Support for Veterans Initiative

It was my honour to bring together key players in the City’s social housing and support services this past week to ensure that they have the tools they need to assist Canadian veterans who may arrive on their doorsteps.  At a special meeting held at Ottawa City Hall, I was able to introduce these important service organizations to the services offered by Veterans Affairs Canada and the Royal Canadian Legion.  This was a result of the initiative that I had started last year through a motion to Council, directing staff to look for ways to improve our services to veterans through our own networks.  

My goal is to ensure that homeless or veterans in need are connected with services available to them by building a more integrated support network among the various agencies.  By increasing the effectiveness of current support programs and identification processes, fewer veterans would fall through the cracks and be overlooked.

I would like to thank Georges Lariviere, Veterans Affairs Canada; David Gordon, Royal Canadian Legion, Ontario Command; Robyn Zettler, Royal Canadian Legion, Ontario Command; and retired Captain Mark Eldridge for taking the time to share their programs and experiences with those in attendance.

If you would like to learn more about this initiative or get involved, please contact my office.

O-Train Service Expansion Project

I would like to advise residents that the O-Train will temporarily shut down from April 27 to September 2 for major upgrades as part of the $59 million O-Train service expansion project. The upgrades include the addition of two passing tracks, signal upgrades, station modifications and Walkley Yard upgrades. This project also includes the purchase of six new Alstom train sets. The O-Train service will improve from every fifteen minutes to approximately every eight minutes in 2014 when the new trains are ready to operate after training, testing and commissioning. 

During the temporary shut down, a replacement bus service, designated as Route 107, will operate. Route 107 will run parallel to the O-Train service and will serve stops adjacent to all O-Train stations. Service on Route 107 will be more frequent than O-Train service during peak periods to accommodate the additional capacity.

I appreciate everyone’s patience as we make these service improvements. For more information, please visit www.stevedesroches.ca.