By Sandra Pilote
In 2007, the Lowertown East Residents Committee (then part of the Lowertown East Security Committee) began to work with multiple community partners in the Lowertown, Our Home initiative. The goal was and continues to be active engagement of residents in building and sustaining a safer community. Much of the effort involves strengthening pride and belonging in this culturally and economically diverse neighborhood. The residents’ group does this through community activities such as the annual Winterfest as well as information provided at monthly meetings of the committee.
This year, on Family Day, Winterfest was again a big success, with close to 200 people enjoying the multiple activities offered at Jules Morin Park. Music from JUMP 106.9 filled the air outside while people skated, played games and sampled hot chocolate provided by Councillor Fleury. Inside there was face painting, soup, and chili as well as information tables for the Lowertown Community Association and the Lowertown Community Resource Centre. Residents also had an opportunity to participate in a survey about safety in the area.
The Ottawa Police Service hockey players once more lost to the youthful residents. Thanks to Sebastian Lemay, our community police officer, who organized the match. Artists associated with MASC (Multicultural Arts for Schools and Communities) provided Aboriginal dance, art mobiles, and traditional French-Canadian music during the afternoon. Volunteers from Let’s Talk Science occupied participants in fun projects. This day was another opportunity for residents to come together to talk, play and build a more engaged community.
At the residents’ monthly meeting in March, Marie‐Josée Houle, Executive Director of Action Housing/Action-Logement, talked about how preventing the loss of affordable housing can help ensure community safety. She emphasized that the current housing situation in Lowertown and throughout Ottawa leaves many vulnerable populations at risk. She reported that our city’s annual vacancy rate dropped in 2017 from 3% to 1.7%, and that the waiting list for subsidized housing is more than 5 years.
Yarlie Telfort, the organization’s case worker located at the Lowertown Community Resource Centre, supports people seeking housing on the private market as well as in social housing, and negotiates with landlords to resolve conflicts and get repairs done. She is also a paralegal, often working with tenants appearing before the Landlord and Tenant Board, the Internal Review Panel and other adjudicative bodies.
Access to safe affordable housing and shared activities in our public spaces can do a lot to build a safer community. Lowertown residents can help create interpersonal connections and build pride in our neighbourhood. We can do this by connecting with groups like the Lowertown East Residents Committee or just “one person at a time, one day at a time”.