01 Jan River Ward E-Newsletter, January 1, 2026 | Bulletin électronique du Quartier Rivière, 1 janvier 2026
Dear Friends and Neighbours!
Happy New Year!
May I offer you my very best wishes for a happy and prosperous year ahead.
I’ll be honest with you, I have always struggled in January. I find the post-holiday period, cold days and lack of sunshine a challenge. As such, I pledge to get outside, bundle up and enjoy our beautiful ward. Have you visited the Hog’s Back Falls in the winter – beautiful. Have you hiked through Mooney’s Bay, Vincent Massey or Carlington Parks in the winter? Try it. Have you considered learning how to cross country ski? Pay a visit to the Terry Fox Athletic Centre off Riverside Drive and inquire about their cross country ski lessons and equipment rental.
There are a number of special events and holidays in January and I draw your attention to the following: New Year’s Day (January 1), Epiphany (January 6), Bell Let’s Talk Day (January 26), International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27), National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia (January 29) and Winterlude Begins (January 30).
There are a number of public sessions this month: Confederation Heights Master Plan Update, ALTO High Speed Rail and local water infrastructure renewal. Read through this e-newsletter for more information and session dates. It is my intention to host a public session in February on the Mooney’s Bay Hill and various options to physically alter it to offer safer conditions for tobogganing and skiing.
With Royal Assent provided in late 2025 for provincial Bill 60, the City of Ottawa is assessing the possible impacts to bike lane proposals for both Merivale and Walkley Roads in River Ward. The bill prohibits municipalities from reducing motor vehicle lanes to create new bicycle lanes without provincial approval. I expect to receive more information by mid-winter.
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