BHCA Safety Committee

At our last BHCA meeting, several dozen members of the community attended and we voted to create a Beacon Hill Community Association Safety Committee. Although the precise details of the committee are being discussed (it’s only a week old!), we already have a great group of volunteers to help. Our first order of business was to start a “Street Captain” program.

Street Captains
The Street Captain program is a street-by-street communication and notification system, powered by the feet of community-minded volunteers. We will be knocking on doors, letting you know who your Street Captain is, and/or asking you to become one. Eventually, we would like to see every part of Beacon Hill be covered by Street Captains.

What are they for? What will they do?
When a neighbour notices something in the community that they think should come to our attention, they can communicate it to the Street Captain. As an example: On an evening walk, you notice empty beer bottles in the park. Tell the Street Captain. If several people report similar issues over a period of time, then the Street Captain can decide if there’s enough traction to report that activity to the appropriate people. They will receive information on reporting from the Community Association as well as the Ottawa Police Services. It doesn’t replace calling the police, but rather serves to monitor safety trends.

What else does the Street Captain program do?
One of the best side effects of the Street Captain program will be that more people will meet more of their neighbours! Create more community!

In the next newsletter, we’ll give you more information about the Safety Committee and the Street Captain program. You can watch our website for a sign-up form in the next few weeks.

Big Beacon Hill Garage Sale

Saturday, June 11th, 2016.

We’ll advertise a bunch for you, even throw a list/map up online for deal hunters.

Sign up on our site at www.BHCA.ca to be added to our list.
If you know of anyone else having a garage sale near you, let them know about us!

IMPORTANT SCHOOL INFORMATION

From our school board trustee, Sandra Schwartz:

Dear Community Association Presidents

Last week, we announced that a consultation process was coming in relation to the Secondary School Review.

Unfortunately, the consultations are very short notice. I’ve raised this as an issue many times at the Board table, on every consultation on every issue.  I encourage all councils to send a rep to at least one of these consultations, regardless of whether you represent an elementary or secondary school.

I encourage everyone to participate in this process.  The programming and structure of our secondary schools affects the way that all of our programs and services can be offered.  There will be four discussion forums held across the City.   The Forums will be held from 7:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on:
April 12th at Gloucester High School
April 13th at the Confederation Education Centre
April 27th at Hillcrest High School
April 28th Google Hangout – online Discussion Forum
May 5th at AY Jackson Secondary School

This consultation is important to the future of schools in the OCDSB –  it will act as an information session letting folks know about the secondary school review process undertaken to-date, and some of the decisions related to the review that the Board has taken. It will be a chance to hear from the broader community on what you all think about a potential IB west program, school configuration options, etc. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, is an opportunity to get input from the community on what future changes may be coming district-wide that will require broader ARC processes when the time comes for programming changes, school consolidations, etc.

The district website has been updated with extensive information about the review and the background work that has been done over the past four years. I encourage you to take a look at the material.

The Secondary School Review was designed to look at the delivery of programs in secondary schools and consider what should be offered in community schools and how inter-school programs and district programs are delivered to ensure equity of access for all students. A summary report on the Secondary School Review is included below. There were seven major areas of study, including:
School Configurations;
Specialist High Skills Major programs;
French as a Second Language;
Community Hubs;
Digital Learning;
Canterbury Arts Program; and
International Baccalaureate /Advanced Placement;

Please let me know if you have any questions on any of this. Hope to see you all at one of the upcoming discussion forums.

Sandra

—
Sandra Schwartz
Trustee for Zone 12 (Innes/Beacon Hill-Cyrville)

Ontario Senior Games Association

What is Ontario Senior Games Association – OSGA.

The concept of OSGA began in 1982 with the Province being divided into 37 Districts. In Ottawa District 6 includes residents who live east of the Rideau River to the city boundaries.

We are a dedicated group of Volunteers in District 6 – Ottawa East ( eoseniorgamesdistrict6 ) working to provide 55+ adults in Ontario with an opportunity to:
– increase their social interaction with others,
– increase their physical and mental well-being, through participation in recreational activities and sports,
– promote active living among 55+ adults in Ontario.

For 2016 we have developed and planned many sports and games which are scheduled for May, 2016
Such games as Golf, Darts, Euchre, Contract Bridge, Floor shuffleboard, carpet bowling, cribbage, bowling etc.. The winners from District 6 are eligible to compete in the all Ontario Games to be held in Midland On, on August 9 to 11, 2016.

Interested individuals can contact Bob Hill – District Coordinator at 613-745-2671 or bobannhill@bell.net
We encourage you to review the OSGA website www.ontarioseniorgames.ca

Annual Spring Clean Event

Join in on Saturday April 29th at Ski Hill Park (Laverendrye Dr)

9am-1pm : RAIN or SHINE so dress for all weather conditions.

Participation includes opportunity to:

 Make Neighbourhood shine

 Dispose Household Batteries Safely

 Get credit for volunteer hours

 Build Community connections

Questions: Shannon Haggerty: 613-742-0109, eco@bhca.ca