Manotick Answers Call For Volunteers, ARAC Looks At Rural Road Safety

By Irene Staron, Manotick Village Community Association President

Our call for volunteers is working! We are pleased to announce that since our last newsletter, we’ve received assistance from a number of volunteers who have successfully helped us obtain expressions of interest from a number of volunteer members for Board positions. All are exceptionally qualified with Executive Board experience. Names of our nominees will be made public after our April 9 MVCA Board meeting.

In the meantime, as one nominee is currently a member of our Governance Committee and interested in taking the lead on Events once Theresa Roberts steps down, we are now looking for their replacement on the Governance Committee. 

If you or someone you know is interested in helping the MVCA develop operating policies and procedures to support the work of our association, please contact president@manotickvca.org

Our thanks to all our members for your continued support and feedback!

MVCA Annual Meeting – May 29, 2024 – 7 pm

The Board of the MVCA extends an invitation to all our members, residents and community partners to join us at our Annual Meeting May 29 being held in-person at the Kiwanis Hall, 2nd floor of the Manotick Arena and on-line, for the convenience of our members. 

The MVCA President will provide a recap of the MVCA’s 2023 activities, present 2023 YE financials, and share strategic priorities for the year ahead.  With a number of Board members stepping down, members will have the opportunity to vote in their new Board. 

Not a member? This meeting will offer the opportunity to attend as an observer to learn about the work the MVCA is doing on behalf of your community related to traffic and community well-being, planning and development, and organizing community events. While questions will only be taken from members, the experience gained from attending and seeing the MVCA in action could convince you that being a member does make a difference in our community!

ARAC – Improving Road Safety

On March 7, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee (ARAC) received a presentation about improving road safety in rural areas, one of the main areas of focus for the City’s Road Safety Action Plan. Statistics reported over the past five years show that 23% of all fatal and major injury collisions in Ottawa occurred in rural areas, more than anywhere else in the City. That figure rises to 38% when considering only fatal injury collisions.

Approximately one-quarter of the $20.5-million 2024 Road Safety Action Plan budget is focused on improving safety in rural areas. Efforts undertaken in 2023 and planned for 2024 include engineered solutions, education and enforcement. Engineered solutions for 2024 include 

implementing safety edges and rumble strips on rural roads as part of resurfacing, upgrading gravel shoulders, and identifying up to 10 rural stop locations for enhanced signage and pavement marking. Additional work in 2024 includes conducting awareness programs in schools about the safe operation of motorized recreational vehicles and studying the use of automated speed enforcement cameras in Ottawa’s rural villages.

Information about the warrant criteria used to assess the need for traffic control signals, intersection pedestrian signals, and all-way stop control measures was also presented.

ARAC approved site-specific amendments to the Official Plan and secondary plans to facilitate active development proposals that were affected when the previous Official Plan (“OP”) was repealed, and the current one adopted in 2022. In each case, there were unforeseen and unintended effects of implementing the new OP.

The proposed amendments either re-establish relevant policies of the former plans or add site-specific policies to re-align current OP policies for the affected properties. The Planning and Housing Committee will also consider this matter on Wednesday, March 27th before it rises to Council on Wednesday, April 3rd.

Community Activities & Events

March 22nd – History Book Club – Members Lounge, Manotick Legion (5550 Ann St) – 3:30pm-5:00pm. Calling all military history book enthusiasts! Every fourth Friday of the month. For details contact Terry Hunter at peilighthorse@hotmail.com

April 20 – Manotick Spring Fling – The Manotick BIA in partnership with the Manotick Art Association is hosting a special ‘performance art themed’ event and ‘Inspiration Art Show’ in the Village. Details are being finalized and will be available at the end of March at https://manotickvillage.com/

April 20 – Crimson Heart Market for Mom – Manotick Legion (5550 Ann St) – 9am – 2pm. Featuring 20+ various vendors. Food and drink by Mike’s Monkey Dogs. Vendor inquiries welcome, $35 per table. For details contact amy_mombo@hotmail.com

Manotick Walking Club – Winter Session – 10-10:30 am Monday & Friday mornings – ongoing to April 21, Community Hall, 2nd floor Manotick Arena. Hosted by the Manotick Culture, Parks and Recreation Association (MCPRA) and led by a certified senior fitness instructor. $45 for 20 sessions.  To register and more information go to https://www.mcpra.org/.

May 10 – 6pm-11pm Chic Time in the Tick, “The Enchanted Garden Gala’ – fundraiser presented through the Manotick Culture, Parks and Recreation Association (MCPRA) at the Manotick Curling Centre. Features a buffet dinner & dancing. Tickets are $95 /person. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.mcpra.org/chic-time-in-the-tick

June 7-14 – The Manotick Tennis Club will be hosting an International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament at the courts in Centennial Park bringing some of the top juniors from North America and further afield to Manotick. Players will compete to earn the ITF ranking points that will propel them toward a tennis scholarship at a US college or directly into the professional ranks. Follow on https://www.manoticktennisclub.com/on to learn how you can support this prestigious event.

Progressive Euchre Tournament – First Saturday of the month at the Legion – Register at 12:30 pm; play at 1 pm. For more information, contact danspitzig@gmail.com.

Youth of Manotick Association is a registered not-for-profit organization offering safe, social, inclusive programs and activities for youth in our community. Friday nights Pre-Teen Program for youth in Grades 4-6 6:30 – 8:00 pm / Youth Drop-In for youth age 12-17 7:30 – 9:00 pm. See the website for more information https://www.yoma.ca

The Manotick and Area Centre for Arts & Wellness (MACAW) focuses on intergenerational connections for seniors through arts and wellness. This includes a multitude of activities such as Tai Chi, yoga, art, music, and dance classes as well as community dances. Their popular concert series focuses on our local singers and musicians. For more info go to https://www.manotickmacaw.com

Ottawa Public Library – The Manotick Library has many activities for children and adults, including an Adult French Conversation Group and story and craft programs. To discover all the events happening at the Manotick branch go to https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/

Featured Image – The Manotick Village and Community Association recently presented the Manotick Food Cupboard with a $2500 donation, the net proceeds from Shiverfest 2024. The Food Cupboard is a volunteer community organization that provides food assistance to individuals and families in need in the Manotick area. Roxy McCarthy (far left) and Joan Heard (second from left) accepted the cheque on behalf of the Food Cupboard from MVCA President Irene Staron and Shiverfest Committee Chair Grace Thrasher (far right).