Ottawa Community Housing Corporation

THE

On Thursday, August 21, the 2014 participants in the

Youth Futures program proudly stepped on stage at Ben

Franklin Place to receive their graduation certificates. Family, friends,

program mentors and partners loudly cheered the 70 graduates. The

celebration included a multicultural meal and special guest speakers Mayor

Jim Watson; Chantal Beauvais, Rector of St-Paul University and Stéphane

Giguère, CEO of Ottawa Community Housing (OCH).

“I wish to congratulate the 2014 alumni” commented Marianne Wilkinson,

City Councillor and Chair of the OCH Board of Directors. “The participants

have been hard at work. Every year, at the completion of the program, our

hope is that they leave with a sense of pride and accomplishment for their contribution and community

involvement. They can now continue their journey with new tools and confidence to pursue their goals".

The seven month Youth Futures program offers high school students from low-income households

leadership training, community volunteerism, university and college introduction and experience as well as

paid summer employment. About half of the 2014 participants live in OCH communities.

Funded in part by the City of Ottawa, the program is a partnership between the City of Ottawa, OCH,

Algonquin College, Carleton University, La Cité, Saint-Paul University, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Police

Service as well as other highly committed community partners.

Recruitment for the 2015 Youth Futures program will begin at the end of November, 2014. Visit the Youth

Futures website at www.youth-futures.com for more information about the program.

ISSUE 5.4

FALL

2014

WHAT’S INSIDE:

Youth Futures Graduates Celebrate their Success

OCH Tenant Newsletter

Youth Futures Graduate Doly

Kakisingi with Jessica Ferguson from

Borden Ladner Gervais.LLP.

Firefighter Jeff

Page 7

Tenant Volunteer

Patrick Miller

Page 3

Quarterly

green corner

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What is Litter?* Whenever waste is not properly disposed of, it is considered litter. Litter comes in all shapes and sizes and it can be found anywhere. It includes everything from a wrapper, a piece of paper, bag of garbage or even a cigarette butt.

Proper disposal is important! It is your responsibility!

We all need to generate less waste. That's the first step in reducing what goes to Ottawa's landfills. The next is to reuse and recycle more often. The following list describes how long it takes for items to decompose or to be broken down and proper disposal methods:

Empty LCBO wine, beer and spirit containers (glass, Tetra, plastic and Bag in a Box) can now be returned to The Beer Store for a refund. For your closest return location visit www.bagitback.ca. *Source: http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/water-and-environment/green-

living/who-what-where-and-why-litter

Newspapers 6 weeks Recycle - Black Box

Cardboard box 2 months Recycle - Black Box

Banana peel 2 years Compost or put in your

Green Bin

Cigarette butt Up to 15 years Garbage

Plastic grocery bags 100 years Reuse or Take it Back

Aluminium can 200 to 500 years Recycle - Blue Box

Disposable diaper 450 years Garbage

Styrofoam cup Up to 1 million

years

Garbage

Plastic bottle Up to 1 million

years

Recycle - Blue Box

Glass bottle 1 million years+ Recycle - Blue Box

On August 25, 2014, OCH hosted an official opening to welcome the addition of ten new townhomes at 456 Old St. Patrick Street in the Lowertown community of Beauséjour. The event’s Master of Ceremonies, Councillor Mathieu Fleury, introduced the guest speakers Mayor Jim Watson; Councillor Peter Hume, Chair of the Planning Committee; Councillor Mark Taylor, Chair of Community and Protective Services, Councillor Marianne Wilkinson, Chair of the OCH Board of Directors and Stéphane Giguère, CEO of OCH.

The spacious, modern building at 456 Old St. Patrick has been designed with the latest environmentally friendly technology. Some of these features include polished concrete radiant floor heating, a built-in humidistat to automatically reduce humidity when levels are high, compact fluorescent lights in the interior and LED lights on the exterior and 42 inch stairwells to promote ease of movement and air flow.

Thanks to a grant of $1.3 million from the

City of Ottawa’s “Investment in

Affordable Housing Program”,

the new townhouses will serve

as a comfortable home for

each of the ten families who

will be moving in during the fall

months.

Sandra Pilote, Tenant Advisory Group member;

Councillor Mathieu Fleury; Mayor Jim Watson;

Councillor Marianne Wilkinson, OCH Board Chair;

Stéphane Giguère, CEO of OCH ; Councillor Mark

Taylor; and Beauséjour residents Riley & Kennedy Van

Alstine cut the ribbon.

OCH Celebrates the Official Opening for Old St. Patrick

3 3

“Every little thing that a person does makes a difference”, says Patrick. He moved to Brooke Towers, a downtown highrise community, over 10 years ago. He used to look at the grounds around the building and think about how much better it could look. One Sunday, Patrick decided to make a start by getting rid of the dandelions. Soon he was trimming hedges, watering plants, cleaning litter from the grounds and inspiring his fellow residents to get involved.

Patrick grew up in Jamaica and worked as a farmer and gardener. He has brought all those skills with him to Canada and is passionate about his work. He has been involved with the Brooke Towers Tenant Circle since its formation. Tenant Circle members and residents including Gail, Bob, Bill, Mickeala, Bernard and Margo have worked together with Patrick to create beautiful gardens that include flowers, edible plants and fruit trees. Patrick and other residents continue to fundraise for the gardens, selling cards and plants at the Nanny Goat Hill Good Food Market and offering baked goods for sale in the Brooke Towers lobby during the winter months.

Patrick’s interests go beyond gardening. He is also the Central District Based Committee Vice-Chair, attends Tenant Advisory Group meetings and has completed a leadership skills training course. Patrick was also very involved in a 2012 safety audit of the community performed by Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.

Patrick is particularly proud and inspired by the neighbours’ reactions to the changes that have taken place. Neighbours stop to praise and chat about the gardens, they have donated flowers and one neighbour has taken the gardening group out for tea as a thank you for all the landscaping improvements that have been made.

Patrick says that his volunteer work is a labour of love and that “it makes me feel good and it makes other people feel good”.

Tenant Volunteer Patrick Miller

OCH Board Meetings

District Based Committee Meetings (DBC)

West DBC – November 18, 2014 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Viewmount Community Room 267 Viewmount Drive East DBC – November 20, 2014 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Murray Community Room 380 Murray Street Central DBC – November 25, 2014 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Strathcona Heights Community Room 731A Chapel Crescent South DBC – November 27, 2014 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Dempsey Community Centre 1895 Russell Road

OCH Tenant Forum Saturday, October 25, 2014 8:30 a.m-3:30 p.m. Confederation Education Centre 1645 Woodroofe Avenue All are welcome Register at 613-731-7223 ext. 2210 or Online at www.och.ca

OCH Office Hours Monday to Friday OCH Tenant Service Centre Offices 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Closed from noon – 1:00 p.m.

Head Office – 39 Auriga Drive 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Holiday Hours OCH offices will be closed Monday October 13, 2014 and Tuesday, November 11, 2014.

All tenants are invited to attend

November 13, 2014 – 7:00 p.m. 39 Auriga Drive December 11, 2014 – 7:00 p.m. 39 Auriga Drive

Coming Up

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2014 QUIT SMOKING SERVICES IN OTTAWA

Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health

299 Montreal Road 613-748-0657 ext. 308

Monday evenings Quit Smoking Drop-In during Culture Night

One-on-one support Time: 5:00 – 6:00 pm

No pre-registration required

QUIT SMOKING WORKSHOPS

Two hour workshops to help individuals quit smoking including an educational session and information on

nicotine replacement therapy. FREE 5-week supply of nicotine patches available to those who qualify.

Workshops REQUIRE pre-registration. Please call

613-580-6744 to find out if you qualify and to register .

Drop-In

INDIVIDUAL SERVICES & SELF-HELP TOOLS Canadian Cancer Society Smokers’ Helpline 1-877-513-5333 Confidential service available by phone, online, and text messaging. Quit coaches provide personalized support, advice, information, and a “quit plan” that suits you.

Dr. Lena’s Clinic for Adolescents: 613-737-7119 Counseling available with a referral.

Family Health Teams (FHT) and Community Health Centre (CHC) Quit Smoking Program Some FHTs and CHCs in Ottawa are offering quit smoking counseling and free nicotine replacement therapy. Check with your FHT or CHC.

Rideau-Goulbourn Ward Date: Saturday, October 25th

Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm [ENGLISH]

College Ward Date: Tuesday, November 18th

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm [ENGLISH]

River Ward Date: Tuesday, December 9th

Time: 6:00pm -8:00pm [ENGLISH]

INDIVIDUAL SERVICES & SELF-HELP TOOLS

Heart Institute Quit Smoking Program 613-761-5464 Treatment and support is provided by smoking cessation nurse specialists. Kick Butt for 2 Group and individual quit smoking services designed for pregnant teens and young single parents offered through:

Nicotine Anonymous – Dalhousie Community Centre 613-859-1210 12 Step Program, ongoing self support, Offered every Tuesday evening, 8:00 p.m.to 9:00 p.m.

Pharmacists’ Smoking Cessation Program If you receive your medications through the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program, check with your pharmacist to see if they are offering free quit support. You may be eligible for Zyban or Champix under the ODB program.

Physician Your physician can offer you advice about quitting and provide information about medication that can help.

St. Mary's Home 613-749-2491

Salvation Army Bethany Hope

Centre 613-725-1733

Youville Centre 613-231-5150

FALL PROGRAMS

Visit ottawa.ca/quitsmoking or call 613-580-6744 for other support programs.

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There’s nowhere to park…..someone’s in my spot….I received a parking ticket. Does this sound familiar?

In most communities, there is enough parking for tenants to register and park their vehicle. Unfortunately, those who do not register or have multiple unregistered vehicles, create

issues for tenants that are paying for parking yet cannot park their vehicle due to someone illegally parked in their spot. Registering your vehicle is easy; just call your Tenant Service Center for fast and easy registering. The small monthly fee is added to your rent.

Remember that parking in a fire lane or in front of a fire hydrant, even for a short period of time is illegal and can result in fines and/or towing of the vehicle.

Visitor parking is for visitors only. This is not to be used by tenants; it is temporary visitor parking for family and friends. If a vehicle is to be parked in visitor parking overnight, the vehicle must be registered with OCH to avoid receiving a ticket. To register your visitor’s vehicle, contact

the OCH Call Centre at 613-731-1182.

To report a parking violation, you can:

Call OCH Community Safety Services at 745-9277 between 3:00

p.m. and 8:00 a.m. All Community Safety Services staff have the authority to issue tickets and to have vehicles towed.

Call 311 at any time. A By-law officer will be sent to assess the

situation and to take the appropriate action.

Manager’s Corner By Todd Rheaume, Property Manager, West

Tenant Service Centre

OCH requires that all vehicles on our sites must be road worthy, hold current insurance and be properly plated and stickered.

2014 QUIT SMOKING SERVICES IN OTTAWA

Visit ottawa.ca/quitsmoking or call 613-580-6744 for other support programs.

Community Noticeboard

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Three of the 60 tenant volunteers who were honoured at the East

Tenant Service Centre (TSC) Volunteer Recognition event held on

July 10th. Each participant received a certificate of appreciation,

dinner and, most importantly, recognition for all the great work that

they do! Central TSC also hosted a summer Volunteer Recognition

event which was attended by over 50 volunteers. The West and

South TSC’s will hold fall Volunteer Recognition events.

OCH tenants and staff at the First Annual OCH 3 on 3 Summer Slam

Basketball Tournament, held at Confederation Court on August 9.

On July 24, OCH welcomed volunteers from the

Northern Youth Abroad Program. A long way from

home, these youth from Nunavut and the Northwest

Territories painted the underground garage at

Winthrop Court before leaving Ottawa to build houses

in Guatemala.

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I Nominate: _______________________________ My Name: _________________________________ My Phone Number:_____________________________

My Address: _______________________________

Your nominee must demonstrate at least FOUR of the following criteria. Please include specific examples.

Serves you with respect and dignity

Listens to your questions or concerns to serve you

with accuracy

Responds to your inquiry in a timely manner

Keeps you informed of when we will get things done

Offers you the best information to help you in

making informed decisions

Makes sure you get to the right person when you

contact us

Acknowledges their mistakes, works with you to find

a solution and learns from the experience

OCH Employee Recognition Program 2014 Tenant Service Award

Service Excellence is a Priority at OCH

Employee Recognition Committee

Ottawa Community Housing

39 Auriga Drive

Ottawa ON K2E 7Y8

Fax: 613-731-4463

Have you received exceptional service from an OCH employee?

Here is your opportunity to nominate an employee who provides outstanding customer service…

above and beyond acceptable standards.

To nominate an employee, simply complete this form. Forms are also available on our website at www.och.ca.and at the front desk of our offices. You can deliver the completed form to any OCH office or send it by fax or mail to:

Deadline for Nominations: November 17, 2014 Recipients will be announced in December

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Describe how the nominee qualifies for this

award in the space provided. Please provide

as much detail as possible (attach extra paper

if necessary).

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Home Fire Safety Checklist Take 15 minutes to inspect your home. As you go from room to room, answer the questions on the checklist. Take the time to make your home Fire Safe! Cooking Safely 1. Does an adult always stay in the kitchen

when cooking food on the stove? 2. Are there pot holders and a pot/pan lid within

easy reach of the stove? 3. Are things that can burn, kept well away

from the stove? Electrical Safety 1. Are extension cords used safely? (safe

means not under carpets or across doorways).

2. Are kitchen appliances such as the coffee-maker, toaster oven and microwave plugged directly into an outlet, not into an extension cord?

3. Are all your fixtures and appliances approved? (CSA or ULC).

Home Fire Escape Plan 1. Do you regularly check your smoke alarms

to make sure that they are working? 2. Does your family have a home fire escape

plan that includes two exits, usually a door and a window, from each room?

3. Has your family picked a safe place to meet outside after you exit your home?

If you do have a fire, remember these important points. Alert everyone in the house/apartment and

follow your escape plan Call the Fire Department - 911 - as soon as

possible from a safe location If your smoke alarm is not working, contact the Call Centre immediately at 613-731-1182

By Jeff Herlihey

Fire Prevention

Officer

Ottawa Fire Services

Firefighter Jeff

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New Immunization Rules to Attend School

This fall, all students in Ontario (unless given an exemption) are required to show proof of immunization against:

Pertussis (whooping cough)

Meningococcal disease

Varicella (chickenpox): required for children born in 2010 or later

This is in addition to the previous requirements of:

Measles

Mumps

Rubella

Diphtheria

Tetanus

Polio

This information is on the little yellow immunization record card. Make sure all vaccines given to your child - even those given by your family doctor - are reported to Ottawa Public Health.

Online at ottawa.ca/immunization

By phone 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656)

By mail or in person 100 Constellation Dr, Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8

Don’t forget to get your flu vaccine this fall, available at doctors’ offices, many pharmacies, and Ottawa Public Health clinics, including some for children under five years of age.

A Reminder from Ottawa Public Health

On Sunday, August 10th the Brooke Towers

community hosted visitors from Senior Organic Growers, a chapter of the Canadian Organic Growers. The visitors admired the flower gardens, edible plants and fruit trees in the front and back yards of the property and the excellent manner in which the garden waste is handled. Senior Organic Gardeners (SOG) have recently begun assisting with the garden at Brooke Towers and are eager to offer their expertise with other gardening projects at Ottawa Community Housing. If you would like more information about SOG, check out their webpage at http://cog.ca/ottawa

Brooke Towers Hosts a Garden Tour

Letters to the Editor can be emailed, faxed or mailed and must include the writer’s contact information. Regrettably, not all letters will be published and letters may be edited to accommodate space. Send to:

letters to the editor

8

Try to solve the word search game below. Bring your answer to your Tenant Service Centre or email it to editor@och.ca

Deadline for submissions is November 15, 2014.

AFFORDABLE

FIREPREVENTION

FALL

GARDENGUIDE

NOTICEBOARD

YOUTHFUTURES

GREENCORNER

MARKETMOBILE

SMOKEALARM

PUMPKIN

SCHOLARSHIPS

FIREFIGHTER

Gail Henri 39 Auriga Drive Ottawa ON K2E 7Y8

(Fax) 613-731-4463 (Email) Editor@och.ca

Thanks to all the OCH tenants who responded to our word search contest in the Summer 2014 newsletter.

Congratulations to Natacha S. from the East District. She is

the winner of a $25 Loblaw’s gift certificate.

Name:

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Address:

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Telephone:

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