Orléans South-Navan Community Update | July 31st, 2026

Councillor's Message

What an incredible afternoon at Millennium Park!

A huge thank you to everyone who came out for my annual community BBQ. It was truly wonderful to see familiar faces, meet new neighbors, and share one of my favorite summer traditions with everyone.

A special thank you to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe for co-hosting the event this year. Together, we spent a wonderful afternoon celebrating our community.

As always, Monkey Rock Music had everyone dancing, the face painting was a huge hit, and the hot dogs disappeared almost as fast as they came off the grill! A massive thank you to all of our volunteers, with a special shout out to both the Navan and Orléans Lions Clubs for grilling hundreds of hot dogs and keeping everyone fed.

We also got to enjoy outdoor games, an incredible magic show performed by Luc Leduc (The Duke of Magic), surprise visits from Rumi and Spider-Man, and lots of smiles throughout the afternoon.

Thanks also to Scott Phalen from the Premier’s office & so many of our amazing community organizations that joined us to share what they do, including the Navan Fair, Greater Avalon Community Association, Ottawa Public Health, Ottawa Fire, Ottawa Police, Ottawa Paramedic Service, and the Ottawa Titans.

My heart is full. Thank you for an unforgettable barbecue!

Happy Civic long weekend! I hope you're able rest and recharge with family and friends.

A reminder that my office is closed on Monday, August 3, and city services are impacted by the stat holiday. For a full list, please click here.

Update on the signalization of Innes and Lamarche

I've been receiving a few questions about what the completed Innes Road and Lamarche Avenue intersection will look like, so I wanted to provide a quick update.

Once complete, the final intersection configuration will include three lanes on Lamarche Avenue:

• A dedicated right-in lane from Innes Road onto Lamarche Avenue;

• A dedicated left-turn lane from Lamarche onto Innes; and

• A dedicated right-turn lane from Lamarche onto Innes Road

Construction of the active transportation facilities, sidewalks, and final concrete work is wrapping up. Because the final lane markings and signage need to be measured and installed based on these finished features, the City will complete the pavement markings and install the permanent signs as the final step. That work is anticipated to be completed by the end of this August, weather permitting.

I know this developer-led project has taken longer than anyone would have liked, and I share residents' frustration with the pace of construction. That said, the original transportation plan, which was considered before I represented this area, did not anticipate traffic signals at this intersection until at least 2031. When I learned that timeline, I could not accept that signalization was still so far away given the growth that had already occurred and the traffic volumes residents were experiencing.

Recognizing how urgently these improvements were needed, I worked with the developer and City staff to secure a front-ending agreement so the signals could be constructed years ahead of schedule as part of this development, rather than waiting for the City's original timeline. While the construction has certainly taken longer than any of us would have liked, I remain pleased that we were able to accelerate this much-needed improvement by more than five years to better accommodate the growth in Orléans Village and the surrounding area.

While the project has certainly tested everyone's patience, the result is a much safer and more efficient intersection for active transportation and traffic flow.

One week of overnight work on both Brian Coburn Boulevard and Navan Road

On behalf of developer Groupe Heafey, Tomlinson will be completing the final top lift of asphalt as part of the road restoration work associated with servicing completed last summer for the new development at the corner of Navan Road and Brian Coburn Boulevard.

Work is scheduled to take place overnight from 6 pm to 6 am, Monday, August 10 through to Friday, August 14.

The paving will occur on:

• Navan Road, between Falsetto Street and Renaud Road; and

• Brian Coburn Boulevard, between the Chapel Hill Park & Ride and Pagé Road dead-end turning circles

To safely accommodate the work, flagging personnel will be on-site, and paid-duty officers will assist with traffic management at both the Navan/Renaud and Chapel Hill Park & Ride intersections.

An overnight noise exemption has been granted to allow this work to proceed during off-peak hours only, helping minimize daytime traffic disruptions. Each morning, the contractor will remove the construction setup before the start of the daytime commute. The work will be staggered between both roads.

Thank you to residents for your patience and understanding as this final phase of road restoration is completed.

IRONMAN is racing through Ottawa again on Sunday, August 2!

Expect traffic impacts as streets transform into a racecourse. Avoid delays by planning ahead and giving yourself extra time for your travels.

For more info, please click here.

ALTO conducting aerial LiDAR surveys along study corridor

I recognize that any updates related to ALTO's work are unsettling for many residents who live and work within the study corridor. At the same time, I have committed to sharing everything I know, as transparently and as promptly as possible.

To that end, I wanted to make you aware of the following information that has been shared with me. Please note that I have no authority over this work, nor was I asked to grant or approve any permissions related to these activities.

Residents may notice a small aircraft flying at high altitude over parts of our region as ALTO continues environmental studies for the proposed high-speed rail project between Ottawa and Montréal. The aircraft will fly at an altitude of 800 to 1,000 metres.

These aerial surveys are part of ALTO's environmental assessment and planning work. According to Alto, the information collected will help map terrain, analyze waterways and drainage, assess erosion, support hydrological modelling, and document vegetation and wildlife habitats—including species such as fish and turtles—to better understand the environment and inform future project design.

In addition to LiDAR flights, ALTO will also conduct a limited number of aerial photography flights using a photogrammetric camera. Prior to these flights, residents may also notice surveyors working from public roads to collect ground measurements and photographs. ALTO has advised that these activities will not require access to private property or involve the installation of ground markers.

ALTO has indicated that the flights have been designed with privacy in mind. Images are captured vertically from a significant altitude, making it impossible to identify individuals or observe private activities. The data collected will be used solely for mapping, terrain analysis, and environmental modelling.

This is in addition to drone field studies. Residents may have noticed drone activity in the area generally south of the Mer Bleue Bog, near Russell Road, Ramsayville Road, and near Highway 417.

ALTO has advised that the drones will operate at an appropriate altitude, image recording will only begin once it reaches the designated survey area, and images will be blurred or pixelated where necessary to protect privacy. Survey data will also be stored in a secure environment with restricted access.

This work has been weather-dependent.If you have questions about any of the activities described above, I strongly encourage you to contact Alto directly at questions@altotrain.ca 

Working to make every dollar count

One of the less visible, but very important parts of my role at City Hall has been serving on the Agile Government Working Group, alongside the Mayor and four members of Council. The group's mandate is to find practical ways to make City Hall work better, deliver services more efficiently, and ensure residents receive the greatest possible value for every tax dollar.

Since joining, the group has been working on initiatives that are improving access to City services through a more user-friendly Ottawa.ca website, streamlining internal processes to deliver community projects more quickly, and identifying operational efficiencies that reduce costs without reducing service levels. One initiative alone is expected to save more than $1 million annually through more efficient operations.

Keeping property taxes as low as possible isn't just about saying "no" to spending, it's about ensuring the City operates smarter. Every dollar we save through innovation and efficiency is a dollar that can be reinvested into the services and infrastructure residents rely on, while helping keep future tax increases in check.

Get ready for the 79th annual Navan Fair from August 6-9!

This year’s theme is “Where Country and City Meet.”

During the four days, the Fair offers many great events and activities. An amusement midway, special attractions, livestock shows including cattle, horse, alpaca, night concerts, and an agriculture education barn.

There will also be a Midway Accessibility Hour time slot for persons with disabilities and their support persons to enjoy the midway without all the lights and loud sounds. That will take place on Thursday, August 6, from 2-3 pm.

I also want to take a moment to share the best ways of getting to-and-from the fair this year! The Cumberland Township Agricultural Society is pleased to offer FREE shuttle service provided by M.L. Bradley Bus Lines. Round trips from Orléans to Navan and return. You can find out more about the shuttle service, including pick up and drop off locations, here. This is the best way to get to the fair, and the shuttle runs frequently all day!

I will share in advance that there will be very limited street parking available and limited paid parking sports available.

For more information and to plan your trip, please visit here.

See you there!

Ottawa Titans Day at Miracle League of Ottawa

The rain wasn't enough to stop such an incredible day at Miracle League Ottawa's annual Titans Day.

This event is about so much more than baseball; it’s about inclusion, teamwork, and creating unforgettable memories.

I'm so grateful to have such an amazing place right here in the heart of our community.

A huge thank you to The Miracle League for inviting Mayor Sutcliffe and I to say a few words, as well as to the Ottawa Titans, the dedicated volunteers, player buddies, families, and everyone who helped make this special day possible.

Finally, I want to offer a big congratulations to Bryce Desrochers on being ranked the #1 Bocce ball player in Ontario. Way to go, Bryce!

Cumberland Panthers U16 capture OSFL Championship

Congratulations to the Cumberland Panthers U16 football team on making history by capturing the program's first-ever Ontario Summer Football League (OSFL) U16 Championship.

This remarkable achievement is the culmination of a season defined by hard work, resilience, discipline, and teamwork. The players' dedication, along with the support of their coaches, volunteers, and families, has earned them a well-deserved place in Panthers’ history.

A special congratulations goes to Head Coach Gauch on securing his fourth OSFL Ontario Championship. What an outstanding accomplishment that reflects years of exceptional leadership and a lasting commitment to developing young athletes.

Congratulations to the entire Cumberland Panthers organization on this historic milestone!

Help choose what represents Orléans South-Navan for the next 50 years

As part of Ottawa's Bytown 200 celebrations, the City is creating a time capsule that will be opened 50 years from now.

I'd love your help suggesting what should represent Ward 19.

What small item, photo, document, keepsake, or symbol do you think best captures our community today? Whether it reflects our rural roots, growing neighbourhoods, local traditions, community spirit, or a memorable moment in our history, I'd love to hear your ideas.

The time capsule has limited space, so only a handful of items can be selected, but I want the choices to reflect the people who call our community home.

Please send me your ideas by September 24. I look forward to hearing what you think should tell the story of Orléans South–Navan to residents 50 years from now.

To help preserve the contents for the next 50 years, some items cannot be accepted, including food or liquids, batteries, matches or other hazardous materials, unstable paper products such as photocopies or fax paper, rubber, certain plastics, silk and wool. If you're unsure whether your idea is suitable, feel free to send it along anyway.

OC Transpo information sessions

OC Transpo staff are hosting a series of public information sessions across Ottawa this summer to discuss upcoming service changes and hear directly from residents.

The sessions will provide an opportunity to speak with General Manager Rick Leary and OC Transpo staff about their action plan, planned service enhancements, and preparations for the anticipated increase in ridership this fall.

For those who wish to attend, the sessions are listed below:

• Tuesday, August 11 from 6:30 to 8 pm, Nepean Sportsplex

• Thursday, August 13 from 6:30 to 8 pm, Zoom webinar

• Wednesday, August 19 from 7 to 8:30 pm, Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex

• Tuesday, August 25 from 6:30 to 8 pm, John G. Mlacak Community Centre

Please register to confirm you will be joining staff.

REMINDER - 2026 Hazardous Waste Drop Off event

Mark your calendars! The 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event schedule has been released with one date in Orléans.

These events help to protect the environment and decrease the risk of toxic materials ending up in our collection vehicles or landfills.

• Saturday, August 8, 2026 (8 am – 4 pm) - Innes Snow Dump (2170 Mer Bleue Road)

For the full up-to-date schedule, and to see the list of acceptable items, please click here.

Nominations open for Order of Ottawa

The City is accepting nominations for the 2026 Order of Ottawa and the Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching.

You can complete nominations for both awards either online or by downloading a nomination form from the Order of Ottawa award webpage.

The submission deadline is Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 11:59 pm.