By Liz Bernstein
The rainy evening of May 25 did not deter many, as about 60 Lowertown Community Association (LCA) members, local business leaders and government representatives turned out to the Annual General Meeting. This was a short year: the last AGM was in November 2014, but the Board decided to shift the cycle to May to better coincide with the fiscal year – so we had this AGM just six months later.
The meeting was held at the beautiful, newly renovated Jules Morin Park Fieldhouse. Board and community members wanted to create an opportunity for neighbours to meet one another, mingle over food, raise funds for the LCA, and conduct the business meeting.
The atmosphere was fun and festive as door prizes donated by local businesses were called out, volunteers signed up, information tables of local community organizations were perused and bidding ramped up on silent auction items. We had gift cards to restaurants, shops and locally crafted items donated to raise funds, and we sold LCA t-shirts with the new logo for our community.
The business portion of the meeting was short and efficient, thanks to the new format, which included a report printed report in advance with all of the work and accomplishments of the committees, board and volunteers – you can see it on our revamped website at lowertown-basseville.ca.
The meeting kicked off with thanking outgoing board members and lead volunteers. Sylvie Grenier has chaired the Planning Committee, led the ByWard Market revitalization for the community, provided expertise to LCA in reviewing development proposals and by-law changes and drafted numerous letters to the City. Jan-Francois Grabowiecki, who served as vice-president, helped spearhead an initiative for open crime data and completed a project with Ottawa U students to better understand crime in Lowertown. Merle Reid, advertising coordinator for The Echo, worked tirelessly to grow the advertising base, enabling us to reach not only more businesses but print more editions, more papers, and reach more residents.
Michelle Ramsay Borg served as the communications liaison, who led the LCA through a comprehensive re-branding process that gave us our new brand identity, with a new look and graphics. Michelle also built the new LCA website and spent countless hours sending our e-news to the community and writing and photographing for our social media channels and The Echo.
The new board members of the LCA are:
President: Liz BernsteinVice President: Nathalie Vallières Martin Secretary: Sarah BonesteelTreasurer: Ted LawrenceDirector, Planning: Peter FergusonDirector, Heritage: Liz MacKenzie Director, Business Outreach: Donna Kearns
Many thanks to all who volunteered and contributed so much to our community, and to all who came to the AGM to celebrate together.
In particular, thanks to those who made this AGM so successful:
The Board Committee of John Chenier, Sarah Bonesteel and Ted Lawrence coordinated planning for the event.
Liz MacKenzie coordinated the silent auction and the report production.Michelle Ramsay Borg shared communications to advertise the AGM.Michel Vallée served as nomination chair and Archie Campbell chaired the meeting. Katherine Van Meyl of Lowertown Community Resource Center coordinated food preparation and serving. Nancy Miller Chenier set up a Heritage Committee table display and the King Edward Avenue Task Force, Tree Ottawa and Ecology Ottawa set up table displays as well.
Auction donations:
MP Mauril Belanger, Councillor Mathieu Fleury, MPP Madeleine Meilleur, ByWard Market BIA and many North Dal merchants: Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut, Cylie Artisan Chocolates, Das Lokal, Daya Spa, Goods, L’Hexagone, Upward Dog Yoga, Workshop and Wunderkammer.
Community donors: Nancy Miller Chenier and John Chenier, Abigail Gossage, Sylvie Grenier, Donna Kearns, Ted Lawrence, Liz MacKenzie, Steve Monuk, Elaine Sigler.