Residents who will be directly affected by the proposed installation sites for community mailboxes (CMs) have received a follow-up letter from Canada Post.

The letter broadly spoke to questions regarding location, security, and accessibility.  Several volunteers, the KBCA, and Marianne Wilkinson's office have been gathering information and working together to prepare a co-ordinated response to Canada Post.

We have reason to believe that the next step in the community consultation process is about to begin.  Canada Post will be calling door to door to give homeowners exact details as to where their CMs will be located, and to register any concerns owners may have.

They will make two attempts to meet with you, and failing that, will leave a "door knocker" which will supply a phone number to call to make an appointment.

It would be most effective if those households directly affected were to call Canada Post now, at 1-844-454-3009 and ask for a confirmation as to when they might expect the planning officers to be calling on them.  As the Canada Post employee will not be able to confirm this, it is then very important to ask for a "service ticket" for confirmation of the date of your consultation. This registers you into their system, and will ensure an answer in the next 5 working days.

Any other questions or concerns you may have about the proposed CMs are best directed through this process.  The key is to obtain a "service ticket" number.

By Elise Farrell, KBCA Vice-President 

A Bicycle parade along the pathways of Beaverbrook will start off the renewed Mayfair celebration on Victoria Day, Monday May 19. From 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., everyone is invited to join the fun at the community centre at 2 Beaverbrook Road. 

Community association President Neil Thomson said families are asked to start out on bicycles at 10:00 a.m. from different streets along paths to the community centre. Parents are asked to accompany children on the bikes.  Prizes will be awarded for best decorated bikes –in the two-wheel and three-wheel categories. 

The bicycle parade will be followed by a pet show with a difference – no animals. “At a Mayfair years ago, a little girl broke into tears when her cat ran away and was never found,” said KBCA Secretary Jim Shearon. “We don’t want to lose any pets. So you have 60 seconds to tell us about your pet.” There will also be a poetry reciting contest. Children and adults are invited to recite a favorite poem.

At 11 o’clock Ottawa Fire department Station 42 will drive one of the big fire trucks into the DNAgenotek parking lot at the corner of Beaverbrook and Teron Road, where it will be on display to the public for one hour. . 

At 12 noon, hot dogs, including a veggie option, and fruit drinks will be served free of charge. Please bring a non-perishable food item or cash donation for the Kanata Food Cupboard. Members of the Suzuki Violins will perform, featuring Ethan Balakrishnan, who will play in an international competition in Minneapolis.  

At 12:30, Bill and Jean Teron will tell us about the beginning of Beaverbrook and how a young couple was brave enough to make a dream come true. 

Gaelic football is the national game of Ireland. Players can run with the ball, provided they bounce it, and they can kick the ball to a team-mate. At 12:45, Noel McGinnity, a Beaverbrook resident from County Monaghan, will present a short game at the Beaverbrook community centre as part of the Mayfair celebration.

The most popular event of Mayfair is expected to be a “Sound of Music Sing Along” from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.  Audience members will vote on the five most popular songs from the movie and will sing along with the action on the screen. Bring cushions to sit on the floor.

Mayfair schedule, Victoria Day, Monday May 19

All events at Community Centre, 2 Beaverbrook Road
 
10:00  Start of bicycle parade along paths to Beaverbrook Community Centre.
 
10:30  Pet Show (no animals) and Poetry reciting at Community Centre 
We don’t want to lose any pets. In 60 seconds, tell why you love your pet.
Poetry reciting contest. Adults and children; recite your favorite poem.
 
11:00 to 12:00 Fire truck in DNAgenotek parking lot, 2 Beaverbrook Road.
 
12:00 to 12:30 Hot dogs (Veggie option) and fruit drinks at Community Centre
 
12:15 to 12:30 Suzuki Violins concert
 
12:30  Jean and Bill Teron us about the beginning of Beaverbrook
 
12:45  Gaelic Football demonstration game
 
1:00 to 2:00 Sing-along-Sound of Music at Community Centre 
 

Community partners, with help from Ottawa Public Health, are offering a Growing Healthy Screening Clinic.  The Clinic will assess the growth and development of children up to 6 years of age.

Who should come to the Growing Healthy Screening Clinic?

  • Children under the age of 6 and their parent or guardian.
  • Children who may not be developing as expected.
  • Children whose parent or guardian has questions about their development.

What will happen at a Growing Healthy Screening Clinic?

You and your child will meet with the following consultants for assessment, and discussion.

  • Immunization Assessment – Ottawa Public Health
  • Dental assessment – Ottawa Public Health
  • Nutrition assessment – Ottawa Public Health
  • Behavioral assessment – Crossroads (English) 
  • Speech and language Screening – First Words (only for children up to 5 years old and children NOT enrolled in senior kindergarten)
  • Developmental assessment – Ottawa Children Treatment Centre
  • Promotion of literacy – Parent Resource Centre  

There will be a play area, snacks, and information on child development, literacy, immunization and other topics related to raising a healthy child.

Will there be childcare available for my other children?

There will be limited capacity to care for your other children. Please discuss this when you call to register.

Please call to register, space is limited.  Families must register ahead of time.

Date:  Thursday June 12, 2014
Host Agency:  Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre
Event Location:  Kanata Beaverbrook Community Centre, 2 Beaverbrook Rd.
Contact:  Colleen Taylor, (613) 591-3686 x228 (leave a message)

The KBCA is holding its annual Clean-Up Day and Picnic on Saturday, May 3rd. This year the focus will be on picking up the garbage along the pathways and trimming any bushes that are obstructing the paths. Participants are to meet at 10:00 am in the tennis courts next to the Beaverbrook Community Centre at 2 Beaverbrook Road. Bring your gardening gloves and pruners, and wear long-pants and closed-toe shoes. The Clean-Up Activity will be followed by a Picnic at the Community Centre. Come and enjoy hotdogs and drinks and participate in an interactive science demo by Smart City Science called “Sticky Science” – fun for the whole family!

Do you know where this photo was taken? HINT: in your local neighbourhood, Kanata BeaverBrook Community

Over the weekend of April 26 and 27 the Kanata BeaverBrook Community Association is holding a “Get to Know Your Neighborhood Event” using a game known as geocaching. It's like a scavenger hunt but using science. Geocaching and Earth Caching are gaining popularity worldwide allowing citizens to explore the world around them and share their experiences with others.

“It’s our first attempt at running such an activity and we are looking for feedback and interest, says Val Collins, Executive Director of Smart City Science located in Kanata North.”

Geocaching users hide a "treasure", a container holding various items and a log book. Smart City Science is a local company delivering entertaining science education They have modified the activity to allow small children to participate.  “The Beaverbrook community has an amazing network of bicycle paths and we want our community to know them better so we decided to use the geocaching principles in a modified manner with photographs of the seven sites selected. Using observational skills children can identify the selected sites and work with their family as a team. “The main purpose is to get outside and enjoy our community, says Val Collins” and, begin to understand the basic principles of Citizen Science. We’ll be working with local Community Centers to bring more opportunities to explore science in our backyards in the future, promises Val Collins”

There are only two rules. First - if you take an item, you must leave something too. And second - write about your visit in the 'log book'. Everyone who visits this geocaching event will be recognized at the annual Beaverbrook Clean-up Day Picnic.

To participate go to the KBCA website and download the activity onto your smartphones/GPS or print out the activity and take it with you. 

The activity is also posted on www.SMARTCITYSCIENCE.com with links to more information on Geocaching and Earth Caching and how to run your own geocaching event. 

For everyone with a sense of adventure, join the fun!

Find out more about GeoCaching at: www.geocaching.com

Please come Thursday, April 24 at 7:00 p.m. to Beaverbrook Community Centre, 2 Beaverbrook Road, for the Kanata Beaverbrook Community Association annual meeting.

Free light refreshments.

A slate of both continuing and new leaders of KBCA will be proposed for election. Please welcome and join them in committees -- or  offer to stand for election.

KBCA will update you on a year of community successes and challenges. In the coming year KBCA will expand recreation and other Centre activities and work with our Councilor to shape Beaverbrook development with heritage designation

Business meetings are short, newsy and useful. 

Following annual elections you will receive a short presentation and discussion on siting the new Beaverbrook community mail boxes, and on status of the Centre renovations and marketing activity. Councilor Wilkinson will also update you on coming arrangements for the Beaverbrook heritage conservation district. 

Info? Gary Sealey 613 791 6729 or officers Neil Thomson, Beata Myhill, Hugh Nelson or Jim Shearon or any Board member of KBCA