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Approved Minutes February 24, 2025 ASH Board of Directors
Minutes
Meeting of the Board of Directors Monday, February 24, 2025
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm (in-person and virtual)
Present: Betsy Schuurmann (Chair), Jackie Farrow (Vice-Chair), Jerry Sabin (Secretary), Megan Reilkoff (Treasurer), Calla Barnett, Patrick Munro, Arto Keklikian, Mikaela Kennedy, Nicholas Harrison, Marilyn Whitaker, and Fernando Melo.
Regrets: Michael Barnes
Guests: There were sixteen guests.
- Review and approval of agenda
Motion to approve agenda.
Moved by Patrick. Seconded by Marilyn. Carried.
- Approval of minutes
Motion to approve minutes of the meeting of January 27, 2025.
Moved by Fernando. Seconded by Calla. Carried.
- Word from the Chair
The Chair shared that the Ontario election candidate’s forum was a great success. The Board will organize another debate for the federal election when it is called.
The Chair gave a presentation about ASH to the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre’s (SHCHC) Board of Directors. She discussed the situation in the neighbourhood and the SHCHC Chair offered to attend one of our meetings.
The Chair received a tour of Centre 454 and spoke with their management. She also met with Rev. Michael Garner at St. Alban’s and the chaplain at uOttawa to discuss the eventual closure of the Bernadette daycare.
Finally, the Chair discussed ASH’s response to the federal government’s announcement about a new East End bridge connecting Ottawa and Gatineau. ASH is supportive of this bridge in the hopes that it will alleviate some of the truck traffic on King Edward Avenue.
- Word from the Councillor
The Councillor shared her ongoing activities with the Board, including attending provincial candidate forums in Sandy Hill and Vanier.
She provided an update on snow clearing in the neighbourhood and the process for storm cleanup. She will provide updates on her Facebook page.
The Councillor provided a positive update on her problematic properties advocacy.
The Councillor discussed a potential expansion of the Rideau Street BIA to include areas beyond Rideau Street. The BIA could be expanded to include additional streets within Sandy Hill.
The Councillor answered questions about access to medical walk-in clinics, family doctors, and the re-routing of #16 bus outside of the neighbourhood because of snow plowing.
- Special Report: The Other Hill
The Board received a presentation from The Other Hill (https://theotherhill-lautrecolline.ca/) and its Chair, Leanne Moussa.
- Membership
There are 220 current members of the Association.
- Business arising from submitted Committee Reports
Motion to adopt the Treasurer’s Report for January 2025.
Moved by Calla. Seconded by Patrick. Carried.
Motion for ASH To Renew Its Annual Membership in the Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES) Ottawa.
Moved by Megan. Seconded by Calla. Carried.
- Focus issue
Motion to Withdraw Action Sandy Hill Support for the Health Canada exemption for the OASIS Safe Injection Site at the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre as Recommended.
Moved by Calla. Seconded by Fernando. Carried.
- New Business
The Board discussed the announcement of a new bridge in the east end of Ottawa and a federal election candidate’s forum as early as April, 2025.
- Horizon Issues
-Policing update from Inspector Leblanc, OPS (March)
-Pollinator Garden (tentative March)
-Daycare needs
-Homestead funds
-Membership process review and refresh (pending FCA survey)
-OCLT next steps
-Family doctors
- Motion to adjourn
Motion to adjourn.
Moved by Betsy. Seconded by Jerry. Carried.
Earthub drop-off in Sandy Hill
Update 21-Sep-22
Earthub has removed some items from collection. Here is the new poster:
Update 29-Mar-22: can pulltabs now accepted.
There is now an EartHub Drop-off location in Sandy Hill. The poster shows what is collected and diverted from the landfill.
Neighbours just need to collect the items and drop them off at their convenience.
A large blue tupperware bin is located on the front porch at 74 Blackburn Avenue.
IMPORTANT NOTE: containers should be completely empty.
Sandy Hill EARTHUB Drop-off location at 74 Blackburn Avenue – Important announcement: unfortunately, Earthub is no longer taking bag milk bags, BUT we are now taking back coffee bags (any brand). Also, please remember pill bottles need to be clean with the label completely removed and no sticky residue – a good trick for this is to leave the bottle in the freezer overnight before removing the label. Thank you for your continued support!
Nouvelles importantes concernant le bac EARTHUB au 74 avenue Blackburn: Malheureusement nous n’acceptons plus de sacs de lait, MAIS vous pouvez maintenant y laisser vos sacs de cafés (toutes les marques). Nous en profitons aussi pour vous rappeler que les bouteilles de pilules doivent être propres et sans traces d’étiquette (pour enlever l’étiquette sans y laisser de colle, laissez la bouteille au congélateur la nuit avant de l’enlever). Merci de votre participation!
Town and Gown
ASH Presentation on Residential Conversions
The City of Ottawa has officially launched a zoning study of residential “conversions”. This study, along with the interim control bylaw prohibiting some types of conversions, is being carried-out in response to considerable public pressure. Over the last few years Action Sandy Hill has worked closely with Councillor Mathieu Fleury on this issue and we are grateful for his efforts along with many others for bringing about the interim control bylaw. We encourage all residents of Sandy Hill to participate in the public consultations when they are announced and to send your comments in writing to the planner responsible for this study.
More information can be found at: http://ottawa.ca/conversions.
You may also write to Tim Moerman, the planner responsible for this study, at conversions@ottawa.ca or
Residential Conversion Study
c/o Tim J. Moerman
Ottawa City Hall
110 Laurier Avenue West, 4th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1J1
Vision Sandy Hill Survey – Sondage de Vision Côte-de-Sable
Ontario Municipal Board
We wrote to you a few months ago about the 9-storey private student residence proposed at Laurier and Friel. This plan was rejected by the Mayor and City Council in March. However, the developer, Viner Assets, have appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board. The City will be defending its decision, supported by ASH, our legal representative and local people. The public hearing is scheduled to begin on October 6 (Keefer Room at City Hall) and is expected to last 5 days. As a result of recent successes by community associations in similar cases (e.g. Roosevelt Ave in Ottawa) we are confident that we can win!
We asked you in March to support ASH’s Save Sandy Hill fund raising campaign to pay our legal and planning fees and put a stop to all inappropriate development in our neighbourhood (not just at Laurier and Friel). If you have not yet donated then please consider the attached letter carefully.
We thank you in advance for your support.
Chad Rollins
President, Action Sandy Hill
‘Save Sandy Hill’ fundraising campaign
savesandyhill@gmail.com
=========================================
Cher voisin,
Nous avons écrit il ya quelques mois au sujet de la résidence-étudiantes privée de 9 étages, proposée à l’angle Laurier et Friel. Ce plan a été rejeté par le maire et le Conseil Municipal en mars. Cependant, le développeur, Viner Assets, ont fait appel à la Commission Municipale de l’Ontario. La Ville va défendre sa décision, soutenue par ACS et notre représentant légal et les gens locales. L’audience publique est prévue pour le 6 octobre (salle Keefer à l’hôtel de ville) et devrait durer cinq jours. À la suite de récents succès par des associations communautaires dans des cas similaires (par exemple Ave Roosevelt à Ottawa), nous sommes convaincus que nous pouvons gagner!
Nous vous avons demandé en mars pour soutenir le campagne de financement pour la sauvegarde de la Côte-de-Sable pour payer nos frais juridiques pour empêcher la construction de tous projets inappropriés dans notre quartier (pas seulement à Laurier et Friel). Si vous n’avez pas encore fait de don alors s’il vous plaît tenir compte de la lettre ci-jointe avec soin.
Vous remerciant à l’avance de votre appui,
Chad Rollins
Président, Action Côte-de-Sable
Campagne de Financement ‘Save Sandy Hill’
savesandyhill@gmail.com
ASH supports Rideau Winter Trail application for funding
ASH has sent a letter of support for an application for funding from the Canada Community Revitalization Fund.
[pdf-embedder url=”https://ash-acs.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Rideau-winter-trail-letter-210714.pdf” title=”Rideau winter trail letter 210714″]
Sandy Hill Community Response Team / L’équipe d’aide de la communauté de la Côte de Sable
I’m sure many of you are feeling anxious about coronavirus. The Sandy Hill Community Response Team is here to help. Our team can introduce you to a neighbour who can help you get groceries, medication, or other basic necessities. We can also connect you with a friend if you need someone to talk to.
To request help or volunteer, please email sandyhillcovid19@gmail.com . A member of our team will get back to you within 24 hours.
We will get through this together as a community.
J’imagine bien que le virus corona vous cause quelque anxiété. L’équipe d’aide de la communauté de la Côte de Sable est là pour vous aider. Notre équipe peut vous présenter des voisins qui peuvent vous aider à faire les courses, à aller chercher vos médicaments, ainsi qu’à répondre à d’autres nécessités de base. Nous pouvons également vous mettre en contact avec un(e) ami(e) à qui vous désirez parler.
Afin de faire appel à un(e) de nos bénévoles, veuillez communiquer avec nous envoyer un courriel à sandyhillcovid19@gmail.com. Quelqu’un de l’équipe vous répondra dans les 24 heures.
Ensemble, en communauté, nous sommes plus forts.
Volunteer FAQ
Note: It is okay if you do not know the answer to a question or concern. If this is the case, mention you will relay the question or concern to the organizing team and we will answer it together.
Are volunteers provided any personal protective equipment such as gloves, hand sanitizer, or masks?
How can you make sure I stay safe and healthy?
How do you match volunteers and neighbours?
Is my contact information kept confidential?
How does payment of goods work? (i.e. for grocery shopping and supply pick-up?)
Where should I drop off supplies for my neighbour?
What if I cannot reach the neighbour in need?
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Where do I direct someone who is feeling ill or expressing symptoms?
What if someone needs urgent help?
Who is the Sandy Hill Community Response Team?
How do I reach out if I have more questions or concerns?
Virtual Homework Help or Online Learning Resources
Please visit this page if you’re looking for more information about virtual homework help or online learning resources.
Volunteer Health and Safety
Note: It is okay if you do not know the answer to a question or concern. If this is the case,
Are volunteers provided any personal protective equipment such as gloves, hand sanitizer, or masks?
Unfortunately we do not have a supply of N-95 medical-grade masks or gloves. These items are in short supply and we want to ensure they are available for those who need them most: medical staff and other frontline workers.
As of July 7, 2020, Ottawa Public Health says non-medical masks are mandatory in all indoor spaces across Ottawa. Following those recommendations, we require our volunteers wear non-medical masks at all times during their volunteer dispatch. Volunteers who have signed up as part of our response team can pick up a free non-medical fabric mask made by one of our Sandy Hill neighbours.
Otherwise, we encourage volunteers to use their own equipment from home, and to wash or sanitize their hands well before, during, and after any dispatch tasks.
How can you make sure I stay safe and healthy?
Every person who calls our phone number has been briefed with our health and safety protocols. These directives come from guidelines set by Ottawa Public Health. However, our team cannot guarantee your health and safety, as you could come into contact with the virus anywhere in the community. By providing mandatory protocols, we aim to ensure our volunteers and neighbours are as safe as they can possibly be.
How do you match volunteers and neighbours?
We match volunteers and neighbours based on three criteria: (1) help being offered/needed; (2) availability; (3) geographic location (i.e. how close do people live to one another).
Is my contact information confidential?
Yes. Only our core organizing team has access to your information. It is never shared with the public.
Questions Related to Dispatch
What are the expectations and responsibilities of volunteers? Of the people who need assistance?
The Sandy Hill Community Response Team is a small team of volunteers. While we wish we could coordinate every last detail, that is unfortunately not possible. As a result, there are certain expectations for both the volunteer and the person who has requested help:
Volunteer:
The volunteer will follow the health and safety guidelines circulated by our team following our first call with you.
The volunteer is responsible for reaching out to their neighbour once they receive their match. They will then coordinate the help they need, timing and availability, and determine and means of payment (if relevant).
The volunteer will reach out to our team via phone or email if they have any questions or feedback following the dispatch. They will also contact our team if they have been unable to reach their match or if they’re no longer able to offer help (i.e. if you start to show symptoms or feel ill).
Neighbour requesting help:
The neighbour requesting help acknowledges that the volunteer is providing help for free (i.e. they are offering their time) but are not responsible for paying for groceries, medication, etc. The volunteer will determine a method of payment during the initial matching call. If you are not able to pay for your groceries or goods, please be clear with us and we can connect you with another service. You are not alone and we will do our best to ensure you get the help you need.
The neighbour requesting help will not ask the volunteer to put themselves at risk—i.e. entering a home or doing anything else that makes them feel uncomfortable.
How does payment of goods work? (i.e. for grocery shopping and supply pick-up?)
It is the responsibility of the volunteer and neighbour in need to coordinate the payment process that works best for their situation. When possible, volunteers and neighbours should avoid exchanging physical cash because of the risk of virus transmission.
Here are some suggested methods of payment:
Email money transfer: This is ideal. The most secure and direct way of payment; managed after a volunteer completes the service.
Cash left in an envelope: Neighbours should coordinate a way to have an envelope of money left in their mailbox. For security reasons, pick-up time should be agreed on with the volunteer. The volunteer can then take this money, run the errands, and return the change and a receipt. This should be left alongside the supplies that are dropped off, and not handed directly to the person.
Cheque left in an envelope: Similar to cash, this is a cheque left in the mailbox for the volunteer to pick-up. This can be the exact total of the service that was provided.
Groceries ordered for pick-up: The Loblaws at Rideau and Nelson allows for orders to be placed and paid for online and picked up in person. This can be done through their website, and is another option for volunteers and neighbours. The volunteer and neighbour in need would coordinate the pick-up time at the grocery store.
Note: the volunteer should always provide the neighbour with the receipt of goods.
Where should I drop off supplies for my neighbour?
These details should be coordinated when the volunteer reaches out to their neighbour. The drop-off location will depend on whether the person lives in a home or in an apartment building. You should never enter someone’s home or go further than a person’s apartment lobby (unless you’ve discussed and the volunteer feels comfortable going to a person’s floor).
Always try to coordinate drop-off on the front stairs, stoop, or lobby, and do not go within 2 metres of your neighbour.
What if I cannot reach the neighbour with whom I’ve been matched? Or What if my matched volunteer has not reached out to me.
If you are unable to reach the person needing help after 48 hours, please call us (613-454-5633) or email sandyhillcovid19@gmail.com. We will follow-up with the neighbour in need and possibly rematch you with another neighbour. Likewise, we will follow-up with the volunteer and possibly rematch you.
Questions Related to Health
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
From the Ottawa Public Health website:
“Those who are infected with COVID-19 may have little to no symptoms. You may not know you have symptoms of COVID-19 because they are similar to a cold or flu. Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19. This is the longest known infectious period for this disease. We are currently investigating if the virus can be transmitted to others if someone is not showing symptoms. While experts believe that it is possible, it is considered to be rare. Symptoms have included: fever, cough, difficulty breathing, pneumonia in both lungs.”
Where do I direct someone who is feeling ill or experiencing symptoms?
Ottawa Public Health suggests directing people to the Ontario Government self-assessment tool.
What if someone needs urgent help?
From the Ottawa Public Health website:
“If someone is in crisis, please point them towards the Mental Health Crisis Line (24 hours a day/7 days a week) at 613-722-6914.”
If someone has SEVERE SYMPTOMS (frequent shortage of breath and cannot manage their symptoms at home, call 9-1-1 immediately. Go to the hospital emergency department and pay attention to special signage.
Other
Who is the Sandy Hill Community Response Team?
Our main organizing team is a dozen volunteers who live in Sandy Hill. Many of us are members of Action Sandy Hill, your local community association. Otherwise, we are just people who care about the wellbeing of our neighbours. Our volunteers all live in Sandy Hill. Councillor Mathieu Fleury’s team at the City of Ottawa is aware and supportive of our efforts.
How do I reach out if I have more questions or concerns?
You can email us at sandyhillcovid19@gmail.com or call 613-454-5633 and a member of our organizing team will get back to you.
[pdf-embedder url=”https://ash-acs.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Sandy-Hill-Flyer-Bilingual.pdf” title=”Sandy Hill Flyer-Bilingual”]
When will the City sweep my street?
More information from the City here: Spring maintenance and flood control
[pdf-embedder url=”https://ash-acs.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ConcentratedSweeping_2020_HUR_RoadZoneFinal.pdf”]