the November election have requested the opportunity to speak at an upcoming OOECA Board meeting and the issues are whether the Board will allow this, and, if so, the candidates of which offices (Mayor, councillor, school trustees) would be allowed and what the conditions should be.

Discussion

• Over at least the last decade, candidates for Capital Ward Councillor have spoken at Board meetings within a specified allowed time for introducing themselves and their policies and for responding to questions
• During the discussion, there was consensus that the Board should support all-candidates meetings (as it has done in the past) but it should not support any particular candidate.
• The question of whether the Board should ask candidates about their positions on specified Board priorities was raised, though this issue was separate from a candidate’s presenting to the Board. It was noted that The Mainstreeter has a long-standing practice asking specific OOE questions to candidates and giving them a prescribed number of words to respond. OOECA has been invited to suggest questions for The Mainstreeter to ask.
• Perspectives on whether candidates should be given the opportunity to speak at Board meetings varied. Some supported the idea because it would encourage people to come to meetings and allow them to hear candidates who chose to take advantage of the opportunity. Others opposed because it would take time away from standard Board business. The general question of whether such opportunities to speak should be at a general meting of the community association rather than at a Board meeting was also raised.

Decision

• A decision was deferred until the next meeting, however, in the event that the Board does decide to provide a speaking opportunity for candidates to speak, this opportunity will not be extended until after nominations have closed.

7. Rideau River Footbridge: Potential as an Indigenous Reconciliation Project

Issue

A proposed new river footbridge near the foot of Clegg Street may have potential as a tangible symbol of Indigenous reconciliation. (Attachment 1 – Rideau River Bridge Proposal)

Discussion

• The proposed footbridge, originally endorsed by the OOECA Board in 2020, is now in the list of “Major Structures” for the City’s approved active transportation plan.
• However, it’s deemed a “Development Related” project, meaning it may not proceed for many years until the Hurdman lands development plans on the east side of the river proceed. In the spirit of Old Ottawa East finally having a symbol to honour Indigenous people, the proposal is to cite the potential of the footbridge to celebrate Indigenous lands and waters and the enduring history and culture of Indigenous peoples.
• Several other footbridges in Ottawa (Pìdàban at Kìwekì Point; William Commanda; and Adàwe) have set the path for doing this. The idea is seen to have potential but it would require the support of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn. Councillor Menard has been approached and the opportunity to raise the issue with the City’s Indigenous council [Ariela – what’s formal name?] will be pursued.
• The question of how a footbridge linking one developed area to another addressed Indigenous reconciliation was raised. In response, footbridge advocate John Dance suggested that the eastern side near the river will remain forested and the river itself is a key aspect of the Indigenous world. There is also the potential of having “healing forests” on both sides of the river.

Decision

• Information item. There was general support for the idea. 

8. Capital Ward Report (Ariela Summit for Councillor Menard)

Lady Evelyn School

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board has reversed its decision to eliminate the intake of new kindergarten students for the 2026-2027 school year. This new decision makes the future of the school more likely.

McDonald’s Parking on des Oblats

Councillor Menard will hold an on-site meeting (March 24) of residents and others to discuss measures that address parking / congestion problems attributed to the new McDonald’s at the corner of des Oblats and Main Street. Potential measures are more enforcement and 15-minute (not two-hour) parking limits nearby

Forecourt Park

Staff have prepared the “charter” for the new park and draft designs will be completed in April with public consultations in June. Indigenous consultation is also planned for this period.

Brantwood Bike Park

City staff are recommending either the removal of the informal bike park in the grove at the southeast corner of Brantwood Park or the replacement of it with a “formalized’ bike park. Issues raised were the need for consultation and the protection of the trees, including some of the biggest and oldest oak trees in Old Ottawa East. No costing has been done but, were it to proceed, it would be funded from the Capital Ward share of cash-in-lieu of parkland funding.

Picnic tables and Muskoka chairs for Springhurst Park

Two new picnic tables to be located in shaded areas and three Muskoka chairs near the dock are proposed by the Councillor. The proposition was supported. The specific locations will be established in consultation with prime users of the park, including Rick Burrowes.

Three-stream Garbage and Recycling Cans at Springhurst

The specific need for three-stream garbage/recycling cans was raised. [Two days later Ariela confirmed that Springhurst would get one.]

Consultation on New Community Centre

CAG executive director Lee Jacobs noted that CAG needs to know the scheduling of the new community centre consultation and construction because they have a profound effect on CAG’s planning and operations.

No-Right Turn Northbound Main at Greenfield

This restriction continues to be a considerable annoyance to residents, as noted by Phyllis Odenbach Sutton and others.

15 Des Oblats development

Inconvenience / damaged sidewalks / debris and dirt not cleaned up on Springhurst / Rosemere, Phyllis noted.

9. CAG Update (Lee Jacobs)

• All summer camps sold out
• The speakers series continues
• Improved accessibility for the Brantwood fieldhouse washrooms has been made by the City
• It’s been an “incredible year” for CAG rentals: 125 percent more than last year.

10. Treasurer’s Report (Mark Dermer)

• As of March 6, the OOECA bank account balance is $26,203.87 (Attachment 2 – Treasurer’s Report – March 2026)
• The Rideau Winter Trail has now cashed the OOECA contribution of $500.
• A portion of OOECA’s funds in TD bank will be put into an interest-bearing certificate once it’s clear what level of minimum balance is required to limit bank changes.
• Treasurer Mark Dermer’s goal is to make OOECA’s financial systems paperless, cashless and online by the time we get the AGM in the fall. This will require a small investment in some software and learning.
• Mark expects there may be some financial process changes that arise from compliance with the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA).

11. Planning Committee Report (Anthony Leaning)

Attachment 3 – Planning Report for March 2026

Rideau River Nature Trail / 30m strip in front of Greystone Village

The Planning Committee discussed the future of this strip of land through which the nature trail and the Rideau River Western pathway (City of Ottawa easement) run.

Issues

• Long-term ownership and ongoing management of the naturalized area.

Discussion

• Volunteers have worked for years removing invasives but Regional has not allowed any significant removal of larger vegetation (e.g., Manitoba maples and buckthorn) which are threatening the native trees that Regional planted.
• Regional will complete its construction program over the next few years and will have sold most of its buildings so the question is whether they will perform the ongoing maintenance that is required on the 500-metre-long strip of land along the river. In the past, Regional suggested that they would be willing to divest itself of ownership but neither the City of Ottawa nor the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) was interested because of operational costs, liability and contamination issues.

Decision

• Planning chair Anthony Leaning says the next steps are to engage Councillor Menard, RVCA and others. The Board endorsed this action.

Committee of Adjustment

The house on this double lot was recently demolished. No permit was posted but questions were raised as to whether demolition is allowed before a building permit is issued. Ariela to follow up.

67 Springhurst (opposite The Corners on Main)

The house on this double lot was recently demolished. No permit was posted but questions were raised as to whether demolition is allowed before a building permit is issued. Ariela to follow up.

441-443 Echo (low-rise apartment building)

A resident reached out to the Planning Committee inquiring what was planned, given that there recently had been geotechnical drilling on the site. No information exists on the City’s DevApps site pertaining to this property.

12. Other Business

Ron Rose noted the need for a list of all community association members with a means of electronically communicating with them. There was concurrence with the need to address this and the issue will be discussed with the Membership Committee.

13. Adjournment

Motion to adjourn meeting at 8:50 p.m. moved by Mark Dermer, seconded by Matt Francino. Carried.