Environmental Report Andrea Gowing and Harry Fischer April 28, 2026

 Spring Flooding April has been quite quiet in the neighbourhood. We are fortunate that the long periods of rain did not produce any flooding or sewer backups in or around the BACA catchment area. The storm ponds near Woodroffe have done there job well. Flooding has occurred along the Ottawa River which can be seen while driving along the Kichi Sibi Parkway. The Ottawa River levels have stabilized after a fast snow melt, but the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board advises that continued northern snowmelt and potential rainfall could cause a second, higher peak in the coming weeks. We will remain vigilant and report back next month. Experimental Farm Pathway The NCC cleared another large area of invasive Buckthorn at the entrance to the Experimental Farm Pathway at Edgeland Pl about 3 weeks ago. It is an area that I had been concerned about as the thicket was becoming quite dense and I thought there was a safety concern because of how densed in it was. I mentioned this to the NCC Biologist last year after the work near Bel-Air Dr entrance was complete, so was glad to see that this clearing was done. The NCC will be spreading a native pollinator seed mix with an annual cover crop along the pathway in the next week. This will provide a strong base of native plants to help out compete invasive as well as noninvasive but “ weedy ” plants. The Maitland Area Pollinator Projects (MAPP) will be helping out with this along with Friends of Hampton Park/Carlington Woods. After this is completed the NCC Forestry group will start to plant 9,000 native trees and shrubs throughout the corridor. This will help to fight the invasive herbaceous plants that are starting to take hold. Pollinator Appreciation Day June 21 Harry and Andrea as well as Pam will be attending Pollinator Appreciation Day (PAD) at Fletchers Wildlife Gardens on June 21. We will be wearing several different hats. Harry will be representing BACA, CAFES, and MAPP. And PAM will represent MAPP and Pollinator Partnerships. As BACA representative, Harry has arranged for several City councillors to attend to learn/ hear more about pollinators and pollinator gardens in their wards. Andrea has been taking a Pollinator Stewardship Certification course through Pollinator. One of the requirements for completion is outreach and Pollinator Appreciation Day satisfies this requirement. Advertising for PAD will be shared across social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, as well as through traditional media. 

This past weekend’s community drop-in brought neighbours together from Bel-Air, Braemar, Kinver and Agincourt area for 2 hours of thoughtful, engaging conversations about the future of our neighbourhood.

Residents shared that they remain deeply concerned about transportation challenges, emphasizing the need to balance safety, personal vehicle use, and responsible spending of tax dollars. Concerns were also raised about planned bus lanes, reduced traffic capacity, particularly with neighbourhood intensification, and future overpass reconstruction, with many noting the potential for significant disruption.

At the same time, the discussion highlighted what people love most about the community—quiet streets, convenient access to shopping, and a strong sense of place. There was also a clear call for more diverse and affordable housing options, with one resident capturing it best: “ensuring intensification co-exists with livability.”

We also heard concerns about some specific properties which involved discussions around property management of rental units. Some residents shared positive feedback saying, where they know the property owner, concerns are addressed. However, in others cases, it was noted that bylaw continues to be the only course of potential resolution.

BACA will continue to advocate on community issues with our councillor. Your voices are important. Please know that I am listening. BACA is listening.

I hope you can see that we are working to be more inclusive and responsive to your needs, as a community - Braemar, Kinver and Bel-Air. The priorities survey was one piece but we plan to host more drop-ins this year. This reflects the common theme heard throughout the afternoon for ongoing dialogue and a stronger sense of community connection.

Finally, a big shout out to our local Loblaws at College Square for providing a welcoming space to host our first drop-in of 2026. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet new neighbours, reconnect with familiar faces, and share ideas on how to keep Bel-Air, Braemar, and Kinver exceptional places to live.

Nominations TEAM BACA has been nominated !!!

CommunityVotes Ottawa 2026     

         Welcome to Community Votes Ottawa 2026.

MORE EXCITING NEWS! BEL-AIR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (BACA) has been nominated for A COMMUNITY VOTED OTTAWA 2026 AWARD! This has just arrived in my in box, and I have just shared it with TEAM BACA.🙂 I imagine we have been nominated for the following initiatives that we have succeeded in achieving ,over the past 4 months: BACA PRIORITIES SURVEY BACA BUYS LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY BACA COMMUNITY DROP IN (building community and hearing YOUR vision) OUR ONGOING ADVOCACY TO OUR COUNCILLOR of neighbor's questions and concerns regarding HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, SAFETY, THE ENVIRONMENT and COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ... Thank you! ...and there will be more to come! from team Baca! We are in service to you and greatly appreciate every neighbour who signs on to become a BACA member($10) --(insert shameless plug for the value of a BACA membership !!:):)) Go to our website: Belaircommunityassociation.ca Fill out the 3 question form under JOIN/RENEW tab e transfer $10 to belaircommunityassocaition@gmail.com

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Shortly, you will see a flurry of emails regarding the fantastic BACA drop in (held yesterday) , the upcoming BACA OTTAWA 200 SUMMERFEST on June 6th and MANY other items.:):) The nomination period is open from March 1 to June 28.WE HAVE BEEN NOMINATED https://ottawa.communityvotes.com/ 

Bel-Air Community Association Membership Application Form to Join or Renew 

2026 BACA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

Most important, thank you to those who have already paid their dues tfor 2026 .

Thus far ,we have used this revenue to: rent space for the upcoming April 12th, “It’s about ME: BACA gives YOU time” informal drop in; our inaugural BACA BUYS LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY; the COMMUNITY PRIORITIES SURVEY and our first ever BACA OTTAWA200 SUMMERFEST this June 6th. MANY more details to follow…!!!

RE: ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP Payment -For the purpose of greater  transparency, efficiency  and accountability, we ask the following:

We strongly encourage you to FIRST fill out this application form above :"JOIN/RENEW":

Bel-Air Community Association Membership Application Form and then immediately  pay your annual $10 fee by e-transfer to:   belaircommunityassociation@gmail.com   

IF you are paying the membership fee by cash or cheque, please place the funds in a  clearly labelled envelope that has your FULL NAME, ADDRESS and EMAIL ADDRESS.

Full membership is for in-area members and gives full voting rights.  See "About Us" page on www.belaircommunityassociation.ca for details of the Bel-Air boundary.  Associate membership is for those living out of the community boundary. 

The Bel Air community is located on the traditional unceded , unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin People. The Algonquin People have inhabited and cared for these lands long before today. We take this time to show our gratitude and respect to them, and to the land for all that it provides us: trees to give shade, water and food to sustain us, and paths to connect us. Within our community , we embrace the responsibility to help ensure that the next generations of land stewards are respectful and grateful for the bounty of this land on which we all live, work, play, and study.