Researchers present final report to Lowertown Residents
A study has confirmed that crime rates in Lowertown are much higher than in other similar downtown communities. Crimes against the person are 3 times higher and crimes against property are 2 times higher. The researchers also found that crime rates in the ByWard Market neighbourhood are 2.5 times higher than in the rest of Lowertown. In an online survey conducted by the researchers, residents of Lowertown identified crime and public disorder as their top concern.
This past summer, the Lowertown Community Association (LCA) employed two students from the Master’s Program in Criminology at the University of Ottawa to assess crime and public disorder in Lowertown/ByWard. The researchers presented the report of their findings to Lowertown residents on Tuesday October 9. Residents and the Lowertown Community Association then discussed the follow up actions they want the City, the police, the private sector and residents to take.
The full text of the report is now available at http://www.lowertown-basseville.ca/
Norman Moyer who was responsible for this research project at the LCA said, “Even condos and hotels in the Market are starting to hire their own security. It is time for the City to act. The City could start by enforcing its own bylaws which limit the number of bars in the ByWard neighbourhood.”
The Lowertown Community Association asks that the city develop an Action Plan in collaboration with all stakeholders (including the police, private sector, and residents) to ensure the long term sustainability of the community. The LCA demands that the city take ownership and accountability for this issue by designating it a Term of Council Priority.
Media contact: Norman Moyer, 613-889-1206; after October 13 contact info@lowertown-basseville.ca
-30

On October 9, 2018 researchers presented their final report on Crime and Public Disorder to the residents of Lowertown. This report is now available here for your information and comments. Please join us in urging the candidates and the City to act now to reduce crime levels in Lowertown. Comments may be sent to info@lowertown-basseville.ca

AGENDA/DU JOUR –10 Sept 2018
Centre Routhier, 172 Guiges Ave. 7-8 :30pm / 19-20h30

1. Welcome and Introductions / Mots de bienvenue et introductions (5 minutes)
2. Approval of Agenda / Approbation de l’Ordre du jour (2 minutes)
3. Councillor’s Update / Mise à jour du conseiller (Councillor Fleury) (5 mins)
4. Areas of Interest – Updates / Sujets d’intérêts particuliers – Mises à jour : (5 mins each)
   • Planning / planification
   • Environment and Active Transportation / environment et transport
   • Heritage / patrimoine
   • Echo and Communications / Journal Echo
   • Safety and Security
5. Presentation: Services of the Routhier Community Centre 10 minutes
6. Presentation: Lowertown Crime update/mise à jour: Community Constable Lemay, OPS (10 mins)
7. Municipal Elections 2018: Information on Candidate Forums, open discussion of key issues for Lowertown / les éléctions municipales - forums des candidats, discussion sur les sujets pour la basseville

Note: Discussions and outcomes/actions will be gathered and shared throughout the LCA website and social media networks. / Le sommaire des discussions sera partagé via le site web de association et ses réseaux sociaux.

Save the date |  Date à  noter
Candidates Forum / Forum des candidates - October 4, Sandy Hill Community Centre/Centre communautaire de côte de sable - Lowertown Community Association/Association communautaire de la Basseville; Action Sandy Hill/Action Côte de sable; Vanier Community Association/Association communautaire Vanier, Centre de ressources  commuautaires de la Basse-ville/Lowertown Community Resource Centre; Centre des services communautaires Vanier/Vanier Community Service Centre
October 3 - Vanier



Next meeting October 15, 2018 / La prochaine réunion aura lieue le 15 octobre, 2018
###
ByWard Market Public Realm Plan / Call for Volunteers / Plan du domaine public du Marché By

In late September 2018, The City of Ottawa will begin implementing a series of public life studies in the ByWard Market. Public life studies provide a snapshot of the daily patterns of usage and visitors in an area. The studies are being led by 8 80 Cities. The public life studies are part of Phase 1: Studying Existing Conditions of the ByWard Market Public Realm Plan.
 
Given the scope of the project, the studies rely on a friendly team of volunteers to collect “people data”, which will provide insight into who visits the market, how they get there, what they do there, and why they choose to visit it. This data will inform the development of the ByWard Market Public Realm Plan, which will establish a vision and direction for improvements to the network of public spaces in the area, including streets, sidewalks, parks, squares and plazas.
 
We are currently recruiting volunteers to help us implement the first round of public life studies, which will take place on September 20 & 22, 2018. No previous experience is necessary. Interested volunteers can find out more details and sign up for shifts by clicking here: https://goo.gl/SVWe1G
 
Kindly,
The Design ByWard Team
 
******************************************************
 
Chers membres de l’Association Communautaire de la Basse-Ville,
 
Vers la fin de septembre 2018, la Ville d'Ottawa commencera à mettre en œuvre une série d'études sur la vie publique dans le Marché By. Les études sur la vie publique donnent un aperçu des habitudes quotidiennes d'utilisation et des visiteurs dans une région spécifique. Ces études sont menées par 8 80 Cities. Les analyses de la vie publique sont réalisées dans le cadre de la Phase 1 : « Une étude des conditions actuelles du Plan du domaine public du marché By ».
 
Compte tenu de l'ampleur du projet, ces études s'appuient sur une équipe de bénévoles pour collecter des «données sur les individus», qui donneront un aperçu de ceux qui visitent le marché, de la manière dont ils s'y rendent et de la raison pour laquelle ils choisissent de le visiter. Ces données guideront l'élaboration du plan du domaine public du Marché By, qui établira une vision et orientation unifiées des améliorations apportées au réseau d’espaces publics dans le secteur, y compris les rues, les trottoirs, les parcs, et les places.
 
Nous recrutons actuellement des volontaires pour nous aider à mettre en œuvre la première série d'études sur la vie publique, qui auront lieu les 20 et 22 septembre 2018. Aucune expérience préalable n'est nécessaire. Les bénévoles intéressés peuvent obtenir plus de détails et s'inscrire aux quarts de travail en cliquant ici: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeypG-5wKxe3vPhYUH1kWpwN9V7qpR8iAutGWDFlFUj5KlYGw/viewform
 
Cordialement,
L’équipe de conception du marché By

Families for the Byward Market
are organizing a garage sale that will take place on
Monday September 3th 2018
for the Labour Day.
Everyone is welcome to join us
to bring things or buy some
at Bingham Park
from 9am to 3pm.
--------------------------

Les familles du Marche By
organize une vente de garage qui aura lieu le jour férié
du lundi 3 septembre 2018.
Tout le monde est invité
à se joindre a nous
pour vendre ou acheter des choses.
Au parc Bingham de 9h a 15h.

In advance of the City of Ottawa's Planning Committee meeting June 26, 2018 where they will review the latest (fourth) version of the proposed design of the Château Laurier addition, LCA sent this letter June 12:

Dear Ms. Hamlin and Councillor Fleury,
 
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the site control plan application for an addition to the rear of the Chateau Laurier Hotel. While the Lowertown Community Association (LCA) appreciates the changes made in response to the Association’s comments in its letter of March 14, 2018 it does not support the latest proposal. We offer the following observations, among the many that were discussed.
 
The “bar” building design style seems out of context with the adjacent hotel. While the architect has referenced other “bar” style structures in the vicinity, none of these is an add-on structure to an historic building. Many in the LCA feel that the proposed addition is too dramatic and in conflict with the historic structure. In addition, the so-called “fins” on the north elevation, from floors two to six, seem to add a sense of mass to the proposed structure at seven storeys in height that wasn’t present in the eight-storey February 28 design.
 
The Association’s concerns about the impact of the proposed addition on the adjacent park remain and that it will detract from its sense of history and beauty. In this sense, the proposal would take away the enjoyment that many in the community are now able to experience.
 
The LCA recognizes the challenges inherent in designing an addition to the existing hotel and that receiving even limited support for any design option is unlikely. However, we feel that this most recent proposal falls short of what is and must be a degree of design excellence appropriate to such an historic site.
 
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Yours sincerely,

Liz Bernstein
President
Lowertown Community Association

Image by architectsAlliance.

Read previous letters here:

Association Communautaire de la Basse-ville
Lowertown Community Association
Centre Routhier Centre
Monday June 11th

Aimeriez-vous jouer un rôle dans l'orientation des activités de l'Association? contacter info@lowertown-basseville.ca
Would you like to take an active part in the association? contact info@lowertown-basseville.ca

The truth is, your association needs more people to get involved. The time to start is at our AGM. Your community association has people rediscovering Lowertown's heritage. Other people focus on planning issues, safety & security, traffic and much more to make our community the best it can be.

Votre association communautiere a des gens qui découvrent le patrimoine de basse-ville. D'autres personnes se concentrent sur les questions de planification, la sécurité, le trafic et beaucoup plus pour faire de notre communauté le meilleur qu'il peut être. Votre association a besoin de plus de gens pour s'impliquer. Le meilleur moment pour commencer est à notre AGA.

Do you have something to donate to the silent auction at the AGM? contact info@lowertown-basseville.ca
Avez-vous quelque chose à donner à la vente aux enchères silencieuse pour l'AGA? contacter info@lowertown-basseville.ca

Chanson originale et vidéoclip créée par les jeunes de la Basse-Ville en collaboration avec des artistes proffessionnels!
 
OTTAWA, le 14 mai 2018 – Quatre jeunes talentueux ont créé une chanson sur l’intimidation avec l’artiste Le R, Christian Djohossou. Cette œuvre puissante révèle des paroles fortes et émouvantes comme « J’ai très souvent été insulté à cuase de ma couleur de peau ». Cette chanson, transformée en vidéoclip par Randy Kelly, sera dévoilée lors du 8e Festival annuel d’Awesome Arts en folie, le 25 mai 2018. Ce festival bilingue, mettant en vedette les résidents de la Basse-Ville et des artistes professionnels, se tiendra au Patro d’Ottawa, 40 rue Cobourg, de 18h à 21h.
 
Le festival Awesome Arts en folie permet à une communauté entière de s'exprimer en se servant de la puissance des arts. Cette année, des enfants, des jeunes et des aînés de la Basse-Ville, âgés de 5 à 95 ans, présentent un spectacle de percussions, ciné-poèmes, théâtre d’ombres corporelles, poésie slam, vidéos d'animation et chansons. Certaines de ces vidéos, créées par les jeunes, sont des reconstitutions de fragments de vie tels que racontés par les aînés de la Basse-Ville. On retrouve aussi des poèmes slam écrits en équipe par les aînés et les ados, faisant de ce projet une rencontre intergénérationnelle unique.
 
Animé par les musiciens/poètes slam Le R (Christian Djohossou) et Jamaal Rogers, le festival du 25 mai présente également les spectacles des artistes professionnels suivants : Kubuli, The Wize, l’incroyable troupe de danse urbaine Bboyizm et le rappeur Kimya!
 
Le festival Awesome Arts en folie est l’aboutissement du programme d’ateliers du même nom qui se sont déroulés de janvier à mai 2018. Ce cinquième programme annuel dans la Basse-Ville a eu lieu grâce au partenariat fructueux entre le le Patro d’Ottawa, le Centre de ressources communautaires de la Basse-Ville, le Centre de service Guigues, Logement communautaire d’Ottawa et l’école York.
 
« Plus de 200 participants de tout âge ont participé à nos ateliers en français et en anglais à la Basse-Ville durant les trois derniers mois. Awesome Arts en folie est un programme enrichissant dont le but ultime est non seulement d’autonomiser les participants, mais aussi de leur donner la chance de présenter leurs créations lors d’un festival pour leur communauté », explique Micheline Shoebridge, la directrice d’Awesome Arts en folie.
 
Awesome Arts en folie est financé par la Fondation Trillium de l’Ontario et Nouveaux Horizons.
 
Awesome Arts en folie est un programme de MASC, organisme à but non lucratif d'Ottawa, dont la mission est de fournir aux écoles et aux collectivités des occasions de participer à l’excellence artistique et au processus créatif, proposant ainsi des preuves vivantes de la diversité culturelle canadienne, tout en encourageant la créativité et la communication.

***************************************************************************
Anti-hate on the rise in Lowertown ~ Youth combat hate through song & music video
OTTAWA May 14, 2018 – The youth of Lowertown have created an original song and music video that features powerful lyrics reflecting the challenges they face in their neighbourhood. Lyrics such as “You hear gun shots outside; Don’t know what to do; It must be hate they have inside”. But for these youth, they see a bright future for themselves. They want to improve their community: “I’m just a young prince representin’ LT. I just want to have a hate-free community.” LT is the well-known, affectionate nickname among young residents for Lowertown. Despite the fact that they see “Racism all around”, as one of the young rappers declares, “it ain’t stopping me”.  
 
This song was created as part of the 8th MASC Awesome Arts program in Lowertown. The youth worked with Ottawa’s English Poet Laureate, Jamaal Jackson Rogers, to write the song and they filmed the music video with Craig Conoley of the media company Dan Rascal. The music video also features youth dancers who were taught by Yvon Soglo, aka Crazy Smooth, of Bboyizm Dance Company. Please contact MASC for a preview of the music video.
 
Awesome Arts is a bilingual community-engaged arts program that provides residents an opportunity to explore issues and to express themselves through the power of the arts. In November 2017 MASC was awarded the American National Arts and Humanities Youth Program International Spotlight Award. This year, over 200 Lowertown participants aged 5 to 95 have collaborated with professional artists during the past three months to create poetry, songs, videos, theatre pieces and visual arts projects. Each creation allows Lowertown residents to have a voice on issues important to them.
 
The Festival takes place on May 25 from 6-9pm at Patro d’Ottawa. The evening will also offer professional artist performances from the B-boy dance crew Bboyizm, Cultural Arts Studio’s Kubuli dancers, Kimya, The Wize and two commissioned spoken word poems on Lowertown.
                                                                   
“Awesome Arts is a rewarding program where the end results are not only empowering to the participants, but offer thought-provoking performances at the festival. The videos also have a long-lasting impact helping to shed positive light on a community that often receives a lot of negative media attention.” says Micheline Shoebridge, Awesome Arts Director.
MASC is proud to partner with the Lowertown Community Resource Centre, Patro d’Ottawa, Centre de services Guigues, Ottawa Community Housing and York Street Public School. This year’s Lowertown Awesome Arts program was funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and New Horizons.
Awesome Arts is a program of MASC, an Ottawa non-profit organization that aims to provide communities with experience of artistic excellent and creative process that awaken creativity, deepen awareness, encourage understanding and give vivid demonstration of Canada’s cultural diversity.
 
Contact : Micheline Shoebridge, directrice Awesome Arts en folie, michelineshoebridge@masconline.ca, 613-725-9119.

 
Lowertown Community Association
L’Association communautaire de la Basse-Ville
AGENDA/DU JOUR – 14 May 2018 / 14 mai 2018
Centre Routhier, 172 Guiges Ave. 7-8 :30pm / 19-20h30

1. Welcome and Introductions / Mots de bienvenue et introductions (Liz Bernstein) (10 minutes)
2. Approval of Agenda and notes from last meeting / Approbation de l’Ordre du jour et notes de la Dernié réunion (Liz Bernstein) (2 minutes)
3. Presentation and discussion : ByWard Market Public Realm Plan/ Présentation et discussion: Marché By – Plan du domaine public (Jillian Savage, Planner II, Urban Design, Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Dept, City of Ottawa) (40 minutes)
4. Councillor’s Update / Mise à jour du conseiller (Councillor Fleury) (10 mins)
5. Presentation: Work of the Bridge Engagement Centre at 216 Murray Street (Sadia Jama) (20 mins)
6. Areas of Interest – Updates / Sujets d’intérêts particuliers – Mises à jour : (3 mins each)
   • Planning / Comité de planification
   • Environment and Active Transportation Update/ environnementale et du tranports actifs
   • Heritage / patrimoine
   • Housing & homelessness
   • Saftey & security
   • Echo and Communications / l’echo et les communications

7.  Events / Evenements
Elections : candidate forums  
AGM Preparations – préparations pour l’AGM
Cleanups etc
 
Next meeting – our AGM - Monday June 11 / La prochaine reunion – nôtre AGM - aura lieu lundi le 11 juin 2018

Minutes for meeting April 9th