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Western phase of Wellington reconstruction begins
(JULY 2008) Now that the Parkdale to Holland portion of Wellington Street West reconstruction has been completed and the roadway reopened to vehicles, the next phase has started. Lane closures will be in effect from Western Avenue to Holland Avenue through November 2008. Sidewalks will still be open in the area so pedestrians will be able to continue patronizing local businesses. Westbound route #2 buses will use Holland Avenue then travel along Spencer and then south on Western. East-bound buses will continue to use Wellington. Check the City's website for updates.Hintonburg on YouTube
(JUNE 2008) A Hintonburg filmmaker, Jake Hannah, has been retained by the City of Ottawa as part of the neighbourhood planning process to document the community in cooperation with the Carleton Urban Research and Education Network. Two of the productions were unveiled at the 18 June neighbourhood planning open house. The first three productions, ArtsPark, Hintonburg Tulip Festival and Public Art Consultation, have now been posted to YouTube. While you're on the site, try a search using "Hintonburg" -- you never know what you might find.Wellington Street West public art contest winners
(JUNE 2008) According to The Ottawa Citizen of Thursday 5 June, Almonte
sculptors Marcus Kucey-Jones and Ryan Lotecki have won a $255,000
commission from the City's public art program to create 18 sculptures
as part of the Wellington Street West reconstruction which has now
begun. The marble sculptures will stand more than a metre high and will be installed on
platforms at intervals along Wellington from
Western to Somerset. The installation is expected in 2010.
Hintonburg resident named Ottawa's "Citizen of the Year"
(MAY 2008) According to the Ottawa Sun, some 300,000 volunteers in Ottawa contribute approximately $730 million worth of free service annually. To celebrate this important contribution, the City of Ottawa honoured about 120 volunteers and distinguished residents at the annual Civic Appreciation Awards on Monday 5 May. Paulette Dozois, a long-standing director and member of the executive committee of the Hintonburg Community Association, was declared adult Citizen of the Year. The City's write-up about her achievements notes that "She has been a catalyst in creating pride within her community and setting a high standard for community involvement." Echoing that sentiment, Mayor Larry O’Brien commented that each recipient was "a wonderful example of what it means to be a volunteer... [making] the City of Ottawa a better place to live." A local blogger enthused that "Her dedication to the improvement of her community can only be described as tireless."Armstong Street to be partially closed on May 11 for ArtsPark
(MAY 2008) The Hintonburg Community Association has applied to the City of Ottawa for a temporary closure of a portion of Armstong Street on Sunday 11 May 2008 from 10am to 4pm. Only the block running east from Hamilton Street N to Parkdale Avenue will be closed. ArtsPark, which is being held that day in Parkdale Park, normally attracts several thousand visitors and the temporary closure is a public safety measure. The same section of Armstrong was closed last year for the event with little inconvenience for motorists. The Wellington Street detour will route traffic along Spencer Street for that day only.New public art for Wellington Street West: Have your say!
(MAY 2008) From the Office of Cultural Affairs, City of Ottawa: You are invited to meet the artists who are competing for a public art commission as part of the Wellington Street West reconstruction project. Five artists or artist teams have been short-listed to create detailed designs of their creative concepts for the Wellington Street West corridor... In keeping with its percent for art policy, the City’s Public Art Program initiated a competition for a site-specific work of art that will be integrated into the soon to be rehabilitated Wellington Street West, from Western Avenue to Champagne Avenue North.Nineteen local artists responded enthusiastically to this opportunity with their submissions for the March deadline... Selection criteria includes such things as artistic excellence, experience, reflection of the community, character of the site and durability. Five finalists [or teams] were chosen to develop scale models or maquettes, preliminary sketches of the proposed artworks and detailed work plans including budgets: c.j. fleury; Marcus Kucey Jones and Ryan Lotecki; Janet MacKay and Mitchell Webster; Jennifer Macklem; Carolynne Pynn-Trudeau and Chandler Swain
The public is invited to meet the artists, view the proposals and [make] comment. The Art Selection Committee will take the public’s comments into consideration when they meet again to jury the artworks and choose the winning design. The maquettes and sketches will be on display for public viewing on Thursday, May 15, 2008 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hintonburg Community Centre at 1064 Wellington Street West, Ottawa. For more information, please call 613-244-4429.
Temporary road closure: Wellington between Parkdale and Holland
(APRIL 2008) From 14 April to approximately 14 June, Wellington Street West between Parkdale Avenue and Holland Avenue will be closed to through traffic, according to a City announcement. Parkdale Avenue and Holland Avenue will remain open but, from 14 April to 5 May, there will be lane reductions at the Holland/Wellington intersection. Wellington Street West will not be affected east and west of the construction zone.- Westbound detour: North on Parkdale Avenue, west on Spencer Street, south on Holland Avenue to Wellington Street West
- Eastbound detour: North on Holland Avenue, east on Armstrong Street, south on Parkdale Avenue to Wellington Street West
Ottawa Citizen: Hintonburg's "hip, urban edge"
(MARCH 2008) Editorial board member Elizabeth Payne, in the Ottawa Citizen
on 4 March 2008 under the headline "You can't rush success", paints a
highly positive, if cautious, picture of our urban village -- saying
that we seem to have become "Ottawa’s newest 'it' community." She adds
that "residents like the funky, affordable, multi-cultural and
multi-generational aspects of their neighbourhood and would like it to
remain that way... "Part of the reason Hintonburg is getting so much attention is that it remains one of the few ungentrified Ottawa neighbourhoods close to downtown. It also boasts the nearby Parkdale Market and close proximity to cycling paths and the river... But Hintonburg is still a work-in-progress... Five years ago, Hintonburg decided to reinvent itself as the city’s arts community. In addition to the GCTC, there are now numerous art galleries and graphics studios. There are several theatre troupes, and local haunts such as the Carleton and Elmdale taverns have introduced drama to their premises...
"You have to squint a little to see what it will become -- the neighbourhood still features boarded up storefronts and businesses that don’t look like they are there for the long haul. But... the once-seedy Elmdale Tavern... is fast becoming a hipster hangout."
ArtsPark 2008: Calling all craft, fine art and food vendors
(MARCH 2008) The organizers of the fifth annual ArtsPark are now inviting submissions from vendors. This outdoor event at Parkdale Park on Sunday 11 May 2008 (Mother's Day) will feature an invitational art exhibit, food stalls and a Designer Showcase.
ArtsPark has created a loyal following, typically attracting 2000 or
more people. The ever-popular ArtsPark Designer Showcase features work from fine art jewellers, textile, clothing and other designers who create limited-run original pieces that are manufactured locally.
Specialty or ethnic food appeals to ArtsPark visitors and last year the five food vendors reported excellent sales.
This is an outdoor event and weather-dependent. The program for the day, running from 10am to 4pm, will include children's activities, live music and heritage walking tours. For more information contact Charles Reynolds of the Hintonburg Community Association, 613-729-5680 or arts@hintonburg.com. The deadline for all applications is 31 March.
Tables, which measure 4x8 feet, are available for $50 and space is limited. Vendors normally bring a table cover and sun umbrellas. Electricity and other such services are NOT available in the park.
Wellington Street West Centennial Photo Contest winners announced
(FEBRUARY 2008) The Bayswater to Western Avenue section of Wellington
Street was so named almost one hundred years ago, in June 1908. Marking
this centennial, the Neighbourhoods in Motion
photo contest has captured the spirit of the street linking Hintonburg
and Wellington Village and the people who make it special.Images for the contest were submitted from last fall through mid-January of this year and the four "best of show" along with eight runners-up will on display at the Parkdale Gallery (in the QUAD arts district, 229 Armstrong Street near Parkdale) from Sunday 2 March until Sunday 16 March. The top four images will also be featured in the 28 February issue of the Kitchissippi Times. Thanks to all who took part in the contest!
Honourable Mention
David Owen, Mimi Richard-Golding, Mark Rowsell, Paul Wing
Best in Show
The four outstanding entries were determined by the public through online voting which ended 13 February 2008.
| 16 Years of Age and Under Category Georges Richard, Roches, arbes et ceil |
Wellington People Category Mimi Richard-Golding, San Rocco |
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| xx |
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| Wellington Historical Category Norman Dimock, Slushy |
Wellington Architecture Category Rick Livingston, Maps |
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The Neighbourhoods in Motion photo contest is brought to you by
- Camera Club of Ottawa
- Hintonburg Community Association
- Kitchissippi Times
- Parkdale Gallery
- West Wellington Community Association
Third Wall Theatre moves to the QUAD
(FEBRUARY 2008) The Third Wall Theatre Company,
founded in 2002,has joined the Great Canadian Theatre Company at the
Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre in Hintonburg's QUAD arts district. The
first of this season's plays to debut at their new venue, Empire Builders,
was well received by critics. "Overall it works well and is noteworthy
for bringing together members of Ottawa's English and French theatre
communities'" said Patrick Langston in The Ottawa Citizen. Denis
Armstrong, writing in The Ottawa Sun under the headline "Difficult
production pulled off in aces" continues "It's fitting Third Wall's
first production in their new home should be one as ambitious as Empire Builders.
Vian's comedy is demanding in virtually every sense of the word. It's
heady, intellectual stuff. Fortunately, director Joel Beddows is
obviously comfortable with all this French absurdity." The next
production is Tartuffe by Moliere, 27 May 27 to 7 June. Tickets are $26
or less. Welcome Third Wall!
Wellington Street West public art competition
(FEBRUARY 2008) Following intensive lobbying by the Hintonburg Community Association for full implementation of the "1% for public art policy", the City of Ottawa is inviting applications from artists to develop, design and implement a public art project on Wellington Street, within the limits of the reconstruction project. Installation of the artwork envisioned for 2009. The request for proposals is open to all professional artists living within the 150-km radius of Ottawa. Participants must be Canadian citizens, or have landed immigrant status. Artist and/or artist led teams are encouraged to apply.The public art project for the Wellington Street West corridor will integrate visually significant elements that provide identity and distinctive character, referencing the history, community or social commentary of the adjacent neighbourhood and roadway. Completed works of art will demonstrate artistic excellence, be conceptually timeless, address site characteristics including surrounding structures, reflect the community profile and character of the site through historical, aesthetic, environmental, material or technical references. There are many possible locations for proposed artwork and artists may even incorporate art elements into the light standards along the Wellington Street West corridor. Complete details are available on the City's website and the deadline for submissions is 3pm Monday 3 March 2008.
Raising funds for the Rosemount Library
(FEBRUARY 2008) On January 8, 2008, the Hintonburg Community Association Board of Directors voted to contribute $500 to a newly announced campaign to fund needed improvements at the Rosemount Library, our community library.“The Rosemount Library plays such an important role in our community,” said Jeff Leiper, President of the HCA Board. “The library serves this diverse neighbourhood. People of all ages and cultures are made welcome here and many use the services of the library every day for school, business or pleasure.”
The Ottawa Public Library Foundation is asking supporters of the Rosemount Library to contribute to a campaign to raise $5,000 which will be used to provide more convenient and compact magazine storage and new tables and chairs.
Built in 1917-18 as the West Branch, Rosemount is the oldest library building in Ottawa and the sole surviving Carnegie library, constructed with a grant from the Carnegie Foundation. As David Daubney, the volunteer chair of the OPLF, reminds us in his fund-raising letter: “Large windows illuminate a beautiful heritage library; an original Carnegie Library, Rosemount has all the modern features in an old-world setting.”
We urge other library fans to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Rosemount Library. Please send a cheque to the Ottawa Public Library Foundation/Fondation de la Bibliothèque publique d’Ottawa at 101 Centrepointe Drive, 2nd floor, Ottawa, Ontario, K2G 5K7. Please indicate that your donation is for the Rosemount Library – and watch for those improvements.
Metered parking in Hintonburg
(FEBRUARY 2008) The following letter was sent in January to city councillors upon learning of the metered parking proposal. Not only will local businesses suffer but we anticipate a large increase in parking on our side streets -- some of the narrowest in the city!The Hintonburg Community Association (HCA) objects in the strongest possible terms to the implementation of metered parking on Wellington Street West in Hintonburg. The proposal is poorly conceived and was arrived at without consultation with area businesses and residents.Update from the Councillor's office, 14 February: A motion put forward by Christine Leadman yesterday calling for the delay of implementation of on-street parking meters for Hintonburg until the end of the neighbourhood planning (NPI) process was passed by Ottawa City Council. However, meters MAY BE CONSIDERED after the road reconstruction and NPI process. Therefore staff may consider recommending Hintonburg in three years from now. And if they do, a study would be required as well as intensive public consultation.
There are two simultaneous processes underway in our community changes in Hintonburg: the Neighbourhood Planning Initiative and the planning for Wellington reconstruction. Both are seeking to assist businesses and the broader community through considered design, zoning, streetscaping and other measures. A decision to implement metered parking is best taken in the context of these broader initiatives, taking advantage of community participation along with the City's expertise in planning. The need for a considered discussion is amplified by the fact that many businesses in our community continue to struggle, and measures which disadvantage them compared to suburban centres offering free parking run counter to smart planning.
The current proposal offers no rationale for its timing and there have been no efforts to understand or address the impacts in this fast-changing community. We are deeply disappointed that metered parking is being considered in such a hasty and ill-conceived fashion. A debate over the introduction of metered parking in Hintonburg is worthwhile but it must be conducted in an environment of transparency and in the course of due time and process. The HCA looks forward to participating in such a discussion in future but its Board is unanimous in calling on Council to oppose this proposal at this time.
Friends and neighbours meet at Wellington reconstruction open house
(JANUARY 2008) The Wellington Street West Reconstruction Open House, held on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at the Hintonburg Community Centre was well attended by area residents. Many used the opportunity to meet up with friends and neighbours and exchange ideas related to the reconstruction. There is clearly a lot oft interest on the part of the community in the project and many hopes for major improvements to our main street.A detailed design plan for the corridor was posted for people to look at and provide feedback on. Councillor Christine Leadman, City of Ottawa staff, volunteers from the Neighbourhood Planning Initiative (NPI), consultants from Delcan and a landscape architecture firm were on hand to answer questions. Residents were also encouraged to provide feedback by way of a questionnaire provided by the City of Ottawa.
How bicycle-friendly can we be?
Some of the comments made by attendees at the Open House include the need for better accommodation of cyclists on Wellington Street West. At present there is a plan to promote an alternate cycling route on Armstrong Street, one block north of Wellington. A resident expressed his concern that cyclists prefer to use Wellington, where all the shops are located, because it’s a more direct route. According to the City, the alternate route was established because Wellington is not wide enough to accommodate a dedicated bike lane. Another resident suggested not allowing cars to park on one side of Wellington during peak cycling months to allow for a bike route that goes in both directions, east and west. This would improve safety for cyclists and promote a sustainable form of transportation in our community.
Others mentioned the need for flat sidewalks, more trees and more bike racks along the length of the corridor. Some also mentioned concerns related to the use of interlocking brick (also known as pavers). Seniors or those with disabilities are especially concerned about the potential for an uneven surface to develop over time. According to the City, pavers will not shift or sink over time if installed properly. One resident suggested the need to do away with the many newspaper boxes that litter our street corners and implement a well-designed box for all newspapers instead. The City has been examining this option and there is support from volunteers with the NPI for this idea.
Overall, the road reconstruction will make a huge difference to the enjoyment of our main street. We are very fortunate to live in a community where it is feasible for many people to walk or cycle to shop, play and work. As a result of the reconstruction our main street will have wider sidewalks, more trees and benches, improved lighting and better landscaping in areas fronting on to Wellington.
Monitoring progress
Elaina Mack and Christopher Stoney from Carleton University’s Centre for Urban Research and Education (CURE) were on hand to distribute information concerning their research into the Hintonburg/Mechanicsville Neighbourhood Planning Initiative. They are interested in how the Neighbourhood Planning Initiative is doing so far. They encourage those interested to take a few minutes to complete the survey which can be accessed at www.cure-crfmu.org. The findings of the study will be made available to the public by summer 2008.
If you wish to provide more detailed comments concerning the Wellington Street West reconstruction plans please contact Max Ross, Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Projects with the City of Ottawa at 613-580-2424, Ext. 16011 or by e-mail at max.ross@ottawa.ca. Feedback is requested by February 6, 2008.
"Mostly empty" urban schools should be judged fairly
(JANUARY 2008) The following letter to the editors at The Citizen was sent by Hintonburg Community Association in response to their 28 January editorial about downtown schools.Congratulations to The Citizen for highlighting the disconnect between the city's best planning principles and our school boards' perspectives concerning schools in the urban core. While the thrust of your editorial was on target -- that downtown living is increasingly seen as the most viable way to deal with growth and that downtown schools should be preserved -- your editorialist should be mindful of perpetuating dangerous myths. One of the most persistent of these is that downtown schools are "mostly empty". School boards use a density measure that compares apples to oranges. The most learning-friendly schools in urban communities, with their airy classrooms and large hallways and foyers, were built several generations ago before the current trend to building to the greatest possible density took hold.
Urban schools are, in effect, unfairly punished for being built at a time when space and good architecture were in vogue. We have learned the hard way that school board statistics must be taken with a grain of salt. During the last major inventory exercise, the Board used planning projections about urban demographics that turned out to be absolutely wrong. Urban communities are in the midst of a new baby boom for precisely the reasons identified by your writer: access to amenities in livable, walkable communities. As discussion continues about the urban school inventory, it is critical that everyone be aware of what the numbers say and what they mean. Guidance from the province to boards directing them to take into account the long-term plans of the cities in which they operate would be very helpful, as well.
Corridor planners recommending more trees and green roofs
(NOVEMBER 2007) “The reconstruction of Wellington Street West next year could lead to a much greener future for our community,” says Paulette Dozois who is one of about 20 volunteers working with the City of Ottawa on the Neighbourhood Planning Initiative (NPI).By 2009, more trees — a lot more trees — along Wellington from Northwestern Avenue to the O-Train will create a much more appealing main street. City planners are also suggesting a collaborative approach whereby private landowners along the corridor can green the fronts of buildings as well as vacant or underutilized properties such as parking lots.
Improving the pedestrian experience
As a result of the NPI, we can all look forward to better-looking, wider sidewalks along with new street furniture, innovative bus shelters and creative public art blending with trees and gardens to provide more meeting places and rest stops along the corridor.
Pedestrian-friendly intersections are also on the NPI agenda. The committee has been looking at ways to increase safety at high-traffic crossroads along Wellington such as Parkdale and Holland. Many solutions are being considered but one that is gaining favour is the “pedestrian scramble” concept where pedestrians can cross in any direction (including diagonally) while vehicles are stopped at every corner by red lights. Drivers wait a little longer to get through an intersection but should find turning easier since they won’t encounter pedestrians in the crosswalk. This safety solution has long been used in western Canada and is now being tested at some intersections in Toronto.
Is a green roof in your future?
As part of the new Community Design Plan linked to road reconstruction, engineers are investigating incorporating the recently approved “green roof” municipal initiative which will encourage property owners with flat roofs to install green roofs. According to the City’s website, “Green roofs are… roof terraces and roof gardens that can improve the appearance of our skyline, create new tranquil outdoor spaces, reduce greenhouse gases, save money, enhance biodiversity, improve sound insulation, and assist urban residents and businesses to adapt to the growing impacts of climate change.”
Community Design Plan for Wellington West due Spring 2008
(NOVEMBER 2007) Even though Neighbourhood Planning Initiative (NPI) meetings were
suspended for summer holidays, there has been progress in developing
the three associated plans and a draft for
one of them, the Community Design Plan for Wellington Street West,
should be available for public review in early Spring 2008. The
comments received last spring at the NPI Public Open House
have been incorporated into discussions and the consultations are now
focused on the nuts and bolts of road reconstruction -- lighting,
sidewalks, public art and street furniture. Recently, the City of
Ottawa arranged an evening bus tour of some other neighbourhoods
(Westboro, Old Ottawa South, Beechwood Village, etc) so that task force
members could get an idea of what was possible when a “main street”
gets renewed. The actual Wellington Street West construction is due to
start in 2008 between Northwestern and Hamilton/Hinton Streets; the
remainder of the street as far as the Somerset Bridge will start in
2009. 
Wellington Street West BIA one step closer
(NOVEMBER 2007) Establishing a new Business Improvement Area (BIA) for Hintonburg and West Wellington neighbourhoods has been endorsed by 85% of some 300 businesses in the area and City of Ottawa staff. (BIAs are formal business associations funded through tax levies paid by property owners and businesses within a designated area.)According to a City report, "At various times, different associations have sprung up to address the needs of parts of the area, with varying degrees of success. This is the first time such a large group of businesses have come together with such a clear vision for creating a single, dynamic business district."
The report adds that "a major overhaul of the Wellington Street West streetscape is planned within the next few years. During this turbulent process, BIAs have proven themselves again and again to be the most effective single point of contact between area businesses and the city." Once a BIA is approved by Council, all businesses within its boundary automatically become members.
"An arts QUAD is born"
(OCTOBER 2007) "Four years ago, Hintonburg, one of Ottawa's oldest communities, decided to reinvent itself as a hip new arts hotspot," says writer Patrick Langston in the Ottawa Citizen of 8 October 2007. "The [Hintonburg Community Association's] strategies included rebranding the community as the QUAD (Quartier des artistes/Arts District)... Today, that dream is starting to
materialize,
and optimism abounds that the Great Canadian Theatre Company, in brand
new digs on Wellington Street, will be the key to a full-scale revival
that will benefit not just Hintonburg but the adjoining neighbourhood
of West Wellington as well... "It's hard slogging, though. While several new galleries are flourishing, others have closed, a brave experiment in small theatre spaces is on hiatus, and the whole enterprise needs a lot more hype and some careful shepherding to fulfill its promise...
"'It's a grassroots movement,' says Charles Reynolds, chair of the Hintonburg Community Association's Arts and Heritage Committee. 'You're going to see the GCTC as the cornerstone for QUAD, with other businesses opening up to cater to that crowd... Reynolds points to Quebec City's trendy St-Roche neighbourhood as a model for the QUAD. He adds that his association is working on a proposed ArtsWalk [see photo at left] featuring sculptures along Wellington Street east of Parkdale Avenue...
"The Hintonburg Community Association is working toward a blend of straight arts marketing and such long-term development strategies as the 're-purposing' of heritage buildings for arts venues and artist housing. Whether the QUAD becomes a true arts district will depend on the community's ability to maintain that delicate balance."
GCTC theatre complex opens this fall with "Capital Letters"
AUGUST 2007: The hoarding is down, the dust is settling, the signs are
up and the excitement can be felt all over town. The Great Canadian
Theatre Company -- GCTC -- is celebrating its 33rd season
in a brand new "green" facility (officially the Irving Greenberg
Theatre Centre) at the corner of Wellington Street W and Holland Avenue
in Hintonburg. The joint will be jumping from October through June.
Capital Letters 5-play seriesThe new season, aptly titled "Capital Letters", opens with a musical comedy, The Man from the Capital playing October 9 to 28. With music by John Millard, the book and lyrics by Colin Heath are based on The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol. The story is set in a small town during the Great Depression and probes the foibles of a corrupt municipal government. The season ends in June with Pierre Brault's 5 O’Clock Bells, from GCTC’s play development program, a "seductive comedy about betrayal in personal and political relationships."
“Our Capital Letters season is GCTC’s love letter to the National Capital Region,” says Artistic Director Lise Ann Johnson. “All of the plays in the 2007-2008 season are either penned by writers from Ottawa or feature a connection to our nation’s capital.” You can gain insight into the works presented this season by joining Talkback Tuesdays for informal, wide-ranging discussions with cast and crew members after the show on October 16, November 20, February 5, April 8 and June 3.
Music, art, events and "The Local" bar
With two theatres (seating 265 and 90) as well as an intimate wine and dessert bar managed by Thyme & Again Encore, catering services and a gallery, the facility can be rented for independent productions, weddings and cocktail parties, lectures, film series, art education events, symposia and awards shows.
The GCTC complex builds upon the momentum of Hintonburg's QUAD Arts District and provides a highly visible anchor.The mezzanine gallery area features art exhibits that reflect GCTC’s Mainstage season, curated by the Cube Gallery's Don Monet. And the popular Acoustic Waves is returning this year with Sunday concerts on October 21, November 25, February 10, April 13 and June 8 at 8 p.m. These concerts will feature both the celebrated and the rising stars of the Canadian music scene.
Tickets for GCTC plays run $23-$33 -- What a deal! --and student rush tickets, when available, are just $10 one hour before each performance. GCTC regulars know that season tickets are the best way to guarantee seats since many performances sell out quickly.
Neighbourhood planning update
AUGUST 2007: The City has posted several documents dealing with community input received at the February Workshop as well as the display material from the June Open House on their website. The draft Community Design Plan should be available for comment sometime this Fall and work on the associated Neighbourhood Plan for Hintonburg and Mechanicsville continues this Fall as well.Over 200 runners for the Hintonburg Centennial Run
AUGUST 2007: The Hintonburg Centennial 5k Run/Walk and Newswest 1k Kids Run on July 15 was a total success. The Hintonburg Community Association hosted 160 participants in the 5k event and nearly 50 kids ran the 1k. Along the way, we raised $2000 for the Association and made a great showcase of our community.
Runners and walkers loved the fast, flat,
unique course through our neighbourhood, residents enjoyed the
show, Market merchants and restaurants saw a welcome increase in
business. We’re very pleased to say that over 50 volunteers helped
make the event possible, many of whom were engaged with the Association for the first time through this event. To a person,
everyone tells us they’ll be back! We’re looking at some tweaks to
next year’s race, including an improved kids run and chip timing for
the adults, but are very proud to say that the event ran almost like
clockwork.
A huge thanks to our sponsors without whose support the event never would have gotten off the ground. Regional Development / School House Lofts came through with a significant financial contribution that gave us the confidence to move ahead. The Kitchissippi Times’ support was invaluable in helping us market the event. Collected Works, Susan Chell / ReMAX, Westboro Massage Therapy, Beament Green and Thyme & Again were very generous in their financial support.
Though it happened almost by accident, Merge Business Solutions became one of our most important partners. Their generous help in designing a race graphic turned into a full-blown marketing machine as we worked with them on two different T-shirts, water bottles and race fliers. They also donated four trophies for our winners. We’re grateful for their advice and patience.
The Running Room in Ottawa provided some critical supplies free of charge; the free use of their online registration system and marketing machine were largely responsible for the incredible turnout we had. More importantly, the can-do attitude of Ottawa-area regional manager Phil Marsh, his advice and encouragement, convinced us we could pull this off.
A big thanks goes to Herb & Spice on Wellington Street for the donation of the post-race bananas. We are also grateful to the GCTC, Zoom Photo, and Scissor and Comb who generously donated some great draw prizes. The HCA hopes you’ll return their fantastic community support.
Finally, the crew from Timberland Construction helped pull it all together with their donation of hours setting up and clearing barricades. Thanks, guys.
Besides these sponsors and donors, the HCA also has to thank Fabrice Cote in Councillor Leadman’s office. His deft stickhandling of the bureaucracy and advice were critical to the success of this event. Sgt. Roley Campbell and Officer Dennis Turpin from the Ottawa Police Service kept our runners safe and happy crossing Holland and Parkdale.
Besides the HCA regulars who volunteered their time -- Brenda Primmer, Linda Hoad, Paulette Dozois, Cheryl Parrott, Nicholas Olmstead and Monica Freedman -- we owe a huge thank you to our course marshalls:
| Helen Balanoy
Carrol Lunau Bev Binnette Dave Madely Glenda Stark Laurie Wilson Randy Dubé Vikharuddin Syed Doreen Duchesne Jasmine Tackman Michael Hebert Donna Bradbury Mimi Golding |
Beth Greenhorn
Michael Jean Sonja Kodric-Ramsaran Aidan Finlay Lorrie Marlowe Kyla Boyer Nancy McMahon Brent Hyde Cathy Chatham Ann McLaren Cheryl Parrott Gary Ludington Jean Dukacz Shirley Lussier |
Smita Ashar
Tim Golding Erin Topping Kevin O'Connell Denise Gauvin Roberta Percy Hieu Nguyen James Newton Wayne Rodney Bill Allen Tanya McGregor Vicky Smallman Pat Denny |
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Thanks to each of you! The runners were thrilled at your professionalism and support. Blocking 30 intersections to traffic is no mean feat, and your generosity is the only way we could have made it happen!
Watch for the second annual Hintonburg Centennial 5k Run/Walk and Newswest 1k Kids Run on July 13, 2008!
Huge puppets, outrageous theatrics bring the opera Carmen to new audiences
JULY 2007: The Hintonburg Community Association and Docela Velke Divadlo are pleased to present a unique version of Carmen, directed by Jurij Galin, on Thursday 9 August at Hintonburg Park in Ottawa -- an acclaimed work "realized with love but without any mercy."
Docela Velke Divadlo (translated into English as "Quite a Great Theatre") is a professional theatre company from Litvinov, Prague, in the Czech Republic. Their version of Carmen, the famous opera by Georges Bizet, comes alive through the use of one-metre-high puppets and masked actors along with other dramatic and puppeteering elements. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra‘s recording of the opera is featured while an elderly Gipsy woman guides spectators through the somewhat abridged story.
This is a fine introduction to opera for children and others who may not know Bizet's masterpiece. Since 1997, Docela Velke Divadlo has performed the play in Italy, Germany, the USA, Bulgaria, Australia, France and Austria. The performance lasts 80 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.
- Date: Thursday 9 August 2007
- Time: 7pm
- Location: Hintonburg Park, Ottawa
Got any home movies taken in Hintonburg?
JULY 2007: Home Movie Day is a worldwide celebration of amateur films and filmmaking that has been held annually since 2002 on the second Saturday in August. It celebrates these often overlooked original films as unique cultural documents that are valuable records of the everyday experience -- a glimpse into a side of life that is not often witnessed or captured in mass media.Home Movie Day Ottawa is a free family event hosted by Library and Archives Canada in partnership with Available Light Screening Collective. The event is an education and outreach opportunity that provides people with a chance to learn about the importance of home movies, find out about film preservation, meet local film archivists and conservators -- and a chance to watch and celebrate these wonderful home movies.
- You can drop off your movies (V8mm film, Super8mm film, 16mm film) on July 10th or 12th so they can be inspected and evaluated at Club SAW,
67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Not all films can
be shown on Home Movie Day for reasons such as physical condition,
content or length. Owners of films chosen for the program will be
contacted the week of July 23.
- For more information, contact homemoviedayottawa@gmail.com or Tina Harvey at (819) 953-5428 or Nick Nguyen at (819) 934-7349.
An international take on Hintonburg: "A welcoming place"
JUNE 2007:
The Financial Times of London
has aimed its sights at Hintonburg (Who knew we were so well known
internationally?) in their 8 June 2007 "House & Home" section.
Reporter Daina Lawrence says "The area has begun to show signs of
thriving again. One big factor is its mixed citizenry and perception as
a welcoming place... There are pubs that sell both high-end whiskies
and quart bottles of domestic beer, plenty of ethnic restaurants,
including Italian, Thai and Ethiopian, and the popular Parkdale fruit
and vegetable market, frequented in the summer by people from around
Ottawa."Add to this some affordable housing in need of renovation and you can see why Hintonburg is starting to pique the interest of city home buyers... 'There are a lot of young families around... several schools within walking distance, local parks, galleries and a library'...
"'In areas like this where there are some nice Victorian homes and the houses are not all the same, people can be creative and put their own touches on homes' says Steve Brouse of Coldwell Banker Real Estate....
"Prices are starting to climb in Hintonburg but there are still some bargains to be found... [and according to Salem MacDonald, a property developer for Sage Urban Developments] 'People enjoy that they can walk everywhere and don’t have to take their car... you can still pick up singles in the high C$200,000s and low C$300,000s... And there are a lot [more] young people who want to be downtown and are not afraid to put the paint on and put in some work fixing up these homes.'”.
This is the official site of the
Hintonburg Community Association
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Web hosting services provided through Infonium Inc.