Below is a news release from the LCA about how Lowertown residents are involved to help save the iconic Mellos restaurant in the ByWard market. Sign the online petition to help save Mellos here.

The latest updates on progress on the Confederation line in the O-Train newsletter below. Des nouvelles sur la ligne de la confédération de l'O-Train dans le bulletin ci-dessous.

Come out to the next LCA monthly meeting this Monday, October 26 at 7pm at the Routhier Community Centre, located on 172 Guiges Avenue. Check out the agenda below. All are welcome! Venez à la prochaine réunion de l'Association communautaire Basse-Ville, tous sont les bienvenus!

​The Lowertown Echo | L'Écho de la Basse-Ville is a non-profit community newspaper. Thanks to our advertisers, every two months 8,000 copies are distributed free of charge to residents of Lowertown. If you enjoy our newspaper, please support the local businesses and organizations who made it possible for us to publish the September-October 2015 edition:
 
Byward Fruit Market, 36 Byward Market Square 
ByWard Market BIA
Csilla Ékes Goldsmith
Das Lokal Kitchen + Bar
Lococina Apparel & Jewellery Boutique
Lowertown Brewery Store
Lynda Cox Home Team, Faulkner Real Estate
Madeleine Meilleur, MPP / députée
Market Organics Natural Food Store
Mathieu Fleury, City Councillor / Conseiller municipal
Ottawa-Vanier federal election candidate Emilie Taman, NDP
Ottawa-Vanier federal election candidate Mauril Bélanger, Liberal
Patrick O. Smith, Coldwell Banker, Rhodes & Company Brokerage
Plant Your Flag Commercial Real Estate Services, Brokerage
Services funéraires, cimetière et cremation ‒ Beechwood ‒ Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services
Shoppers Drug Mart (formerly Desjardins Pharmacy), 298 Dalhousie Street
St. Albans Church, a parish of the Anglican Church of Canada
The Market's Barber Shop, 264 Dalhousie Street
Upward Dog Yoga Centre
 
If you are interested in placing your own ad in the November-December 2015 edition of The Lowertown Echo, send an email to [email protected].

Why are you running for office?

As a mother of three young children and as someone who has dedicated her life to justice issues, I could no longer stand by and watch a government that has all the wrong priorities. Successive Liberal and Conservative governments’ broken promises have left us all working harder than ever and falling further behind. I am running for office because I am committed to building the Canada I want my children and future grandchildren to grow in– a country with good quality jobs, where families are not forced to choose between their careers and childcare, and where our democratic rights are respected, including the rights of our public servants. Along with Tom Mulcair’s NDP, I will put the priorities of families first and build a Canada that is internationally respected, economically vibrant, and socially and environmentally responsible. I am ready to defeat Stephen Harper’s Conservatives and bring change to Ottawa-Vanier.

Why are you running for office?
 
I believe Ottawa-Vanier needs a representative with strong voice and who is an active leader committed to working hard to advocate on behalf of local residents both in Lowertown and on Parliament Hill. Many of my family members have committed their lives to serving the public and I have a profound respect for those who work in the public service.
 
As a longtime resident of Ottawa-Vanier, I have always been heavily involved in the community, whether it is volunteering at the local food bank, working with various community groups or coaching the Men’s Soccer team at the University of Ottawa.  I have always shown initiative in our community and care about our future.
 
The fact is that many residents have voiced their concerns about the complacent nature of our current MP. That is why it is time for change in Ottawa-Vanier. Lowertown is at the heart of our great riding and it is time we had consistent engagement and an active leader in the House of Commons. On October 19th, I would be honoured to have your support. 

What are the two most important issues affecting our riding and what would you do to address them?
 
The first two issues I would address as MP for Ottawa-Vanier are democratic reform and local food security.  The Green Party is committed to implementing a system of proportional representation.  In such a system, one would vote for their local candidate and for the party they most support in their region.  This would allow parties that do not win individual seats, but garner a significant number of votes in a region, to still be represented in Parliament. 
We are flooded with GMOs and increasing dependence on food from overseas despite a wealth of local produce.  As MP, I would work with local government to establish a growing space for community gardens and farmer markets in our community.

Why are you running for office?
 
I want to continue working for the people of Ottawa-Vanier and help them in achieving their individual and collective ambitions for the benefit of our community.  People, community groups and organizations I met and continue to meet every day in the riding each give me their views on what they want to see accomplish for the betterment of our community, which I then consider in setting my priorities.

Last week, the City of Ottawa's transportation committee passed the 'Complete Streets' plan at City Hall.

Here is a link to the Ottawa Citizen article with more details:

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/complete-streets-plan-for-all-road-users-wins-near-complete-praise

LCA president Liz Bernstein made a presentation during the meeting on behalf of several community groups wanting to have their voices heard on the issue.

Below is a list of Priorities for Complete Streets as presented by the various community groups.

Read the full transcript of LCA President Liz Bernstein's speech below.

Le 5 septembre dernier un rassemblement à eu lieu au Centre éducatif Beausoleil pour protester sa fermeture tel que dictée par la Ville d'Ottawa. Voici une lettre ouverte écrite par une Maman affecté par la décision.

Chers concitoyens,

En tant que résidente francophone du quartier Vanier et mère d’un poupon en attente d’une place au Centre éducatif Beausoleil (le Centre) pour mars 2016, c’est avec stupéfaction que j’ai appris sa fermeture. Un simple courriel de la Ville d’Ottawa (le Ville) en date du 30 juillet 2015 m’indiquait sans la moindre explication que le Centre fermait indéfiniment ses portes et que nous avions le droit d’ajouter notre nom à une liste d’attente d’un autre service de garde.
 
Je suis outrée qu’une telle décision ait été prise sans débat au Conseil municipal et sans aucune consultation publique. La fermeture de la plus grande garderie municipale francophone de la Ville, en raison simplement d’améliorations devant être apportées à l’immeuble, est pour moi un autre pied de nez fait aux francophones de la Capitale nationale. Cette décision est d’autant plus choquante qu’elle a été prise sans même consulter les citoyens, alors que le Centre éducatif Beausoleil a joué et joue toujours un rôle clé dans l’épanouissement de la communauté francophone du Centre-Est de la Ville.

Débats des candidats OTTAWA VANIER Candidates' Debate
​
Jeudi 8 octobre 2015 | Thursday, October 8th 2015
19 h à 21 h | 7 to 9 pm
Accueil à 18 h 30 | Greet at 6:30 pm
 
Centre communautaire Cote-de-Sable | Sandy Hill Community Centre
250 Somerset East (Close to the University of Ottawa)

Bus tickets and childcare are available if arranged in advance of the debate.

Lowertown residents with enquiries about bus tickets or child care should contact
the Community Developer at the Lowertown Community Resource Centre
613-789-3930
​