Community Activism in the Glebe
I am currently writing an essay for a university class concerning the history of the Glebe. I am writing specifically about community activism and its influence on why the Glebe looks as it does. I was wondering if you could point me to any specific examples of Glebe, as a community, has helped to shape and prevent changes to the style of the Glebe. I know of opposition to an apartment complex on the Driveway in the 70's but beyond that I have been unable to find information. I would greatly appreciate any direction you could give me. Thank you so much.
What a wonderful topic for an essay! There are many examples of community activism that have contributed to the look and nature of the Glebe. I can appreciate that these would be hard to research, in that, to my knowledge, they haven't been gathered or documented in any text or published article.
When Mutchmor Elementary School was threatened with closure in 1999, the School Councils of Mutchmor and First Avenue, supported by the Glebe Community Association (GCA), rallied the community and successfully kept Mutchmor open.
The GCA is very active in promoting concerns of Glebe residents to city hall, the Board of Education, and provincial and federal politicians. For example, about four years ago, the city proposed that the Glebe Community Centre and the Ottawa South Community Centre both be closed and replaced by a brand new joint facility at Brewer Park (hardly central to either community). The GCA mobilized the community against this proposal and the city abandoned the idea.
In particular, the GCA Planning Committee is ever vigilant in insuring that the Glebe community is informed about requests for building variances at city hall. The GCA is not against development and change in the community. They usually provide forums for discussion between developers and neighbours living close to the development site, so there are no surprises. Residents have had input that modified or prevented a variety of developments not deemed harmonious with the Glebe. Some recent examples were the proposed expansion of the Glebe Montessori School, modifications to the proposed condo development on Isabella, modifications to the redevelopment of the Glebe Centre at Bank and Holmwood, and the proposed commercial use of the Arboretum
Another GCA subcommittee closely monitors plans for changes at Lansdowne Park. There have been a variety of proposals about the use of this site, now that the lease of the Exhibition has expired. Lansdowne Park has much more green space and usable recreation space now than it had five years ago, thanks to community activism.
Traffic is a major concern to Glebe residents. Safe streets make for a quality community. The Leaning Plan - a traffic plan developed in the early 1970's by John Leaning, a Glebe resident, helped divert traffic around the Glebe, rather than through it. Last year, an exhaustive four year traffic study by the GCA Traffic Committee, aimed at further traffic calming, was completed and submitted to city hall for consideration.
The Glebe Report, our community newspaper for the last 27 years, is put out by volunteers, and is an excellent forum for any concerns affecting Glebe residents. It is community activism in print, and is very widely read.
I'm sure there are many more examples of community activism preserving the quality of life in the Glebe, and I invite readers to send them in to share with you.