Many topics covered during MPCA Annual General Meeting
New board members, Beechwood project, municipal election top list, president reports
As I write this, I can’t help but be grateful for the warmer temperatures (mostly) and sunnier days. It’s been a long winter and a long spring so far …
Thank you to all who attended our recent AGM. Here is a recap and more.
I will take this opportunity to remind all my neighbours of the role of the association. It is:
To promote and articulate the interests of the residents of Manor Park and work co-operatively with civic organizations and other public or community associations to ensure responsible community planning and development for all.
Nous représentons les résidents de Manor Park de la rivière Outaouais jusqu’au chemin Montreal et de la rue Birch jusqu’à la promenade de l’aviation.
This large geographic area includes our friends on Brittany Drive, Thomson Street and our condo buildings on St. Laurent Boulevard as well as on the east side of that street including Dunbarton Court, although now officially part of Ward 12.
We work with our partners from the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre — who I would like to publicly thank and acknowledge, Sebastian Gaissert, Executive Director, and Jennifer Coorsh, Community Development Co-ordinator — to improve the lives of residents in Ward 13 and deliver meaningful programming and events.
We are also grateful to our elected representatives for supporting us and addressing our community concerns.
Board members
I would also like to thank the Board members who are so devoted to making our community the best it can be. We have such a talented group with diverse backgrounds and interests.
From Elizabeth McAllister, Past President, Louise Jones Secretary, Diana Poitras Treasurer/Outreach, Sean Shuck Planning and Zoning, Eugenie Waters Environment, Mary Goldfield, Member at Large, to our newest members, Patrick Hill, BVA liaison, Amanda Rosentstock Transportation, Joe McAllister Safety and Security, and Scott Hannant Member at Large. I am so grateful to work with all of you.
Our list of volunteers who participate in committee work or who help with events is robust! Thank you to all who give their time, energy and expertise.
We work in concert with our sister communities as well, to better our Manor Park experience on issues such as the Beechwood Avenue redesign and the 6th Crossing and their impacts to us all.
Beechwood reimagined
On the Beechwood Village Alliance, I’d like to give a very big shout-out to Tony Stikeman who has been spearheading this committee for some time now. He and I have been active on this file. Patrick Hill, as a new member of the board, will be taking my seat at the table on this committee.
The street is undergoing a reimagining, and the group is making sure the city gets it right! We are hopeful there could be construction in the “nearer” future.
Communication
We are striving to be better communicators, and we would love to find someone — a tech savvy teen or young adult — who would be willing to take over our social media and web page as well as work on creating an electronic newsletter.
Although the Listserv is a great tool and we would not stop posting there, many residents opt out because of the volume of messages. So, we would like to find alternates for our messaging.
Si vous connaissez quelqu’un qui pourrait être intéressé a nous donner un coup de main avec nos communications, svp, mettez-les en contacts avec nous.
Construction
In Ottawa, “they say”, there are two seasons: winter and construction. This year will be very real for us in that department!
Expect snags and construction on:
• the designated infrastructure renewal streets directly in Manor Park west. PLEASE, make sure you email the councillor’s office to report excessive noise, dust, speeding of construction vehicles,
• St Laurent/Brittany/Sandridge (gas main improvement),
• Montreal Road near Cummings (more infrastructure renewal).
Municipal election
This is a municipal election year. Stay tuned for opportunities to meet with your local candidates and to hear what they have to say.
If you don’t feel you are getting good “bang for your buck,” make sure that you voice that loudly this election season. We need a council that understands that managing our meagre revenue wisely is most important and that having the sufficient revenue generated is equally important to deliver basic services.
Transit is one of the hot topics of this election cycle. We all know how terrible the #7 route is. Public transit is an essential service: it gets students (our kids) to school and to their part-time jobs, it gets those who can’t afford to drive and who want to be environmentally mindful to their workplaces or to their important appointments. Ottawa MUST do better. Which candidates will help deliver?
A touts mes voisins, je vous souhaite en bel été. On se rattrape cet l’automne.
Wishing everyone a wonderful summer 2026.