Weekly newsletter: June 24, 2025
Hi everyone, and welcome to the first full week of summer!
Did you know today in 1880, O Canada (in its original French lyrics) was performed for the first time at a Saint-Jean-Baptiste banquet in Québec City? The song would not become the official national anthem of Canada until 1980, though it was used regularly since the first performance 100 years before that.
Please note there will be no newsletter next week. The next issue will land in your inbox on Tuesday, July 8.
Canada Day
Next week is Canada’s 158th birthday! In Barrhaven and around Ottawa, several events will happen to celebrate our country.
Locally, Canada Day in Barrhaven will once again be at Clarke Fields Park, starting with a seniors and family breakfast at 9:00 am. Tickets for the breakfast are available for $5/person at the Barrhaven Legion (3500 Fallowfield Road) and are free for seniors.
Following that, the midway, kids zone, vendor village, and food vendors will open at 11:00 am. At the main stage, a short formal ceremony will happen at 4:00 pm, followed by cake and musical performances into the night.
The night will be topped off with a fireworks display.
Please note there is no parking near the park. Residents are encouraged to use shuttle buses which will be available starting at 10:30 am at the Heart and Crown (Strandherd/Woodroffe) or the Independent Grocer (Strandherd/Greenbank).
For more details, including a full schedule and events on days before Canada Day, please visit CanadaDayBarrhaven.ca↗. Hope to see you there!
The Mayor will be hosting his annual Canada Day breakfast for seniors at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre at 200 Coventry Road (417/Vanier). Tickets are free and available by calling 613-580-2470 or emailing ProtocolRSVP@ottawa.ca. Tickets are first come, first served, and limited to two per person. A limited number of VIP tickets are also available to couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year.
Downtown, the main national ceremonies↗ are at LeBreton Flats again as renovations continue at Parliament Hill. Unlike previous years, Pimisi LRT station will be open for access to LeBreton Flats this year.
After the fireworks end, routes 74 and 75 will pick up at Albert/Booth towards Tunney’s Pasture and Barrhaven. LRT service at Pimisi Station will be restricted to eastbound service.
OC Transpo service will be free all day on July 1, with additional service on routes 74 and 75. Line 1 will also operate until 2:00 am, while Line 2 will operate until 1:00 am. For more information, please consult the transit travel planner↗ (remember to enter July 1 as the date).
Whether you’ll celebrate at a public event or relax with a beverage, please have a safe and enjoyable holiday!
A few other items
Leikin Drive closure – The street closure between Merivale and Beckstead has been extended to July 11 due to City permitting issues. Hydro Ottawa has been asked to make repairs to their road cuts south and west of the Bill Leathem/Longfields roundabout.
Mailers – Over the next few weeks, some households closer to the Rideau River may receive household mailers from Councillor Steve Desroches in Riverside South-Findlay Creek.
The ward boundary has not changed and Councillor Desroches isn’t reclaiming his former territory. Canada Post’s distribution service operates by postal code. Postal codes don’t always match ward boundaries, and a few codes fall on both sides of the Rideau River.
New parking restrictions – New signage prohibiting curbside parking at the bulb-outs on Via Modugno at Via Campanale has been installed.
The bulb-out is the short section of street that narrows as it approaches the Via Campanale stop sign to improve pedestrian visibility and safety.
Recreation closures – The weight room at the Nepean Sportsplex has reopened, but the squash courts remain closed for annual maintenance until June 29. At the Walter Baker Sports Centre, the pools, cardio/weight rooms, and squash courts are closed for annual maintenance until June 29.
Recreation registration - Browse autumn activities starting July 29. Registration begins August 12 at 9:00 pm for aquatic activities, and August 14 at 9:00 pm for all other activities.
Transformer box replacement – Hydro Ottawa has replaced a transformer box that has been the source of most of the frequent power outages in the Knollsbrook-Fieldgate area so far this year.
Some of the shorter outages were caused by tree-wire contact. Hydro Ottawa will be improving tree trimming in the area this summer to ensure a more reliable power supply.
Tree clean-up – Residents with private trees damaged in Saturday night’s storm may bundle the branches and limbs for curbside pick-up on Tuesday. Some heavier parts of the tree may require chipping/proper disposal by a private tree service.
To report a tree on City property damaged in Saturday night’s storm, please call 3-1-1 or complete a webform↗.
Waste collection – Waste collection in Barrhaven East will be delayed to Wednesday next week, as next Tuesday is Canada Day.
That’s all for this week! Stay hydrated and cool!
-Wilson