10.          OTTAWA CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD SURPLUS PROPERTY - ST. THOMAS CATHOLIC   ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 

                PROPRIÉTÉ EXCÉDENTAIRE DU CONSEIL SCOLAIRE DES ÉCOLES CATHOLIQUES               D’OTTAWA – ÉCOLE ÉLÉMENTAIRE CATHOLIQUE ST. THOMAS

 

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS AS AMENDED

 

That Council approve:

 

1.                  That staff be directed to pursue negotiations with the Ottawa Catholic School Board for the City to acquire the St. Thomas School site at 9 Leeming Drive; and

 

2.                  That staff be directed to consult with the Ward Councillor and the community on the future uses of the school on the condition of funding this acquisition and/or all related net renovation, demolition or construction costs through a Special Services Levy (Section 326); and

 

3.                  That staff report to Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee on the status of the negotiations for acquiring the site and the funding sources for this acquisition.

 

Recommandations modifÉe DU Comité

 

Que le Conseil  approuve:

1.                  de demander au personnel de mener des négociations avec l’Ottawa Catholic School Board afin que la Ville acquiert le terrain et les bâtiments de l’école St. Thomas au 9, promenade Leeming;

2.                  de demander au personnel de consulter le conseiller de quartier et le milieu au sujet de la vocation future de l’école, étant entendu que le coût net et/ou total des travaux de rénovation, de démolition et de construction liés à cette acquisition doit être financé au moyen d’un impôt de service spécial (article 326);

3.                  que le personnel rende compte au Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique de l’état des négociations et des sources de financement visant cette acquisition.

 

Documentation

 

1.                  City Managers report dated 1 December 2009 (ACS2009-CMR-REP-0055)

2.         Extract of Draft Minute, 1 December 2009 to be distributed prior to Council.

 

Report to/Rapport au :

 

Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee

Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

1 December 2009 / 1 décembre 2009

 

 Submitted by/Soumis par: Kent Kirkpatrick, City Manager / Directeur municipal

 

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Gordon MacNair, Director, Real Estate Partnerships and Development Office/Directeur Partenariats et Développement en immobilier

(613) 580-2424 x 21217, Gordon.MacNair@Ottawa.ca

 

BAY (7)

No de référence : ACS2009-CMR-REP-0055

 

 

SUBJECT :

OTTAWA CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD SURPLUS PROPERTY - ST. THOMAS CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 

 

OBJET :

PROPRIÉTÉ EXCÉDENTAIRE DU CONSEIL SCOLAIRE DES ÉCOLES CATHOLIQUES D’OTTAWA – ÉCOLE ÉLÉMENTAIRE CATHOLIQUE ST. THOMAS

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend that Council:

1.                  Direct staff to pursue negotiations with the Ottawa Catholic School Board for the City to acquire, for park purposes, the 0.124 ha. (0.306 ac.) portion of the Board’s property at 9 Leeming Drive shown as Parcel “A” on Document 1 attached and as further outlined in this report;

2.                  Direct staff to report back in Q1 2010 with respect to the status of the negotiations for acquiring Parcel “A” and any resulting costs and funding source for the acquisition; and

3.                  Should Council approve recommendations 1 and 2 above, that Council consider approving a project to construct a community building with a gymnasium as described in this report and allocating funds in the total amount of $3M for that project.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique recommande au Conseil :

1.                  de demander au personnel de poursuivre les négociations avec le Conseil scolaire des écoles catholiques d’Ottawa afin que la Ville puisse acquérir, à des fins d’aménagement d’un parc, la portion de 0,124 ha. (0,306 acre) de la propriété du Conseil située au 9, promenade Leeming, illustrée en Parcelle « A » au Document 1 ci‑joint, tel qu’il est énoncé dans le présent rapport;

2.                  de demander au personnel de faire rapport au T1 de 2010 sur l’avancement des négociations concernant l’acquisition de la Parcelle « A », ainsi que sur les coûts résultants et la source de financement pour l’acquisition de la propriété; et

3.                  si le Conseil approuve les recommandations 1 et 2 ci-dessus, qu’il envisage d’approuver un projet en vue de construire un édifice communautaire doté d’un gymnase, comme il est décrit dans le présent rapport, et d’y allouer des fonds d’un montant total de 3 M$.

BACKGROUND

 

St. Thomas School Property Information

 

The Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) owns the property at 9 Leeming Drive, within the Crystal Beach community, that abuts the City’s 1.8 ha. (4.46 ac.) Maki Park as shown on Documents 1 & 2 attached to this report.

 

The OCSB property has a land area of approximately 1.1 hectares (2.74 acres) and is improved with a one-storey building having a floor area of approximately 2,406 square metres (25,900 square feet) that housed the former St. Thomas Elementary School, which was closed on 25 May 2008 as result of a motion passed by the OCSB Board.

 

The St. Thomas Elementary School facility was originally constructed in 1962 as a building facing Leeming Drive with a floor area of 832 sq. m. (8,960 sq. ft.). A 666 sq. m. (7,170 sq. ft.) addition was added in 1965 and a further 908 sq. m. (9,770 sq. ft.) addition added in 1967 to create the current 2,406 sq. m. (25,900 sq. ft.) facility.

 

A recent site visit by staff in the Real Estate Partnerships and Development Office (REPDO) indicates that the building is approaching the end of its useful life and will require substantial life cycle work and other upgrades to extends its life for use as a City owned community building. In fact, a life cycle report prepared for the OSCB indicates that the building is in relatively poor condition with deferred life cycle work already identified, for the period from 2003-2007, in the amount of approximately $1.4M.

 

On 24 September 2009, the City received a letter from the OCSB identifying that the property located at 9 Leeming Drive had been declared surplus to its needs, by a motion passed by the OCSB Board on 22 September 2009, and was being circulated/offered to “priority purchasers”, including the City, as set out under Regulation 445/06 of the Education Act. Under the provisions of the Act, a priority purchaser must express any interest in purchasing the property at market value within a 90-day period and in this instance by 24 December 2009.

 

Community Use  / Interest - St. Thomas Elementary School

 

The school gym was used by the community groups (e.g. Scouts) from the 1960’s until June 2006 when this arrangement was apparently terminated by the OCSB.

 

On 10 December 2008, the Crystal Beach/Lakeview Community Association wrote a letter to the City’s Recreation and Community Services Branch requesting that the City purchase this property for use as a community centre, at such time that the OCSB offers the property for sale, and indicating that the community is very much opposed to this property being used for housing. 

 

The letter also set out proposed uses that the community feels are appropriate for this facility as follows:

 

·        “The northeast wing addition could be leased to a private school since this section of the building was designed to be separate from the main building and has its own entrances, washrooms, principal’s room and heating system. This would generate rental income to offset costs of running a Community Recreation Centre.”

·        “Our Association’s volunteer, Elizabeth Gravelle looks after the bookings for Maki House. We are unable to accommodate large groups because we don’t have enough space. Every year, our Association is approached by groups who wish to run sports programs or martial arts programs in our community at Maki House but these programs cannot get started because we do not have enough space or availability.”

 

In its October 2009 Newsletter, the Crystal Beach/Lakeview Community Association indicated as follows:

 

“The City of Ottawa has a policy to purchase closed school properties. It is expected, if no one else on the preferred list purchases it, the City will purchase the St. Thomas property. There are many in our community who would like the City to make this property into a shared-use community centre. Our Association’s Committee, who have been working on a business plan, is continuing its work. If no one on the preferred list purchases the property it will be sold on the open market to a developer – expect more high-density three-storey homes.”

 

City Policy - Acquisition of Surplus School Properties

 

In May 2007, staff submitted a report with recommendations with respect to a policy for acquiring surplus school properties (“Policy for Surplus Schools” ref. # ACS2007-PTE-POL-0033) that was considered by the Planning and Environment Committee (PEC) and the Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee (ARAC) in June 2007. Based on the recommendations of PEC and ARAC, Council, on 29 August 2007, approved as follows:

 

·        That, where a school board within the City of Ottawa offers a school site as surplus to its educational needs, the City of Ottawa indicate an interest in acquiring this site on a case by case basis;

·        That staff establish criteria for the evaluation of surplus schools sites for review and approval by the Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee, Planning and Environment Committee and Council after which staff be directed to undertake an evaluation and prioritisation of school sites for the purpose of identifying sites that would meet City needs should they be declared surplus or are already surplus;

·        That these priorities be reviewed on an annual basis;

·        That a funding strategy be brought forward for the 2008 Budget in order to acquire school board property that qualifies.

 

A report on the establishment of criteria for evaluating surplus schools sites is currently scheduled to go to the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee (CSEDC) and Council in Q1 2010.

 

This report will take into account the City’s recent experience in acquiring the former school properties at 3071 Riverside Drive (Former Bayview School property) and 2720 Richmond Road (Former Grant Alternative School property).

 

These schools were acquired in 2008 based on a Council directive of 28 November 2007 (Report ACS2007-BTS-RPM-0042) for staff to pursue the acquisition of these properties prior to establishing the criteria and priorities for acquiring school properties. Reports regarding status / redevelopment strategies for these properties are also scheduled for consideration by CSEDC on 1 December 2009 and Council on 9 December 2009.

 

The school acquisition evaluation criteria report will also take into account the key principles and directions of the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan and any resulting neighbourhood needs identified as Parks and Recreation staff implements the master plan.

 

Parks and Recreation Master Plan

 

On 23 April 2008, Council approved the “Framework and Planning Process For A Parks And Recreation Master Plan” (ACS2008-CPS-PAR-0003) to respond to important questions such as “how the City should finance and deliver recreation services to meet the existing and future program and service needs of its residents.” 

 

A subsequent report “Parks and Recreation Master Plan - Consultation Results - Guiding Principals and Key Recommendations” (ACS2009-COS-PRC-00120 was tabled at the Community and Protective Services Committee (CPSC) meeting of 19 November 2009. The report is to be considered at the CSPC meeting scheduled for 3 December 2009.

 

That report defines the City’s commitment, operating principles and its relationship with programs, facilities, communities and partners in providing parks and recreation services. It contains a description of the public consultation process, the main themes and concerns expressed by the public and the resulting principles and key recommendations of the master plan for the future.

  

The report notes that, during the consultation process, an overwhelming majority of respondents indicated the importance of local neighbourhood based recreation while a clear majority of respondents indicated that transportation is a factor that limits access. Accordingly, the report recommends that future planning of facilities must strike an appropriate balance between neighbourhood based community centres and district and citywide multi-use facilities. It also recommends that the City should reinvest and invest in neighbourhood-based recreation services (directly and in partnership) and these services should be provided based on interests and needs of individual communities recognizing that one size does not fit all across the City. 

 

In that respect, the report includes recommendations as follows:

 

·        That recreation services be reasonably accessible by neighbourhood and inclusive regardless of ability to pay, culture, physical ability or age, including balancing neighbourhood-based community centers with district and citywide multi-use facilities;

·        That the City provide recreation facilities and program opportunities that reflect local community interests and capacity to delivery within a broader citywide framework, including provision of services based on interests and needs of the community with allocation of space based on a balanced approach considering changing demographics and historical patterns; and

·        That staff report back in the first quarter of 2010 with the final Parks and Recreation Master Plan that will provide a road map and timetable for the individual policies that will be coming back to coming back to Committee and Council consistent with the principles and recommendations set out above.

 

Crystal Beach Neighbourhood - Recreation Facilities and Needs

 

As shown on Document 2, the existing recreation facilities at Maki Park include a soccer field, a baseball diamond, a children’s play area and structure, an outdoor hockey rink and a one-storey community building, known as Maki House, with a ground floor area of 4,085 sq. ft. for community activities and a partial basement with a floor area of approximately 1,500 sq. ft. for use mainly as storage.

 

Maki House was constructed and dedicated in 1971 in memory of the late Constable Wayne Maki, a Crystal Beach resident who died in the line of service. The Maki House facility is a pre-cut log style building that is in very good condition with life cycle work up to and including 2021 estimated to cost no more than $100,000.

 

Parks and Recreation staff have indicated that there is a need in this neighbourhood, as appears to be the case for many neighbourhoods, for more and better quality indoor recreational space. In this case, staff have indicated the needs of the Crystal Beach Community can be provided by the existing Maki House facility together with a purpose-built community building that provides a gymnasium, a separate multi-purpose room, and other ancillary facilities similar to the approximately 7,700 sq. ft. Albion-Heatherington Community Building which was completed and opened in February 2009 at a cost of approximately $2.5M and which building has been designed and constructed to meet LEED Silver standards.

 

 

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

The City’s requirements for an additional recreation facility in this community could potentially be addressed through the use of the existing gym and a maximum of two of the existing classrooms (total 7,875 sq. ft.) in the former St. Thomas Elementary School building as shown on Document 3. The gymnasium and classroom component represent the newer portion of the building and were constructed in the late 1960’s. The remaining nine classrooms and any other amenities within the school would be surplus to the City’s needs

 

In order to bring this building up to contemporary standards for City use as a recreational facility and to meet the minimum requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and other code related compliance fit-up work, upgrades will be required to the extent necessary to accommodate the actual use(s) and end-state occupancy levels. Depending on the nature and extent of the fit-work required to meet the use requirements of the City, there may also be a requirement for additional work to provide structural reinforcement for seismic resistance.

 

Staff has determined that a new purpose-built facility (designed and constructed to LEED Silver standards) similar to the Albion-Heatherington Community Building could be accommodated on the City’s Maki Park property at a cost of approximately $2.5M.

 

Parks Recreation and Culture staff have also advised that they are unable to support an  acquisition of the existing St. Thomas School building given the large capital investment that would be required not only as it relates to the purchase price, but more importantly in the major repairs and lifecycle replacement that would be needed in order to operate as a public facility. They would however strongly support squaring off of the southern property line, increasing the available land for future expansion of Maki house (additional programming rooms and/or gym) without having to lose the sports field.

 

While both City staff and local residents have identified an indoor recreational facility, with approximately 7,700-7,900 sq. ft. of total floor space, including a gymnasium, as being an additional recreational need for this community that would compliment the existing Maki Park facilities, there is no specific project or funding currently identified in the City’s budget for providing this facility.

 

In the normal course of events, the finalization and implementation of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan would allow the City to set out the need, project requirements, and priority for an additional community facility at Maki Park relative to other recreational needs throughout the City.   However, with the current opportunity afforded by the adjacent school property being for sale, it is important that City now determine whether a new 7,700 sq. ft. facility could be provided at Maki Park without having an undue impact on the existing facilities in the park. 

 

An initial review by REPDO staff has determined that a new 7,700 sq. ft. facility could be provided within the existing Maki Park boundaries with the relocation of the outdoor rink area and lighting but this would be a very tight fit if the existing Maki House community building, with its wood construction, remains.

 

Since Maki House is in very good condition, is well used, and has an important significance to this local community, REPDO staff has, therefore, considered three basic property options with respect to how the adjacent school property might be utilized to better accommodate this need as follows:

 

Option 1 - Buy the whole property and retain and improve the entire building;

Option 2 - Buy the whole property; retain and improve the 7,875 sq. ft. building portion with the gymnasium on part of the property (shown as Parcel “B” on Document 1); demolish the remaining18,125 sq. ft. of building; and sell the residual part of the property to recover some of the project cost (shown as Parcel “C”) on Document 1; and

Option 3 - Buy a small portion of the property (shown as Parcel “A” on Document 1), relocate the outdoor rink area and build new purpose-built building with 7,875 sq. ft. on Maki Park.

 

A staff assessment of these Options indicates as follows:

 

Option 1

 

Given that the cost to undertake the deferred life cycle work is estimated to be at least $1.4M, REPDO staff are of the opinion that the cost to purchase this property; to complete the deferred life cycle event work; and to undertake the other code related work, to bring the building up to contemporary standards for the proposed City uses would be at a very minimum $3.6M and perhaps could be as high as $6M. Based on the high risk associated with renovating and adapting an older school building, in poor condition to a City community facility, the cost of implementing this option is most likely to be approximately $5M. 

 

Option 2

 

Based on pro-rating the costs of the life cycle event and other building improvement work for Option 1 to the reduced building area in this option and on recent demolition costs experienced for the Bayview School property, REPDO staff are of the opinion that the cost associated with purchasing this property and reselling a portion; demising a portion of the building; demolishing the other portion of the building; undertaking the deferred life cycle event work and the other building improvement work, to bring the building up to contemporary standards for the proposed City uses, would be approximately $3.5M.

 

 

 

Option 3

 

A review by staff has determined that acquiring a triangular portion of the school property with an area of 0.124 ha. (0.306 ac.), shown as Parcel “B” on Document 1, would provide additional flexibility to accommodate an additional facility on the Maki Park property without unduly affecting the utility of the remainder of the school site for development purposes.

 

Based on the costs experienced for the recently completed Albion-Heatherington community building, REPDO staff are of the opinion that the cost associated with purchasing this property; relocating the rink area and associated lighting, and constructing a new purpose built 7,700 sq. ft. community building to LEED silver standards would be approximately $3M.

 

Conclusion

 

Given that there is currently no identified budget for an additional facility at Maki Park and that Option 3 is in any event the least costly, and probably least risky option, REPDO staff has therefore concluded that the acquisition of the entire surplus school property at 9 Leeming Drive cannot be recommended.

 

However, staff also concluded that acquiring a triangular portion of the school property with an area of 0.124 ha. (0.306 ac.), shown as Parcel “B” on Document 1, would provide additional flexibility to accommodate an additional facility on the Maki Park property without unduly affecting the utility of the remainder of the school site for development purposes.

 

In that regard the OCSB was contacted to determine the possibility of the City acquiring Parcel “B” at market value. The OCSB has indicated verbally that it would consider such a transaction but only after the circulation period is complete and if no other preferred purchaser expresses an interest in acquiring the property.

 

Staff have also concluded that, in almost every case where an institutional property is put up for sale on the open market, the extent and compatibility of private sector development on former institutional use properties, including former school properties, is the major concern for neighbouring residents.

 

Based on the conclusions and recommended actions that REPDO staff have put forward with respect to the redevelopment of the former Bayview Elementary School and the former Grant Alternative School properties, staff have also concluded that the report on the establishment of criteria for evaluating surplus schools sites (currently scheduled to go to CSEDC and Council in Q1 2010) should include a recommendation for the City to proactively initiate zoning amendments for properties currently zoned institutional on a city wide basis.

 

Such amendments would be formulated to preserve the institutional use provisions in each case but provide alternate zoning provisions for other uses in the event that the properties are no longer used for institutional purposes. These alternative use provisions would be based on compatibility with the zoning provisions for the surrounding properties and on the policies of City’s Official Plan and other related secondary planning policies applicable to each institutionally zoned property.

 

This approach could also be considered for the former St. Thomas Elementary School property with the input and concurrence of the OCSDB.

 

Recommended Action

 

As a result, staff are recommending that the City pursue negotiations with the Ottawa Catholic School Board for the City to acquire, for park purposes the 0.124 ha. (0.306 ac.) portion of the Board’s property at 9 Leeming Drive shown as Parcel “A” on Document 1 attached and as further outlined in this report; and that staff report back to CSEDC and Council in Q1 2010 with respect to the status of the negotiations for acquiring Parcel “A” and any resulting costs and funding source for the acquisition.

 

Staff are also recommending that Council may wish to consider approving a project and allocating funding to provide a new purpose built 7,700-7,900 sq. ft. community building with a gymnasium to replace the facilities that were previously available for community use for over 30 years until the use arrangement was terminated in 2006.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The acquisition of this property will be subject to the City carrying out such environmental site assessment investigations as it deems necessary to satisfy itself that there are no material adverse environmental conditions affecting this property.

 

CONSULTATION

 

A full internal circulation was undertaken on the above-noted parcel of land with a due date of 30 October 2009.  The following are the comments received:

 

Infrastructure Services & Community Sustainability, Utility/Development Coordination Unit  - “There is a 10" sanitary sewer main and 30" storm sewer main that run along the west and north edges of the property.  The City must retain existing easements for these sewers, otherwise, we have no requirement for this land.”

 

REPDO, Realty Services – “The City's Disposals and Environmental Remediation Unit has no records of environmental contamination information on Rights of Way or other city owned properties adjacent to the subject property.”

 

Parks Recreation and Culture – “Parks Recreation and Culture is unable to support the acquisition of St. Thomas School given the large capital investment that would be required not only as it relates to the purchase price, but more importantly in the major repairs and lifecycle replacement that would be needed in order to operate as a public facility. We would however strongly support squaring off of the southern property line, increasing the available land for future expansion of Maki house (additional programming rooms and/or gym) without having to lose the sports field.”

 

Councillor Alex Cullen - “Thank you for this. In my view the City should purchase this site, for the following reasons:

 

St. Thomas School shares Maki Park, and retaining this greenspace would preserve an important element of the Crystal Beach-Lakeview Community. During the winter it is the site of an outdoor hockey rink; in the summer it is used for baseball, etc..

 

The Crystal Beach-Lakeview Community Association wishes to retain this site in public hands and has been actively investigating community uses for the school.

 

The Ottawa Waldorf School has contacted my office to see if space can be rented for their program.”

 

Crystal Beach/Lakeview Community Association –

 

Staff has not conducted a public consultation process in the preparation of this report.

 

However, it is clear from the 10 December 2008 letter from the Community Association to Parks and Recreation staff, and from the October 2009 e-mail correspondence between the President of the Association and the Chair of the Waldorf School Board of Directors attached as Document 5, that the Association has both a desire and an apparent expectation that the City should acquire the subject property for community purposes and to prevent the development of housing in that location.

 

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS:

 

There are no legal/risk management impediments to implementing any of the Recommendations arising from this report.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no financial implications with approval of this report.

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1 - Sketch showing the subject property parcels,

Document 2 - Aerial plan showing the park and school properties,

Document 3 - Floor plan of the existing school building,

Document 4 - OCSB memo declaring the property surplus

Document 5 - Community Association /Waldorf School e-mail exchange

 

DISPOSITION

 

Upon Council approval of the recommendations set out in this report, REPDO staff will initiate negotiations with the OCSB for the acquisition of Parcel “A” as shown on Document 1 attached hereto.

 

DOCUMENT 1

 

 

DOCUMENT 2

DOCUMENT 3

 

DOCUMENT 4

 

DOCUMENT 5

 

Sent: October 14, 2009 1:14 AM

From: Ruth Tremblay, President Crystal Beach/Lakeview Community Association

To: Theo Vanderburgt, Chair of Ottawa Waldorf School Board of Directors
 

Subject: RE: Ottawa Waldorf School interest in St Thomas School

  Theo:
 
It was a pleasure speaking with you on the telephone today about the possibility of the Ottawa Waldorf School and the Great River School relocating to the St. Thomas School property.   
 
I have attached a letter I wrote on behalf of our community to the City of Ottawa on December 10, 2009.  Since then we have met with the City on several occasions to discuss how a partnership with the City would work.  It has been suggested to our Committee that having tenants in the building to offset operating costs would be one way we could proceed.  We do not require the entire building for a community centre.  Our community's interest in the property is to have recreational programming in the building/gym (i.e., sports, art/craft type courses, sewing, home improvement, etc.) and some type of library facility (i.e., a library kiosk). 
 
The City has a new policy to purchase closed school buildings (this Motion was put forward by Councillor Alex Cullen) so it is reasonable to expect the City of Ottawa will purchase the building if no other parties from the preferred list purchase it.  In the event the City purchases the building, Alex Cullen has said the City would use debenture financing.  I have attached a relevant news article from The News EMC - Ottawa article on St. Thomas dated October 9, 2009.

The CBLCA was established in the 1960s.  Our Community Association sponsors the 112th Nepean Scout group. They are very interested in having access to the property to run their programs.  The Community Association operates two ice rinks during the winter and runs a summer sports program (baseball and soccer).  With the help of our Scout group our Association holds a well attended Annual Winter Carnival with a sleigh ride, winter games and a Ray's Reptiles Show. 
 
I have attached a copy of our October 2009 Newsletter that will be going out via Canada Post to 1,500 homes by the end of the week.
 
Our Future of St. Thomas School Committee is meeting this Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. at Maki House, 19 Leeming Drive.  I extend an invitation to your school to send a representative to this meeting to discuss how we can work together to form a mutually beneficial relationship.
 
If there is any other information we can provide that would be helpful to you please don't hesitate to ask.
 

Ruth Tremblay, President, Crystal Beach/Lakeview Community Association (CBLCA)
Ottawa, Ontario.  (613) 829-3788

 
cc Mayor Larry O'Brien
cc Councillor Alex Cullen
cc Future of St. Thomas School Committee
cc David Kennan, City of Ottawa

 

Subject: Ottawa Waldorf School interest in St Thomas School
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:21:35 -0400
From: Theo.Vanderburgt@iogen.ca
To: tremblay_ruth@hotmail.com

Dear Ruth, 

I wish to introduce myself and the Ottawa Waldorf School (OWS). My name is Theo Van der Burgt; I am the Chair of the OWS Board of Directors. OWS is an independent school that has been providing a rich and engaging program from Preschool to Grade 8 for 30 years. We are a Federal not-for-profit organization; however we are not considered a preferred organization by the Ottawa Catholic School Board. 

We are currently located in Stittsville along side the Trans-Canada Trail. We have often considered moving “east” within better proximity to much of Ottawa’s population however we have a strong desire to maintain a natural setting with access to parks, rivers and green space. 

We are drawn to the community of Crystal Beach-Lakeview and the St Thomas School. I would enjoy understanding the interests of Crystal Beach-Lakeview Community Association and whether maintaining St Thomas as a school with Community-oriented activities/access may be of mutual interest. OWS has not conducted any diligence regarding the school and would like first understand the community wishes.  

I would enjoy the opportunity to learn more of your interests. I can be reached at my home 613 692 2817 or my mobile 613 697 6206. Finally I invite you and your community to participate in our Christmas Fair November 22nd from 10am to 3pm (music, children’s activities, Tea Room, crafts and more).