AS A MATTER OF FACT, OUR WINDOWS ARE THE BEST
for a limi
838-2211
283989
This summer treat yourself to one of Cora’s delicious Summer Salads! 4055 Carling Ave, Served Monday to Kanata ., a.m Friday from 11 (613) 254-9892 ted time only!
WWW.BAYVIEWWINDOWS.CA
377147
Kanata Kourier-Standard 44 Pages
44th Year, Issue 33 August 26, 2010
Nunavik bound: Holy Trinity grad, cop works up north . P4
Name change: Probus club takes new moniker to reflect new demographic. P10
Cardiac kids: Pirates come from behind for provincial win. P11
Phone calls overload city’s info call centre 311 line hangs up on residents who lost water service in Morgan’s Grant BLAIR EDWARDS KOURIER-STANDARD Morgan’s Grant residents phoning to complain about a loss of water service overloaded the City of Ottawa’s 311 service last week. A contractor accidently knocked off a cap to a water main on the corner of March and Klondike roads on Tuesday, Aug. 17, causing a loss of water service from 8 to 10:30 p.m for hundreds of residents. The city’s call centre was overwhelmed with phone calls from Morgan’s Grant residents complaining about the loss of service, said Kanata North Coun. Marianne Wilkinson. The call centre had an evening skeleton staff and couldn’t answer the deluge of phone calls quickly enough, said Wilkinson, and the automated system couldn’t have that many people on hold. In many cases the call centre’s automated answering machine simply
hung up on people or refused to take phone calls, said Wilkinson. “They just cut them off,” she said. “The system couldn’t cope. “Everybody called at once,” she added. “They just weren’t prepared for it.” Wilkinson said she has asked for a review of the service. “It is disturbing that residents could not easily find out what had happened and when their service could be restored.” The incident highlights the need for upgrades to the 311 service, said Wilkinson. City council approved the upgrades after the call centre was overwhelmed by calls last year when a huge rainstorm flooded the basements of hundreds of west-end residents. The contract for software upgrades to the call centre’s automated information line will go to tender this fall. blair.edwards@metroland.com
DANIEL NUGENT-BOWMAN PHOTO
Jim Cuddy, vocalist for Blue Rodeo, belts out a tune at the Nepean National Equestrian Park on Aug. 21. Blue Rodeo provided the night entertainment as part of the National Capital Showing Jumping Tournament. For more pictures see pages 10, 25, and 26.
NOW HIRING MOVERS AND INSTALLERS
613-836-3493
5977 Hazeldean Road Kanata / Stittsville
www.abbotsfordmoving.com
287959