Memoranda issued by Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services

To: Mayor and Members of Council

From: Dan Chenier, General Manager Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services

This memo is to inform you that Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services is undertaking a review of the Cash-in-lieu-of-Parkland Funds Policy and to request your participation.

The current Cash-in-lieu-of-Parkland Funds Policy was approved by Council 2011 and updated in 2015. The Policy “is designed to ensure the consistent and wise use of funds collected for park and recreation purposes by defining the purposes for which these funds may be used, how the funds are allocated, and how the spending is accounted for both internally and publicly” (ACS2015-PAI-DCM-0001).

The Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan was approved by Council on October 13, 2021.  Recommendation #7 of the supporting staff report (ACS2021-RCF-GEN-0018) directed staff to “review the Cash-in-lieu-of-Parkland Policy and bring forward a report to Planning Committee and Council with recommended changes in concurrence with revisions of the Parkland Dedication By-law and as per the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan”.  An updated Parkland Dedication By-law was approved by Council on August 31, 2022.

Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services has begun to review the Cash-in-lieu-of-Parkland Funds Policy.  The first phase is to collect background information from internal stakeholders.  As part of this, staff would like to meet with Councillors to understand their opinion with regards to the current Cash-in-lieu-of-Parkland Funds Policy.  In support of this phase, you will be contacted by Selma Hassan, from Parks and Facilities Planning, to see if you are interested in sharing your opinion on cash-in-lieu-of parkland.

The information you share, will help support the following phases of the review, which could propose changes to the current Cash-in-lieu-of-Parkland Funds Policy.

Thank you,

Dan Chenier
General Manager,
Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services
c.c. Kevin Wherry – Manager, Parks and Facilities Planning

June18, 2024

To: Mayor and Members of Council

From: Dan Chenier, General Manager, Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department

The City’s outdoor pools will be temporarily extending their closing times during the current heat wave, starting today until Thursday, June 20 inclusive, weather permitting.

Here is the list of the outdoor pools which have temporarily extended closing times:

• Bearbrook Pool  8 pm
• Beaverbrook Pool - Kanata - 8 pm
• Crestview Pool  - 9 pm
• Entrance Pool – 9 pm
• General Burns Pool – 9 pm
• Glen Cairn Pool - 8 pm

In addition, all pools (indoor and outdoor) have removed some lanes to accommodate public swimmers during scheduled lane swims.

Additional information:

Outdoor swim and splash | City of Ottawa.

Regards,

Original signed by

Dan Chenier.

May 17, 2024

To: Mayor and Members of Council

From: Dan Chenier, General Manager, Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department

With the outdoor summer recreation season approaching, we are providing the information below with details on the City’s beach, outdoor pool, wading pool and park programs.

Beaches

Beaches are supervised Monday to Sunday, noon to 7 pm, from June 15 to August 25.

• Beach Pavilion washrooms will be open from May 18 to September 2 at the three beach sites.
  • Monday to Thursday, 10:30 am to 9 pm
  • Friday to Sunday, 10:30 am to 7 pm

The City will not be providing lifeguard supervision at Westboro Beach this year. The National Capital Commission is advising that due to construction at the site, only reduced unsupervised access to the beach area will be available. The City recommends swimming at supervised beaches only. Water testing will not be completed at this location.

For information on water quality at beach locations, contact Ottawa Public Health: 613-580-2424 ext. 13219 or : Beach Water Quality Results - Ottawa Public Health.

For general information on beaches, please visit: Outdoor swim and splash or email beaches@ottawa.ca.

Outdoor swimming pools

There will be nine outdoor pools (deep pools) in operation this summer with schedules for public swimming available at: Outdoor swim and splash.

Some pools also offer learn to swim programs for all ages.

*An opening date for Genest Outdoor Pool will soon be determined.

For outdoor pool information, please visit Outdoor swim and splash and select pool locations.

Wading pools

Ten wading pools will open on weekends starting June 15.

For regular weekday and weekend service, wading pools will have two staggered start dates:

• Group A:  June 24 to August 18
• Group B:  July 1 to August 25

Please refer to the schedule below to determine a specific wading pool’s opening date.

Holiday Hours: Most wading pools will be open on July 1 and August 5, except for locations whose scheduled closed day fall on these dates.

Swimming hours (with some exceptions):

• Monday and Friday, 11 am to 6 pm
• Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 7 pm
• Saturday, Sunday and holidays, noon to 5 pm

Extended washroom hours

Residents will be provided access to washrooms during daily opening and closing maintenance hours at all wading pool locations. Opening and closing times will vary at each location and are dependent on the individual fill and drain times for each pool. Signs will be posted at each location indicating washroom opening and closing times.

For a list of specific swimming hours, visit Outdoor swim and splash and select wading pools.

Programming in parks

We are pleased to offer complimentary recreation activities at all wading pool locations during operating hours. Residents can visit their local wading pool at the start of the season for further program details.

For more information or if you would like to participate at a location in your ward, please contact the Seasonal Recreation Office at seasonalrecreation@ottawa.ca

Please note: Daily program adjustments may occur due to weather, increased requirements for pool surveillance or unforeseen circumstances.

Splash pads

Many Splash pads will be open by Friday May 10.  All splash pads will be in operation from May 18 until September 15 (weather dependent). Most pads operate from 9 am to 9 pm. Splash pad sites are unsupervised. Some splash pads may require repairs early in the season due to unpredictable impacts from winter weather which will result in a delayed opening. The Seasonal Recreation Office will post delayed sites on Ottawa.ca and notify Councillors directly regarding any delayed openings within their respective wards.

For a list of splash pad locations and scheduling information, please visit Outdoor swim and splash and select splash pads.

Tennis, pickleball and rinks

Public court rentals: As of April 19, 2024, all public tennis and pickleball courts are available for free drop-in play. Courts are also available for tennis and pickleball rentals. For more information, please contact tennis@ottawa.ca

Outdoor rink slab rentals (ie. ball hockey, lacrosse, etc.):  Rentals will be available to groups and individuals. For more information, please contact: SeasonalRecreation@ottawa.ca or call 613-580-2590.

Should you have any other questions please contact Sue Chiumera, Program Manager – Complexes, Aquatics and Specialized Services.

January 18, 2024

To: Mayor and Members of Council

From: Dan Chenier, General Manager, Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department

Mayor and Members of Council,

I’m pleased to advise you that the new Last-minute ice (LMI) booking system on register.ottawa.ca will be launched mid-next week This is one more step towards the full implementation of the City’s ActiveNet booking and registration system.

To help support this transition, we have developed the following resources:

• Video tutorial EN Link: https://youtu.be/2GJfTjMgIHM
• How-to brochure (bilingual printed brochure available at arenas)
• Web content (to be available upon launch)

This new functionality is for booking last-minute ice within a 15 day timeframe only. The search function to view unsold arena ice times beyond 15 days will be available at a later date.

Like any new process, there will be an adjustment period for both RCFS facility staff and user groups as they make the transition to this new online booking system.

Should you have any questions related to this, please contact Luc Lavictoire, Program Manager, Centralized Allocations.

January 3, 2024

To: Mayor and Members of Council

From: Dan Chenier, General Manager Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department

The purpose of this memo is to provide a status update to Members of Council on the Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department’s Commemorative Naming Program and policy review.

On February 8, 2023, Ottawa City Council passed a motion to pause the Commemorative Naming Program to allow for a full program and policy review. The review is intended to strengthen the City’s approach to commemoration and outline a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive process that reflects the values of the City of Ottawa.

As part of the review process, we are inviting Ottawa residents to share their ideas and feedback regarding the future direction of the Commemorative Naming Program on Engage Ottawa. The survey will be open to the public on January 3, 2024, and close on February 16, 2024. Survey results will assist with the creation of a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable Commemorative Naming Policy.

We encourage you to promote this opportunity to as many residents and community groups as possible. Residents with questions or comments can contact the Commemorative Naming Program at NamingOttawa@ottawa.ca

December 14, 2023
To: Mayor and Members of Council
From: Dan Chenier, General Manager, Recreation

Skating on the City of Ottawa’s outdoor rinks is a popular pastime for residents and a great way to keep active during colder weather. Ottawa’s outdoor rink program is unique as the ice surfaces are primarily constructed and maintained by community volunteers. 

We recognize that your staff receive countless calls from residents with questions and concerns about their local outdoor rink. The information below can be used as a guide when responding to inquiries.  

We recommend that you make this information available to your office staff so that they may refer to it as they field inquiries.  

Base ice/Opening date 

We are currently tracking forecasted snowfall and temperatures. To create base ice, 10 to 15 centimetres of accumulated snow is required with evening temperatures consistently below -10 degrees Celsius for a duration of five to seven consecutive days. Ideally, construction of base ice begins around December 15 but due to fluctuating weather patterns, achieving base ice has not been possible until early January in recent years.  Creating base ice is a labour-intensive process that includes packing of the snow and applying 12 coats of water within a five to seven-day cold period.  

Snow removal  

Volunteers will do their best to remove snow from the ice surface in a timely manner.  

In general, residents can expect that minor snowfalls will be cleared from the rink within 12 hours and major snowfalls (10+ cm) will be cleared within 24 hours.  

Shovels will often be available at the rink, and we encourage rink users to assist with snow removal. 

Mild weather  

In recent years, we have experienced several periods of rain followed by mild weather, which makes it difficult for volunteers to maintain the ice.  

During warmer weather, there is little that volunteers can do until the colder weather returns. It is crucial that the public stays off the rink during mild weather.  

Walking on the rink during mild weather will cause damage to the rink’s surface and make it incredibly challenging for volunteers to get the ice back to a smooth surface.  

Skating tips for residents 

We encourage you to post the following tips on your ward websites or social media accounts for a successful season.  

• Rink users should always wear a CSA certified hockey helmet. 
• Children under the age of 7 should be accompanied by a responsible person aged 14 and up.  
• Respect signage indicating the rink is closed. It means volunteers have recently flooded or the ice is too soft for skating. 
• Avoid walking on the rink, as this is hazardous and damages the ice surface. 
• Keep all pets off the rinks. Please do not use boarded rinks as dog runs.  
• For the safety of users, hockey is not permitted on puddle rinks (non-boarded rinks).  
• Hours of operation and access to warming facilities (where available) for supervised rinks is determined by the local community operator at each location. 
• Take the time to thank the volunteers who dedicate their time to creating a rink in your community and lend a helping hand when possible. 
• Report any site hazards or deficiencies to 3-1-1 or the Seasonal Recreation Office. 

Rink operator appreciation breakfast 

Staff are again in the planning stages for the annual rink volunteer appreciation breakfast. This is an annual tradition where Councillors are invited to attend the celebration and assist with serving breakfast to the volunteers. This year’s breakfast will take place on Saturday, February 24 at the Jim Durrell Arena.  

Sledding Hills 

Ottawa has a unique landscape with a high number of naturally occurring hills on City property which are appealing to residents to use for sledding activities. Although this makes oversight and management challenging, the City takes every reasonable precaution to manage risk for activities that take place on its property, including sledding.    

In order to mitigate risks associated with sledding, City staff have designated more than 60 hills as “approved sledding hills”.  These locations have had site risk inspections completed, safety signage installed and protective measures such as hay bags and foam padding have been installed as added safety measures. Approved sledding hills are listed on ottawa.ca/sledding and are the only hills located on City property considered reasonably safe for sledding.   

As a result of the large number of naturally occurring hills located on City property, staff cannot be aware of sledding activities taking place on all hilly landscapes not designated for sledding. Staff have identified more than 30 hills located on City property that have been inspected and identified as not reasonably safe for sledding. Signage indicating that sledding is not safe at these locations has been installed to warn residents of the dangers. If your office becomes aware of any safety issues at approved or non-approved hills on City land in your ward, please report this to the Seasonal Recreation office.    

Sledding tips for residents 

• Only sled at designated approved sledding hills. A full listing can be found at ottawa.ca/sledding 
• Always wear a proper helmet – ski, snowboard, or CSA certified hockey helmet 
• Check the weather before sledding and avoid sledding during icy conditions. 
• Sit or kneel on your sled and avoid going headfirst. 
• View hill descriptions at ottawa.ca/sledding to verify the hill you are visiting is appropriate for young children or new sledders. 
• The City of Ottawa recommends that young children avoid sledding on hills identified as fairly steep or steep and stick to hills with a gradual slope. 

Last year, in partnership with Ottawa Public Health, we developed a public awareness campaign with these messages and will be running that campaign again this year. 

Contact information  

Residents with questions regarding the general operation of the outdoor rink program or the city’s sledding hills are invited to contact the Seasonal Recreation Office: 
Phone: 613-580-2590  
Email: SeasonalRecreation@ottawa.ca.  

Other comments, questions or concerns can be addressed to: 

Program Manager: Sue Chiumera
Phone – 613-580-2424 x 26637
Email – sue.chiumera@ottawa.ca 

Recreation Supervisor: Matt Hyne
Phone – 613-580-2424 x 46606
Email – matt.hyne@ottawa.ca 

We look forward to another successful season.