The City’s Community Services Committee today approved refinancing the mortgages of five Ottawa Community Housing properties, generating $41.3 million to be reinvested in capital repairs and energy efficiency improvements for community housing.
The mortgages would be renewed through Infrastructure Ontario at fixed, long-term rates of 4.67 per cent for 30 years. Since 2012, the City has refinanced 55 Ottawa Community Housing mortgages through Infrastructure Ontario, generating more than $168 million in capital funds for repairs to supplement other funding sources and ensure that Ottawa’s social housing stock is kept in good repair.
The Committee approved, in principle, six projects to be funded through the Community Partnership Major Capital program in 2023. The City would contribute just over $1 million to improve parks and recreation facilities, sharing costs with community partners. The Committee also received an update on 17 projects funded through the minor capital program in 2022, and the major capital projects approved last year.
The Committee approved four commemorative naming proposals for parks and recreation facilities:
-
The outdoor volleyball court at Osgoode Village Park at 5701 Philip Street would be named the Roger Michels Volleyball Court, in recognition of extensive community service. Mr. Michels was responsible for the creation of the court, volunteered his time to maintain it and organized the summer volleyball league.
-
Innes Park Woods at 3828 Innes Road would be renamed Victor Cyr Woods, in recognition of demonstrated excellence. Mr. Cyr fought to keep the land from being developed in the 1970s, and, in the 1990s, worked with former Councillor Rainer Bloess on a land exchange where the City acquired and protected the woods.
-
A new park in the Minto Mahogany community at 623 Bridgeport Avenue would be named Lt. Col. Roland Ashman Park, in recognition of demonstrated excellence. Lt. Col. Ashman received several medals of honour in the Second World War and contributed to his community as a member of Royal Canadian Legion, the Board of Trustees of the Police Village of Manotick, the Manotick Library Board and the Manotick Centennial Committee.
-
A new park in the Minto Mahogany community at 216 Skipper Drive would be named Dr. O.B. Wilson Park, in recognition of extensive community service. Dr. Wilson served in the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War, after which he dedicated his life to medicine. He created the Manotick Medical Centre in 1972, volunteered with the Manotick Kiwanis Club, supported the Probus Club of Ottawa-Rideau Valley and was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion.
While the commemorative naming program is currently paused for review, the items approved today were received and vetted prior to the moratorium. The review is intended to strengthen the City’s approach to commemoration and outline a more equitable, diverse and inclusive process that reflects the City’s values.
For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.