Spring Finally!

Hello Action Sandy Hill Members!

This email contains information about the activities of your community association and neighbourhood. Newsletters, both present and past, can be found here. Please contact us at info@ash-acs.ca with any questions, concerns, and comments.

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Become an ASH member

The next Board meeting is on April 29 and will be a hybrid meeting; please send us an email at info@ash-acs.ca to request the login link to the meeting. To view minutes from past meetings, click here.

ASH Info

ASH Annual General Meeting
ASH Committees
ASH Makes a Difference!

Neighbourhood Info

“New Ways to Bus”
Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau 2025
Keep Your Bike Safe
Release of Draft 2 of the New Zoning By-law
Tree Dedication Program
Free Trees for Your Home!
More Free Trees!

Neighbourhood Events and Activities

Native Wildflower Potting Workshop & Plant Sale – April 26
CAMSafe Rollout Event – April 28
Cleaning the Capital – May 3
Sandy Hill North Meet-up and Discussion – May 4
On Wings of Song – May 5
Members’ Monthly Social – May 12

1. ASH Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The 2025 ASH AGM will be held on Thursday May 29 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Sandy Hill Community Centre. The meeting will include updates on activities from the past year and elections to the Association’s Board of Directors. Six members of the current Board have expiring terms and are eligible for re-election. An additional four seats are available for a total of up to ten available seats for the ASH Board of Directors.

To be eligible to be elected to the Board of Directors, individuals must:

be at least eighteen years of age;
be a resident of Sandy Hill (“Sandy Hill” means an area of the City of Ottawa contained within the following boundaries: to the North, Rideau Street; to the East, the Rideau River; to the South, Nicholas Street and Highway 417; and to the West, the Rideau Canal) or be the representative of the University of Ottawa Students’ Union Executive;
be, at the time of their election and throughout their term of office, a member of the Association; and
have not been found incapable under Ontario law or by a court in Canada or elsewhere, and not hold the status of bankrupt.

Nominations may be declared in advance or from the floor at the General Meeting. Nominees named from the floor must be present to be elected and may rise to make themselves known when called upon.

Each ASH member in good standing shall be entitled to a vote at the General Meeting of the Members and may vote by proxy. Partnerships, corporations, and other legal entities may vote through a duly authorized individual. To be a member in good standing, members must live in Sandy Hill (or be a duly authorized representative of a partnership, corporation, or other legal entity within the boundaries of Sandy Hill) and must have paid their membership fees. New and renewing ASH memberships are available for purchase on the ASH website and at the Annual Meeting. Not sure if your membership is up-to-date? Contact ASH to verify!

Further information about roles and duties of the ASH Board of Directors is available in the ASH Bylaws. For more information, please contact Betsy Schuurman, ASH Chair.

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2. ASH Committees

Want to know more about the various ASH Committees and when they meet? The ASH website has all the information on the Committees, their Terms of Reference and meeting dates. If you are interested in joining one of the Committees, send an email to ASH.

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3. ASH Makes a Difference!

Some members of our Community have called 911 to report a crime in progress only to be told to “get your priorities straight”), it’s not a police matter” or just hung up on by a dispatcher.

Last summer, the ASH Community and Social Services Committee Chair (the Chair) figured out that the Director of Communications Operations (Director) was “in charge” of 911 and they connected. The Chair wanted to clarify when to call 911 because of these poor experiences. The Director was clear: you call 911 when there is an emergency or a crime in progress – ANY crime in progress. Together, they found a solution: the Chair created the Form for residents to complete when treated badly by a 911 or non-emergency reporting line dispatcher.

The Ottawa Police Service(OPS) uses statistics to decide where to deploy hot spot policing. We NEED to report crimes in progress and emergencies as they occur – this includes loitering, drug trafficking, human trafficking (including sex trafficking), drugs on the sidewalk and open drug use. There may not be an immediate police response, and it may be a low priority for them – but 911 is the appropriate place to call, SO CALL. If the dispatcher gives you a hard time, hangs up on you, or otherwise treats you badly, fill out the Form which the Chair sends to the Director. You’ll be surprised at how effective it is!

The Form has been successfully used by a resident who after being treated badly, used the form and within a few days received a phone call with a clear apology. The agent’s supervisor had the agent listen to the call and explained what she had done wrong. The agent was reprimanded.

1.”New Ways to Bus”

OC Transpo is rolling out a major overhaul of its bus routes on April 27! The “New Ways to Bus” campaign will intoduce new routes while retiring others, adjust schedules with some routes shortened, extended, or divided revised service for some schools and revise routes to « major destinations » like hopitals and universities. OC Transpo’s new bus network will focus on frequency, local service in your neighbourhood, and connections to key destinations.

How does that affect us? The number 16 which now goes through Sandy Hill will change to number 10 Hurdman. Below are the routes for the 16 and the new 10. You can plan your route on the number 16 and the number 10 on the OC Transpo website. When planning a route on the number 10 set the date of your trip for sometime after April 27. If you have any questions or concerns about the new bus route, please contact our Councillor.

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2. Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau 2025

Join Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau May 3 and 4 to stroll and learn about history, celebrate culture, and connect with community. Jane’s Walk is a pedestrian-focused event that improves urban literacy by offering insights into local history, planning, design, and civic engagement through the simple act of walking and observing. The Walks are inspired by the late urbanist, activist, and journalist Jane Jacobs. There are several Jane’s Walks which will take place in Riverain Park and in Lowertown. Click here to find out more about these walks and how to sign up.

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3. Keep Your Bike Safe

Now is the time of year when we look forward to using our bicycles. There have already been a few reports of stolen bicycles in our neighbourhood. Locking your bike is an important strategy, but you also want to make sure you’re locking it in a way that reduces the risk of theft. Here are some great tips to reduce the risk of bike theft:

Park in a location with plenty of people around to notice any suspicious activity. In front of a restaurant or busy coffee shop are great choices!
Make sure the ring, post or rack you are using to lock up is secured properly to the ground and has a barrier preventing your bike from being lifted off the rack.
Ensure the lock goes around the bike’s frame, and one wheel (or both if possible). A cable and U-lock make a great combo for locking up anywhere!
Use the best lock you can! A little extra spent on a lock will provide much better protection for your bike.
Make sure to secure your bike at home too! Keep it locked up inside a shed, storage area or backyard if you can.

You can also register your bike with the Ottawa Police at project529.com/garage. It’s easy to register. Simply download the app from Apple or Google, input your information, and even upload an image of your bike. This service is free.

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4. Release of Draft 2 of the New Zoning By-law

Draft 2 of the proposed new Zoning By-law was released to the public on March 20. Click here to read or download the updated provisions in Draft 2 of the new Zoning By-law.

Comments on the proposed Draft 2 Zoning By-law can be made using the public comment form or by contacting the team at NewZoning@ottawa.ca. There is also an Interactive Draft2 Zoning Map which you can access to see the changes to zoning in our neighbourhood. Both in-person and virtual events will be held in the coming months to gather feedback on Draft 2 of the new Zoning By-law.

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5. Tree Dedication Program (former Commemorative Trees Program)

The new Tree Dedication Program was approved by Council in June 2024 and replaces the former Commemorative Tree Program. It offers residents with options for dedications such as births, anniversaries, and other milestones. The tree planting site can now be selected from pre-determined locations in various City parks. The applicant has a choice of tree species based on the site conditions.

The cost of the Personal Tree Dedication is $995 (+HST). This includes: supply and installation of the tree: watering for three years and a tree tag. The cost of the Community Tree Dedication is $1,750 (+HST). This includes: supply and installation of the tree; watering for three years; tree tag; a plaque

To secure your tree dedication location, a deposit will be required as follows:

Personal dedication: $150
Community dedication: $650

Click here for more details on this program.

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6. Free Trees for Your Home!

The City of Ottawa is offering free trees for residents to plant on their properties, but you have to act fast. Under the new Plant Your Place! program, you may request a tree for your yard. To be eligible you must either be the property owner or have the owner’s permission.

About 50 trees are available per ward on a first come, first served basis. Act now, and let’s regreen Sandy Hill. Plant your Place! is administered by the EnviroCentre.

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7. More Free Trees!

Is the street frontage in front of your home missing a tree? Residential property owners can request a free tree from the City of Ottawa for the municipal right-of-way between your yard and the street. Not only is the tree free, the City will plant it, as long as you pledge to water and maintain it.

Street trees are essential to making our neighbourhood a green and healthy place to live. Help regreen Sandy Hill. To request a street tree, visit Trees in Trust or call 3-1-1.

1. Native Wildflower Potting Workshop and Plant Sale – April 26

Seedlings, which were started at earlier workshops, will be transplanted at a workshop at the Conservation Co-op from 1-3 pm plus later dates. To register and receive up-dated workshop information, please contact marilynwonash@gmail.com.

Some of these native plants will be added to the depaving and other community gardens in Sandy Hill. Others can be purchased at a plant sale starting at 6 pm on Thursday, May 29, in conjunction with the ASH Annual General Meeting at the Sandy Hill Community Centre.

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2. CAMSafe Rollout Event – April 28

Where: The Neighborhood Operations Centre 50 Rideau St (near Entrance 4)

When: Monday April 28th between 3pm and 6pm. (Yes …..OPS is aware it is election day)

What: Officers will be present to provide information regarding CAMSafe and answer any questions residents or businesses have regarding this new initiative.

Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is proud to promote CAMSafe, a new initiative designed to enhance crime prevention and assist in investigations by leveraging community security cameras. OPS is calling on residents with surveillance systems on their property to register and submit their interest in partnering with OPS to help keep our neighbourhoods safe.

CAMSafe is a voluntary registry where residents and businesses can provide their contact details and indicate their willingness to share recorded security footage with police when needed —officers will not have access to live footage and will only contact the public in the event an incident occurs in their area and footage from their device might be of use in an investigation. This modernized approach to community safety is a new version of Neighbourhood Watch and aims to create a valuable resource for law enforcement agencies across Ontario. Click here for more information.

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3. Cleaning the Capital – May 3

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4. Sandy Hill North Meet-up and Discussion – May 4

All are invited to join for a discussion of issues affecting the community in Sandy Hill North. The meeting will be held upstairs at Melaku Coffee Shop at 503 Rideau on the first Sunday of every month.

Please email Betsy for more information.
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5. On Wings of Song – May 5

Musica Viva Singers proudly present On Wings of Song, offering you soaring harmonies and uplifting sounds for spring, celebrating all things that rise and take flight: songbirds, angels, and of course music itself. We raise our voices to the skies in selections that range from pop songs to oratorio, from Fleetwood Mac and Sarah McLachlan to Haydn and Mendelssohn.

Tickets: $25 General Admission, $15 Low-Income, $70 Family Pass (up to 2 adults and 4 kids). All three ticket types are available from choir members about a month before the concert, or may be purchased online through the MVS website.

The concert will be held Monday May 5th at 7:30 p.m. at Centretown United Church, 507 Bank Street (accessible via ramp).

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6. Members’ Monthly Social – May 12

The next Members’ Monthly Social will be held on May 12 from 7 to 9 pm at the Working Title Kitchen on Laurier Avenue East. The accessible entrance to Working Title Kitchen is on the West side of the building facing Chapel Street. There is an elevator but the door is not automatic, so please email ASH if you need someone to open the door.