KANATA NORTH NEWS Marianne Wilkinson Councillor, Kanata North Dont forget its Give Away Weekend June

e 5 & 6.
Put out those items you no longer need with a free sign and watch them disappear. Reusing items by giving them away reduces material going to landfill, and hence helps the environment. For those with garage sales on Saturday, you can put items that dont sell out once youve finished and save having to bring them indoors. Please ensure items you want to keep such as bicycles and lawn chairs are kept out of sight.

Intelligent Communities Forum, NYC

Well, Ottawa didnt win this time! Suwon, South Korea was deemed the most intelligent city in 2010 at the Intelligent Communities Forum in NYC. But being in the top seven in the world from more than 400 cities rated, as well as the only Canadian city in the top seven alone, is quite the achievement. Meeting with representatives from the final seven cities was enlightening as so many ideas that could be used here were brought forward during interviews with representatives of each city. We also visited New Yorks 311 centre, an incredibly busy yet efficient operation. Again, ideas we can use as we update our 311 system were gained from the discussion as well as means of increasing efficiencies.

Federation of Canadian Municipalities Annual Meeting (FCM)

Last weekend, I attended the annual meeting of the FCM in Toronto where I was re-elected to the National Board of Directors. In meeting with colleagues from across the country, I was able to raise some issues we are dealing with in Ottawa and gain insights into alternative ways to deal with them as well as attend workshops on municipal issues. We were fortunate to have presentations from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and NDP Leader Jack Layton. Resolutions on key issues such as transportation, pensions, housing, climate change, waste water regulations, dealing with racism and discrimination and investments in municipal infrastructure were debated and will be discussed with the federal government over the next few months, culminating in face to face discussion in Ottawa in November.

Pools, splash pads, and parks

The Beaverbrook outdoor pool opens on June 12th and will close on Aug. 22. Contact 613-591-1283 for information on programs and open swim times. The four public beaches (Britannia, Westboro, Petrie Island and Mooneys Bay) will be staffed with lifeguards from June 19 until Aug. 27, usually starting at noon. Splash Pads will be operational from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from May 25 until mid September. Splash pads in Kanata North are located at 1 Bishop Mills in Village Green and 130 Walden in Walden Park. a I am looking for some volunteers to help in the selection of play structures for the parks that will be built this summer in Briarbrook at Brookshire and Sandhill parks. If youd like to help out, please contact my office.

South March Highlands

I am meeting with the head of the NCC in a weeks time to discuss what could be done to retain the lands north of the Beaverpond and Kizell Pond as a natural area. Prior to the meeting, I will be reviewing with city staff all possible actions that the City can legally undertake to ensure protection

of endangered species. I also hope to be able to arrange meetings soon with the provincial ministers of the environment and municipal affairs. The City already owns considerable lands in the area and the Trillium Woods/Monk Environmental Area will soon be transferred to the City under the 40 per cent open space agreement. I have heard from many wanting these lands retained in a natural state. They are privately owned, so this can only be accomplished through negotiations with the owner, including full compensation. I will keep you posted on the results over the coming months.

Coming events
June 5-6. Give Away Weekend in the City of Ottawa. June 5. Garage sales, Briarbrook & Morgans Grant June 5. Garage and Bake Sale for Haiti, Greenwoods Academy, 1065 Klondike, 9 a.m. noon. June 5. Live Well / Age Well Fair for Seniors, Nepean Sportsplex, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 7. Pathway Patrol Info Session, Kanata Seniors Program Room, Mlacak Centre, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 9, KBCA discussion on Lansdowne Park, Beaverbrook Community Centre, 7:30 p.m. June 15. Senior Star at the Kanata Seniors Centre (Mlacak Centre, 2500 Campeau Dr.), from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 17. Town Hall Meeting for Tech Companies, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Kanata Legion. June 21. Ward Council, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Seniors Program Room, Mlacak Centre. June 22. Financial Sustainability Summit, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., City Hall.