Osman Naqvi receives Mayor’s City Builder Award
Osman Naqvi was presented with the Mayor’s City Builder Award at today’s City Council meeting by Mayor Jim Watson, Gloucester-South Nepean Ward Councillor, Michael Qaqish and Bay Ward Councillor Mark Taylor.
Osman Naqvi is a natural leader, social entrepreneur and youth empowerment advocate. He founded the Kiwanis Club of Barrhaven, and helped to create the YOUth Heroes initiative – a citywide campaign that empowers local youth to create positive social change in their communities. Osman has been an active leader with the Caring and Sharing Exchange, Carleton University’s Young Liberals Association, the Canadian Hearing Society and the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa.
He was nominated for the Best Volunteer in a Supporting Role award for his work in the programme named Assisting youth in the community. In March of 2016, Osman’s organization YOUth Heroes, had a proclamation passed by the City of Ottawa to recognize Superhero Week. The week consists of activities and events that provide at-risk youth with the mentorship and resources they need to achieve their dreams.
In addition to Superhero Week, YOUth Heroes hosted an afternoon school program for at risk youth in collaboration with YouthREX. The program was called Noise Superhero School and focused on the importance of philanthropy and education to inspire, guide and mentor youth to bring social change to their communities. One notable change that came from the Noise Superhero School program was the creation of the YOUth in the Hall event where youth spent the day at City Hall with the Deputy Mayor Mark Taylor and various City Councillors. Osman’s hard work, genuine care and the friendships he has created along the way have made these initiatives possible.
Osman is a graduate of the Master of Management program at the Schulich School of Business and he continues to use his talent and determination to give back. He is currently in the process of developing a social enterprise to bring hygiene products to areas in need.
Mayor Jim Watson’s Statement following today’s tabling of the Government of Canada’s 2018-19 Budget
“Today’s federal budget is good news for the City of Ottawa and its residents, as it includes the necessary funding for us to proceed with the joint Central Library project with Library and Archives Canada.
Like many municipalities across Canada, our social housing units have a maintenance backlog that needs to be addressed rapidly. Although we welcome the long-term housing initiatives announced last year by the government, including the new National Housing Strategy, we need the funds for these much-needed social housing repairs to flow quickly to municipalities so we can deliver change for our residents in need.
Although we have made a lot of progress to increase our social housing stock in recent years, we cannot work alone. The three levels of government must continue to work together to improve the lives of our residents by ensuring every Canadian has a safe, affordable and stable roof over their head.
We are pleased to see a renewed partnership with the federal and provincial governments to support key housing priorities, including new funding to help build additional affordable rental housing for Ottawa families.
Given Ottawa’s large and growing Indigenous communities, I am also pleased to see specific housing funding for Indigenous Peoples. I look forward to reviewing the details to better understand if the City will be able to access and benefit from this funding for our urban Aboriginal populations.
As you know, the City was very pleased last year when Prime Minister Trudeau announced that Ottawa had secured the $1.16 billion in federal funding to proceed with Stage 2 LRT. This is a critical investment in the most transformational project in our city’s history since the Rideau Canal. It will reduce commute times for transit users, increase ridership, remove cars from the roads, and significantly reduce the production of GHGs in our city.
We are pleased that the federal government responded to the call of municipalities for an allocation-based approach to long-term transit funding, and that they remain committed to increasing the federal share of funding for transit projects across the country – including Ottawa.
Since November 2015, the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) have been working together to realize a joint facility of national significance. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to join forces and create a landmark institution; one that will serve the needs of residents as a Central Public Library, while offering all Canadians access to LAC’s public-facing services and their rich and diverse collection of works.
I am delighted that the Government of Canada will be contributing $73.3 million for this great city-building project. I want to thank Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Catherine McKenna, Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, and all their colleagues from the National Capital Region Caucus for their advocacy efforts and commitment to securing this necessary funding.
I am pleased to see a focus and support for Women’s Programs and efforts to reduce gender inequality. More specifically, I was proud to see that Ottawa’s very own City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) received a specific reference in the 2018 Federal Budget document.
I am also encouraged to see $55 million over two years allocated to the National Capital Commission, which will enable them to proceed with critical maintenance to some of their buildings, bridges, parkways and pathways.
Our staff will be looking at the details of today’s Budget over the coming weeks to identify all funding opportunities that would benefit the residents of Ottawa. I am confident that the City is well prepared to take full advantage of any funding announced today, and that we are prepared to apply for priority projects as soon as the funding criteria are known.
Our priority remains moving projects forward quickly through investments that reflect fair cost-sharing among the three levels of government, as well as flexible criteria that facilitates municipalities taking full advantage of the funding announced today.’’
– Jim Watson, Mayor, City of Ottawa
ʺOn behalf of the entire Board of the Ottawa Public Library and our staff, I want to thank the Government of Canada for their contribution that will turn this great vision into a reality. The residents of Ottawa and Canadians from coast-to-coast will be well served by this new world-class facility offering access to Library and Archives Canada’s extensive collection.’’
– Councillor Tim Tierney, Chair of the Board, Ottawa Public Library
ʺAs the Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, I am very thrilled that a partnership between Library and Archives Canada and the Ottawa Public Library is becoming a reality in 2018. This was a key campaign commitment of mine and I am proud to deliver on it. This state-of-the-art facility will showcase incredible artifacts highlighting Canada’s history and cultural heritage. This partnership will make a visit to the new Central Library a richer experience for local residents and visitors to the nation’s capital alike.’’
– Hon. Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre
City unveils 40 winning names for O-Train vehicles
Today at Ben Franklin Place, Mayor Jim Watson, Transit Commission Chair Stephen Blais, Transportation Committee Chair Keith Egli, and Transportation Services General Manager John Manconi announced the Name the Trains Contest winning submissions and presented certificates to Ottawa’s next generation of O-Train riders. The certificates were presented to children and youth who submitted the chosen names for the six O-Train Trillium Line train cars and the 34 O-Train Confederation Line train cars.
The young winners had the opportunity to meet OC Owl, talk with Electric Light Rail Operator Instructors, and were treated to a pizza party after the presentation ceremony. Each winner also received two golden tickets for the inaugural ride on the O-Train Confederation Line when it launches later this year.
The names were submitted through the Name the Trains Contest, which was open to children and youth 16 years of age and under. The contest ran from November 5 to December 8, 2017. The City received almost two thousand entries.
The names submitted reflect Ottawa’s and Canada’s historical figures, arts, our military history, as well as honour Indigenous peoples.
Trillium Line train cars
- Nanuq • Polar Bear
- Northern Lights
- Rocket Richard
- Dreamcatcher Emily Murphy
- Portage
Confederation Line train cars
- The Canada Goose
- Farley Mowat
- Gord Downie
- Inuksuk
- John McCrae
- Logdriver • Draveur
- Lord Stanley
- Louis Riel
- Majestic Moose
- Odawa
- Poppy
- Snowbird
- Bluenose
- Boreal
- Jacques Cartier
- Juno
- Nathan Cirillo
- Normandy Samuel de Champlain
- Thomas D’Arcy McGee
- Totem
- Tundra
- Wagosh • Fox
- Acadia
- Agnes Macphail
- Amik • Beaver
- Bertha Wilson
- Billy Bishop
- Eh-Train
- Henrietta Edwards
- Maple Taffy
- The Mountie
- George Brown
For more information on the O-Train Confederation Line, please visit OC Transpo’s Ready for Rail web section at octranspo.com/ready4rail.
For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Quotes
“The O-Train Confederation Line will change the way people move and travel in Ottawa, whether it’s to go to school, work or play. Light rail transit will be the preferred method of travel for generations to come. It’s only fitting that the transit riders of tomorrow help shape the identity of the trains that will be a part of their daily lives.”
Mayor Jim Watson, City of Ottawa
“The creativity of these children and youth is truly amazing, as is their knowledge of Ottawa and Canada’s history. They’ve obviously done their homework to come up with so many meaningful names from our past. I commend them on their submissions. The City of Ottawa will be proud to put them on our trains.”
Councillor Stephen Blais, Chair, Transit Commission
“The addition of the Confederation Line will add another sustainable transportation choice for the children and youth of today. They will grow up with more options for how to get around that will help them become less reliant on traditional modes of transportation. These trains are part of their future and I’m happy to see them take such an active role in that future.”
Councillor Keith Egli, Chair, Transportation Committee
Quick facts
- The O-Train Confederation Line is a $2.13 billion light rail transit project that is jointly funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Ottawa.
- 13 stations
- 12.5 kilometres from Tunney’s Pasture to Blair
- 2.5 kilometre tunnel under the downtown core with three underground stations
- 34 Alstom Citadis Spirit electric train cars
- Trains will arrive every five minutes or less at peak times
- Less than 25 minutes to travel between Tunney’s Pasture and Blair
- 600 passengers per two-car train
- The O-Train Trillium Line began operation in October 2001 and carries an average of 14,000 passengers each weekday.
- 5 stations
- 8 kilometres from Greenboro to Bayview
- 600 metre tunnel under Dows Lake
- 6 Alstom Coradia LINT diesel train cars
- 12-minute service at most times
- 16 minutes to travel between Greenboro and Bayview
- 260 passengers per each train set
Government of Canada leases federal land to The Ottawa Hospital for new Civic Campus
The Government of Canada is proud to play a role in this important initiative that will improve health care services to communities in the National Capital Region and augment world-class research.
Today, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, along with Katherine Cotton, Chair of the Board of Governors for The Ottawa Hospital, signed a 99‑year ground lease to The Ottawa Hospital. The Hospital will use approximately 20 hectares of federal land, located along Carling Avenue and Prince of Wales Drive, to build the Hospital’s new Civic Campus.
This property transaction was made possible with the support and cooperation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the National Capital Commission. Their collaborative efforts facilitated the role Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) played in assembling each department’s piece of land for this lease agreement.
Quotes
“Our government is very pleased to transfer the land of the former Sir. John Carling site in Ottawa Centre to The Ottawa Hospital for the development of a new Civic Campus. This project will continue to ensure residents of Ottawa and its surrounding communities have access to state-of-the-art medical and research facilities. I am proud of the collaborative efforts and partnerships between all levels of government that made this possible.”
The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement
“Together with the three levels of government and our community, we will plan and build a world-class health care facility that will ensure future generations receive state-of-the-art care.”
Katherine Cotton
Chair of the Board of Governors for The Ottawa Hospital
“This lease agreement is the first step in bringing a new world-class health centre to Ottawa. I want to thank the Government of Canada for its support of this important project for our city and its residents. The City of Ottawa remains committed to working with the federal government, the Province of Ontario, The Ottawa Hospital and all of our partners to ensure the new Civic Campus becomes a reference in the evolution of health care.”
His Worship Jim Watson
Mayor of Ottawa
Quick facts
- The 99-year ground lease to The Ottawa Hospital was signed at a nominal value of $1 per year.
- PSPC, which manages the disposition of many federal properties, worked closely with all key stakeholders, including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the National Capital Commission, Parks Canada, Canadian Heritage, the City of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital, during the planning and finalization of the transfer.
- PSPC and The Ottawa Hospital have cooperated to address the environmental contamination in a manner that minimizes overall costs to taxpayers. While the Hospital will be responsible for the required remediation work at the site, PSPC will reimburse incremental costs the Hospital incurs that would otherwise not be incurred as part of the project up to $11.8 million.
- The ground lease with the Hospital includes important requirements, such as maintaining 207 parking spaces for the Dow’s Lake Pavilion and surrounding area and obtaining necessary approvals from the National Capital Commission.
Associated links
- National Capital Commission: The Ottawa Hospital site review
- Statement from Minister of Public Services and Procurement on land transfer to The Ottawa Hospital
- The Ottawa Hospital: The new campus
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Information
Ashley Michnowski
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough
819-997-5421
Media Relations
Public Services and Procurement Canada
819-420-5501
media@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca
Catherine Kelly receives Mayor’s City Builder Award
Catherine Kelly was presented with the Mayor’s City Builder Award at today’s City Council meeting by Mayor Jim Watson and Capital Ward Councillor, David Chernushenko.
As the Vice President Internal of Carleton University’s Student Association (CUSA), Catherine Kelly has worked hard to ensure that student council runs transparently and that all 300 clubs on campus are supported. As a feminist, she has leveraged her position and has gone above and beyond her job description to support survivors of sexual violence and to prevent sexual assault on-and-off campus. Thanks to her initiative, Catherine’s policy work will result in over 1000 students being trained in peer-to-peer support and sexual violence prevention.
The training aims to create a conversation about consent amongst other student leaders. This training will make Carleton University the national university leader in sexual violence prevention. Catherine’s initiative will be modelled in schools across the country in an effort to create a nation-wide progressive movement.
In addition to her political platform, Catherine is also an aspiring journalist. She hopes to write stories that build community and promote the good that happens here in Ottawa. Two years ago, Catherine became the editor of a website that celebrates Ottawa and the many fantastic events happening in the city. As a new initiative, she covered everything from concerts to art shows, and used the website to promote activities in Ottawa with the hope of connecting residents with the events happening in their neighbourhoods. As editor, she also helped guide a team of 14 interns.
Catherine joined Centretown News as a journalist and advertisement manager. Her articles with Centretown have focused on entrepreneurs creating positive social change in Ottawa, such as the Ottawa Tool Library and Nu Grocery store. Her goal is to once again promote Ottawa’s unique culture and celebrate community leaders.
At CUSA, Catherine endeavours to help others achieve success. For example, she has created a collaboration fund for clubs that collaborate together on events. Her vision was to encourage clubs to network outside of their social circles and to collaborate with each other in order to host bigger and better events.
She has also founded a philanthropy fund for on-campus groups and individuals who want to do philanthropy work but have no fundraising resources. Additionally, Catherine is working to make it mandatory for all on-campus clubs to have an Equity Officer, a role that will promote intersectionality, diversity, and equality within their organizations. She cares about her campus and City, and has used her talents to improve both.
Ottawa’s music industry takes centre stage at the Sonicity Showcase
Ottawa – Mayor Jim Watson, Councillor Jeff Leiper, and members of the music industry celebrated Ottawa’s vibrant music community today at the Sonicity Showcase.
In association with Megaphono, Ottawa’s annual music industry festival and conference, the Sonicity Showcase featured a preview of the Ottawa Music Strategy and officially launched Sonicity, a mobile app that offers immersive original soundtracks, composed by local musicians, for seven bus routes on the OC Transpo system.
A selection of artists featured on the app gave live performances, including Philippe Charbonneau, Boyhood, Nathanael Larochette, Ben Globerman and Adam Saikaley. Following the performances, the festivities continued with a 30-minute Silent Disco Night Ride on an OC Transpo bus, set to an exclusive Sonicity mix.
The Ottawa Music Strategy
During the 2017 JUNO Week, the City announced that it would fund the development of Ottawa’s first Music Strategy, aimed at supporting our local artists, musicians and producers, and growing this important sector of our economy. To ensure that the local industry was the driving force behind the strategy, the City engaged the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition to assemble a task force of local industry leaders, facilitate consultations with stakeholders and residents and draft the strategy. Over 1,200 artists, industry professionals, fans and consumers of music participated in the consultation process.
The Music Strategy is a three-year plan that aims to support the growth of Ottawa’s emerging music industry, establish Ottawa as a global music city and expand the City’s role in supporting local music. Currently the City:
- provides grants to artists, not-for-profit organizations and festivals
- presents local music at City-owned venues
- delivers music and musician-focused programming
The strategy’s recommendations focus on creating a music-friendly environment where every player in the music business – from live music venues to studios to performers – can flourish. The Ottawa Music Strategy will be presented to the Finance and Economic Development Committee in April 2018.
Sonicity
Sonicity, a mobile app created by the local arts organization Artengine, integrates art, music and technology into the daily commute. Commissioned by the City’s Public Art Program and funded in part by the City’s Innovation Pilot Program, the app offers a unique way to connect audiences to emerging artists from Ottawa.
Sonicity includes original compositions by local musicians Scattered Clouds, Boyhood, Mike Dubue, Memetic, Adam Saikaley, Nathanael Larochette and Ben Globerman for their favourite bus routes. The original compositions reimagine our public transit as a musical map inspired by Ottawa’s neighbourhoods, and provide travelers with a rich soundtrack to energize and enhance their journeys.
Quotes
“A vibrant music community creates jobs, builds connections, and helps make Ottawa a culturally exciting place to live and visit. We’re putting local musicians centre stage with projects like Sonicity, and developing the Ottawa Music Strategy to actively grow music as a part of a strong and diversified economy.”
Mayor Jim Watson, City of Ottawa
“As a member of the Ottawa Music Strategy task force, I’m excited to present our vision for Ottawa as a music city. In collaboration with the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, we’re shining the spotlight on Ottawa’s talented musicians and their valuable contributions to our local art scene and entertainment industry.”
Councillor Jeff Leiper, Kitchissippi Ward
The Joint Transportation Working Group meets to establish its priorities
GATINEAU-OTTAWA – Convened by Mayors Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin and Jim Watson, the Joint Transportation Working Group held its first meeting today at Ottawa City Hall. Mayors Pedneaud-Jobin and Watson were accompanied by the chairs of their cities’ committees responsible for transportation issues, namely:
- Stephen Blais, Chair, Transit Commission, City of Ottawa
- Myriam Nadeau, Chair, Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO)
- Keith Egli, Chair, Transportation Committee, City of Ottawa
- Audrey Bureau, Chair, Commission sur les transports, les déplacements durables et la sécurité, City of Gatineau
- as well as the management of OC Transpo and STO.
The meeting was called to follow up on the historic agreement signed between Ottawa and Gatineau on May 26, 2017, announcing the creation of the Joint Transportation Working Group, as well as on the July 14 announcement regarding the Group’s mandate and membership. As a reminder, the Group has been mandated to study and make recommendations on questions related to interprovincial transportation, including active transportation, as well as any transportation infrastructure projects likely to have impacts on both sides of the Ottawa River.
Opening of the Confederation Line
In line with these objectives, the two parties revisited the integration of the STO’s services with the O-Train Confederation Line, which will open in Ottawa later this year. Jointly developed operational plans will be implemented once the light rail system enters service.
City-building Transit System in West-End Gatineau
Furthermore, City of Gatineau representatives took the opportunity to update their counterparts in Ottawa about planning efforts and feasibility studies related to the implementation of a city-building transit system in west-end Gatineau. Studies will continue, but the two cities share the long-term hope of integrating their respective transit systems thanks to compatible modes of transportation, including the Prince of Wales Bridge.
Long-Term Planning: Ottawa-Gatineau Vision 2050
The Working Group agreed to pursue, over the coming years, efforts to develop a common long-term vision for the optimal integration of the two cities’ transportation networks.
Ottawa-Gatineau Vision 2050 would provide a roadmap for measures related to transit, as well as active and road transportation, taking into account the future needs of our users while focusing on the sustainable development of the National Capital Region.
The Ottawa-Gatineau Vision 2050 process would begin by holding consultations with motorists, public transit users, cyclists and pedestrians from both sides of the Ottawa River, in order to better understand their habits and needs. It would then seek to identify measures capable of supporting optimal network integration and more synchronized travel. Such measures would ultimately lead to the increased use of transit and active transportation, as well as carpooling, thereby contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and providing our residents with a healthier environment and a greener future.
The Joint Transportation Working Group’s next meeting will be held in the summer of 2018.
City plans to expand and secure service for local restaurants
Ottawa – Opening a new restaurant is a lot of work. That’s why the City of Ottawa created the Business Ambassador Service (BAS) as a pilot project in 2013 to help restaurant owners get their new businesses up and running.
In 2014, the BAS was nominated nationally for a Golden Scissors Award by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) for municipal excellence in “cutting the red tape” for business owners. Clients using the BAS completed their process with the City in significantly less time – on average in 35 fewer business days.
In light of its success, Mayor Jim Watson and Councillor Diane Deans, Chair of the City’s Community and Protective Services Committee, revealed plans today to make the Business Ambassador Service permanent and to expand the service to benefit more entrepreneurs and small businesses. The announcement was made at Score Pizza, part of the revitalized CF Rideau Centre and one of the latest restaurants to benefit from this valuable service.
The Business Ambassador Service helps restaurant owners navigate through the application process by clarifying what permits and licences are required, and when. Restaurant owners can work directly with City staff or use an online tool.
The service is currently available to a range of food-related businesses, including cafés, bakeries and butcher shops, with plans to expand the list to include food trucks.
These changes to the Business Ambassador Service require the approval of City Council.
Key facts:
- More than 150 food businesses have opened since 2013 with the help of the BAS.
- More than 120 food businesses are currently using the BAS.
- In 2016, 418 business licences were issued to new food premises in Ottawa.
- The BAS is part of the business licensing program operated by By-law and Regulatory Services.
Quotes
“The Business Ambassador Service has proven to be extremely helpful to entrepreneurs who want to open a new food business in Ottawa. That is why I have asked staff to come back with a proposal to make the BAS a permanent service and to expand its scope to benefit more local entrepreneurs and small businesses in our community.”
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson
New Law Ensuring Safe Access to Abortion Clinics Now in Effect
Ontario Protecting Women’s Right to Choose
Starting today, all abortion clinics in Ontario will have safe access zones of 50 metres to protect the safety, security, health and privacy of women and health care providers.
These changes are the result of legislation passed in 2017 to ensure women across the province can access abortion services without fear of intimidation, harassment or interference.
Prohibited activities within safe access zones around clinics, facilities and offices include:
- Advising a person to refrain from accessing abortion services
- Abortion-related protests
- Physically interfering with or intimidating people accessing or providing abortion services
- Recording patients or providers (e.g. taking photos or video).
Other facilities that offer abortion services, such as hospitals, health centres, or pharmacies, as well as the offices of regulated health professionals who provide abortion services can nowrequest safe access zones of up to 150 metres.
In addition, abortion service providers now have automatic safe access zones of 150 metres around their homes. This includes a general anti-harassment provision that protects clinic staff and abortion providers anywhere in Ontario.
Protecting women’s right to choose is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.
Quick Facts
- The Safe Access to Abortion Services Act, 2017 creates safe access zones. Safe access zones include the property on which the clinic, facility, office, or home is located, and start at the outer boundaries of that property.
- The new law also prohibits harassment of clinic staff and regulated health professionals who provide abortion services anywhere in Ontario.
- In the lead up to this change coming into effect, the province worked proactively with law enforcement to ensure all police services have the information necessary to enforce this new law. Local Crown attorneys will also be available to support police going forward.
- People who engage in any of the prohibited activities within safe access zones could face fines of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to six months upon their first offence. For second and subsequent offences, fines could range between $1,000 and $10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months.
Additional Resources
Quotes
Yasir Naqvi, Attorney General
Harinder Malhi, Minister of the Status of Women, Ontario
“Anyone seeking or providing abortion services should have the right to do so without feeling harassed, threatened, ashamed or afraid for their safety. I am grateful for the Province’s swift implementation of this new law, as it will help protect a woman’s right to choose.”
Jim Watson, Mayor, City of Ottawa
Albert Tang receives Mayor’s City Builder Award
Albert Tang was presented with the Mayor’s City Builder Award at today’s City Council meeting by Mayor Jim Watson and Gloucester-Southgate Ward Councillor, Diane Deans.
Albert Tang came from Hong Kong to Canada over 40 years ago as a young man trying to build a future in the country he loved. He worked very hard as a waiter in restaurants until he started his own restaurant on Somerset Street, integrating well with a successful business. He appreciates Canadian values and wants to help other newcomers to get help they need to settle well in Canada.
Albert is an active member and leader in the Chinese community in Ottawa. He was on the board of the Chinese Community Association, the Chinese Building Association and was a member of the Free Mason Association, all of which has helped Chinese immigrants integrate into the community. Albert is well known in the community, and as a result, the Ottawa Chinese Community Service Center (OCCSC) applied for the funding to publish a book about the settlement of Chinese immigrants in Canada. Albert served on the advisory committee to produce this book, written by Denise Chong, and now available in libraries, schools and public events.
As a businessman and a civic leader, Albert understands the importance of building a good relationship with China. He is enthusiastic in visiting China to meet with people who share an interest in promoting international understanding and creating business opportunities. He was involved in planning and building the most recent Chinese Gateway in Chinatown and was successful in finding the builder directly from China.