2020 President’s Remarks

President’s Report – 2020

This has been a most challenging year for all community associations and for HICG.  With the onset of COVID-19 in March 2020 our activities were somewhat curtailed.  Events planned for Spring/Summer 2020, including our AGM had to be cancelled or postponed.   While HICG was not too active in this period, we did continue to monitor development issues as they arose, proceed with gardening activities and the board continued to meet by Zoom as required. 

The following are highlights for the year:

Rink Report

1. The city last increased the rink grant to $4000 in 2016.  This also covers insurance by the City.   Having insurance provided by the City is extremely  valuable as general liability insurance rates for community associations have increased significantly over the past year.
   1. We were only required to have 20/hrs per week of rink supervision but we had 31.5 hrs/wk.  Given the weather this year, the rink did not start up until mid-January and shut down by the end of February.   We were only closed 4 days during the season due to weather.  Once open, we were able to maintain a high level of ice quality.
   1. Our 4 attendants were Henry Bartram-Forbes (returning), Gabriel Kohlruss (returning), Dylan Katmarian (new) and Brayden Warrell (new).
   1. Conan Hoyle, continued to lead the construction of the rink with a small group of volunteers.
   1. Unfortunately, the City decided that because we were an unboarded rink, we were not supposed to have hockey nets.  Thanks to the intervention of Councillor Leiper, the City ultimately confirmed that we were grandfathered for nets and we ultimately received them by late January.
   1. There was no winter carnival this year but we did provide snacks to the skaters on some weekends.
   1. Our snowblower is now over 15 years old and may have to be replaced at some point.  While there is little rust, it does stop frequently while being used.  
2. Development
   1. Our ability to respond to development issues was limited by our human resources.  James Murray is working on the development file with me.  Both myself and James have been approved under the City’s confidential consultative process for pre-applications (and recently re-approved in August 2020).    We continue to receive little correspondence from the residents on neighbourhood applications except for the immediate neighbours of in-fill projects.
   1. Ashcroft – Ashcroft received approval to start Phase 2 of the project in 2019 but no work has commenced.   
   1. Island Park & Richmond Road (SW corner) – This project with Trinity Development has been quiet in the last year.
   1. Committee of Adjustment – There have been a number of applications that have gone forward to the CoA in the past year.  HICG made representation on a proposed new development at the corner of Kensington and Byron.  We agreed that the variances being sought were minor (mainly associated with reconfiguring the proposed house to face Kensington instead of Byron) but presented on behalf of preserving the mature maple tree along Kensington.  The Committee noted the importance of keeping the tree in its findings and the developer agreed to address this concern.   A in-fill development planned at the corner of Iona and Kirkwood was not challenged but HICG helped the neighbours and the developer to make sure a fruitful dialogue occurred.
   1. Roosevelt Hi-Rise Challenge – This project is in the Westboro CA area.   While HICG has not taken an active role in this LPAT challenge, we contributed $500 from our development account.
3. Federal Election Debate
   1. HICG under Judith Shane spearheaded a group of 8 neighbouring community associations to hold an election debate at St. George’s Church for the 2019 Federal  Election.  Approximately 350 people attended (the room was overflowing) with another 350 watching a live streaming of the event.   The event was covered by CTV Ottawa and the Ottawa Citizen.  Donations provided by the public were at an all-time high resulting in a low cost for each sponsoring community group
   1. Serious consideration needs to be taken as to whether we have outgrown the current venue.  Unfortunately, local schools which would have the most space would result in a substantial increase in cost.  The event may also not be as conveniently located for HICG.  Judith will be reviewing these and other issues for future debates.

• Park Events/Activities
  • Hampton Park – HICG has partnered with Friends of Hampton Park (FHP), led by Sharon Boddy to help maintain Hampton Park.  As an urban forest, Hampton Park has been under significant pressure due to inappropriate use of the forested area.  FHP has organized a number of real and virtual narrated walks through the Park as well as initiatives to replant native species and eliminate invasive non-native species.   In 2019/20, FHP has received grants from TD Bank and the City of Ottawa.
  • Iona Park – Under the guidance and actions of our Gardener-in Residence, Eileen Hunt, continued beautification of Iona Park occurred in 2019/20.  The tire planters and pots are now in their third season of use and were filled with a colourful assortment of annuals, while our perennial beds continue to flourish.   The HICG board allocated $250 for the Iona Park gardens.    
• Departing Board Members
  • I would like to thank all of our board members for their contributions over the past year, but I would also like to give special thanks to Marg Hillier and Mira Svoboda for their many years of service to HICG and their contribution to our community.  Departing board members are:
    • Marg Hillier
    • Mira Svoboda
    • Lynn Curry

Lorne Cutler

President

Hampton Iona Community Group

September 27, 2020