Events

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Safer Roads Ottawa hosts or supports several community events throughout the year, to educate the public about road safety. These events are supported by various partners and community organizations. Events will be listed here when dates and locations are confirmed.

Upcoming events

Check back or follow us on social media for event dates and locations.

Some of the events Safer Roads Ottawa participates in include:

  • In the spring, we support Toe Tag, an event that simulates a serious car collision caused by impaired driving; the event is held at local high schools with a presentation to students after the simulation
  • In June, we participate in the Public Works Big Wheels Expo, which showcases Public Works’ operations and entertains children of all ages; the vehicles on display include a garbage truck, a 25-ton rock truck, a road painting truck, a traffic signal display, a sidewalk sweeper and a hydraulic crane truck
  • In October, we partner with Ottawa Fire Services, to host the month-long Be Safe, Be Seen campaign to raise awareness about the importance of motorists watching out for other road users and of cyclists and pedestrians staying visible; we hand out free safety gear, such as reflective bands and bike lights
  • In November, we host Lights on Bikes to educate cyclists and pedestrians about improving their visibility at night; we hand out free reflective bands and bike lights

Questions? Contact SRO@ottawa.ca(link opens email application).

Past events

November 5, 2024

‘Lights on Bikes’ 2024 aims to increase the visibility and safety of cyclists during low-light hours (dawn, dusk, nighttime). It is an initiative of the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service. City staff will distribute free reflectors and bike lights and share information on the legal requirements for bike lighting and reflectors as well as tips for e-scooter safety. EnviroCentre will also be there as well as Pathway Patrol volunteers to talk about their work.

  • What:  Lights on Bikes campaign
  • Where: Rideau Canal Western Pathway at the Corktown Footbridge
  • When: 4:30 to 5:30 pm
  • Safer Roads Ottawa staff talking to cyclists/Le personnel du Programme d’amélioration de la sécurité des routes à Ottawa parle aux cyclistes
  • Firefighters talking to cyclists/Les pompiers parlent aux cyclistes
  • Safer Roads Ottawa staff talking to cyclists/Le personnel du Programme d’amélioration de la sécurité des routes à Ottawa parle aux cyclistes
  • Safer Roads Ottawa staff talking to cyclists/Le personnel du Programme d’amélioration de la sécurité des routes à Ottawa parle aux cyclistes
  • Firefighters talking to cyclists/Les pompiers parlent aux cyclistes
  • Safer Roads Ottawa staff talking to cyclists/Le personnel du Programme d’amélioration de la sécurité des routes à Ottawa parle aux cyclistes

October 26, 2024

Come Trick or Treat with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe in the “Weird and Wonderful” Heritage Building. Collect special treats as you venture into the Ghost Chamber and down the Hall of Villains for more goodies and fun. See what’s brewing inside City Hall where you can meet your favourite costumed characters in Jean Pigott Place including the Tooth Fairy!

  • What:  Trick or Treat with the Mayor
  • Where: Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Heritage Building (Elgin Street) and Jean Pigott Place; Queue to enter is along Lisgar Street.
  • When: 5:30 to 8:30 pm
  • Admission: A non-perishable donation to the Ottawa Food Bank’s Baby Basics Program

Safer Roads Ottawa will be outside handing out reflective bands to children to help them be visible and safe on Halloween night.

  • Inside City Hall with Halloween decorations/L'intérieur de l'hôtel de ville avec des décorations d'Halloween
  • Woman in red cape handing out reflective arm bands to children in costumes/Une femme en cape rouge distribue des brassards réfléchissants à des enfants déguisés.
  • Female City employee with the Mayor/Femme employée de la ville avec le maire
  • Mayor Sutcliffe handing giving a reflective arm band to a young child in a costume/Le maire Sutcliffe remet un brassard réfléchissant à un jeune enfant déguisé.
  • A smiling female volunteer wearing a white mask, blonde wig and red cape/Une bénévole souriante portant un masque blanc, une perruque blonde et une cape rouge.
  • Exterior of municipal Heritage Building with blue and green lights/Extérieur du bâtiment municipal du patrimoine avec des lumières bleues et vertes
  • Inside City Hall with Halloween decorations/L'intérieur de l'hôtel de ville avec des décorations d'Halloween
  • Woman in red cape handing out reflective arm bands to children in costumes/Une femme en cape rouge distribue des brassards réfléchissants à des enfants déguisés.
  • Female City employee with the Mayor/Femme employée de la ville avec le maire
  • Mayor Sutcliffe handing giving a reflective arm band to a young child in a costume/Le maire Sutcliffe remet un brassard réfléchissant à un jeune enfant déguisé.
  • A smiling female volunteer wearing a white mask, blonde wig and red cape/Une bénévole souriante portant un masque blanc, une perruque blonde et une cape rouge.
  • Exterior of municipal Heritage Building with blue and green lights/Extérieur du bâtiment municipal du patrimoine avec des lumières bleues et vertes

October 2024

Adapting our behaviour on our roads and pathways is just another part of changing seasons. To promote safe travels as the days get shorter, the annual Be Safe Be Seen campaign is back this October. 

Whether walking or rolling, wear lights or reflectors to make sure you are seen at night. Without reflective gear you may be practically invisible to other road users. 

Throughout October, Ottawa Fire Services will be distributing reflective bands and flashing lights at select fire stations.

  • What:  Be safe, be seen
  • Where: Various
  • When: Various
  • Reflective bands, bike lights and a bag on the front bumper of a fire truck/Bandes réfléchissantes, feux de vélo et sac sur le pare-chocs avant d'un camion de pompiers
  • Reflective bands, bike lights and a bag on the front bumper of a fire truck/Bandes réfléchissantes, feux de vélo et sac sur le pare-chocs avant d'un camion de pompiers
  • Reflective bands, bike lights and a bag on the front bumper of a fire truck/Bandes réfléchissantes, feux de vélo et sac sur le pare-chocs avant d'un camion de pompiers
  • Reflective bands, bike lights and a bag on the front bumper of a fire truck/Bandes réfléchissantes, feux de vélo et sac sur le pare-chocs avant d'un camion de pompiers

Sunday June 2, 2024

The City’s public works vehicles are a common sight on city streets. Together, these machines help us protect the City’s infrastructure assets as well as our precious green spaces. Come down to the Ottawa Stadium to enjoy this free event. Some of the vehicles that will be on site include a garbage truck, rock truck, road painting truck, traffic signal display, sidewalk sweeper, snow plow, log truck, and much more. 

Safer Roads Ottawa will offer road safety tips and accessories such as reflective straps and bike lights.

  • Two adults and a five children in front of traffic light display/Deux adultes et cinq enfants devant un feu de signalisation
  • Safer Roads Ottawa table with staff talking to an adult and child/Table Sécurité des routes à Ottawa avec du personnel discutant avec un adulte et un enfant.
  • Machinery and people at the expo/Machines et personnes à l'exposition
  • Two female staff in a selfie/Deux employées en selfie
  • Mayor Sutcliffe with two mothers each holding a child/Le maire Sutcliffe avec deux mères tenant chacune un enfant.
  • Two adults and a five children in front of traffic light display/Deux adultes et cinq enfants devant un feu de signalisation
  • Safer Roads Ottawa table with staff talking to an adult and child/Table Sécurité des routes à Ottawa avec du personnel discutant avec un adulte et un enfant.
  • Machinery and people at the expo/Machines et personnes à l'exposition
  • Two female staff in a selfie/Deux employées en selfie
  • Mayor Sutcliffe with two mothers each holding a child/Le maire Sutcliffe avec deux mères tenant chacune un enfant.

Sunday May 5, 2024

As a cyclist or pedestrian, do you know where a large vehicle’s blind spots are? Or how to safely navigate an intersection or roundabout? We can demonstrate that and share other safety tips and trinkets.

  • What: CN Cycle for CHEO
  • Where: Safer Roads Ottawa (SRO) booth, Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place
  • When: 8 am to 1 pm
  • Safer Roads Ottawa booth with three City of Ottawa staff and three CHEO volunteers dressed as superheros./Le stand de Sécurité des routes Ottawa avec trois employés de la Ville d'Ottawa et trois bénévoles du CHEO déguisés en super-héros.
  • A table labeled Safe Roads Ottawa has a variety of printed material plus bike lights and reflective armbands./Une table étiquetée "Sécurité des routes Ottawa" propose divers documents imprimés, ainsi que des feux de vélo et des brassards réfléchissants.
  • An OC Transpo male employee and a Safer Roads Ottawa female employee in front of an e-bus and a sign with information about large vehicle blind spots./Un employé d'OC Transpo et une employée de Sécurité des routes Ottawa devant un e-bus et un panneau d'information sur les angles morts des gros véhicules.
  • Safer Roads Ottawa booth with three City of Ottawa staff and three CHEO volunteers dressed as superheros./Le stand de Sécurité des routes Ottawa avec trois employés de la Ville d'Ottawa et trois bénévoles du CHEO déguisés en super-héros.
  • A table labeled Safe Roads Ottawa has a variety of printed material plus bike lights and reflective armbands./Une table étiquetée "Sécurité des routes Ottawa" propose divers documents imprimés, ainsi que des feux de vélo et des brassards réfléchissants.
  • An OC Transpo male employee and a Safer Roads Ottawa female employee in front of an e-bus and a sign with information about large vehicle blind spots./Un employé d'OC Transpo et une employée de Sécurité des routes Ottawa devant un e-bus et un panneau d'information sur les angles morts des gros véhicules.