GCA leaving winter behind

As the snow slowly melts and the unused canal ice dissolves, the Glebe Community Association (GCA) is looking towards spring and activities and initiatives that will bring people out of their houses and into the neighbourhood. A number of these activities were on the agenda at our March board meeting.

Environment dave@nesbittproperty.com

As always, there is a lot happening at the Environment Committee which recently applied for a grant from the City of Ottawa to share knowledge and experience on sustainability. If the grant is approved, the committee will host five workshops beginning this September. Topics will include reducing the carbon footprint of your home, improving air quality in the community and cutting food waste, among others. We should know soon if the grant is approved. Keep an eye on the Glebe Report and social media for updates.

Have you noticed the plastic debris and rubbish that is reappearing everywhere? To help deal with this mess, the Glebe is joining an April 19 “plogging” event hosted by the Bank Street Running Room. Runners and walkers should meet at 6 p.m. at the Running Room, 901 Bank Street, with a bag and gloves, and post photos of people collecting garbage using #CleanUpOttawa Plogging combines outdoor exercise and picking up litter – all you need is an empty reusable bag, gloves and running shoes. Letters have been sent to Mayor Sutcliffe, Shawn Menard, Joel Harden and Yasir Naqvi asking them to take up the challenge.

The Environment Committee’s #BreakUpWithPlastic Instagram campaign continues with 50 daily tips leading up to Earth Day on April 22.

Time to renew your GCA membership!

The Glebe Community Association is a volunteer organization that unites residents interested in improving the Glebe. Together, we advocate for a liveable, sustainable, diverse urban neighbourhood.

Our committees are made up of neighbours who work on issues related to planning, including meaningful consultation on Lansdowne 2.0, greening our environment and parks, traffic patterns and infrastructure renewal, heritage, education, and health, affordable housing and social services. We also run the Great Glebe Garage Sale. New members are always welcome.

Amplify your voice on issues that matter!

$10 per year makes a difference in your community.

Join today

Buy a $10 membership (per household) at the door or online at glebeca.ca/membership or

Complete this form and mail it to the Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 2K2, with a $10 cheque payable to the Glebe Community Association.

Name:

Street Address:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

Federation of Citizens Associations

The GCA belongs to the Federation of Citizens Associations (FCA), a city-wide body that shares information on issues facing communities and, when appropriate, helps organize joint actions.

The FCA’s March meeting featured the Glebe and provided an opportunity for our representatives to provide some basic information about the Lansdowne 2.0 proposal and its significance for all residents of Ottawa. Following a good discussion, it was agreed that the proposal needs a more comprehensive examination.

Speaking of Lansdowne 2.0

As most people know, the GCA has been advocating a thorough review of the latest proposal to revamp this important publicly owned space. An essential part of the process is an open and transparent public consultation process.

The GCA’s Lansdowne Committee members have met with several Ottawa city councillors and have requested a meeting with the mayor. They report that, in general, the meetings have been productive and provide an opportunity to share why the GCA feels it is vital that the consultations with the public are both informed and meaningful. Being informed means getting all the facts and financial elements out in public, including the retail component that is the lion’s share of how Lansdowne 2.0. will be funded. The GCA reps have been making the point that Lansdowne 2.0 is not revenue neutral – it is an investment that will cost taxpayers today and long into the future.

The GCA is part of the Lansdowne Community Working Group. During a meeting in early March we had an opportunity to suggest ways to improve plans for Lansdowne, including ways to enhance consultations with 3D visuals and models of what the development will really look like, propose changes to the timeline, etc., in order to make the consultations more meaningful. In particular, the GCA made the case for sharing the details of the financial plans, so the public is better informed about where tax dollars are going.

Looking ahead:

Great Glebe Garage Sale

Since the inception of the famous Glebe garage sale in 1986, the GCA has encouraged vendors and shoppers to donate 10 per cent of their proceeds to the Ottawa Food Bank. Over the years, food insecurity has gone from being a small issue in our city to a major crisis. According to the Ottawa Food Bank’s 2022 Hunger Report, 1 in 7 households reported experiencing food insecurity last year compared to 1 in 15 in 2017. Food insecurity means not having enough money to buy food or enough food.

The pandemic, a housing crisis and inflation – these and other factors contribute to the difficulties so many in our community have to put food on the table. The Great Glebe Garage Sale takes place on Saturday, 27 May. Please remember to contribute to the food bank this year.

Looking for members

The GCA Membership Committee is preparing for this year’s membership campaign in May. Expect a knock on your door from your friendly block rep. Everyone who lives or works in the Glebe is eligible to become a member. We enroll members by household (defined as all those living under one roof) and all adults (18+) have voting privileges at the annual GCA meeting in June. This year’s campaign will be door to door but don’t worry. If you’re not at home, you’ll find a card with a QR code in your mailbox that will direct you to the GCA website and online registration. Or you can just go to the GCA website (glebeca.ca) directly. Watch for more information in the Glebe Report and on social media.

A lot of hard work goes into the membership drive every year and there’s a good reason for that. The more members, the stronger the GCA will be. A stronger community association is better equipped to advocate for Glebe residents. At $10 per household ($5 for students) membership in the Glebe Community Association is a good investment.

GCA board meetings are open to all so please join us online on Tuesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. Login information will be circulated closer to the date.

Sarah Routliffe

GNAG Executive Director

N 613-233-8713 E info@gnag.ca gnag.ca