Update from Councillor Cathy Curry
Older Adult Safety – I was contacted recently by a member of the Kanata Seniors’ Council letting us know that they had a few reports circulating among seniors in Kanata and Stittsville about older adults being approached by strangers in vehicles in what appears to be a distraction theft scheme. In several cases, individuals have pulled up beside older adults, asked for directions, and attempted to encourage them to come closer to the vehicle. Once within reach, valuables such as jewelry have reportedly been targeted and stolen.
While these incidents remain under investigation, residents are encouraged to stay vigilant and take simple precautions to protect themselves.
If approached by someone in a vehicle:
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Keep a safe distance and do not move closer to the vehicle.
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Be cautious of requests for directions or other attempts to engage you at close range.
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Consider avoiding the display of valuable jewelry when out walking or in parking lots.
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Trust your instincts—if something feels wrong, move away and seek assistance.
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Report suspicious activity or incidents to the Ottawa Police Service so they can identify patterns and help prevent further occurrences.
Arcadia Park Field – I had a number of residents ask me why there is fencing around the soccer goal posts in Arcadia Park. We learned that the goal area was very muddy, with hardly any grass growing there. Parks maintenance staff reseeded the area and fenced it off so that the whole soccer field would have grass. As soon as the grass is thick and lush again, the fencing will be removed.
LRT Stage 3 to Kanata and Stittsville – I have had a few residents ask me if this will ever happen. I can say that with the Province uploading the LRT, every announcement about it has indicated that the Province will upload the LRT and extend the service to Kanata, Stittsville, and Barrhaven. This repeated phrase indicates to me that it will, one day, be extended. We understand that the legal work to finalize this transfer takes about 18 months to a year to complete. When the upload is finalized, the savings to the City of Ottawa will be about $87 million per year. The LRT upload to the Province could likely be the biggest accomplishment of any Ottawa Mayor and Council. If you would like to see a video on what the plan for Stage 3 is, go to this What’s Next for the O-Train: Line 3 to Kanata Explained which is a great video made by Rail Fans Canada.
Contractor signs– I want to remind residents that Under the City’s Signs on City Roads By-law (By-law No. 2003-520), signs placed on City road allowances without permission are prohibited, including many of the signs used by businesses to advertise services such as window cleaning, driveway sealing, lawn care, roofing, and other home maintenance work. We support small businesses, but these signs can create visual clutter, distract drivers, and in some cases interfere with pedestrian movement. Residents who notice unauthorized signs on City property can report them through 3-1-1. The goal is to keep public spaces safe, accessible, and free from unauthorized advertising while ensuring businesses follow the proper rules for signage.