COVID-19 Update
- To date, more than 49,000 doses of vaccines have been administered in Ottawa.
- Starting Friday, March 5, pop-up clinics will open in select communities experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 transmission. Locations, hours of operation, and booking information will be available on Monday, March 1. Only residents born in or before 1941 or who are receiving chronic home care services, who live in the identified communities will be able to book an appointment. Eligible residents will be able to book COVID-19 appointments next week. Residents should not call Ottawa Public Health or 311, as no appointments can be booked until then.
- Read the latest news to find out why we are focusing on communities where there is the highest risk of contracting COVID-19 and whether your community is included.
- Once the vaccine supply allows, community clinics will open for other residents born in or before 1941 and residents who are receiving chronic home care services. This is expected to take place later in March.
- Ottawa Public Health is working with Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health to provide a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for First Nation, Inuit and Métis community members aged 55+ at St-Laurent Complex. Call today to book an appointment: 613-691-5505. You will be asked to provide proof of Indigenous identity/status. Learn more.
- Ottawa completed the first dose offers of COVID-19 vaccines to eligible residents at all 82 retirement homes in the city this week.
- Staff are preparing to open up to seven community clinic locations for when more vaccines become available.
- Vaccination efforts also continue to focus on the highest priority health care workers as defined by the Province, Indigenous older adults and congregate care settings for seniors.
- Visit the City’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution page for more information and check out the FAQs page for answers to questions frequently asked by residents.
Supporting Chief Sloly’s mandate to reform the Ottawa Police Service
Having served on the Ottawa Police Services Board over the last year, I had the privilege of backing significant progress towards reform and countless new operational ways of supporting people in crisis including new sensitivity to people with mental health issues and a formal recognition of the impact race plays in these interactions.
I have witnessed a new openness and willingness to tackle these issues within the Ottawa Police Service and a directness and level of honesty to discuss these issues across police ranks.
Since he was sworn in a year and a half ago, Chief Sloly and his team at the Ottawa Police have been playing a key role in rebuilding relationships and trust within our racialized communities – and that starts with the makeup of our police service itself. I’m proud that this commitment to diversity is reflected in the Service’s recent graduating class of 96 recruits – which included 32 women, 31 racialized men and three Indigenous new officers.
Additionally, Chief Sloly has reinstated the Neighbourhood Policing Program, which helps our officers forge lasting and meaningful relationships with residents and community partners in at-risk neighbourhoods.
In 2019, three Neighbourhood Resource Teams were deployed in Vanier/Overbrook; Heron Gate/South Ottawa; and Carlington/Caldwell. Due to their success, the program was expanded to three more neighbourhoods last year: the ByWard Market/Lowertown in May – and Centretown and Bayshore in the fall. Under this model, the officers are dedicated exclusively to their assigned neighbourhoods for a minimum of two years, where they work with local residents, schools, not-for-profit organizations, business associations and City staff to better understand and address crime and its underlying socio-economic issues.
Adequate mental health response, as well as anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism training, are at the core of these programs. At the Ottawa Police Services Board in January, Chief Sloly tabled a plan to engage with the community on how OPS can better support the safety and well-being of residents with mental health challenges, including how officers respond to people in mental health crisis.
I support the work of Chief Peter Sloly as he works to reform and bring about change within the Ottawa Police Service. If we remain committed and steadfast in our resolve, we can create an inclusive and responsive police service that can better serve all residents.
International Women’s Day
His Worship Jim Watson, Mayor of the City of Ottawa, and
Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, Council Liaison for Women and Gender Equity, invite you to a virtual celebration of International Women’s Day featuring an armchair discussion with Mayor Watson and Dr. Vera Etches, MD, CCFP, MHSc, FRCPC, Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health.
Monday, March 8, 2021
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Broadcast on Rogers tv Ottawa,
Mayor Watson’s Facebook page, City of Ottawa Facebook page,
and the City of Ottawa YouTube Channel
The Mayor’s Breakfast Series
The Mayor’s Breakfast Series, produced by the Ottawa Board of Trade & the Ottawa Business Journal, is back in March!
Guest Speaker TBD
Date: TBD – Late March
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – ONLINE
Registration is required.
Visit the Board of Trade’s website for updates.
