Accomplishments

The RPCA was rejuvenated in August of 1994 after issues which could potentially affect the community began to surface. About 20 concerned residents met at the Clayton residence to revive the Association. Here are some of the major activities and issues in which the Association has been involved over the last 17 years.

Some of the RPCA successes;

 2014

Our 5th annual holiday carol sing at the Cancer Park: with candles and song we rang in the holiday season.
Another pop up tobogganing frolic – where over 80 young at heart residents (and their dogs) slid down our tobogganing hill in the Alta Vista Corridor – which has enjoyed another reprieve from road construction
An incredible Winter Carnival – each year just seems to get better and better.
We also continued to sponsor the Riverview Park soccer team

RPCA committed to the city to clean 6 parks and Cancer Survivor Park in the spring and fall. Peter Hume held a corn roast in August. There were hot dogs and corn and fun for the kids.
We partnered with Blair Court and Russel Heights to replace trees which were lost to the Emerald Ash Beetle. This was an extraordinary circumstance. Trees maintain oxygen, reduce pollution and help to maintain heat or cool. We resurrected a membership drive.
We continued to engage local businesses and the Trainyards to ensure that we are in touch with their needs as well.
We advocated on your behalf and lobbied City Hall to reduce the impact of intensification and development on our little community. This year we have been focused on ensuring that the expansion for the light rail at Hurdman won’t significantly affect our lives and that any development at Trainyards continues to be friendly to our pedestrians. We have also been monitoring what is going to happen to the NDMC lands, and the AVTC and have been making all efforts to ensure that we are not inundated with even more traffic. Our AVTC appeal to the province for the environmental assessment was unsuccessful. We want to know the impact on wildlife. We have also lobbied to get a sidewalk along the south side of Industrial and to have the bus turning lane at Neighbourhood Way re-designed. This was completed in summer 2014.

We have strengthened our website to make it a main source of information for our residents. We have augmented our email network for disseminating information to our residents – if you have not registered to get our updates, please do so!
We continued to liaise with our city councillors (Hume and Chernushenko) in order to make our views known and to try to effect positive change for our community. Our goal is for sustainable development that doesn’t increase the traffic.
With respect to our finances, I am pleased to report that the RPCA is in excellent shape. However, while we have some funds in the bank we are always looking to find new ways to raise money for our recreational and non-recreational activities – so if you have any great ideas, don’t hesitate to share them with any member of the Board.

Finally we would also like, this year, to focus on how we can make an upgrade to our fieldhouse a reality. A small expansion would turn it into a pleasant place, not so leaky, with a room for community events. We would welcome your thoughts on how we could make this happen – how we would raise money and how we should use the facility. So please do let us know. We will be working with our new councillor.

Riverview Park Review – 80 people are involved in distributing our community newspaper throughout the neighbourhood and beyond.

RPCA Board representatives and members of other neighbouring Community Associations take part in the Alta Vista Planning Group (AVPG) meetings.

The RPCA P& D continues to monitor issues related to constructing the 1.2 km Hospital Link portion of the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor (AVTC), now costing approximately $65 million. The RPCA Board believes that based on the evidence to date, instead of resolving traffic congestion as its proponents claim, the “Hospital Link” would more likely just move the bottleneck onto Alta Vista Drive. The RPCA has also pointed out that this proposed road goes against many of the same principles the City is putting forward in its Building a Livable Ottawa document (most notably affordability, encouraging the use of other modes of transit besides cars). These concerns have been communicated to our Councilors and the Mayor – most recently in our submissions on the municipal budget and the Official Plan. The RPCA Board and others finally had a chance to see the detailed design plans for the Hospital Link in March 2014 at an open house. In Spring 2014, the RPCA Board petitioned the Province for an addendum to the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the AVTC, on the basis that the temporary relocation of the Via rail line behind Abbey Road would have significant environmental consequences (damages to wildlife, streams, potential flooding) that were not covered in the original EA.

The main local issues that the RPCA has been tracking relate to the intensification and increased commercial and residential development in and around Riverview Park and the need to address the resultant increase in traffic congestion. This is particularly noticeable due to the new businesses opening in the Trainyards, which has led to more traffic along Industrial Avenue and potentially more cut-through traffic through our residential streets. The RPCA’s warnings and recommendations on improving traffic flow along Industrial Avenue were not followed by the City.

The RPCA continues to advocate for better public transportation (E.g. more bus service) along Industrial and better pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure (e.g. sidewalks and cycling paths) in our neighbourhood and around the City to make it easier for people to reduce the use of their cars and to choose more environmentally friends means of getting around. There have been some successes, but more progress is still needed on proposed sidewalks on south side of Industrial Avenue and on Russell Road between Haig and Coronation.

The RPCA P &D Committee supports developments that make sense from a community sustainability and quality of life perspective, both within our neighbourhood and elsewhere in the City. We will also be closely following proposed developments near the Lees and Hurdman LRT stations.

We will continue to work to build bridges beyond the Riverview Park boundaries on items that might benefit our community as well and to work with other Community Associations on issues of mutual interest.

In 2014-15, we will also keep monitoring local developments closely and have asked to be formally involved as RPCA representatives in consultative process on a number of issues.

2013

Over the last year, the Board of Directors and our members have been very busy – and by working together we have been able to accomplish a lot.

A few of the highlights of this year…

a. Our 4th annual holiday carol sing at the Cancer Park: with candles and song we rang in the holiday season
b. Another pop up tobogganing frolic – where over 80 young at heart residents (and their dogs) slid down our tobogganing hill in the Alta Vista Corridor – which has enjoyed another reprieve from road construction
c. A Scarecrow contest at Halloween at which many of our families created wonderful scary scenes on their front lawns
d. An incredible winter skating party – each year just seems to get better and better.
e. Our third annual neighbourhood garage sale – which helps us all share our treasure with friends and neighbours
f. We also continued to sponsor the Riverview Park soccer team
We also continued to engage local businesses and the Trainyards to ensure that we are in touch with their needs as well.

We advocated on your behalf and lobbied City Hall to reduce the impact of intensification and development on our little community. This year we have been focused on ensuring that our community did not get a casino, that the expansion for the light rail at Hurdman won’t significantly affect our lives and that any development at Trainyards continues to be friendly to our pedestrians. We have also been monitoring what is going to happen to the NDMC lands, the AVTC, the Perley complex and have been making all efforts to ensure that we are not inundated with even more traffic. We have also lobbied to get a sidewalk along the south side of Industrial and to have the bus turning lane at Neighbourhood re-designed.

In order to share best practices and leverage support across the City, we have also continued to meet and work with other Community Associations.
We have strengthened our website to make it a main source of information for our residents. We have augmented our email network for disseminating information to our residents – if you have not registered to get our updates, please do so!
We continued to liaise with our city councillors (Hume and Chernushenko) in order to make our views known and to try to effect positive change for our community
With respect to our finances, I am pleased to report that the RPCA is in excellent shape. However, while we have some funds in the bank we are always looking to find new ways to raise money for our recreational and non-recreational activities.

So what comes next? Well, in the next year, the RPCA intends to continue our efforts to reduce traffic congestion in our neighbourhood (especially along Industrial). We recognize that this increase is directly associated with the development ggrowth at Trainyards and residential intensification. While we can’t stop this growth, we will be working to mitigate the impact of the anticipated traffic increases.

Planning and Development Committee – During 2012-13, the RPCA Planning and Development (P&D) Committee continued to monitor and provide feedback on proposed developments which might affect the Riverview Park community. The Committee has consciously sought to look not only at local projects, but also at those outside our ward that may have direct or indirect affect on us all.
We met several times during the year and conducted a fair amount of information sharing and discussions via email and at monthly RPCA Board meetings. Articles on P & D issues of interest appear in the community newspaper (Riverview Park Review) – and are available on the RPCA website.

Volunteer Extraordinaire Awards: The RPCA recognized Chris Khoury for maintaining and coordinating maintenance of the Balena Park skating rink. The Association also recognized Alan Landsberg for overseeing the organization’s finances in a professional manner and for organizing the silent auction of the fall social event.

2011

Expanded the website, it is established and growing Fun activities:Working on Balena fieldhouse; held first annual scare crow contest and having second; community wide garage sale with RAS huge success, will be every first Sat in June; ran skating rinks at Balena and Dale and held skating party, fall social, carol singing in the Cancer Survivor’s Park Monitored & influenced development: On AVTC, banded with 9 surrounding communities, many efforts, long hours and petitions, but were unsuccessful in blocking Hospital Link. Still working to get AVTC road removed from official plan. Diverted buses from Industrial onto Belfast. Working on solutions for crows. Worked to bring community values of walkability and greenspace to Trainyard expansion, NDMC redevelopment, and more.

Prioties for the coming year were: Expanded neighbourhood watch, increased membership.

The Parks and Rec committee reported their events as: spring and fall cleanups; Coronation Park with Blair Court residents. Ran rinks at Balena and Dale thanks to Chris Khoury and Bruce Aho. Skating party with 150 people, thanks to 101st scouts for fires. Check trees in parks, replace old ones. Ground cover in Coronation ripped up by crows. Held biennial social, thanks to church staff, local talent Waterbomber, sponsor Trainyards and all donors for silent auction, which made $2,800. Future activities and considerations: liaising with city forester, lobbying for approved design for garbage cans, mitigation of noise and light pollution from Trainyards, crows, street cleaning more than once a year, sliding area in Balena baseball diamond.

The Planning committee Communicate issues through articles for RPR and website. AVTC protests galvanized community. They tried to get it removed  from budget, councillors to see that this was an outdated traffic reduction strategy, poor use of $. Tried to dispel myths: will not reduce traffic on AV, better use of $ is to replace crumbling infrastructure. Trying to work

within system. OC transpo adopted CA’s recommendations for the bus garage: CA made a difference. Goals topromote walking and cycling: Industrial sidewalk, plowing of Hurdman, multi-use path between AV and

Riverside. Working with Marty at Trainyards. Working on transit tunnel assessment, 417 pedestrian overpass,redevelopment of baseball stadium. Working with other communities: Landsdowne, Laurier bike lane, proposed

pedestrian canal overpass from Glebe to Old Ottawa East

2010

The board’s accomplishments over the last year included the development of

the new website, liaising with other community associations, running the skating rinks at Balena and Dale, and the carol singing in the Cancer Survivor’

s Park.   Also there were plans for a scarecrow making contest, fund raising events and increasing membership.

We have six parks that we look after, including spring and fall park clean ups of them. We again organized a clean–up of Coronation Park with Blair

Court residents. New trees were planted in Alda Burt Park by the City. The Parks and Rec committee ran two ice rinks, held a skating party and tried to organize tobogganing at Alda Burt Park (but it’s not an

approved City site for this). The committee is working on the next Fall Social and an expansion/upgrade to the Balena field house.

The Planning committee stated that the main item is the expanded OC Transpo Bus Garage on Industrial. The RPCA was successful in its efforts

when Councillor Hume along with staff from the City and OC Transpo arranged to have an alternate entrance and exit moved to Belfast Road by Fall

2011. The RPCA was also successful in its efforts to have City Council approve the $16.7 million incapital funding to implement the City’s Cycling Pla

n and to restore $3.5 million for the New Sidewalks program that is part of its approved Pedestrian Plan. It is expected that there will be new sidewalks on Industrial Avenue.

The committee has tried to be proactive and whenever possible to provide input and possible solutions related to projects that may have an effect on Riverview Park such as: the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel Assessment (DOTT); the Hospital Lands/Cumberland Transitway study; the proposed pedestrian bridge across the Queensway between VIA Station, Coventry Road and the baseball stadium; projects at the Perley Rideau Hospital and the Ottawa Regional Cancer Society;and the Lansdowne Live proposal.

In 2010-2011, we will keep monitoring local developments closely including the following: AVTC,Trainyards and developments current and potential on Hospital Lands.

2009

Launch of Riverview Park Community Association website.

Fall social fundraiser (made about $1,400)

The running of 2 skating rinks

ABC (Anything but Browning Corridor) group works to revise city’s plans for Browning transit corridor.

Upgrade to Balena Park playground and new trees planted in Balena and Dale parks.

1,000 daffodil bulbs planted in the Cancer Survivor Park.

OC Transpo bus garage issue with residents of 710 Coronation Avenue.

2008
Cancer Survivor Park opened at the corner of Alta Vista Drive and Industrial Avenue. This park provides a very distinctive entrance to our community.

2007

History of Riverview Park written by Orrin Clayton. You can purchase your copy by contacting Orrin at letterit@rogers.com

2006
Pet Memorial in Balena Park approved by the RPCA. The Guide Dogs for the Blind and the City agreed to allow a patio to be created in front of Ellen’s Bench. This will offer our residents a lovely spot to reminisce about their animals and fun they together had in our park.
– Cancer Survivor Park to be built.

2005
RPCA continues to be involved in further consultation relating to the AVTC proposal.

RPCA encouraged youth from Station Boulevard to participate in annual park clean up. This not only fostered an increased sense of community pride but also encouraged ownership in our parks. Pizza was served to those who participated

2004
At the request of the RPCA, following representations by many residents, the City changed the baseball diamond in Balena Park to a soccer field.

Cancer Survivor Park proposed and approved by the RPCA. This park will provide a wonderful gateway into our community.

Successful Fall Social Dinner organized. This event provided a wonderful networking and discussion opportunity for our residents.

2003
Browning Avenue bus corridor opposed by RPCA. Appeals were made to the City of Ottawa to prevent the use of this narrow corridor for a bus link from Orleans to the Hospital. The City had proposed expropriating land from some of the Browning street residents. This situation has been stalled for some time but is still on the RPCA watch list.

NCC agreed to swap land to extend Dale Park into the Cancer Park area. The RPCA made this request as the NCC was not maintaining the land and it was going to seed. The swap ensures that the park will be well maintained and that our residents can enjoy it.

Coronation Avenue under reconstruction, RPCA provided comments and suggestions to limit the impact on our residents.

2002
RPCA was advised of changes to Elmvale Shopping Centre. Meetings were held with the new owners, however, we were unsuccessful in getting them to change their renovation design.

RPCA involved in consultation about the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor (AVTC). The RPCA made representations to ensure sustainable growth and to limit the environmental impact of the proposed development. These negotiations are still ongoing in 2009

RRCA initiated a proposal to have a Riverview Park Trail. Many of the residents whose property backed onto the proposed trail opposed the trail concept.

2001
RPCA defined issues for 2007 attention in the community. This provided the RPCA Board a focus for the year’s activities.

2000
RPCA became involved with NCC and City over property at Industrial and AltaVista Drive. The RPCA requested that it become an extension of Dale Park. This eventually became a reality.

Balena Park Fund day raised over $1,800 for RPCA. This money is used to support the ongoing activities of the RPCA such as the newspaper and operating expenses.

1999
RPCA suggested restrictions on the height of homes proposed by Claridge to be built on Rolland Avenue. Unfortunately, several homes which were built, exceeded the suggested height restriction

Priorities for the RPCA were established by the RPCA relating to schools, playgrounds and traffic.

Over $1,000 was collected for a memorial bench in Balena Park to honour Ellen Lanthier a long time resident of Riverview Park, a member of our Board of Directors and a nature activist. A bench and trees were installed in her memory and now provide a lovely resting spot.

1998
January: Residents turned out in numbers to Ottawa Planning Committee meeting and presented formal objections to the re-zoning of Balena Park to residential from public zoning. This had no impact.

January: RPCA met with Claridge Homes concerning their development on Rolland Ave.. An RPCA committee worked on ensuring a sustainable and sensitive approach to the construction and also ensure continued access to Balena Park.

Spring: The RPCA Environment Committee became involved in major cleanup after the Ice Storm. The RPCA removed downed trees and debris especially in Dale Park and Coronation Park. This ensured that our community was safe and secure and opened the parks for community use.

Spring: RPCA decided to support OMB appeal about Balena Park but could not participate as the TPCA was not incorporated.

Summer: Riverview Park was awarded City installed signs in our parks congratulating the community on fulfilling the requirements of the Adopt-A-Park Program

July: A RPCA committee consisting of Pam and Orrin Clayton, Joanne Wiltshire and Ellen Lanthier organized fund raising to support the appeal to OMB and raised over $16,000 in one month. The fund was used to pay for lawyer fees and costs incurred in the OMB appeal on Balena Park.

1997
The RPCA held meetings concerning Balena Park with the residents. The October 8 meeting brought out more than 150 residents who expressed disapproval of Balena Park development by Garand Construction.

1996
February: The RPCA published the first issue of the first community newspaper, the `Riverviews’. Fully funded by the community (ie no City Hall financial support) and supported by advertizing. Editorial Board of Karin Keyes Endemann, Paul McGuire and Orrin Clayton. This provides a communication link within the community.

February: The RPCA consulted about the development of the CN rail lands (the Trainyards). We provided input and suggestions about making this a community effort with a major attraction to bring people to the site. We also suggested including living accommodation to ensure day long activity in the area.

April: RPCA and Board member Tony Tsikouras raised the issue of speeding on and access to Alta Vista Drive with the RPC area. This resulted in lane and speed controls in the community.

June: RPCA was involved in the consultation process before the Montessori School was enlarged. We discussed the impact on the community (traffic, noise etc).

Summer: RPCA expressed concerns to City Planning Committee over potential repercussions of the proposed development of the Hospital Lands and resulting transportation problems which it would cause the community.

June: Councillor Higdon suggested extended boundaries of the responsible area for RPCA. This was approved in March of 1997. See the map of our area.

September: RPCA addressed the TransAlta Power generating plant noise and smoke plume. This installation was built without consulting the residents. After negotiations the power company agreed to reduce the sound emanating from the generators and to plant trees on Knox Crescent.

Fall: RPCA worked with the Dempsey Community Centre to ensure that it became an integral part of the community and the association.

October: New RPCA Bylaws and Constitution approved by the membership.

Fall: RPCA voiced concerns to Councillor Higdon about the major flooding of homes in the RPCA area. This was later rebuffed by the City planning staff as not serious. This was eventually corrected in 2008.

1995
Winter: The RPCA reopened the community skating rink and it ran 52 hours per week with volunteers flooding and supervising. This provided fun and fitness for all ages.

Spring: The RPCA and residents fought the proposal of a strip club `The Den’ being relocated from off Russell Road to Industrial Ave. Councillor Higdon took the fight to City Hall and prevented the strip club owner from locating his club within 500 meters of any of the residential areas of RP. Court order was obtained in June of 1995.

Fall: The RPCA worked on the Alta Vista Visioning committee. Balena Park was considered, in the report, as an essential and integral part of the RP community. Councillors Higdon and Hume resolved to turn this report into city planning policy. However, this did not occur.

Summer & Fall: The RPCA fought efforts of the Alta Vista Shopping center to replace the Danny Dear Service station with 24 hour convenience store and Petrocan self service station. RPCA petitions City Hall and as a result the original service station was replaced with a Tim Horton’s Restaurant. This was considered a win-win for the community. Mall re-conditioned by November 1996

1995
First Annual General Meeting September 28, 1994
Issues
• Balena Park issue
• NAG issue and thirdly,
• proposed Alta Vista Parkway. (McKinnon
in favor of road)
• Visioning Committee Report (P.Hume)
• Perley Hospital concerns about
construction issues – committee
• Composters for sale
Approved memberships costs of $2.00

1994
September: RPCA involved in consultation prior to the development of the Life Sciences Park
October: The RPCA held an all candidates meeting. Concerns raised included:
• NCC
• Strip Club
• Balena Park ($800 raised to support
Appeal)
• Lighthouse involvement
• Hockey Rink

September: Membership drive resulted in 280 paid members of RPCA
RPCA endorsed the Neighbourhood Watch program which has resulted in increased safety in the community. This committee participates in most Board of Director meetings

Spring: The RPCA organized the first official Spring Clean up of the 6 parks within the RP area in order to beautify our community. This has become an annual event. These are organized by the Environment Committee of the RPCA.