Orléans South-Navan Community Update | January 30th 2026

Councillor's Message

I recently returned from the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference in Toronto, where I was proud to help represent Ottawa’s rural communities. The conference was an invaluable opportunity to meet with provincial ministers, key advisors, and advance important rural priorities for our city. From infrastructure and transportation to health care access, economic development, and environmental stewardship, the insights gained will help us move rural Ottawa forward.

Closer to home, I had the pleasure of attending the Navan Fair Annual General Meeting hosted by the Cumberland Township Agricultural Society last Friday. It was wonderful to connect with the dedicated members who make the fair possible and hear about the exciting plans for this year’s event. The Navan Fair is a highlight of the year for so many, and I remain committed to supporting it wherever possible. Mark your calendars for August 6 – 9, 2026, for this year’s edition of our community’s best summer tradition!

Back at City Hall, one of the most significant decisions of this Term of Council was made this week with the approval of Ottawa’s new Zoning By-law. The new Zoning By-law is the rulebook that determines what can be built on every lot across the city. The last time this by-law was comprehensively updated was back in 2008 (gas was 80 cents/litre!). A lot has changed since then: how we live, how we move, how we build, and how fast our city is growing. Both the provincial and federal government have also instructed us to update this rulebook, to ensure more units are unlocked to address the housing crisis, and more funds can flow back to the city to support affordable housing.

We can describe this process like cleaning out your fridge. The fridge is the City of Ottawa, guided by our Official Plan. The old zoning by-law was full of condiments that had been sitting at the back of the fridge since 2008 — rules, exceptions, and assumptions that no longer matched today’s realities and were past their expiry date.

This update was about clearing out what no longer made sense and replacing it with new, more modern rules that better reflect how our city needs to grow today.

I have spent years on the Councillor Working Group for the New Zoning By-law, bringing a strong Orléans South and suburban voice to the table. A key focus of my work was to continually re-shift the conversation on where growth should be happening. If we make urban intensification easy, but make greenfield suburban development even easier, then we have failed. Our community simply cannot continue to absorb the sheer volume of development without the infrastructure to support it. Growth must be directed first to areas with existing and funded transit, services, and established communities, not just pushed to the edge of the city because it is simpler on paper and more profitable for developers.

There is a strong sentiment around the council table—and frankly at every level of government—that we need to build housing as fast as possible. I share the urgency of making housing more affordable. But I have also been clear that Ward 19 must serve as a cautionary tale. We have grown rapidly, and that growth has too often prioritized speed over substance. Housing is not just about delivering units: it’s about building complete communities. Places that are connected, supported by real transportation options, and anchored by the infrastructure and amenities people need to live full lives. That kind of planning has historically been lacking in Orléans South, and it’s something I have been working tirelessly to address retroactively. I don’t subscribe to the notion that housing should come at the expense of everything else. A community is more than a collection of homes: it’s creating a livable, functional place.

That is why I brought forward and successfully passed several important motions to strengthen the by-law and better protect Orléans South.

First, Council approved my motion to ensure that potential future taller buildings in suburban areas are only permitted where transit is built and funded, not just “planned on paper.” This helps prevent large increases in height and density from being approved before the roads and transit needed to support them are in place.

Second, Council supported my motion to protect the existing height limits along Innes Road between Pagé Road and Trim Road. These limits cannot now be quietly increased through the new zoning by-law. Any future changes will require a new public planning application and a Council decision, ensuring residents have a real say.

Thirdly, I passed a motion to study how redevelopment and intensification impacts small neighbourhood plazas and local businesses. As land values rise, these small, locally owned businesses are often at risk of being displaced. This work will look at tools and supports to help ensure we do not lose the everyday services that make our communities 15-minute neighbourhoods.

Furthermore, to protect the function of suburban local streets, particularly near new schools, I brought forward a motion to address the unintended impacts of incremental design changes. Too often, features such as bus lay-bys and curb modifications end up narrowing roads and eliminating on-street parking. This motion affirms a policy direction to prioritize wider local street rights-of-way and pre-built on-street parking bays in front of schools, and directs staff to embed this approach into subdivision and development review practices. This is about ensuring suburban streets are designed to safely and practically serve families, students, buses, and neighbourhood parking — not just meeting minimum technical standards on paper.

Another motion I had was to ensure the City is monitoring whether new suburban street and lot design standards are actually working as intended in the real world. The updated standards include wider 18-metre local road rights-of-way and reduced front yard setbacks, which are meant to support tree planting, snow storage, pedestrian safety, and neighbourhood livability. However, residents continue to raise concerns about front yard parking, vehicles overhanging sidewalks, limited space for street trees, and conflicts between sidewalks, snow storage, and driveways — particularly in areas like Ottawa’s east end where clay soils can affect landscaping and tree growth. My motion directs staff to actively monitor and evaluate how these new standards are performing on the ground, including impacts on tree canopy, winter operations, sidewalk usability, parking pressures, and overall neighbourhood function. Staff will report back on whether adjustments may be needed in certain conditions, and whether alternative approaches such as greater use of rear-yard tree planting should be considered to better achieve the City’s urban forest and community design goals.

Finally, based on real issues I have dealt with in communities like Bradley Estates this past summer, I brought forward a direction to ensure as-of-right development does not slip through the cracks. Some projects do not require a planning application or public consultation under the Planning Act, even though they can still have a real impact on neighbourhoods. My direction requires Building Code Services to provide ward councillors with regular updates on residential building permit activity including as-of-right infill using existing open data systems where possible. This will improve transparency, allow issues to be identified earlier, and help ensure residents and councillors are not left in the dark about what is happening in their neighbourhoods.

At its core, this zoning update is about making sure growth happens in the right places, at the right pace, and with the right infrastructure. As you can see by my work at Council, my priority has been and will continue to be to advocate for a fairer balance, so communities like Orléans South are not asked to carry more than our share, while established, transit-supported urban areas across the city are fully part of accommodating Ottawa’s growth.

Keep warm,

Two-week full closure of Lamarche Avenue for critical underground infrastructure work

Residents in Orléans Village should be aware of an upcoming two-week full closure of Lamarche Avenue to allow for critical underground infrastructure work.

Lamarche Avenue will be fully closed between Innes Road and Argonaut Circle from Wednesday, February 4 to Friday, February 20, 2026. This work is required to complete new stormwater connections within the road right-of-way.

Existing pipes are located on the east side of the road, while the new connections must be installed from the west side. Because of the limited space between the existing curb and the proposed trench location, there is not enough room to safely maintain traffic while this work is completed. My office pushed City staff and the contractor, but a full closure is unfortunately the safest and only viable option.

I know this timing is especially frustrating, as residents have just begun benefiting from the new traffic signal at Innes and Lamarche. The project team working on the signal needed to complete its work, before work on the stormwater connection could begin. This infrastructure work is necessary to support the Caivan development currently under construction and to ensure long-term servicing capacity for the area.

A detour will be in place using Ventus Way and Innes Road that residents in that area are already familiar with. I am aware that traffic at this location is already challenging. My office has been in touch with Halo Car Wash to request that they take steps to better manage traffic and queuing related to their site during this period to help reduce congestion in the area. Halo has advised me that they will proactively notify their customers and encourage them to shift or reduce car wash visits during the closure window, and that they will continue to tightly manage on-site traffic flow. They also noted that they have previously taken steps to mitigate impacts, including extending their hours of operation and limiting membership usage, and will continue to work to minimize disruption during this temporary closure to the best of their ability.

City staff will be actively monitoring traffic conditions and queuing throughout the two-week closure. Please know that I will continue to press for any adjustments or mitigation measures that can help reduce impacts on residents and commuters.

Separately, I have heard from residents about Caivan’s construction activity regularly impeding traffic on Lamarche. I have raised these concerns directly with Caivan and am working with them to ensure this does not continue once the closure is complete.

As well, residents are reminded to drive slowly and carefully through the community, as it remains an active construction site with ongoing work and heavy equipment in the area.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as this necessary work is completed.

One-month full closure of a portion of Compass Street

To support the future Richcraft development at 640 Compass, the contractor is required to install critical underground infrastructure that can only be complete by cutting across both lanes of traffic.

As a result, Compass Street will be fully closed from Rainrock Crescent to Axis Way from Monday, February 9 to Monday, March 9, 2026. Local access will be maintained for the eight homes within the closure at all times.

Thank you for your understanding.

Clarifications on snowbank removal operations

I have been receiving questions and seeing comments online about why some streets see snowbank removal before others, and how the City decides when and where to remove snow. I wanted to take a moment to clarify how these decisions are made and what residents can expect.

Before snowbank removal begins on a street, temporary “no stopping” signs are placed directly in the snowbanks. Parking is not permitted in these areas, even for parking permit holders. You may notice that signs are not removed ahead of time, this is intentional. Removing signs in advance would require staff to work in front of heavy equipment, which is unsafe. The signs are made of biodegradable material and are collected along with the snow during removal operations.

Snow removal is prioritized based on Council-approved Maintenance Quality Standards and roadway classifications, including arterial roads, collector roads, and residential streets. Streets where snowbanks are narrowing lanes, affecting visibility, or creating safety concerns are prioritized first based on historical information and real-time sightings by snow crews as they plow.

Many residents are surprised to learn that snowbank removal on arterial and collector roads can only be done overnight. This is done to maintain traffic flow, reduce disruption to businesses, and protect the safety of both residents and operators. Because crews work in 12-hour overnight shifts, there is a limit to how much can be completed in a single night. Daytime snowbank removal typically occurs on lower-traffic residential streets where pedestrian volumes are lower.

During active storms, snowbank removal and cleanup work are temporarily paused so that all available crews can focus on plowing and treating roads and sidewalks. Once the event is over and the network is made safe and passable, crews return to snowbank removal as conditions allow.

In addition, we have been advised that all snow removal operation will be paused starting this evening and will resume Sunday night, weather permitting.

If you have concerns about snow conditions on your street, I strongly encourage you to contact my office directly rather than commenting on Facebook posts. During the winter, I have a dedicated staff member who is reassigned to specifically to prioritize snow-related service requests. This allows us to track concerns, follow up with City operations, and make sure issues are actioned and not missed.

Thank you for your patience and for continuing to work with us to keep our community safe and moving throughout the winter.

REMINDER - Navan Landfill proposed expansion open house in mid-February

The Navan Landfill’s expansion Open House #1, originally scheduled for December 2025 is coming up. The new date is Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Le Rendez-vous des aînés francophones d’Ottawa, 3349 Navan Road, Orléans, Ontario, K1W 0K7.

It is important to note that these open houses are organized and scheduled by the private proponent, not by my office or the City. I do not choose the dates, times, or locations for these sessions, nor do I have the authority to change them. However, I remain fully engaged in this file. I will continue to closely monitor the environmental assessment process and represent the concerns of residents throughout this multi-year exercise. I want to reiterate that I do not support WCC's proposed expansion.

Residents are encouraged to attend, learn more about the proposal, and share their feedback.

For questions or comments in advance, you can email Chris.Visser@wasteconnections.com and Yannick.Marcerou@wsp.com.

If you’d like to see my initial comments and reaction from both my November 9 or November 21 newsletter, please click one or both of the dates.

Mer Bleue transformer sub-station pre-construction meeting

At the end of March, Hydro Ottawa will begin construction on the new Mer-Bleue transformer sub-station on the west side of Mer-Bleue Road, northwest of the intersection at Brian Coburn Boulevard. The new power station will connect to Hydro One’s existing 230kV transmission line located to the south of the proposed site. 

As a reminder, the purpose of this project is to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of power to meet the growing electricity needs in the east end.

As part of the consultation process, a third community information session is being held by Hydro Ottawa on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

Members of the public are invited to attend our upcoming community information sessions to learn about our construction plans for the new facility, speak directly to members of our project team, and provide feedback.

Afternoon Virtual Session

February 11, 2026

12:15 – 1 pm

Visit hydroottawa.com/merbleue to register for our afternoon session

Evening Virtual Session

February 11, 2026

7:15 – 8 pm

Visit hydroottawa.com/merbleue to register for our evening session

Residents unable to attend one of the virtual sessions, or prefer an in-person meeting, have been advised to reach out to our project team at merbleue@hydroottawa.com to book an appointment.

There are no power outages planned at this time. Arrangements have been made so that electricity service can be maintained during construction of the new facilities. If that changes, you will be notified in advance.

OC Transpo Service and the East Extension

Residents are understandably deeply concerned and beyond frustrated with the ongoing challenges facing OC Transpo, both on the bus network and with the LRT. While OC Transpo continues to keep Council and the public informed, waiting for solutions to be engineered is, quite frankly, maddening—especially as residents endure the coldest stretch of the year standing at stops and platforms. The ongoing challenges are unacceptable, particularly those who rely on transit every day to get to work, school, and appointments.

Next week, customers can expect Line 1 operations to remain at three- to four-minute frequency during peak service. OC Transpo anticipates 18 trains will be available as RTG continues to develop a Cartridge Bearing Assemblies replacement strategy that balances increasing fleet availability with ongoing maintenance and inspection requirements. Discussions between RTG and Alstom’s external experts and the OC Transpo team are ongoing. 

With respect to the east extension, we have been told that the current issues are not impacting that project, and that at this time, minor deficiencies remain the reason trail running has not yet commenced. That said, I have been candid about my frustration with the lack of substantive updates, and I’ve made that concern known directly to the Chair of the Transit Committee. I know residents want clarity, and I share that expectation. I am hopeful that next week will bring greater transparency and a clearer understanding of the path forward.

REMINDER – Register for Steeped in Conversation: Valentine’s Community Seniors Tea

I’m pleased to invite seniors in our community to join Councillor Matt Luloff and I for a special Valentine’s Community Seniors Tea: “Steeped in Conversation.”

This afternoon gathering is an opportunity to come together, enjoy light refreshments, and share meaningful conversation in a warm and welcoming setting.

This free event will take place on Thursday, February 12, 2026, from 1 – 3 pm at the Notre-Dame-des-Champs Community Hall, 3659 Navan Road.

Along with delightful snacks and tea, there will be fun entertainment and plenty of time to connect with friends, neighbours, and your local councillors.

Space is limited and individual registration is required, so I encourage you to register early using the link here.

I can’t wait to see you there!

Attending Alto’s open house information session

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to attend the Alto high-speed rail public consultation at Bayview Yards, which was held over two days during their stop in Ottawa.

There has been significant discussion and speculation in our community about the future rail corridor and the potential impacts on the Prescott-Russell Recreation Trail. As I have shared in previous newsletters, the final alignment has not yet been determined. That said, I want residents to again know that I have raised these concerns directly and on the record. In my role as Vice-Chair of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, I raised the issue when the Alto team presented in September 2025. I also followed up again in early January 2026 during a 1-1 meeting to reinforce the importance of meaningful consultation, transparency, and careful consideration of any potential community impacts.

I will continue to press for clarity and responsible planning as this project moves forward, and I will ensure our community’s interests are clearly represented throughout this process.

If you were not able to attend in person, there are still opportunities to participate. Alto is offering virtual information sessions so residents can share their feedback at a time that works for them. Sessions are available in English and French, with Quebec and American Sign Language interpretation provided. To register for a virtual session that works best with your schedule, please click here.

South Nation Conservation lifts Low Water Advisory

The South Nation Conservation Water Response Team has lifted the Low Water Advisory as conditions have returned to normal across the SNC jurisdiction.

Mild weather, rainfall and snowmelt events in mid-December and early January have supported continued gradual recovery across the jurisdiction.

Recent monitoring data indicates widespread recovery across key low water indicators and the return to normal conditions.

For more information, please click here.

South Nation Conservation begins exciting work on the Navan Forest Restoration project

Residents may notice increased machinery activity in the Navan Forest area this winter, as South Nation Conservation begins important restoration and conservation work on its property off Frank Kenny Road.

SNC staff and heavy forestry equipment will be accessing the conservation authority–owned property as part of Phase 1 of the Navan Forest Restoration project. This initial phase will focus on removing/cutting damaged and fallen trees and creating an access trail. The work is necessary to safely move staff and machinery through the site following the extensive tree damage caused by the May 2022 Derecho storm.

The work is planned for February-March 2026 and is expected to take less than one week to complete.

For safety reasons, SNC is asking that the public not enter the property while work is underway. Signage and flagging tape will be installed in advance, and all heavy machinery will be staged from the access road off Frank Kenny Road. This is not clear cutting work, this is restoration work.

There is currently no public access to this property, and residents are asked to use other nearby outdoor recreational spaces until the restoration work is complete. These measures are in place to protect the safety of staff, contractors, and the public while this important work is carried out.

New primary care clinic & pharmacy coming to Orléans South!

I wanted to share an exciting update about a new medical clinic coming to our ward.

MapleCures Clinics and Pharmacy, located at 3600 Brian Coburn Boulevard, is currently under construction and is expected to open in mid-April 2026, subject to completion timelines. The clinic is offering early enrollment for residents who are looking for a primary care family physician or who would like to be notified as spaces become available.

This early registration allows residents to express interest and be placed on a list as the clinic prepares to open and onboard patients.

Residents who are interested can learn more and sign up online at www.maplecures.ca.

Access to primary care is a major issue for many families, and I will continue to share updates as new clinics and services become available in our community.

East-end coyote virtual information session

I wanted to share information about an upcoming east-end virtual information session co-hosted by Councillor Matt Luloff, Councillor Laura Dudas and myself in partnership with City staff and Coyote Watch Canada.

The session will take place on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 7 pm and will be held on Zoom. The evening will include a presentation by Coyote Watch Canada, followed by a question-and-answer period, and will focus on coyote awareness and safety during peak coyote season.

This is a great opportunity for residents to learn more about coyote behaviour, how to reduce attractants, and what to do if you encounter a coyote in your neighbourhood. City staff will also be available to help answer questions and share information about how the City monitors and responds to wildlife-related concerns.

Residents can register in advance using the following link here.

Getting a pulse check on Ottawa’s economic outlook

I had the opportunity last week to attend Ottawa’s Economic Outlook, hosted by Ottawa Board of Trade and the Ottawa Business Journal alongside fellow city leaders.

It was especially interesting to hear how the global economic climate, from inflation and interest rates to geopolitical uncertainty, is directly shaping decisions and pressures here at home in Ottawa. The discussion highlighted how closely our local economy is linked to broader global forces, and why collaboration between public authorities, businesses, and institutions is more important than ever.

A key focus was Ottawa’s growing role as a defence, security, and advanced technology hub, positioning our city with a strong competitive edge. With a highly skilled workforce, a strong defence sector, and close ties to the federal government, Ottawa is well placed to attract investment and drive innovation.

Grateful for the chance to learn, listen, and reflect on how we can continue to support a resilient, competitive, and inclusive local economy.

Connecting with Ward 19’s community association presidents

On Wednesday night, I had the pleasure of hosting the second meeting with all the presidents of Ward 19’s community associations, after our successful inaugural meeting back in August 2025. It was a fantastic discussion about the opportunities and challenges that our volunteer-led associations are facing, and how we can work together to better support their communities.

We talked about several important themes, including planning for 2026, the need for more volunteers, resource sharing between associations, and ways to improve communication between Community Associations and City staff. There was also strong interest in continuing to collaborate on issues like grants and policy updates, as well as making sure residents know their community associations exist and how to get involved.

I’m very grateful to Yasmine, Rylee, Caroline, Luc, and Michelle who contributed their insights and experience. It was clear that while each of our communities is unique—rural and suburban alike—we share a common goal of creating vibrant, connected neighbourhoods. To keep the conversation going, we’ll be holding these meetings quarterly, hosted in different parts of the ward. The first one was held in Greater Avalon, and the second in Navan.

Most importantly, our community associations are powered by volunteers on their own time. If you’re looking for a way to give back, meet your neighbours, and make a difference, I encourage you to get involved depending on where you live in Orléans South-Navan. Each association is always looking for new volunteers:

• Bradley Estates – beca.orleans@gmail.com

• Chapel Hill South – chapelhillsouth@gmail.com

• Greater Avalon – info@gaca-acga.com

• Navan – nca@navan.on.ca

• Sarsfield – info@sarsfield.org

If you’re unsure which association you belong to but want to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, and I’ll be happy to help connect you with the right one.

Celebrate Family Fun Day with the Greater Avalon Community Association

Join the Greater Avalon Community Association for a day filled with family fun!

On Monday, February 16, from 2 – 4 pm at Aquaview Community Centre (318 Aquaview Drive), enjoy a maple syrup kiosk, kids’ activities, a cozy firepit, face painting, snow painting, and so much more!

Don’t forget to bring your reusable mugs for hot chocolate as we work together to reduce waste.

Bring the whole family and celebrate Family Day with your community.

Speaker Series Event at Navan-Vars United Church

Life can change in a heartbeart. Find out how you can be prepared with an informational talk by Jody Maffet, Creater of the “It’s Been Nice But Now I’m Dead” and “Things My Loved Ones Should Know” journals, and Phil Grandmaitre, Partner at Grandmaitre Virgo Evans law firm.

The event is on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 7 pm, at the Navan-Vars United Church, 1129 Smith Road.

Step into spring by discovering fun programs for all ages

What better time to stop thinking about the snow and cold and start looking forward to the warmer days. We have a variety of upcoming recreation and cultural programs available this spring for everyone, from small children to older adults.

Read how to prepare for registration – Tuesday, February 10 for swimming and Thursday, February 12 for all other programs.

For more information and to check out our programs online: https://bit.ly/4kcUAPV

Celebrate Ottawa’s 200th anniversary in style

Can you think of a way to celebrate Ottawa 200 through an event, activity or piece of public art?

We have two new programs and one of them may be for you or your organization.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4aadEe9

Applications open February 1 for the City’s summer student recruitment program

It might still be winter, but summer is closer than you think and so is Ottawa’s summer student recruitment.

Know a student looking for a great way to gain experience, build valuable skills and make a real impact in their community?

This is their chance.

Mark your calendar - applications open February 1. https://bit.ly/3YPrfkT

Applications open for the Community-led Greening Initiatives and Gardening Program

This program gives residents and community groups the chance to create or expand gardens and greening projects on City land.

Applications are open until February 3. Find out more here.