Expect to see improvements coming to the Dalhousie area soon.
The Dalhousie Community Association has launched the Dalhousie Priorities campaign aimed at improving the community through consultation with residents and local businesses and the identification of small-scale community improvement projects.
The association wants the community to take the lead on deciding which projects they should go forward with. President Mike Powell says the campaign will focus on issues that affect everyday citizens rather than large-scale city projects.
“We want to take a step back and reach out to the community and help with projects that affect us in our everyday lives that are concrete, tangible and fixable,” says Powell.
The association’s goal is to identify about 50 priorities that will be selected in May and work to complete them through 2017.
“The idea is to knock off as many as we can. It’s our version of Canada 150,” says Powell, referring to the slate of national projects expected for the upcoming 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.
The lists of projects won’t be coming from the association but rather members of the community – roughly Centretown residents living west of Bronson Avenue and east of the O-Train line – who are served by the association. Ideas are being gathered through an online survey and submission form that allows citizens to pitch proposals.
Still in its early stages, Powell did not want to speculate about potential projects, but says he expects a wide range of projects in terms of complexity and planning. The online survey includes categories related to mobility, beautification and community events among others.
Somerset Ward Coun. Catherine McKenney says she supports the campaign.
“I think it’s fantastic, it’s a way of pulling the community together,” she says.
McKenney has already started working with the organization on its priorities and is looking forward to seeing some small projects develop soon.
“We often work together very closely on big issues that can take years of work to see an outcome, but this is something we do over the course of the next few years or over a couple months to get initiatives in place,” says McKenney.
While some of the projects may require additional planning and funding from the city, Powell thinks many projects will be accomplished without seeking additional funds, but the association may lobby the city for assistance with larger projects.
“Part of our job is to work as an advocate’s organization to make sure the community gets what it needs.”
Certain initiatives might not need money but instead what Powell calls “sweat equity” – some volunteer labour to implement some minor community improvement.
In addition to the current campaign to assess the community’s priorities, the association is looking into creating more green spaces and is in the early stages of adding a wildlife garden to the multi-use pathway behind the Carling O-train station.
McKenney met with the association after being elected to city council in October about establishing a wildlife garden at the spot. Planning is in the early stages, but the city hopes to create a park with native and local plant species that will attract butterflies and birds and add natural beauty to the area.
“It’s going to take a bit of work because there are multiple levels of government involved, but certainly the city would like to see something happen there, where we can establish a small garden and have that grow over time, ’’
It’s an idea the Ottawa Valley chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society appreciates.
“There are so many benefits to having certain natural area near where people live, it makes for healthier communities,” says president John McDonnell.
The garden and the priorities campaign are both in the preliminary stage. The public can suggest priorities on the association’s website.