Two safe consumption sites forced to close after staff suffer headaches and more

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Good morning!

The hype over Ottawa's PWHL team is real. I went this weekend to a game thanks to a friend’s spare ticket, and had a great time. The TD Place arena was packed with passionate fans. And even though Ottawa lost to Toronto, the crowd left in high spirits. 

I can only see this team growing in popularity, because it’s a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. It was really something to see what it clearly meant for the many girls hockey teams in attendance to see professionals they can see themselves becoming.

You love to see it.

We’ve got plenty to get through today, including a bunch of events for you to hit up this week. 

So let’s get to it.

— Robert Hiltz, managing editor.

WEATHER

Monday: +14 🌡️ +7 | ☁️

Tuesday: +10 🌡️ 0 | 🌧

Wednesday: +7 🌡️ -3 | ☁️

OPIOIDS AND HOUSING

Safe consumption sites temporarily close

What happened: Two downtown safe consumption sites had to close temporarily after staff reported feeling headaches and other symptoms because of heated drugs, CBC reported. Both the Somerset West Community Health Centre and Sandy Hill Community Health Centre are closed until staff can figure out what was causing the symptoms and how to prevent it.

• The Ontario Ministry of Health has opened an investigation, and the Ministry of Labour was notified.

Unusual: Staff reported feeling nauseous, dizzy, and developed headaches. This, one staff member told CBC, was unusual and had never happened before. It may be because of a ventilation issue. The centres are considering redeploying staff to the community while they search for the cause of the problem.

The closure of the two sites means only half of the city’s safe consumption sites are operating. While they are closed to drug users, the sites are still open for drug testing and distribution of clean needles and other drug equipment to prevent the spread of disease.

Why they’re important: Staff have been able to save dozens of people by reversing overdoses. They can also detect toxic levels of fentanyl or other contaminants in users’ drugs. Social service and health staff can also direct those that are willing to health and other services.

Lack of resources: Shelters in the city, meanwhile, said they are overwhelmed by the number of migrants coming to the city and unable to find housing, CBC reported. The Ottawa Mission said migrants now account for about 40 percent of their clients. They’re running at at least 115 percent capacity, and are forced to turn away dozens of people every night.

• The centre only has 250 beds, and every night 20 or more people sleep in chairs in the lobby, while many others sleep on mats on the floor.

Rising numbers: The number of newcomers arriving in Ottawa and unable to find proper housing has dramatically increased in the last several years. At the Shepherds of Good Hope, migrants only made up about 5.5 percent of their clients. Last year that number jumped to 20 percent.

The city has asked the federal government in particular to provide more funding to house migrants. A lack of affordable housing, a red-hot housing market, and ever-increasing rents has made it difficult for new arrivals and those in economic distress to find proper housing.

Compounding problems: Both the opioid crisis and the housing crisis have fallen particularly hard on shelters. They’re often the front line dealing with both facets of the problem.

“We are experiencing a toxic drug crisis, then this influx of people needing shelter services for the first time — it's just challenge upon challenge upon challenge,” Adrienne Arsenault, a senior manager at the Shepherds of Good Hope, told CBC.

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OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🌡️ 4.2 C: The average February temperature in the city was this much warmer than the typical average. Temperatures averaged -3.9 C, well above the historical -8.1 C. [Ottawa Citizen]

📈 41%: The waitlist for child care has increased this much with the introduction of subsidized $10-per-day care. About half of families on the list have to wait beyond the date they require child care. [CBC]

TRASH

Pontiac residents worried about possibility of garbage incinerator

What happened: A new garbage incinerator in Pontiac has residents concerned about the amount of trash that will be brought into the community to be burned for energy, CTV reported. Plans for the incinerator would mean some 400,000 tonnes of garbage being brought into the community.

Pontiac only produces about 5,000 tonnes of garbage a year. The rest would be trucked in from Ottawa and other municipalities in the region. Compost rates are relatively high in the area, with about 40 percent of the municipality’s waste being composted.

• The project is many years off, if it goes forward, but there are worries about long-term pollution

Aging dumps: Many cities are turning to waste-to-energy incinerators, as landfills run out of space and need to be decommissioned. Rather than open new large-scale dumps, this type of waste management is seen as a reasonable alternative.

Better for the climate? Internationally, burning waste for energy is seen as a way to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, and coal in particular. Denmark’s waste-to-energy plant in Amager Bakke is often held up as an example to follow, according to The Conversation. But there are concerns that implementing incineration will reduce levels of recycling.

In recent decades technology to capture ash and dangerous o have greatly reduced the pollution created by such plants. But there is not yet enough long-term evidence about whether they actually reduce emissions.

This city’s plan: Ottawa is also considering a similar incinerator. The Trail Road Waste Facility is coming to the end of its life, and staff have said it’s one way for the city to extend the dump’s lifespan. 

Have your say: The City of Ottawa is currently looking for public feedback on its long-term Waste Master Plan. You can fill out the survey here.

NEW LOCAL JOBS

Check out the new open positions in Ottawa.

1. Translator at the Public Service Alliance of Canada

2. Indoor environmental quality project manager at Pinchin

3. Project coordinator at Thunderbolt Contracting

4. Net-zero housing program coordinator at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association

5. Designer at DMC Recruitment

Local jobs are selected by the Lookout team and are not paid ads, unless specifically noted. 

THE AGENDA

⚖️ A tentative plea deal has been reached in the Eastway Tank explosion case. Details are not yet available, as the deal is expected to be entered in court in early April. Eastway and its owner are facing workplace charges for not living up to safety standards causing the explosion that killed six people. [Ottawa Citizen]

🏥 The Almonte General Hospital closed its emergency room overnight Saturday because of a nursing shortage. Like many rural hospitals in the province, a few staff absences are enough to close a department. The hospital is in contact with the Ministry of Health in hopes of finding a solution. [CTV]

🚀 The Canadian Space Agency will close the David Florida Laboratory in Shirley’s Bay where the Canadarm and other important space technologies were built and developed. The lab will fully close at the end of March next year. [CBC]

🥅 Senators interim head coach Jacques Martin said this will be his last season coaching an NHL team. He said he’d happily stay on as a part-time consultant for whoever is hired as the permanent coach, should that person want him to. [Ottawa Citizen]

🏌️‍♂️ Signs of spring abound, as the Kevin Haime Golf Centre opened up its practice facility. Spots at the driving range filled up quickly, as it’s the first to open in the city. [CTV]

🦉 The Nature Conservancy of Canada announced the addition of 111 hectares of the Hawkridge and Blue Lake nature reserves to protected land northwest of Kingston. [CTV]

🚂 A new book digs deep into the stories of the people involved in a deadly 1942 train crash and its aftermath in Almonte. In the crash 38 people died and another 150 were injured when a military train crashed into the rear of a passenger train.  [CBC]

🩺 Private health clinics led by nurse practitioners are on the rise across the province, as people struggle to find primary care. Because the practitioners are not charging OHIP, they are able to charge membership fees to access their clinics. [CBC]

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EVENTS

🧑‍🎤 Pique Spring Edition 2024, Friday to Sunday: The music and arts festival celebrating all sorts of artistic modes, from painting to performance art. At Arts Court 67 Nicholas St. Tickets $32.

👩‍🎨 Abstract Sip & Paint, Friday 5:30 pm and 8 pm: Two slots to try your hand at abstract painting, with an artist as your guide. All materials provided. At Drip House, 340B Parkdale Ave. Tickets $39.

🥚 Pysanka Workshop, Sunday 12 pm: Learn how to paint traditional Pysanka. Materials provided, and you can take home your painted egg. In support of the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada. At 1000 Byron Ave. Tickets $44.

☘️ Ottawa Irish Arts St Patrick's Céilí (Dance), Sunday 2 pm: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with traditional Irish music and dancing. At St Brigid's Centre for the Arts, 310 Saint Patrick St. Tickets $17.

🥃 Michter's Limited Production Whiskey Tasting & Food Pairing Dinner, Tuesday 6:30 pm: A delightful guided four-course dinner paired with a Michter whiskey. At Petit Bill's Bistro, 1293 Wellington St. W. Tickets $100.

📚 Book Club Anniversary - Book Swap, Wednesday 6 pm: A book swap hosted by Ottawa Social Girl Club Book Club. Bring a book to swap and meet new people. Includes snacks and half-off a glass of wine. At GBurger, 380 Elgin St. Tickets $12.

🐭 Disney Trivia for Dreams Take Flight, Tuesday 6:30 pm: Test your Disney knowledge in a trivia night to support Dreams Take Flight. In addition to trivia, there will be a silent auction, a photo booth and more. Open to all ages. At Tailgators, 1642 Merivale Rd. Tickets via donation.

🎨 Art Battle Ottawa, Friday 7 pm: Several artists will start with a blank canvas and battle each other through three 20-minute rounds to be declared the winner at the Ottawa Art Gallery. All art will be available by silent auction. Tickets start at $24.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Ottawa’s PWHL team lost 5-2 to Toronto, bringing their season record to 4-0-4-6. [The Canadian Press]

• Coun. Tim Tierney is such a big fan of Nickelback, he got a bold-face tattoo of the band’s name on his forearm — partly in hopes of convincing Bluesfest organizers to bring the band to the festival. [Ottawa Citizen]

• While some flights may seem cheaper these days, be sure to check what additional fees (like baggage and meals) airlines add onto your final bill. [CTV]

• Bad Movie Night has returned to the Ottawa Public Library, where you can watch so-bad-they’re-good(-ish) movies with a crowd. [Ottawa Citizen]

• Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.

OTTAWA GAMES

Congrats to everyone who got last week’s Ottawa Wordle. The answer was BRIAN as in Mulroney, who died last Thursday.

For today’s Ottawa Quiz, we want to know: