January 23, 2026
We need your help with some letter writing. And breaking news on the influx of bulldozers and other equipment on the golf lands.
With full credit to Councillor Cathy Curry, unwavering support from our Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and a shoutout to our ally from Stittsville Councillor Glen Gower who seconded the motion, the Kanata Golf Club (KGC) lands will be on the table next Wednesday, January 28 asking for lasting protection at City Hall. Here’s a small but beautiful corner of what we’re fighting for. Read on to find out what you need to do to help.
Photo credit: Louis-Xavier Storme
——We interrupt the regular scheduled programming with this Public Service Announcement——
Our e-News was literally ‘ready to go’ this morning when ‘it’ all broke loose. We heard (as did Councillor Curry) from several of you reporting an influx of bulldozers and other equipment on Holes 6, 9 and 12. The Councillor had by email a heads up late last evening that Minto was ‘mobilizing to do earthworks’ today, but was still trying to contact them this morning to understand what exactly that meant. The City engaged from the get-go today and is working to get more information. Count on our Councillor for that soon.
Surprisingly, we (along with the Kanata Beaverbrook and Kanata Lakes Community Associations) also received a meeting invite this morning from Minto leadership wanting to ‘reengage’ on their plans at a meeting in late February. 7 years in! We’ll let you know all about it… in due course!
And so, stay with us. But this does seem like a good time to drop a teaser about our soon to launch fundraising campaign..
Now back to our main message!
Take 5 minutes. Write. Click. Send. You’ll have done your bit!
That’s all it will take to move us to our goal… another unanimous vote at Ottawa City Hall in support of our Greenspace. Here is how you make your note/letter the most meaningful and the process easy and quick.
Start with Councillor Curry’s motion to remind you.
- Stick with topics that support the Motion. Here are a few but add your own….
- Mercury Contamination and development risk
- Leave the Mercury Undisturbed- let it lie
- Environmental processes to date have not identified the problem accurately – how big is the problem?
- Thousands of residents within 100metres of site
- Flooding: Stormwater Management and property safety
- Undeveloped KGC lands are essential component of the functioning Kizell SWM system
- Kizell system is at/near maximum
- Property values
- Respect the Existing Neighbourhoods/ Resources
- 15 minute Neighbourhood concept
- Kanata North Tech Park as an Ottawa economic engine is downstream and at risk
- Value/benefits of Greenspace to your family, health etc.
- Mercury Contamination and development risk
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- Caution: Avoid ranting about the stuff that bugs you but is not in the motion (eg: traffic issues, no schools). While we all know these are real criticisms about development, it will not carry weight here.
- Make it easy and quick for yourself. State your point and use bullets to support it. You don’t need to write paragraphs if you don’t want to.
Plan to send your letter on Monday or Tuesday, January 26-27. These are the ideal dates to generate the most impact and it also gives you the weekend to get it done. If it’s easier and you don’t want to forget…send it sooner. Just make sure you send it! Ask your kids to send one too!
Where does the email go? Every one counts. We’ve made it easy… copy and paste this entire list into the BCC field in your email software. You’re done!
committees@ottawa.ca; Mark.Sutcliffe@ottawa.ca; Matt.Luloff@ottawa.ca; Laura.Dudas@ottawa.ca; David.Hill@ottawa.ca; Cathy.Curry@ottawa.ca; Clarke.Kelly@ottawa.ca; Glen.Gower@ottawa.ca; BayWard@ottawa.ca; Collegeward@ottawa.ca; knoxdalemerivale@ottawa.ca; Jessica.Bradley@ottawa.ca; Tim.Tierney@ottawa.ca; Stephanie.Plante@ottawa.ca; rideaurockcliffeward@ottawa.ca; Ariel.Troster@ottawa.ca; Jeff.Leiper@ottawa.ca; Riley.Brockington@ottawa.ca; capitalward@ottawa.ca; Marty.Carr@ottawa.ca; Catherine.Kitts@ottawa.ca; isabelle.skalski@ottawa.ca; Ward21@ottawa.ca; Steve.Desroches@ottawa.ca; Allan.Hubley@ottawa.ca; Wilson.Lo@ottawa.ca; info@ourkanatagreenspace.ca;
Property Taxes – Do you pay Golf Course premiums?
Taxpayers living adjacent to the golf course sure do. One of our supporters, local resident Nancy Brown, reminds us that taxpayers living adjacent to the golf course pay a premium of 8% on their property taxes. It is uncertain if ‘a neighbour across the street’ also pays the premium or perhaps, something less. All to say, we no longer have a golf course, and it begs the question… what are we paying taxes for?
Ms. Brown’s discussions with the City of Ottawa and the Municipality Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) suggest that MPAC may look at the premium situation next year. In the meantime, however, anyone wanting a reconsideration for the 2026 taxation year should submit a Request for Reconsideration (RfR) to the city. Check it out online here.
The deadline for an application is mid-March according to the city. Thanks so much Nancy for sharing your findings.
And now to celebrate… one of our tireless volunteers
The best part of our work at the KGPC is the people we meet. We want to introduce you to a real gem of a neighbour and a KGPC supporter from Kanata Lakes, Adele Zhang. Over 
the past few years, Adele has donated her expert services as an accountant and CPA to the KGPC to oversee our accounting records and complete our necessary yearend tax filings with the CRA. She is knowledgeable, up to date, reliable and very easy to deal with. With tax time around the corner, we thought you might like to meet Adele. So, we’re sharing her card. You can drop her a line at adelez@aztaxaccounting.ca or call her (613) 599-9909.
Thank you, Adele… we so appreciate all that you do for the KGPC!
Well, that’s it for today. Lots happening. On Wednesday, you can watch the Council Meeting live on City Hall YouTube at 10am.
Please, please, please… send your letters in. This matters so much to our continued opposition to the ClubLink development. It is another piece of the solution we all deserve.
We’re all in this together. Your neighbour needs your letter too!
Barbara
Chair, Kanata Greenspace Protection Coalition
E – chair@ourkanatagreenspace.ca
C – 613.725.4345