April 19, 2026
We stay at it, one week at a time. Last week was brutal especially for those taking the brunt of it with the spring rains and flooding and failed containment of the pond.
We stay at it, one week at a time. Last week was brutal especially for those taking the brunt of it on Windeyer Crescent with the spring rains and flooding and failed containment of the pond on #9. The sun finally arrived and everyone got a drier few days.
We did send a letter to Mayor Sutcliffe and Councillor Curry and senior staff to ensure they were aware. He restated that they are working on a long-term solution to address this development proposal. When he asked us what he could do today to help, we struggled for one sentence to describe this situation. As we see it – the immediate problem is the lack of current and clear information on the ongoing and proposed activities on the site. Engage Ottawa Kanata Lakes is delayed at best and the information as a result is a retrospective, after the fact reporting lacking detail and explanation.
We cited the April 15 Newsletter Issue 4, released the day before. It reports the alarming results of the mercury sampling done recently in the work zone. 71/72 samples are positive for mercury. When and how were they done? Where’s the data table? Where is a map showing the testing sites? What will be done with this information going forward? It is beyond surprising that complete explanations are not immediately and transparently offered on a matter that risks our community and tens of thousands of residents.
Another example. Since January many in the community have written the city asking for a map to support an explanation of the easement issue [the city’s stated refusal to restrict developer access to the city easement and infrastructure] for the 7000 Campeau property. The most basic map appeared in this issue. It took the city three months to post a map of the property (it must have dozens if not hundreds in its files) with about 6 easement lines drawn. No explanation for their use or purpose or the anticipated impact of this city strategy going forward. How does this help our community self-educate or cope? The product needs improvement.
Very, very frustrating was the message to the mayor. The city chose to make Engage Ottawa Kanata Lakes website our sole point of information. But after two months, it has ‘failed to launch’. Residents who are using it and sending in questions write us frequently to complain that it is populated with little more than an old timeline and reports, retrospective materials and non-responses to detailed questions.
I concluded our call with the mayor by suggesting that this week the homeowners on Windeyer needed to know at what point will the city step in to protect their dozens of homes from the risks created by one adjacent property owner. He committed to putting that question to senior staff.
And, to conclude, we will answer the question many of you will surely send to us tonight after reading this e-News:
“Can our community trust the city to stop this development?”
Yes. We continue to believe that Mayor Sutcliffe and Councillor Curry (and most of this city council) remain firmly committed in opposition to this development and continue to work in our favour. But last week, we’re quite sure, those folks on Windeyer felt very alone. And there was no lifeline of information to toss to them. That needs to change for them and for all of us.
Now that the heavy equipment has left the greenspace (ClubLink/Minto update April 17), we say take a walk past and see what these folks and their neighbours on Shaughnessy, Rosenfeld and Halldorson Crescents have endured and then… double down on our fight. It’s so worth it!
Other letters out this week
1. The Premier is coming to Ottawa on Monday, and we’ve written Doug Ford again and invited him to tour the damage that has been done in the name of reckless development. Help bring him to Kanata.
TEXT DOUG FORD @ 1-647-612-3673
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Premier Ford – RSVP YES to Kanata Greenspace. See you in Kanata on Monday!
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2. As you read in recent newsletters, the KGPC helped facilitate a gathering of interested engineers to discuss the ongoing testing and observed site conditions on the KGC lands and specifically its impact on safety. Following a meeting, they have written to Councillor Curry asking for the opportunity for a site visit. Today’s letter to the city highlighted their concerns on several issues including environmental characterization, site sequencing (moving land before the completion of testing), and the standard of care required to protect public safety. We’re so pleased to have their expertise weigh in here and we’ll continue to watch for more from them. Pulling together an opposition – one piece at a time. Let’s stay at it!
More on safety… why are the coyotes dying?
There will be no pictures here. Last week another dead coyote was found within a short distance of the work site on the KGC lands. This is the third in a matter of two months and all found proximal to the current work site. It is alarming and without precedent. Following the second death and a request to Councillor Curry, the city replied that it does not examine deceased animals to identify the cause of death. Given the issues of contamination and contentious development on this site, that answer did not satisfy many of our Facebook and social followers.
Following the third death this past week, the KGPC successfully identified an organization willing to help our community get an explanation. Given the sudden uptick of deaths and the documented contamination in the area, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) agreed to perform a necropsy (examination after death). We transported the carcass to the Ministry of Natural Resources in Kemptville which has refrigeration equipment and the CWHC study program will collect it from there. We were told results may take a few weeks. Know that we will report back and share any information we receive. In the meantime, if you see sick or suffering animals do not approach them. Call 311 to alert the city.
RALLY! RALLY! RALLY! Next SUNDAY APRIL 26, 1pm to 2pm
GEAR UP for our THIRD RALLY!
Join your community next Sunday, April 26, at 1 pm for one hour of protest to Save Our Community, Save Our Greenspace.
Location: sidewalk in front of the Kanata Golf Club Clubhouse
– 7000 Campeau Drive, just east of Kanata Avenue
Come out and join in! Bring family, friends and children too!
BRING YOUR SIGN and stand up with our community!
Time for a LAWN SIGN refresh! Our 2026 signs are here!
Just ahead of spring flowers, your new sign will help brighten up your front yard!
We’ll be out at the RALLY next Sunday with our brand new signs for sale. We’re going cashless this time, bring a debit or credit card. $30 each or 2 for $50. We’ve got three new messages this year… and one old favourite! Guess
GREENSPACE not GREED
We’re also launching a door-to-door sales campaign, and we need volunteers for your street. It’s easy. No transactions to manage or heavy work. You simply show folks how to order via the QR code online… and once the order arrives, we deliver the signs. You get to say hello to your neighbours. Help fill your street with signs and a new message and kickstart our campaign. Contact our team at events@ourkanatagreenspace.ca Thank you!
And yet another great community initiative…
Both the Kanata Lakes Community Association (KLCA) and the Kanata Beaverbrook Association (KBCA) 
are joining up with this city-wide program to organize the cleanup of our public properties and various parks and corners throughout our Kanata North community. What a great initiative. Can you spare an hour of time?
If you’re in Kanata Lakes… you can register yourself and group directly at the Cleaning the Capital program or email Shannon to join cleaning projects already identified in Kanata Lakes.
If you’re in Beaverbrook…connect/sign up with the KBCA program. KBCA will host a kick-off with coffee and donuts at 10am on Saturday, May 9 at the KBCA Community Centre – 1002 Beaverbrook Road – West Parking Lot.
Understanding & Managing Construction Damage to your Home
Apologies to those who tuned in for our KGPC virtual event: Understanding & Managing Construction Damage to your Home. Zoom and YouTube didn’t want to cooperate with each other, so here’s a recording of the event.
EARTH DAY
And so, a lot of things to do once Spring arrives. Especially when it seems a few weeks late! There will be more warm days like Saturday. And don’t forget … Wednesday is EARTH DAY. We only have one.
And, plan to come out next Sunday to the RALLY. It’s only an hour. And you never know who will be there!
We’re SPRINGINGLY good together!
Take good care of you …and our earth. Happy Earth Day!
Barbara
Chair, Kanata Greenspace Protection Coalition
E – chair@ourkanatagreenspace.ca
C – 613.725.4345