Newsletter - 22 October 2026

Written By David Brown

From the desk of Councillor David Brown

Pedestrian Safety This Halloween

Over the past few weeks, Ottawa has experienced several collisions involving pedestrians. Here in Ward 21, where our communities include village main streets, rural roads and residential neighbourhoods, it is important that both drivers and pedestrians take extra care, especially as Halloween approaches. 

With children out trick-or-treating after dark, drivers should slow down in residential areas, stay off their phones and watch carefully for pedestrians, especially when turning or approaching intersections. Please give yourself extra time, use your headlights, and be prepared for children who may cross unexpectedly. Parents can help by reminding children to look both ways before crossing and wear bright or reflective clothing to stay visible. 

I also encourage residents to report collisions and dangerous driving to the Ottawa Police. Call 911 if someone is injured or there is an immediate danger. For non-emergency traffic concerns, residents can submit a traffic complaint to the Ottawa Police Service. 

For more pedestrian safety tips, visit the City’s guide to sharing the road as a pedestrian. 

Let’s all do our part to keep Ward 21 safe. Whether you are behind the wheel or walking with your family, please stay alert, be patient, and look out for one another. I wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween. 

Ward Updates

Municipal Election Day is October 26

Voting Day for the 2026 Municipal Elections is on Monday, October 26, Ottawa residents can vote for their choice of Mayor, City Councillor and School Board Trustee, if applicable. 

Voting places will be open from 10 am to 8 pm, with potentially reduced hours at retirement homes and institutions. Residents can confirm their assigned voting location using the “Where Do I Vote?” tool at ottawa.ca/vote. 

To receive a ballot, voters must present a piece of identification showing their name and a qualifying Ottawa address. Photo ID is not required. Residents who have not received a voter notification letter, you can check your information using the “Am I on the Voters’ List?” tool at ottawa.ca/vote, or call 3-1-1. If your name is missing or your information needs to be updated, including your school support, you can make those changes at your voting place on Election Day.  

All voting places are fully accessible. For more information about voting locations, acceptable identification and accessibility options, visit ottawa.ca/vote. 

Know your Local Hazards: What to Plan for in Ottawa

Did you know Ottawa is one of the most seismic urban areas in Canada? Earthquakes and other hazards can become emergencies that affect your family and our community. The best time to prepare is before something happens. The City offers resources to help residents prepare, including a household emergency plan workbook and information on local hazards on the City’s website. 

Earthquake Safety 

Earthquakes happen without warning. Remember to drop to the ground, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops. If possible, take shelter under a sturdy table and be prepared for aftershocks. 

Severe Weather 

Ottawa can experience severe storms, tornadoes and extreme temperatures throughout the year. Residents can use Environment and Climate Change Canada's free WeatherCAN app for forecasts and severe weather notifications. During a storm, seek shelter indoors, stay away from windows and secure loose outdoor items. 

Power Outages 

In rural communities, power outages can affect more than lighting, especially for households that rely on well pumps. Keep a charged power bank in your emergency kit, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed during an outage, and never operate generators or barbecues indoors or in a garage. 

For emergency preparedness tips, safety guidance and additional resources, visit the City's Emergency Preparedness webpage.

Get Your Flu, COVID-19 and RSV Vaccines This Fall

Respiratory virus season is here, and Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is encouraging residents to get their recommended vaccines. Flu, COVID-19 and RSV circulate more during fall and winter, and vaccination helps reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalization. 

COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines 

Starting Monday, October 26, flu and COVID-19 vaccines will be available to everyone aged six months and older who lives, works or attends school in Ontario. Vaccines are available through primary care providers and participating pharmacies for people aged two and older. Both vaccines can safely be administered during the same appointment. 

OPH will also offer clinics for eligible individuals who face barriers to accessing vaccination, including newcomers without OHIP and children under five and their household members. 

For eligibility and booking information, visit OPH’s flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine webpages. 

RSV Protection 

RSV can cause serious illness in infants, young children with certain medical conditions and older adults. Ontario’s publicly funded program includes eligible infants and young children, pregnant individuals between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy who expect to deliver near or during RSV season, adults aged 75 and older, and adults aged 60 to 74 who meet specific high-risk criteria. 

Eligibility and vaccine options vary by age and individual circumstances. Contact your primary care provider to discuss your options. For full eligibility details, visit OPH’s RSV vaccine webpage. 

Help Reduce the Spread 

Along with vaccination, wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face, cover coughs and sneezes, clean frequently touched surfaces and consider wearing a mask. If you are sick, stay home when possible and avoid visiting people at a higher risk of severe illness. 

For more information on respiratory viruses, vaccine availability and managing symptoms, visit Ottawa Public Health’s respiratory virus webpage

Shop Local. Buy Canadian. Strengthen Ottawa 

When you shop at a local business or choose a Canadian-made product, you're helping support the people and businesses that keep our communities running. Your spending helps local businesses pay employees, purchase supplies and reinvest in the community. 

With tariffs and other economic pressures affecting businesses and households, these everyday choices can make a difference. Supporting local businesses is one way we can help keep Ottawa's economy strong and resilient. 

This fall, the City of Ottawa is relaunching its Shop Local. Buy Canadian. campaign to encourage residents to discover local businesses and Canadian products. Whether you're picking up a treat from a neighbourhood bakery, shopping for a gift or hiring a local service, there are plenty of ways to support businesses close to home. 

Looking for somewhere to start? 

  • Discover local businesses: Ottawa's Business Improvement Areas bring businesses and property owners together to support their commercial districts. Here in Ward 21, the Manotick BIA is one place to discover local businesses. 

Ward 21 is home to many farms, shops, restaurants and small businesses that contribute to our community. By choosing to support them, we can help local businesses continue to grow and thrive. 

Know a local business in Ward 21 that deserves a shout-out? Send your suggestions to ward21@ottawa.ca. 

Flags at Half-Mast in Honour of Victims of the Wainwright Tragedy 

Effective immediately, flags at all City of Ottawa facilities have been lowered to half-mast in honour of the victims of the tragedy at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Wainwright, Alberta, on October 17, 2026. 

Four members of the Canadian Armed Forces lost their lives, and others were injured. The City’s gesture honours them and expresses Ottawa’s solidarity with the Wainwright community, with members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and with everyone affected. 

On behalf of Ward 21, I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends and fellow service members of those who were lost. My thoughts are also with the injured, and I wish them a full and swift recovery. 

Flags will remain at half-mast until further notice. 

Rural Business Showcase Coming to Metcalfe on November 3 

If you run a rural business, or you are thinking about starting or expanding one, the City’s next Rural Business Service Showcase is worth an evening. It takes place on Tuesday, November 3, from 7 to 9 pm at Osgoode Township High School (cafeteria), 2800 8th Line Road. The venue is just outside our ward, but the event is meant for rural business owners across Ottawa. It is free, and no registration is required.

Attendees can ask questions and learn about permits and approvals, funding and grants, and programs to help start or grow a business. Representatives will be there from Invest Ottawa, Futurpreneur, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, the Ontario Centre of Innovation, the City’s Rural Business Liaison and several other organizations. 

As Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, I often hear from farm operators, home-based business owners and village shopkeepers who are unsure which permits they need or which programs they qualify for. This is an opportunity to get answers and connect with right resources. 

If you cannot attend, The City also offers weekly Rural Business Liaison support sessions at rural Ottawa libraries, including Richmond on Thursdays from 10 am to 5 pm. 

For more information, you can contact The City's Rural Business Liaison.

Fall Planting Season Is Underway 

The leaves across Ward 21 are putting on quite a show, but City Forestry Services staff are busy with fall planting. Here’s what residents can expect. 

Planting began October 1, with Forestry estimating more than 3,000 trees will be planted across Ottawa this fall. Every ward office has received its planting plans and details on our Ottawa 200 trees, though plans may change as work progresses. 

After a successful spring distribution, Plant Your Place! moves to full-service planting this fall in priority areas identified through the City's Tree Equity Analysis. Planning for the 2027 version is already underway. Trees will also go in through the Street Tree Replacement Initiative, with residents notified and temporary signage placed first. Any tree removed from the City's right-of-way is automatically replaced where site conditions allow. 

Stumping continues into November, weather permitting. Utility locate flags near your home or a stump mean underground utilities have been identified and stumping will happen soon. Stump removal is scheduled separately from tree removal, so it may happen later. 

On Oak Wilt, the April 1 to August 31 pruning restriction has been lifted for the second year. Thank you to everyone who held off on pruning. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reports the disease has not spread beyond the three southern Ontario locations first identified in 2023. 

Residents can help in three ways: 

  • Leave the flags alone. They are critical for planting and stumping, and Forestry will remove them when they are no longer needed. 

  • Water after stump grinding. Once topsoil and grass seed have been applied, please water the area. 

  • Burn local firewood. Firewood from other municipalities can spread pests and diseases that harm our trees. 

The City's podcast, Otta Talk, will feature two Forestry staff talking about the value of trees in an episode expected in late November or early December. A winter update from Forestry Services will follow.  

Thank you to Forestry staff for their work and to residents for their support. 

ROSSS Is Hiring Casual Staff Drivers

Rural Ottawa South Support Services (ROSSS) is looking for casual staff drivers to help seniors and adults with disabilities get around rural Ottawa South. If you have some flexibility in your schedule, this is a great way to help support residents in our rural communities. 

What You Need 

  • A valid driver's license and a clean driver's abstract 

  • First Aid/CPR certification (ROSSS will arrange this if needed) 

  • A vulnerable sector check, completed upon hire 

How to Apply 

Send your resume to info@rosss.ca. If you know someone who would be a good fit, please share this opportunity with them. 

Out & About

Last Thursday, I joined Councillor Skalski, Ottawa Police Service presenters, and community members for a town hall in Manotick to discuss e-scooter and e-bike safety. It was especially valuable to hear directly from youth and parents about their experiences and concerns. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the conversation. There is more work to be done to help keep everyone safe in our community.

I joined the Richmond Quilter Guild to celebrate its popular summer Placemat Endeavour. Kelly is pictured beside me, with her daughter, Logan Watson, at the end. Logan works for Rural Ottawa South Support Services (ROSSS) and will be delivering the donated placemats to North Gower Support Services, West Ottawa Support Services and Richmond Care Home.

I attended Watson’s Mill Fall Finale on October 10 at Dickinson Square. It was great to see the community come together to enjoy the fall festivities and vote for their favourite jack-o’-lantern. Thank you to Watson’s Mill for organizing this fun event and bringing residents together in Manotick!

Construction Updates

Road Resurfacing & Construction Impacts
A number of resurfacing, maintenance, and preservation projects are scheduled across Ward 21 in the coming months. Some work may include nighttime construction between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., which may result in temporary noise impacts for nearby residents.

We will continue to share updates as these projects progress, and we appreciate your patience during this work to improve our roads.

Bridge Rehabilitation

  • Rideau Valley Drive South from Roger Stevens Drive to Lockhead Road East will be closed until Saturday, October 31st for work to rehabilitate a bridge in the south end of Kars Village

    • Temporary access for pedestrians and cyclists will remain during construction on the bridge

  • Third Line Road South from Prince of Wales Drive to Roger Stevens Drive will be closed from Monday, June 29th until mid-November for work to rehabilitate the Stevens Creek Bridge northwest of North Gower Village

Road Closure

Rideau Valley Drive (Manotick) will be closed between Barnsdale Road and Bankfield Road from Monday, October 19th to Sunday, November 1st.

Taggart Construction Ltd. will be completing a storm sewer crossing, a sanitary sewer connection to the existing system, and a watermain connection.

This will be a full road closure with a signed detour in place. Residents should plan for additional travel time and follow the posted detour signage while this work is underway.

Road Renewal Projects

  • Bankfield Road, from Kilreen Lane to 370 metres west of Prince of Wales Drive

    • Work completed

  • Black’s Side Road, from Fernbank Road to Ridingview Crescent

    • Work Completed

  • Brophy Drive, from Eagleson Road to Fourth Line Road

    • Work completed

  • Community Way, from Fourth Line Road to Relin Way

    • Work completed

  • Doctor Leach Drive from Beaverwood Road to Potter Drive 

    • Landscaping On-going and waiting for line painting. Some deficiencies to be completed 

  • Fallowfield Road, gravel road upgrade to asphalt hard surface, from McCaffrey Trail to Dwyer Hill Road

    • Work completed

  • Fallowfield Road, from Munster Road to Dwyer Hill Road

    • Work completed

  • Farmstead Ridge, crack sealing, from Church Street to Church Street

    • Work completed

  • Fernbank Road, from Jinkinson Road to Munster Road

    • Work completed

  • Fourth Line Road, from Lockhead Road West to Shellstar Drive

    • Work completed 

  • Harbison Road, gravel road upgrade to hard asphalt surface, from Proven Line Road to McCordick Road 

    • Work completed 

  • Jinkinson Road, from Fernbank Road to 2.7 kilometres north of Fernbank Road

    • Work completed

  • McBean Street, from Perth Street to Strachan Street

    • Work ongoing. Resurfacing of the road has now been scheduled for early summer in 2027 to avoid disruptions during the school year and to avoid a poor-quality final product as the season is quickly coming to an end. 

  • Phelan Road West, slurry seal, from Prince of Wales Drive to Ormond Road 

    • Work completed

  • Rideau Valley Drive South, crack sealing, Dilworth Road to Roger Stevens Drive 

    • Work completed

Other Construction Projects

➔ Hydro Work Supporting Dwyer Hill Training Facility Expansion
Hydro Ottawa is working on major electrical upgrades in Ward 21 to support the long-term expansion of the Department of National Defence’s Dwyer Hill Training Centre, a project scheduled to continue through 2034.

Phase 1: Hydro Pole and Equipment Installation on Dwyer Hill Road
--
Phase 1 has been completed. 

Phase 2: Transformer Installation and Infrastructure Upgrade on Garvin Road
--
Phase 2 has been completed.

➔ Pole Installation on Franktown Road
Hydro Ottawa continues to install new hydro poles and equipment along Franktown Road. This work is being carried out by Bradley Kelly Construction Ltd. and is ongoing.

For a full list of current and upcoming road work in Ward 21, visit the Ward 21 website. Major construction notices will be shared in future newsletters and community updates.

To explore citywide construction projects, use the City of Ottawa Interactive Construction Map.

Community Events

You can check out the Ward 21 website at any time to see an up-to-date list of upcoming events.

In case you missed this week’s event newsletter, click here: Upcoming Community Events in Ward 21!

Stay in touch!

I want to hear from you! Stay connected and keep informed by:
📱 Following us on social media – Click the icons below to stay updated.
🌐 Visiting our website: www.ward21.ca
📧 Emailing your concerns: ward21@ottawa.ca
📞 Calling our office: 613-580-2491
📅 Want to meet with Councillor Brown at his North Gower office? Email ward21@ottawa.ca to book an appointment.

Looking forward to connecting with you!

David Brown
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Thanksgiving schedule changes