Tree Planting Volunteers and Stewards Needed

After 10 months of negotiating with the NCC, MCA is finally gearing up to plant 20 trees on NCC land in Tunney’s Pasture. This work began earlier this year when MCA was approached by CAFES Ottawa to plant trees in Mechanicsville as part of their annual Mother’s Day tree planting event. CAFES Ottawa acts as a network between community associations and citizens working to promote environmental sustainability in Ottawa. MCA originally targeted Lazy Bay Commons as a location for tree planting but the decision was made to move the planting site due to contaminated soil at this location. The new planting location is north of Tunney’s pasture and west of the Goldenrod Community Garden.

MCA is looking for help with the following items to make this tree planting a success:

1. A nearby place to fill a mobile water tank that will be used to refill the onsite water tote

2. Volunteers for the tree planting which is planned for November 2nd @

3. Tree stewards to water the trees as needed over the next three years

If you are interested in volunteering to plant or to be a tree steward contact MCA, mechanicsvilleca@gmail.com

MCA Holds Annual General Meeting-Nov. 14th @7pm

MCA invites you to join us at our Annual General Meeting on Thursday, November 14th from 7-9pm. At this year’s meeting, we will be looking to the community for input on some of our upcoming projects, so let your voice be heard and show support for your neighbourhood! We are also welcoming guest speaker, Dave Allston, a local historian who will be sharing new research discoveries he has made relating to Lazy Bay Commons. Come early to enjoy refreshments and to mingle with your neighbors!

Moon Meditation-Wednesdays Oct 2-Dec 4 @ KBCB

MCA in partnership with Luma Blue Glass Arts presents Moon Meditations every Wednesday evenings from 8:30-9:30pm starting Oct 2 to Dec 4 at the Keith Brown Community Building in Laroche Park by donation.

MCA is subsidizing spots for local residents, email for more info. mechanicsvilleca@gmail.com

Senior Tea & Art Evenings at Laroche Park

MCA in partnership with Luma Blue Glass Arts and sponsored by Councillor Leiper is hosting FREE tea & art evenings for seniors starting this Wednesday, Oct 2 @ 6:30 and every week until Nov 27th @ Keith Brown Community Building @ Laroche Park in Mechanicsville!

Afro-Cuban Dance Classes for Kids Starts Oct. 2nd!

Afro-Caribbean Dance for kids starting Wednesday, Oct 2 starting at 6:30 at the Keith Brown Community Building at Laroche Park!

MCA is providing scholarships to families in need. Contact mechanicsvilleca@gmail.com to learn more and to request support.

Register with Suzanne at culturalartsstudio@gmail.com or drop in on Oct 2 before 6:30pm.

Advocating Affordable Housing for Bayview Yards

The Hintonburg and Mechanicsville Community Associations are leading an informal working group that would prioritize development of affordable housing in the vacant lot north of Bayview Station. This working group formed at a critical time since developers are currently looking for opportunities to develop this area that could lead to undesirable development in our community.

“MCA wants to get ahead of this issue so we can better influence how this land is used, preferably by bringing permanent affordable housing and long-term benefits to the community,” said Roy Atkinson, MCA Board Member and Co-Chair of the working group.

The Bayview Yards Working Group includes executive members from both Community Associations and others with special expertise and perspectives including advocating for affordable housing. The group is currently looking at barriers to affordable housing including how to lower the cost of cleaning up contaminated soils. They are also searching for and promoting financial models that reduce three key costs: land acquisition, construction, and mortgage. All of which are important to the success of permanent affordable housing on this site. As part of this effort, the group is also looking for examples of innovative construction methods and architectural designs such as the “15-minute community” model which encourages families to embrace urban living.

“This is a new approach that we are taking to be proactive and tell the City of Ottawa what we want in our community. We welcome ideas and comments from Mechanicsville and Hintonburg residents to help us with this direction and planning,” said Rhys Phillips, HCA Board Member and Co-chair of the working group.

Mechanicsville Garden Brings the Community Together

Have you enjoyed the "guerilla" garden that grows along the northside of Scott Street along the edge of Mechanicsville? Long time resident, Zhongni Zhang, has planted and nurtured this flower garden that runs along the multi-use path for years. This garden provides a pop of color in a rather drab urban setting. People walking and cycling along this path or waiting at the bus stop are often seen enjoying the flowers and rock art in this garden.

When this stretch of was Scott Street was slated for construction this past year, MCA and neighbors were worried that the garden would be lost and damaged. Lorrie Marlow, MCA president, contacted the City Project Manager to confirm that Zhang’s precious garden would be protected. Marlow and another Mechanicsville resident, Kristen Howe, met to walk around the garden to identify which plants may be affected and to discuss how to rescue these plants within the project timeline. MCA volunteers had undertaken plant rescues before from other development sites and were ready to rescue Zhang's plants. 

On the day of the plant rescue, volunteers from Mechanicsville and Hintonburg, 10 in all, came together to move the affected plants and replant  them in a nearby garden. The same volunteers will also help Zhang replant them once the construction on Scott Street is complete and new trees and benches have been installed. Zhang and MCA volunteers were also excited to find out that the garden will be expanded as a result of the rehabilitation project in this area!

“A huge thanks to Zhang for planting this garden and the MCA volunteers who helped with this plant rescue. It was a challenging project and it’s not done yet. Also thanks to the volunteers who have been watering Zhang's plants and picking litter in this garden over the years. It is touching to see the community support for this beloved garden,” said Marlow.

As for the Mechanicsville resident, Zhang, who designed, planted and nurtures these gardens, he was so pleased with the community support.

“I am glad this little personal endeavour has turned into a community project, with all the help from the members of the community and MCA. Everyone can do their part to make the community a better place,” said Zhang.

Story by: MCA Board Members: Gabrielle Dorr & Lorrie Marlow; Images: Lorrie Marlow

Kiddical Mass Comes to Laroche Park-Sept. 28th

MCA is partnering with Kidical Mass Ottawa to host a family cycle on the Kichi Zibi Mikan parkway starting from Laroche Park on September 28th. MCA will host a BBQ and Merry Dairy will be on site to provide ice cream after the ride at 11am so bring cash!

MCA Works with City to Provide Traffic-Calming Measures in Mechanicsville During Traffic Changes

In Mid-July the City of Ottawa will begin to re-direct traffic from Scott St. to Burnside Ave. to replace water/sewer lines through the end of August. The City closed Scott Street earlier this week between Bayview Station Rd. and Parkdale Ave. to westbound traffic. Drivers can still travel eastbound on Scott St. At the same time, OC Transpo is closing down the LRT between Tunney’s Pasture and Rideau stations for planned maintenance during July 15-26 which will add buses to Burnside Ave. Pedestrian and bike access is also blocked on the north side path on Scott Street during construction.

“We have spoke to the City about the timing with OC Transpo’s planned LRT shutdown. The City acknowledges that the timing is not ideal but they are concerned about getting the work done before school buses start in September which could present another safety issue,” said Lorrie Marlow, MCA Board President.

In an email from MCA to city officials sent on June 30th, we requested that all possible traffic-calming measures be used on Burnside. Our request included:

1. 3-way stop at Stonehurst and Burnside needed for the Laroche Park access to childrens' playground

2. Speed bumps before and after the Burnside hill

3. Electronic speed monitoring signs must be working

4. Traffic counter to record the amount of vehicles

5. Children/senior crossing signs and street markings for residents crossing Burnside at Carruthers to enter the gate into Lazy Bay Commons also at Burnside/Forward and/or Hinchey trying to access the Riverton Apartments. 

6. City Police traffic enforcement must sit on the corner of Carruthers and Burnside daily during peak hours

7. Creating a right-turn lane on Burnside/Parkdale with the installation of no parking signs on the northside of Burnside from Forward to Parkdale next to the Brigil building @ 121 Parkdale Ave

8. Request Richcraft to allow a temporary dog park in the fenced vacant lot at Parkdale and Scott next to the new community garden. This will redirect Mechanicsville dogwalkers to cross at a safe crosswalk on Scott instead of risking Burnside traffic without a safe crosswalk.

The City has responded and is not able to meet our requests for items 1,2, and 5 of our list because these items do not meet certain criteria. They are working on helping us with 3,4, 6, and 8 and will provide slow-down signs all along Burnside. The City is not able to meet request 7 because the width of Burnside is too narrow. MCA is also in discussions with the City about directing some of the traffic onto the Kichi Zibi Mikan parkway from Slidell.

“The City is working with us on this issue but we can’t let our guard down and expect that this will go smoothly. We want all residents to be aware of the safety risks during this time and to please take extra caution crossing roads and watching children,” said Marlow.

At this time, we encourage residents to keep an eye on Burnside traffic and to please report any issues by emailing us at mechanicsvilleca@gmail.com. We assure you that we monitor our email daily and we will reach out to the city on behalf of our community to demand action from the City as needed.

MCA President Talks About Preserving Mechanicsville History in "This is Ottawa" podcast

Lorrie Marlow, MCA Board President met up with Robyn Bresnahan from CBC to share Mechanicsville’s history, a few neighbourhood treasures, and MCA’s community work. Read the entire story and listen to the podcast.

Public Service Announcement: Contaminated Soils in Mechanicsville

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich (Pexels.com)

Ottawa Public Health provided the following announcement regarding contaminated soils in Mechanicsville:

There is a long history of industrial and commercial land use in the Mechanicsville area so residents are advised to adhere to the following guidance regarding growing food for personal consumption:

• Vegetables and other plants grown in your garden which may be eaten should be planted in a soil mix obtained from a garden center that has been placed in raised beds or planter boxes that have a geotextile base to prevent the clean soil from mixing with the soil underneath.

• Build children’s play sandboxes with a wood or plastic bottom and use clean sand from a local supplier.

• Cover all bare patches of soil on your property. Grass or hard surfaces, such as paving stones, will keep dust and dirt from being tracked into your home and prevent small children from coming in contact with the bare soil.

• Wash all produce and your hands under running water after spending time in your yard and before preparing a meal.

• Dispose of any excavated soil from your property at a licensed landfill facility.

For additional questions or health concerns, please contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 or via email at healthsante@ottawa.ca

FREE Soccer in the Park this Summer for Mechanicsville Youth!

Free, drop in, kids soccer starts this Thursday, June 20th @ 6pm @ Laroche Park at the northeast corner near the play structure! This free program goes until the fall! See QR code on the poster to register for an Ottawa Cougars jersey! Bring your water bottle, shoes and a lawnchair to enjoy Laroche Park!

Thank you for Joining us on Mechanicsville Day this year!

Mechanicsville celebrated 150 years since the neighbourhood was first surveyed at our annual Mechanicsville Day on June 8th, 2024! This was the first time in four years that we were all able to be together at this event and there was a lot to celebrate. At the event, we served halal hot dogs, veggie hot dogs, and refreshments along with FREE servings of cake following our cake-cutting ceremony with Member of Parliament (MP) Yasir Naqvi, Councillor Jeff Leiper, and the oldest living resident of Mechanicsville, Keith Brown, in attendance! We had many FREE family-friendly activities planned for the day including featuring a few vendors from our local Mechanicsville neighbourhood, Luma Blue Glass, a local basketweaver, and local artist Aalyahs Artisan. Kids of all ages earned prizes by completing a scavenger hunt! All were welcome to learn about the history of Mechanicsville from local historians and could participate in our historical walk through the Keith Brown Community Centre. MP Navqi also presented the Mechanicsville Community Association with a recognition of our 150-year celebration and for contributing to making Ottawa Centre a vibrant community.

It was a fantastic day to bring Mechanicsville residents together in celebration and as a community. We hope you will join us again next year!

Photos: Jeff Haprov

Kitchissippi Community Yard Sale-June 1st!

The 2024 Kitchissippi Community Yard sale will be held on June 1 this year (June 2 rain date) starting at 8am! Don’t want to run a sale? Set out items at the curb with a FREE sign. Consider donating a portion of your proceeds to charity.

View google map of participating residents and businesses.

Email jeff.leiper@ottawa.ca to register your location and get added to the map!

New Public Art Installation in Laroche Park This Fall

The City of Ottawa in collaboration with the residents of Mechanicsville selected Amy Thompson to commission the first public art piece in the City’s collection. Amy Thompson will install the art piece, entitled Signal Pine, representing the area’s rich industrial history at Laroche Park in Mechanicsville this Fall 2024.

Thompson’s sculptural artwork will associate human-scale seating elements with a sculptural tree symbolizing the pine trees that once grew in this area. The artist will combine contemporary forms with natural patterns and incorporate patterns inspired by the interdependence of water, rail, and lumber. Her use of tactile materials such as stone will encourage interactive play and integrate naturally into the surrounding environment.

Thank you to the City of Ottawa and to local residents for supporting this exciting endeavor!

Screenshot of artwork rendering by Amy Thompson from the City of Ottawa website.

Mechanicsville Winter Festival-Feb 3rd!

The Mechanicsville Winter Festival is Saturday, Feb 3rd at Laroche Park! We will have a FREE horse & sleigh ride sponsored by Keith Brown from 2 to 4pm! The Keith Brown Community Building will be open at 1pm if you need a bathroom or to warm up. We will also have FREE hot chocolate and activities for the kids. Bring cash for the bake sale or to pay for your MCA Membership to support this event and future ones. If you would like to donate any baked goods please bring them to the Keith Brown Community Building anytime after 12:30pm! Send a message to mechanicsvilleca@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer!

MCA Addresses Traffic Flow from Tunney's Redevelopment Project

Tunney’s Pasture redevelopment concept: urban main street Charbon and Yarrow (Source: tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/biens-property/construction/tunneyspasture-eng.html)

The Tunney’s Redevelopment project is proposing two new roads that would connect traffic flow to Mechanicsville. If allowed to go through as proposed the traffic flow could overwhelm residential streets and neighborhoods and impact Laroche Park. MCA is endorsing Councilor Leiper’s suggestion to develop a Working Group with representatives from Mechanicsville and Tunney’s Pasture to think through solutions to this issue.

Read our letter to the Senior Project Manager

MCA Pays Final Invoice for "Trees Not Embassies" Legal Counsel

MCA Board Member, Roy Atkinson, presents cheque to Kristi Ross, lawyer who represented MCA in the “Trees Not Embassies” legal challenge.

With the help of local donors during a recent fundraiser, MCA presented a cheque to Kristi Ross for $12,800 paying the final invoice for her legal counsel to save Lazy Bay Commons.

“Due to the generosity of several large donors, we fulfilled our goal to negotiate a larger greenspace for the residents of Mechanicsville and pay for outstanding legal representation from Kristi Ross,” said Lorrie Marlow, MCA Board President.

MCA would like to thank all donors for their support. MCA and its volunteers will continue to work to preserve our precious greenspace!

MCA Provides Feedback on Tunney's Pasture Re-Development

Tunney’s Pasture Redevelopment Concept: Lower density residential redevelopment, west side (source: Government of Canada website)

On Nov. 30th, 2023, MCA provided feedback on the re-development project team for Tunney’s Pasture following the open house on Nov. 21 and 22. The main points in our letter are related to:

• Making Tunney’s Pasture into a walkable 15-minute neighborhood (as outlined in City of Ottawa’s New Official Plan)

• Conducting traffic impact assessments on neighboring communities

• Consultations on how to prevent traffic flows from Burnside/Columbine gateway

• Rethinking a future road connecting Lyndale to Tunney’s Pasture (preventing traffic flows through Mechanicsville)

• Preventing wind tunnels from high-rise buildings that also block sunlight for tree growth

• Securing efforts to creating safe summer and winter access at two “Natural Primary Gateways”

Trees Not Embassies update

When Mechanicsville stood up against the NCC to save Lazy Bay Commons, we were motivated by the amazing community support that we received from you all! Besides our wins, we achieved what no other small, volunteer-run, community association has in this city, a voice!!!

The fight is not over yet. We still have a financial hurdle to overcome for us to hold both the NCC and the City accountable to the negotiated terms in the Minutes of Settlement (see link below) as the plans for Lazy Bay Commons move forward. We need your financial support to clear the final legal costs incurred in the Trees Not Embassies campaign.

Although we didn’t win everything we wanted in this fight, with your help we stood up for what we felt was right. Taking on the NCC was not a fair fight but this is what we got:

1. A federal park/environmental preserve of .9 Ha of land at the east end of Lazy Bay Commons. This larger park equals 24% of the total area, well-above the City requirements of 2-5%. This federal greenspace is to be reflected in all NCC planning documents within 2 years;

2. Enhanced connection between Laroche Park and the Ottawa River as provided in the Scott Street Community Design Plan;

3. The NCC, the City and the MCA will work cooperatively to “implement the Agreement in a manner that protects and promotes the public interest and the health and safety of the community” and to respond to all reasonable written requests;

4. Consultation with the MCA on the design of a pathway connecting Forward to Hinchey Avenue and best efforts to retain or replace existing trees adjacent to 89 Forward Avenue;

5. Mature trees should be retained except where removal is unavoidable, best efforts shall be made to replace removed trees on the Lazy Bay Commons;

6. The NCC shall not make any alterations to the Lazy Bay Commons prior to redevelopment that would render it inaccessible or contrary to its current informal use, other than for reasons relating to public health or safety or if preliminary work or studies are required for the purpose of redevelopment or site investigation;

7. Construction of a sidewalk along Burnside to Slidell with an “active transportation connection” along Slidell to the Parkway to be built upon construction of the first embassy; and

8. Lands not set aside as a federal park, will be developed for up to 5 embassy buildings limited to 3 stories tall with either underground or screened parking and no parking, driveways, or waste bins facing the community and limits on security fencing.

9. Established the Ontario Land Tribunal precedent that Community Associations should have standing to represent their community

This precedent-setting campaign and its outcomes would not have happened without your support and the legal ingenuity of our legal counsel, Kristi Ross. MCA is 100% run by volunteers and this campaign was not an exception. Many passionate association members spent tireless hours making this campaign happen and they would do it again to support our community. We will not stop until the park is fully accessible and the last tree is planted in Lazy Bay Commons!

Please consider donating to our GoFundMe: Trees Not Embassies Legal Defence Fund at https://gofund.me/076db3ee or you can donate directly to the Mechanicsville Community Association by cheque or by an electronic transfer sent to mechanicsvilleca@gmail.com. Note that donations need to be marked as “Trees Not Embassies Legal Defense Fund.”

If you would like to read the full text of the Minutes of Settlement Agreement, please visit the MCA website www.mechanicsville.ca/ncc-embassy. Also, please feel free to reach out to our members with any questions you have about this effort at mechanicsvilleca@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Lorrie Marlow, President

Mechanicsville Community Association