SENIORS’S EXPO SEPTEMBER 15TH

The 10th Expo 55+ will be help on Friday September 15th at the Mlacak Centre/Kanata Senior’s Centre at 2500 Campeau. It will be between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m..

The first Expo 55+ was organized by my predecessor, Alex Munter, in 1997. In 2003, I committed to ensure it continued.

Senior’s Expo has been a chance for Kanata seniors to get information on services, provide feedback to service providers and have a get together with others in the community. As we prepare for the 10th Expo 55+, interest remains high from both service providers and seniors.

What makes Expo 55+ a success is the high level of participation by seniors, by agencies providing services to seniors and the support of groups that donate door prizes. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who will be participating in this year’s Expo 55+.

I look forward to seeing many of you on the 15th.

TERRY FOX EXTENSION OPENING

The extension of Terry Fox Drive to the intersection of Eagleson and Hope Side Road will be opening at the beginning of September. The target date for work to be finished is September 1st.

This helps provide a link between Bridlewood and North Kanata that allows people to avoid high traffic areas like Eagleson and Hazeldean. It is also expected that the number of people cutting through Glen Cairn will drop with the opening of a new route.

Completing the Terry Fox extension to Eagleson and Hope Side Road is an important step in improving the transportation system in South Kanata, but it is only one part of work to address traffic problems in Bridlewood.

The motion I persuaded council to pass last December instructed city staff to include funding for the Environmental Assessment for the extension of Terry Fox/Hope Side Road to Hunt Club and Highway 416 in the 2007 draft budget. This is the first step to getting a much needed second route east from Bridlewood to take the pressure off Richmond Road. The planned route will run south of the Greenbelt between Richmond and Highway 416.

There is also a need to make sure work on road links to Terry Fox that are supposed to be built as development occurs are the first thing built when building starts on the land where they are located. These include the links between Terry Fox and both Michael Cowpland and Cope.

A PLEA FROM CYCLISTS ON CASTLEFRANK

I was recently asked by people who cycle or walk along Castlefrank to include a reminder in my column that Castlefrank is only two lanes. While the lanes are wide enough to accommodate two cars in some places, that leaves no room for cyclists. There are also sections of Castlefrank that only have a sidewalk on one side of the road so people living on the street have to walk along the road.

COMMUNITY CHILDCARE PICNIC

I would like to thank the organizers for the Community Childcare of Ottawa Picnic at Walter Baker Park for a lovely time. It was great seeing parents, children, and caregivers getting together. Walter Baker Park is one of the places that helps make Kanata a great place to live. The water feature, the gazebo and the picnic tables were all in full use by the children and adults as they enjoyed the beautiful sunshine.

WORKING FULL-TIME FOR KANATA

I appreciate the chance to hear from you about issues affecting our community. You can reach me at 580-2474 (office), 580-2514 (fax), or peggy.feltmate@ottawa.ca