Newsletter - 17 July 2026
From the desk of Councillor David Brown
July 1st Flood Recovery Update
Three weeks on, many residents are still cleaning up after the July 1 storm. I wanted to provide an update on the City's response, along with what you need to know if you have not yet reported storm-related damage.
The City has now received more than 7,000 service requests related to the storm, including over 6,000 reports of basement flooding. Solid Waste Services has hauled away more than 2,600 tonnes of storm-related debris. Ottawa Fire Services, St. John Ambulance and Ottawa Volunteer Search and Rescue have completed more than 3,100 wellness visits, and 340 households were identified as needing additional support that City staff are now following up on directly.
In Ward 21, there have been 11 basement flooding reports logged as of July 14. That is far lower than the hardest hit wards, such as College with 2,500 reports and Bay with 1,672. However, if your property was affected and you have not reported it, the number that matters is yours. Please take a few minutes to submit a report to 3-1-1.
Reporting storm damage serves two important purposes. It connects you with available resources and support, and it helps the City understand the full extent of the damage across Ottawa. If residents outside the hardest hit areas do not report flooding or storm-related waste, it creates gaps in the data that can affect the City's ability to demonstrate the overall impact of the storm when seeking provincial and federal recovery assistance.
If you have storm-related debris that still needs to be collected, you can submit a service request online by clicking here or call 3-1-1. When submitting a request online, select "storm-related waste" from the issue drop-down menu. If your insurance company needs to inspect damaged items first, you can wait to submit your request until they are ready for collection. Storm debris is collected by separate trucks on a different schedule than regular garbage collection, so simply leave it at the curb and crews will return to collect it.
If your basement flooded, please report it separately online or by calling 3-1-1. Separate requests help ensure they are routed to the appropriate City teams as quickly as possible.
Ottawa Fire Services continues to conduct wellness visits in the most affected neighbourhoods to ensure residents are safe and connected with available supports. If you or someone you know could benefit from a wellness visit, particularly older adults, people with disabilities, or anyone managing this recovery alone, please call 3-1-1, or 613-580-2400 (toll free 1 866 261 9799) if you are outside Ottawa.
You can also continue checking https://ottawa.ca/HeavyRainfall for the latest updates.
If you are still dealing with the aftermath of the July 1 storm and are not sure where to start, please do not hesitate to contact my office. We are always happy to help residents navigate City programs and connect you with the information and resources you need.
Ward Updates
Miller’s Farm
Over the past few weeks, I've heard from many residents who were concerned about the future of Miller's Farm. The response from our community made one thing very clear: this farm means a great deal to Manotick and to Ottawa.
I understand the challenges facing family farms today. Rising costs and tighter margins mean many farms have had to diversify to remain viable. That understanding shaped my position from the very beginning.
Last November, I was one of only a handful of councillors who voted in support of the Miller family's zoning application because I believed we should do everything we reasonably can to help long-standing farm businesses succeed. After Council denied the application and the decision was appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, I worked with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to encourage a formal mediation process. I also wrote to City staff expressing my support for the farm and urging everyone to work toward a practical solution.
The agreement unanimously approved by Council will ensure Miller's Farm continues to operate. A negotiated settlement is often better than spending years in legal proceedings with no guarantee of a better outcome.
Most importantly, the mediated agreement was one that the Miller family supported. After working through the details with their legal counsel, they recommended accepting the settlement because it provides certainty and allows them to focus on what they do best: farming and serving our community.
Richmond Volunteer Needed: GNPHC Board Seat Open
The Goulbourn Non-Profit Housing Corporation (GNPHC), which runs independent-living apartments for seniors in Richmond and Stittsville, is looking for a volunteer from Richmond to join its Board.
If you’re a Richmond resident interested in serving, submit your CV to the Board for consideration. Want more details before you commit? Reach out to goulbournnphc@gmail.com and someone will walk you through what the role involves.
Local boards like this one keep community housing decisions in the hands of the people who actually live here. If you have the time to give, I’d encourage you to put your name forward.
Out & About
We had a wonderful turnout at Fallowfield United Church on June 25. I want to extend a big thank you to the Fallowfield Community Association for the invitation to connect with so many engaged neighbours to discuss local priorities.
What a joy it was to celebrate Nye Samuels’ 100th birthday at the Kars R.A. Hall on July 4! Alongside Councillor Skalski, I was delighted to present Nye with a congratulatory certificate from the City of Ottawa, signed by both of us and Mayor Sutcliffe.
I also had the privilege of presenting a certificate on behalf of the Premier, and reading a tribute from MPP Darouze celebrating Nye’s amazing journey as an accomplished musician and dedicated advocate. Happy 100th Birthday, Nye!
One of the highlights of last week was attending the enrolment ceremony of Tyler from my office as he officially joined the Canadian Armed Forces. It was wonderful to celebrate this important milestone alongside his family and friends as he began his service in the Canadian Army. Congratulations, Tyler. Wishing you every success in the years ahead!
Great food and even better company at the Richmond Legion Branch 625 Friday Night BBQ on July 10! These Friday night suppers are always a highlight of my week, and I’m really looking forward to heading right back there to celebrate the Royal Canadian Legion's 100th Anniversary with an open house from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm on July 17. Hope to see you there!
I really enjoyed spending some of my Saturday morning on July 11 at the Handmade and Homegrown Craft Fair at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Richmond. I had a great time catching up with residents and exploring the booths set up both inside the hall and outdoors.
I was glad to join community members on the morning of July 15 at the Richmond Tim Hortons for the official unveiling of the new Goulbourn Township Historical Map installation! A huge thank you to the Goulbourn Museum and the Goulbourn Township Historical Society for providing their expertise to bring this piece of our history to light, and to Jiffy Photo and Print for their outstanding work on the design and production. We also owe a big thank you to Tim Hortons Franchisee, Susan, for generously hosting the map and giving our local heritage a prominent home in a favorite community gathering space.
I had a fantastic time stopping by the 2026 Buddha's Light Vegetarian Food Fair at the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa here in Richmond on Sunday, July 12! A special thank you to June Sun for a guided tour of the booths, and for sharing the beautiful cultural performances and vibrant community spirit.
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 will 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 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 starting on Monday, June 29th, until late September 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
Culvert Renewals
July
Fourth Line Road (0.06 km south of Callendor Rd) twin culvert renewal - work has started, with a road closure required for approximately 2 weeks
Fourth Line Road (0.15 km north of Dilworth Rd) - work has started, with a road closure required for approximately 2 weeks
August
Stratton Drive (0.01 km west of Third Line Rd) - starting on August 13th, with a road closure required for approximately 1 week
2nd Line Road South (0.10 km north of Roger Stevens Dr) - starting on August 4th, with a road closure required for approximately 2 weeks
Road Renewal Projects
Bankfield Road, from Kilreen Lane to 370 metres west of Prince of Wales Drive
Work ongoing
Black’s Side Road, from Fernbank Road to Ridingview Crescent
Work expected to start the week of August 31st
Brophy Drive, from Eagleson Road to Fourth Line Road
Work expected to start the week of August 4th
Community Way, from Fourth Line Road to Relin Way
Work completed
Doctor Leach Drive, residential, from Beaverwood Road to Potter Drive
Work expected to start the week of August 31st
Fallowfield Road, from Munster Road to Dwyer Hill Road
Work expected to start the week of August 10th
Farmstead Ridge, crack sealing, from Church Street to Church Street
Work completed
Fernbank Road, from Jinkinson Road to Munster Road
Work expected to start the week of September 8th
Fourth Line Road, from Lockhead Road West to Shellstar Drive
Work ongoing
Harbison Road, gravel road upgrade to hard asphalt surface, from Proven Line Road to McCordick Road
Work expected to start the week of July 13th
Jinkinson Road, from Fernbank Road to 2.7 kilometres north of Fernbank Road
Work expected to start the week of August 24th
McBean Street, from Perth Street to Strachan Street
Phelan Road West, slurry seal, from Prince of Wales Drive to Ormond Road
Work expected to start the week of July 20th
Rideau Valley Drive South, crack sealing, Dilworth Road to Roger Stevens Drive
Work expected to start the week of August 10th
Shea Road, crack sealing, from Hemphill Street to Fernbank Road
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
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Phase 1 has been completed.
Phase 2: Transformer Installation and Infrastructure Upgrade on Garvin Road
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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!