KANATA NORTH NEWS Marianne Wilkinson Councillor, Kanata North Ward council next Monday to feature many updates

Everyone is welcome to attend the monthly Ward Council meeting to find out what is happening in our community, to provide input into civic issues, and to put forward your questions, concerns and suggestions. The next meeting is on Monday, Feb. 22 starting at 7 p.m. in the Kanata Seniors program room in the Mlacak Centre. This months agenda includes a viewing of the landscape plan for Kanata Avenue from the Goulbourn Forced Road to the Richardson Side Road, progress on the recreation centre, an update on construction activities in the ward, information on community grants, reports on city hall activities from strollers on buses to proposals to improve economic development as well as a report from our community police officer. A detailed agenda can be seen on my website.

Open houses Transitway, Police Station, Downtown Tunnel

There are many open houses coming up on various projects in the city. Now is your opportunity to see our new west end police station at 211 Huntmar Drive (near Scotiabank Place). This state-of-the-art facility will provide more police enforcement within the west-end area, thereby improving response times. The facility includes a community meeting room, which are available to local community groups. It is worth a visit to see how the Ottawa Police operate to protect our communities. The Open House is on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Monday, Feb. 22, on your way to Ward Council, stop in at the open house on the West Transitway Extension from Bayshore to Moodie Drive. This is an important link to improve transit services from Kanata into Ottawa. Provide your input from 6-9 p.m. in the Mlacak Centre on plans for this link. On Tuesday, Feb. 23, an open house will be held on the 12.3 km light rail project, including the downtown transit tunnel and maintenance facility at City Hall from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Details on this project can be seen at ottawa.ca/tunnel. This open house marks the last phase in the Environmental Assessment for this major city project.

Sustainable communities
Last week I attended the Sustainable Communities Conference presented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The City of Ottawa is working on a plan for Ottawa to make the city more sustainable in many ways from land use to energy, to environment. This conference provided a great deal of information on

matters such as dealing with climate change (e.g. stormwater), planning for a low carbon community, and transportation issues. Many of these will be put into practise in new developments in our area. Mintos Arcadia development is planned to be a green development incorporating many of these ideas and we are also using them in plans for our new recreation centre.

Workshop for women candidates

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has a Committee on Increasing Womens Participation in Municipal Government. As a member of that committee, Ive been asked to look at ways to encourage more women to take an active role in municipal affairs. One way is to educate. Together, with Councillor Jan Harder, Ive organized a workshop for women interested in running for office on council, or school board, or finding out more about it on Saturday, Feb. 27 at City Hall. Information on running a campaign, fundraising, using the media and rules about elections will be provided. A panel of women who have served on a municipal council or school board will answer questions from participants. The workshop will be given in both English and French. Registration, including lunch, is $25. A registration form is available on my website.

Coming events
Feb. 19 Deadline for comments on the Greenbelt (www.canadascapital.gc.ca) Feb. 20 Open house on new police facility, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 211 Huntmar Feb. 21 Chinese New Year Celebration from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mlacak Centre. Feb. 22 Deadline for student summer jobs, ottawa.ca/careers Feb. 22 Ward council from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Seniors Program Room, Mlacak Centre. Centre. Feb. 22 Open house on the west transitway, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Mlacak Centre. Feb. 23 Open house on light rail and tunnel, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at City Hall Feb. 27 Workshop for Women candidates, from 8:30 a.m. 3 p.m., at City Hall. For more information, please visit www.mariannewilkinson.com.

Serving the residents and businesses in Kanata North

To receive the Kanata North Newsletter, to deal with a concern or make a suggestion, contact me at 613-580-2474, email Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca, or through www.mariannewilkinson.com.