Did you know that Captain John LeBreton threw a curve at Earl George Ramsay Dalhousie at a recent dinner party, well in 1820, that forced Colonel John By to hire so many more workers and reroute the canal. Ultimately this had the effect of allowing a rookie surveyor to cobble together a core in a more eastern direction in a swampy area rather then west on higher ground all to confound a speculative colleague.   Now you can go out and enjoy the fully opened skateway and impress skaters along the way with your knowledge.

Over half of the Rideau Canal skateway opened Saturday morning. Go out there and enjoy! Remember that you can check ice conditions on the NCC’s website before you go out.

Wider sidewalks, automobile and bicycle shared lanes, and reduced parking, that is what is being proposed for Elgin Street. When the changes started on Main Street some residents were concerned. The intent was to reduce the traffic and create more of a neighbourhood feel. Driving through Old Ottawa East does take a little bit longer but it feels nice. The Glebe is well loved and yet in the middle of it is Bank Street which gets very busy at times. It’s the one place I don’t mind being stuck in a traffic jam as there’s so much to see it gives you more time to take it in.

But as the population of Ottawa grows and intensification brings more people to the core is reducing access a good plan. Ultimately we should be walking more, cycling more. I live in the eastern end of Sandy Hill and can certainly bike to Elgin Street (and do occasionally) but with the chaos that are changes to the lanes on Laurier and the thought of 2 or 3 accidents on the new bike lanes on O’Connor I get a bit scared. I’m just not how the relationship between cars and cyclists is evolving.

What is the City doing right? What is it doing wrong?

This can be a dangerous time of the year. Surfaces are not always what they appear to be.  Worst is ice that looks solid but isn’t. It can be dangerous for adults, children, and for dogs who know no fear, could fall in, and then lead their distraught human. So DO be careful.

Well it seems today’s post was unavoidable. The demise of 158 Marier Avenue was coming at me from every direction. This is a funny house! I can’t count the number of times I’ve driven by it over the years. Often in shock! But traffic permitting I admit that I DID stop and stare, admire, gaze, partly in awe, partly in horror. But I do imagine that in a child’s eye, an eye who is not aware of bylaws, restraint, balance, and good taste as well as neighbourly relations (though Mr Robitaille had a great rapport) this would be, correction, this would have been quite an eye full.

Condolences to Gilles Robitaille who lost his wife a year ago and has had a difficult year. Vanier will not be the same! Thank goodness for Google Earth with which we can reflect upon the over the top excess of the past 9 years with 9 snapshots no less.

To whom shall the reins of kitsch be handed?