Residents raise concerns about plan for Inuit women's shelter in Ottawa's south end
Residents in Ottawa's Hunt Club neighbourhood are raising concerns about plans to build an Inuit women's shelter in the south end neighbourhood.
The proposal would see city-owned land at 250 Forestglade Crescent sold to the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition, which hopes to build a 30-bed supportive housing facility for women and children only.
"Ottawa has the largest Inuit population south of Nunavut and there is a growing need to have a dedicated shelter for Inuit women who are affected by domestic violence," Jessica Bradley, Gloucester-Southgate councillor, said. "I am supportive and Hunt Club Park has a tradition of being a very welcoming community."
However, during a public meeting Tuesday night at the Greenboro Community Centre, many residents voiced concerns about the project.
"I'm concerned about the women coming into the community that does not have a hospital near them, that does not have a grocery store near them," Marina Bossio said.
"What kind of security are we going to have in the neighbourhood? What kind of supervision is there going to be over the site? How are issues going to be dealt with," Bernard Ouellet asked.
Coun. Jessica Bradley speaks to residents at a community meeting about plans to build an Inuit women's shelter on Forestglade Crescent. (Shaun Vardon/CTV News Ottawa)
The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition says the building would be no more than three storeys tall, mirroring a residential building across the street. The CMHC has already approved $8.8 million for construction if the land can be found.
In a letter to constituents, Coun. Bradley said, "This shelter will provide Inuit women and children with a safe, healthy and culturally appropriate place to live. It will give them an opportunity to heal in a welcoming family-oriented neighbourhood with greater access to schools, parks and greenspace."
The goal is to have the building built by 2027.
Ottawa's finance and corporate services committee will discuss the proposed land transfer at its meeting on May 7.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
Singapore Airlines flight hits severe turbulence; 1 passenger dead, 7 critically injured
One passenger was killed and 30 injured after a Singapore Airlines SIAL.SI flight from London hit severe turbulence en route on Tuesday, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, officials and the airline said.
WATCH Why today's inflation numbers are good if you have a mortgage
New inflation data is 'welcome news' for consumers and an economist says it could signal the possibility for a interest rate cut as several core measures also continue to ease.
Conservatives kick off return to House with new call for Speaker Greg Fergus to resign
Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives returned to the House of Commons on Tuesday with a renewed call for Speaker Greg Fergus to resign, this time over 'very partisan' and 'inflammatory' language used to promote an upcoming event.
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Trump campaign calls 'The Apprentice' 'blatantly false,' director offers to screen it for him
Donald Trump's reelection campaign called 'The Apprentice,' a film about the former U.S. president in the 1980s, 'pure fiction' and vowed legal action following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. But director Ali Abbasi is offering to privately screen the film for Trump.
Feels like mid-30s in parts of Canada, while other areas expecting snow
Anything is possible this week, as far as Canada's weather is concerned, with forecasts ranging from scorching heat in some parts of the country to rain and snow in others.
Nestle to sell $5 pizza, sandwiches in the U.S. for Wegovy, Ozempic users
Nestle NESN.S will market a new, US$5 line of frozen pizzas and protein-enriched pastas in the United States which it says it designed specifically for people taking drugs such as Wegovy or Ozempic for weight loss.
How much more Canadian consumers are paying, compared to this time last year
Canada's annual inflation rate slowed to a three-year low of 2.7 per cent in April, matching expectations, and core measures continued to ease, data showed on Tuesday, likely boosting chances of a June interest rate cut.