By Christopher Redmond
Rochester Heights residents who expected to receive their own community house this year are being told to put their hopes on hold.
“We were all excited, you know? But then we must have got put onto the side burner,” says Nicole Bélanger. “I’m willing to do something about it, but I wouldn’t know where to start.”
Bélanger is a Rochester Heights resident who recently spoke at a city council meeting to make the case for a community house in their neighbourhood. The City of Ottawa ultimately decided their request would not be included in the 2005 budget, pushing any chances of receiving such a facility back another year.
“For us it’s all talk ‘cause nothing gets done,” she says.
Diane Holmes, the ward’s city councillor, says she’s interested in seeing Rochester Heights get a community house, but that Ottawa Community Housing Corp. also needs to make a decision about where the house should go.
“It’s always been determined that it’s too small of a community to have a house of its own.”
For now, residents of Rochester Heights can only speculate about the benefits a community house would bring to their neighbourhood.
Carrying his five-year-old son home from daycare on his shoulders, Richie Mainville is enthusiastic about the prospect of converting a house in the area into a small community centre. He’s lived in the neighbourhood his entire life and says he would have benefited from such a resource while growing up.
“I got into a lot of trouble as a teen. There was just nothing to do,” he says, adding that any type of activity centre could help teens today. “I really love this neighbourhood and I want to see it get what it needs.”
Sue MacLatchie works for the Somerset West Community Health Centre and says the area requires this type of facility. As a community developer, she says beyond recreation, child care and education, a community house helps foster “more safety and security” by knowing those who live around you.
“It’s like having an extended family, even if you need a cup of flower,” she says. “You don’t get that anymore.”
MacLatchie is still optimistic about the city’s decision to wait another year to approve funding. She says she understands it’s difficult to find money for the co-ordinator salaries a community house would require, but hopes the coming year will still be productive.
“Some people are wondering what a community house is all about, so it will give them a chance to go visit others and get more involved in the process.”
Bélanger says a community house that also teaches English as a second language could also help improve communication between neighbours.
“I remember there was a BBQ a while ago, but it didn’t really work because of the language barrier,” she says. However, Bélanger insists she also wants to do her part to get to know those around her.
“I’m willing to go to people’s doors and talk to them,” she says with a laugh, trying to think of a place to start. “There’s so many new people, I don’t know too many people anymore.”