SNOW!!!
And Christmas decorations in our lobbies and social room.
There won't be outside Christmas lights this year because that was Hassan's job. And we don't have Hassan anymore.
There's a fair bit of December news and then, in January, a new Newsletter writer, with a new format, will take over from me.
Christmas/Holiday Decorations/Supplies Exchange:
Saturday, December 14, In the Lobbies of 195 and 200 from Noon to 3 p.m.
Bring any extra decorations or supplies you have, or come and take whatever you need.
From the last swap we had, I've gathered a couple of boxes of gift wrap, gift bags, cards, tins, and a few decorations. There will be tables set up in the lobby of 200 and 196 to lay items out on.
Winter Holiday Party
Sunday December 15, in the Social Room, 2 - 4 p.m.
A chance to celebrate the season. There will be singing and food, friends and fellowship. Everyone is welcome!
If you have extra holiday treats you'd like to share, please bring them. IPTRA will supply the healthy foods, tea, coffee and juice.
Annual General Meeting Update
The IPTRA AGM was well attended and quite successful. The draft minutes are available here.
The new IPTRA executive is:
Co-President: Kathryn Holman (195) and Bernetta Starkey 195)
Membership Secretary: Ed Ellis (185)
Treasurer: Betty Rogers (200)
Secretary: Marnie Campbell (195)
Online Presence: Shaily Allison (200)
Communications:
Sign design and printing – Bernetta Starkey
Newsletter writing - Leona Gray
Social Director: Linda Danford (185)
Building reps:
- 185 Nancy Hamnes
- 195 Janice Pereira
- 200 Larry Cunningham
The newsletter, starting in January, will be produced by Leona and she has creative ideas to make them more interesting.
Above Guideline Rent Increases
There still has been no LTB hearings scheduled.
A tenant contacted Homestead and received the AGI application and supporting files for 195. With that success, tenants from 185 and 200 also contacted Homestead.
All three applications are now available to be looked at or downloaded from this Google Drive:
185: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zEuJipdBLeKhwIm58Z4exCEmK2Gph12Q?usp=drive_link
195: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wBGsvW4f6B8mF3_SkKVKTsedRPTieccL?usp=drive_link
200: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zivKz1TEFewohuVN7o3s4M-wuBd4fYGQ?usp=drive_link
The L5 document is the application, the remaining documents in each folder are the copies of receipts proving the expenses.
IPTRA will not be leading the AGI fight but will make our mailing list and tables and chairs available to those who want to organize tenants.
Workout Wednesdays:
The workouts continue at 2:30 on Wednesday afternoons but there will be no classes on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. The group has become quite small and I'm worried that we may not continue to receive this service from the Ottawa West Community Support. Personally, I'm finding it very helpful.
For those who would prefer to do an online class, Emily offers one on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons from 1 - 1:45. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register for those classes.
And Emily has posted a large number of videos to her Youtube channel if you are looking for something guided but not a specific class at a specific time. You can find her videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/@emilygooding/videos
Other Regular Events
Our regular cards afternoons, knitting, and meditation groups will continue throughout the month. I haven't checked with each group to see what their Christmas Week days will be like. If you show up and no one is there, you can assume everyone was busy.
The next Churchill's Pub Night is December 12.
I hope you all enjoy the holiday season. Walk and drive carefully!
...Kathryn
The2024 IPTRA AGM will be held on Sunday, November 24, 2024
Social Hour and Memberships sold from 2:00 pm
Meeting starting at 3:15ish pm
Here is the Agenda and reports for the meeting in the
AGM package.
Please note that only IPTRA members can vote at the meeting.
Happy Long Weekend!
I hope you don't miss tomorrow's (June 29th) Barnyard Races and BYOEverything BBQ just because I'm late getting this out!
This will take place on the Patio.
The Barnyard Races start at 4:00 p.m. (a bit later than usual). The BBQ will start around 6:00 p.m.
The weather is not looking great but that doesn't matter, we will just set up in the Social Room if it is raining.
Wednesday, July 3 will be the Brown Bag Lunch in the Social Room
July 11 at 7:00 there will be an interest talk on EV Ownership. If you have been wondering about buying an EV, especially now with charging stations on the property, at least two of the EV owners here at IPT will share their experiences and answer your questions. We'll also have our EVs available for you to look at more closely with no sales pressure!
July 18 Stuff Swap 2:30 - 7:30 in the Social Room. And thanks to those who helped out for June's Swap. I hear it was a big success with only a few boxes of items leftover to be taken to the thrift store.
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES/Groups CONTINUE! All are in the social room
Monday Meditation 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday Euchre 2:00 p.m.
Workout Wednesdays 3:00 p.m.
(new) Friday Games 2:00 p.m.
There is also
Knitting 101 who meet at 6:30 on Monday nights but I don't know if that is going to be weekly over the summer, and there will be
Pub Nights at Churchill's every 3rd week, as well, but again I don't know for sure if they'll continue over the summer. Watch for a sign in the cases in the mail rooms. Or on the calendar at
www.IPTRA.org Apologies to all those who are running activities, I should have chatted with you before dashing off this newsletter, but I have been run off my feet this week and felt it was better to get this off tonight, rather than wait.
The residents at IPT are amazing at identifying an interest and running with it, so there are pop-up groups happening quite frequently. The social room has been a catalyst for a lot of this, having a place to meet up with others seems to be key. If you have an idea for an event or activity, feel free to email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to connect with Lynda who is the IPTRA event coordinator.
I hope you all have a wonderful
Canada Day Weekend, whether you are here at IPT enjoying our great location to see the events (this year there will also be the RCAF aerial parade at 1:00 p.m.) or away, enjoying a summer holiday.
(Addendum)
FOUND CAT: It's a small brown tabby and it was located early this morning in the stairway of 200 Clearview Avenue. No idea if it is male or female but based on its size, it is probably fairly young. It is currently in a safe, quiet area in the building and is being looked after by staff.
PLEASE SHARE if you know anyone who lives in the building and who is looking for their lost cat.
BOOK CORNER News
Attached is the Canada Day & Summer Reading Edition of the Book Corner News.
I forgot to include it in the newsletter last night. The Bookworm wrote this a while back so not all books may be there now.
Here's the introduction:
Being a worm, the past few weeks have involved burrowing in the soil and
celebrating spring with balcony flowers. This included, after reading about
how important pollinators are to the climate’s well-being – and ours – a
further burst of herb-buying to call in the bees, bats, butterflies and other
assorted flying things. Is that why there are so many bugs lurking around
the balcony?
Soil washed off fingers, your friendly Bookworm took a trip to the IPT
Library to search for interesting reads. With July 1 st looming – well, almost –
and the beginning of the holiday season the worm indulged in a Canadian
search for beach, balcony, cottage, dec etc. This includes books to relax
with, whether novel, bio, auto-bio or headliner, plus ideas of a few more
places to visit, courtesy of Lonely Planet. For those of us avoiding the
exorbitant cost of those Lonely Planet destinations – stay home with a
good book!
P.S. The Monday Knitting Group meets every second Monday, So July 8th is the next one!
It seems like I just sent a newsletter and it is time for another one so you don't miss the first two important pieces of notes. ( Here's an unsubscribe button in case you wish to be removed from this mailing list.. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Wednesday Workout will be held in the lobby of 200 for May 29th. There's an event in the social room that should be over by 3 but I don't want to rush the family so Emily suggested we move to a higher visibility location so others can see what we are up to.
Season Opening BYOEverything BBQ is Saturday June 1 starting at 5:30! On the patio between 195 and 185.
Bring your own dinner, drinks, utensils, etc.; this is completely Bring Your Own Everything! (IPTRA isn't supplying anything!)
The intent of the evening is to get to know your neighbors in a welcoming setting.
If you are not comfortable using a barbecue, someone will happily assist you.
End time will be when the bugs drive us away. Last time that was around 7:30.
Brown Bag Lunch On the Patio 12:00 - 1:30 Wednesday, June 5
Drop by with your lunch and have a visit with neighbours while you eat.
Churchill's Pub Nights will be June 6th and 27th starting at 4:30
(at Churchills, 356 Richmond Rd)
We gather at the pub for a drink, possibly dinner, and a chance to visit with neighbours. The group has grown to over a dozen and is a great chance to go out to eat with others.
Stuff Swap is June 20th. 2:30 - 7:30. in the Social Room
This is becoming a rather well attended/used monthly event. We'll keep it up for the time being as the leftovers seldom take up more than the back area of my hatch-back car.
Drop off items you no longer want/need. Pick up items you want/need. Everything is free, leftovers go to a charity shop. You don't have to take anything if you are dropping off and you don't have to bring something if you are picking up stuff. It is truly free, no strings attached.
There was confusion over the May date because May had five Thursdays. The week we have it each month doesn't move around, but you have to count Thursdays from the end of the month, not the beginning. It will always be the second-last Thursday of the month. The logic for that week is 1. if you are moving out, by then you'll know items you may not be taking with you so can bring them down saving yourself a thrift store drop off; and 2. If you have recently moved in, by then you may have a list of things you need and be surprised to find them at the swap. At the very least, you'll meet some other residents. For the rest of us, it helps us with the "one item in"/"one item out" rule of living in a smaller space.
If you have young children and want to identify yourself to IPTRA, we have an idea for a summer event for children so they can have some fun and parents can meet each other. Just send an email back to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we'll mark you on the mailing list if there is interest.
The IPTRA.org website is back up. Apparently thanks to ChatGPT who pointed our webslave to the solution to his problem. I'm obviously not asking ChatGPT to help me with the right tasks, so far it has been useless at doing dishes and other housework!
...Kathryn
April Showers are coming down as I write this but May is promising to bloom into another busy month at Island Park Towers.
Busy enough that this email needs a table of contents:
1 Successful membership drive in April,
2 One-time, weekly, and monthly upcoming events
3 Workout Wednesdays Extended and Videos to do at home!
4. Rent Increase Review, what's happening, an AGI Townhall
5. Change to IPTRA Mandate
1. We had a successful membership drive in April with many new paid members and renewals. Others added their names to our email list and the Facebook group continues to grow. Making sure we've removed those who have moved away is still a work in progress, one I wish AI could do for me, but I'm pleased to report that it looks as though we are connecting with almost half the apartments here at Island Park Towers.
If you are reading this email, you are on our list. If you have moved away, please click here to be removed.
unsubscribe
If you would like to support us through the $10/apartment annual membership, you can do an email e-transfer to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please put your name and apartment number in the memo field.
2. Upcoming Events: All residents are welcome at all events whether or not they are on our email list. Share the news of events with neighbours who may not receive these emails.
One time Events
Thursday May 2: Anti-fraud Seminar, 10:00 in the social room.
As we move into the season of scam calls from the CRA (complete with warrants issued for our arrest...!) please attend the Anti-Fraud Seminar on May 2, at 10:30 in the social room. This will help give you tools to identify and protect yourself from these attempts to defraud you. They can be convincing and very expensive.
While this seminar is aimed for seniors, I'll remind all residents that anyone can be hit by a fraud and to remind everyone to make sure their recovery email account is still active. I've helped out in two cases where a scam has locked someone out of their primary email account and the recovery email account no longer exists or they didn't remember the password for that account. That makes wrestling control of the email address (in order to stop the use of that email address for 'forgot password' resets on other accounts) a much slower, weeks-long process.
Wednesday May 15: Singalong: Theme IPT Residents' Artist Picks 7:00p.m. Social Room
This singalong evening is made up of songs by artists requested by residents who attended previous singalongs or made requests through the Facebook Group.
Here's a Youtube link to the songs on the playset. A pdf of the lyrics will be available from the IPTRA.org website closer to the date of the singalong.
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLakm_xImkQmfTN_LMczlQ_rKl7IXXl1UFRegular Monthly Events:
Wednesday May 1: Brown Bag lunch in the social room at 12p.m.
Thursday May 16: Pub night at Churchills on Richmond Road, starting at 4:30 p.m. Come for a drink or stay for dinner.
Thursday May 23: Stuff Exchange from 2:30 to 7:30. (Location probably the social room but watch for an update, I'm thinking we may go rogue on this one and move it to the lobby of 200.)
And our weekly activities:
Meditation Mondays: 10 a.m. Social room
Tuesday Euchre (and other games at times): 2 p.m. in the social room
Workout Wednesdays: 3 p.m. in the social room
3. Special announcement: Workout Wednesday Funding has been extended indefinitely!
The original funding from Ottawa West Community Support was for 8 weeks. That has been extended indefinitely due to the success of this group (this regular attendee is noticing a distinct increase in mobility.) We can handle up to 20 people so there is plenty of room for you if you'd like to check it out.
Emily Gooding (
https://www.emilygooding.com/) is a wonderful instructor. She also does free 'live' online classes available through her website (they require an email address to register for them.) And she has shared some of her YouTube videos if you can't come to class because you are away or if you want to do her exercises throughout the week. They are listed at the bottom of this email.
4. Rent Increase Update: There is no news about a date for the hearing over the 2023/2024 Above Guideline Increase (AGI) to our rents.
Unfortunately, I've heard from a resident who moved into Island Park Towers in September of 2022, and they have just received notice of a
second above guideline increase for the 2024/2025 year.
In the past, the old owners treated IPT as a single entity and the AGI was spread over all units. Homestead has chosen to split the 3 buildings which will increase the amount of work tenants will have to do in order to fight the increases (we'll have to go through 3 separate applications, looking for false or misleading information justifying the increase.)
For the 2023/24 year, tenants are facing between a 3.9% increase (at 200 Clearview) and 5.5% (at 185 Clearview.)
Now, someone has received their N1 Notice of Rent Increase for the 2024/2025 year indicating that Homestead is applying for another AGI.
The numbers will get confusing as the total increase depends on which building one is in and the month of the annual renewal. All existing tenants when Homestead bought IPT renew on January 1. But those who moved in after January 2022 will have lease renewals corresponding to the month they moved in. So folks within the same building may have different rent increase amounts.
For the particular tenant who alerted me to their 2024/25 increase, they are facing 11% increase in rent over the 2 years, compared to just 5% if Homestead had not applied for Above Guideline Increases.
We are still waiting for the 2023/24 AGI hearings to be scheduled by the Landlord Tenant Board. We now know that even after those hearings are done, we'll be headed back once again to deal with 2024/25 increases.
So what is happening in response to this?A tenant has come forward, hoping to work with others to fight this (not just for their building but hopefully with tenants across all 3 buildings) and is meeting with an outside tenant support group to learn more about the process.
Movement is happening and a meeting will be announced within the next few weeks for anyone willing to attend. The intention is that flyers will be passed around with details.
What is IPTRA doing?
The IPTRA does not do advocacy work, we are a social group focusing on building relationships between tenants to create a supportive and safer community.
That said, because these rent increases are a threat to the sense of security a tenant has, the IPTRA is committed to help tenants who organize to fight the AGI. We will be sending out information on upcoming meetings, have approved organizing posts being made on the IPTRA Facebook group, and have offered the use of our tables and chairs if meetings are happening outside the social room. (Homestead cannot stop the organizing tenants from using either the lobbies or the social room for meetings.) The IPTRA board members are also sharing our previous experience with past AGIs and will connect those who have expressed interest in fighting the rent increases.
What can you do to learn more?
Aside from watching for signage of meetings, if you want to learn more about the AGI hearing process (which has changed since the last time IPT faced a hearing in 2018), there is an
AGI Town Hall on Wednesday, May 1, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. hosted by Jessica Bell, a Toronto area MPP.
Here's the link for more information and to sign up to attend virtually.
https://www.jessicabellmpp.ca/agi_townhallNote: You do not have to join any group to fight your rent increase, you may do so on your own. But joining in with others will make going over the documents a lighter task and give you a chance to share in the cost of legal advice.
5. Revisiting the IPTRA mandate at our autumn Annual General Meeting (AGM)IPTRA's AGM will be in October. This year we'll have a vote at the AGM on the mandate to remain solely a social group.
It is confusing for tenants to have two tenant organizations for one complex. The current provincial government has been attempting to tilt the playing field towards landlord power rather than keeping it level. And the legislation requires tenants to keep landlords accountable, there is no government agency that is overseeing landlords.
As a result, tenants' rights groups strongly encourage rental communities to organize a tenants' association.
Speaking for myself, I love my work with IPTRA and love what it has grown into over the past few years, but I have no interest or energy to add to my role the task of holding Homestead accountable to following the legislation.
On the other hand, there is a need for such work to be done and I do not want to stand in the way of that. It is up to the IPTRA members, not me, to annually review the mandate of the IPTRA, to ensure the group meets the needs of all residents of Island Park Towers.
The task for you is to think about how you see the IPTRA and tenant organization work going forward in the future. Should it remain as it has, with a group of tenants joining forces when needed to do the hard work, and then dissipating and letting IPTRA focus on the fun stuff? Or should the group structure be changed to include the fun stuff as part of formal, permanent, tenants' association?
I'm giving you lots of time to think on these questions as you watch the AGI process require an organized response from tenants.
...Kathryn Holman
New for 2024, the board has decided that at the Annual General Meeting each year, the membership will vote on the question of whether set up a sub committee to respond to Landlord Tenant issues as a proper Tenants' Association would. If that were the case, we'd invite the Tenant group to become part of IPTRA, as opposed to the current practice offering them support but having them work independently from IPTRA. As Daniel Stringer has pointed out, the Landlord Tenant Act expect tenants to organize and 'police' landlords who break the rules. So the government expect tenants to organize
So much happening in April and May.
Keep an eye on the list on the Mailroom bulletin boards and on the posters in the IPTRA glass cases in the mail room.
First the weekly activities, they are currently all ongoing:
Mondays @ 10am: MINDFUL MEDITATION (195 Social Room)
Tuesdays @ 2pm: EUCHRE (195 Social Room)
Wednesdays @ 3pm: WORKOUT WEDNESDAYS (195 Social Room)
In the amazing news department, Ottawa West Community Services has come up with more funding for us to continue to have our Workout Wednesdays beyond May 1. Watch for details.
Events:
Saturday 13th @ 3pm: BARNYARD RACES (195 Social Room) If you haven't been before, drop by to at least witness adults playing. If I wrote out in words what it is, it sounds silly, but what is missing from a description is that this is just good old fashioned childlike fun. Unlike childlike fun, this is made more fun if you bring some quarters to place bets on the races. Hint: I may be wrong but Yellow Cow is not a good bet.
Saturday 13th @ 5pm: HORS D’OEUVRES POT LUCK (195 Social Room) If you prefer more 'adult' socializing, join us for the hors d'oeuvres potluck supper. If we all bring a plate of appetizers, there will be enough to make a meal. The key is to bring something you can eat from a napkin. BYOB as well, although water is available.
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE April 15 - 17 in the lobby:
If your membership is up for renewal or if you wish to pay $10 for 'formal' membership in IPTRA, then drop by your, or any, lobby on the following days from 4 – 5p.m and again from 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Monday April 15, lobby of 200, Betty and Larry
Tuesday April 16, lobby of 185, Nancy and Ron
Wednesday April 17, 195, lobby of Kathryn/Ken and Janice
Even if you do not need/want to donate, this is also a chance to say hello to some of the IPTRA board members, and learn more about IPTRA and what fun other residents are offering (it isn't always board members who run events), offer up suggestions for more events and/or offer up your expertise either for a one time event, or for something recurring.
All IPTRA events are open to all residents. I'm often asked to list the benefits of membership and because any resident is welcomed (and encouraged) to come out to activities, I find it hard to come up with a pat answer. The only tangible benefit is that you may vote at IPTRA meetings (which is usually just at the Annual General Meeting) and serve on the board. The intangible benefit is that you are offering concrete support to the efforts of your neighbours to help residents build friendships within the community and, as a result, make this a more pleasant and safer place to live.
We are not a tenant's association but a social group. That said, we do use our network of resident contacts to help tenants who want to organize to do tenant association work. Sometimes it is connecting people with similar problems with the landlord, other times it is offering our chairs and tables to help organize a response to an Above Guideline Increase, and seed money to start that process.
Stuff Swap and SEWING/CRAFTING EXCHANGE, April 18, from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. (195 Social Room)
The regular monthly stuff swap in on April 18th. If you have something you no longer need/want, drop it off, then peruse the tables to see if there is anything you could give a home to. The idea is to exchange items between neighbours to save things from going to landfill. Items found leftover when a tenant moves out are put into the dumpster as are items left out on the tables in the lobbies (or in the garage.) So this is a chance to redirect items away from that dumpster while freeing up space in your apartment.
At the same time a Sewing/Crafting Exchange: this is a chance for those that sew or do crafts to connect and bring any extras from their stash to exchange with other like minded people. This is usually run quarterly on a weekend but this time Magda has asked that we combine the two in the hopes of identifying more people interested in sewing and crafting. There will be a specific table(s) set up for these items.
We need a volunteer to take the leftovers to the charity shop of their choice. There will be people to help pack and load your vehicle after the event ends at 7:30. If no-one can do it, Homestead will put the leftovers in the dumpster.
Thursday April 25 and @ 4:30 pm: PUB NIGHT (Churchill’s) - residents interested in going out for a drink and/or supper meet at Churchills Pub at 356 Richmond Road for a few hours of socializing. This is an event that recurs every 3 weeks.
Wednesday May 1 @ 12pm: BROWN BAG LUNCH (195 Social Room)
Bring your lunch to the social room and have a chance to get to know some neighbours better while you eat. This is a small group, so not overwhelming if you are new to Island Park Towers and are interested in meeting just a few people at a time.
Thursday May 2nd @ 10:am: ANTI-FRAUD SEMINAR (195 Social Room)
This is approximately 60 - 75 minutes in length (depending on questions asked) and provides information on current scams and how we as seniors can avoid becoming victims. This presentation discusses what the Canadian Anti- Fraud Centre is about, current statistics, open discussion on the following scams, grandparents, CRA scam, Romance, Prize and Lottery, Service Calls ( via phone, computer or door-to-door) and other current scams. Questions will be taken during or following the presentation. It is presented by Tom Cheel, a retired police officer, bank security manager and now volunteer with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Thursday May 16th @ 4:30 pm: PUB NIGHT (Churchill’s)
Other Items of interest:
MURAL MOSAIC We had a lot of people suggest craft projects when asked on Facebook. With that, we would like to
participate in Mural Mosaic. Google
connect.muralmosaic.com online.
How it works is, we will paint a small canvas (15cm x 15cm [6” x 6”]) known as a tile. Packages are identified as brown, blue, chartreuse and so on. That defines main colour of your canvas and you have accent colours to work with as well. Example, if your package is brown and you paint a robin, the red will be an accent.
Photos of the completed tiles are sent in to the project and will be assembled into a larger picture, a mosaic. Your tile will find a home in a picture such as this one.
This project is a travelling exhibit and currently will be displayed in a museum in Toronto. We will approach the National Art Gallery to see if they would put their name on as a host for this project.
Each package will cost $25 and we can only take 10 participants.
Please let us know if you would like to be a part of this project.
Council on Aging Newsletter
Homestead email for rent receipt
If you are like me and haven't filed your income tax yet, and are looking for a rent receipt, this is who you email to get one from Homestead. They respond, usually within a day, which is wonderful for procrastinators like me.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Setting up an IPTRA Green Team subcommittee
A lot of residents have expressed interest in environmental causes and the efforts we can do here at home. The Green Team would be a group of people who are interested in keeping our environmental impact to a minimum. They can choose their own path but ideas that have come to me over the years have been composting (now morphed into helping Homestead implement the city's composting requirements for Multi-unit Residential Properties), promoting reduce and reuse at IPTRA events and taking care of recycling from such events, taking the lead on the Stuff Swaps (which divert from landfill and extend the use of items), setting up Wishful Wednesdays on our FB group to provide a space for tenants to ask if anyone could part with an item they need, and anything else they think of and want to run with.
If this sounds like something you might like to be a part of, please let me know. If you have responded in the past to the request to set up a composting group, please respond again since that was long enough ago that many people may have left. In my mind, the main purpose of this group would be a more timely implementation of things people are interested in.
Book Corner
Our resident book worm's latest library and reading observations is attached.
Phew! Congrats to getting to the end of this newsletter!
...Kathryn
Sing-a-long songsheets: http://iptra.org/images/2024-03-19-Shamrock-and-Sea-Shanties--20240318-1400z.pdf
March has turned into a very busy month here at Island Park Towers.
First, the weekly events, all the social room:
Meditation Monday (at 10 a.m.)
Euchre Tuesdays (at 2 p.m.)
And introducing.....
Workout Wednesdays (at 3 p.m.) starting March 6 and running each Wednesday until April 24th.
This 45-minute class is designed to be safe and beneficial for all bodies. In this class, you will not only participate in a great workout, but you will learn more about how your body works and moves. The class takes place primarily in a chair, but participants are welcome to stand if they would like to. This class will cover various aspects of movement, including, but not limited to:
Breathwork and Mindfulness
Mobility and Flexibility
Strength and Resistance Training
Balance and Coordination
Fall Prevention
It comes to us courtesy of the Ottawa West Community Services, which had extra funding in its budget for an on-site exercise program. A call came out of the blue and this has come together really quickly. Allan from OWCS arranged for Emily Gooding to lead the program.
Emily is a Movement Coach who works with individuals and groups to improve their way they move, enabling them to enjoy life with greater freedom and fewer limitations. Her approach involves exploration and collaboration with clients to find realistic and sustainable solutions that fit within their lives. As a former Registered Nurse, Emily has experience working with individuals with pain, injuries, and movement restrictions.
In addition to those weekly events, there is also:
March 6: Brown Bag Lunch 12:00 (bring your lunch down to the social room and visit while you eat.)
March 14: Pub Night at Churchill's Pub on Richmond Road, starting at 4:30.
March 19: Shamrocks and Sea Shanties Sing-A-Long evening, starting at 7 p.m. in the Social Room
This is the second of our sing-a-long evenings. We belted out the Woodstock era tunes in January, now let's lubricate our voices and work on some Irish Music and Sea Shanties!
March 22: The monthly Stuff Swap in the social room, from 2:30 to 7:30. Drop off items you no longer want/need and pick-up any items you want/need. Items leftover at the end will hopefully be picked up by someone willing to take them to a thrift store. This is not technically an IPTRA event, Homestead should be setting up the tables and cleaning up anything left behind.
Re: the Above Guideline Increase (AGI)
Dan Stringer of the IPT TENANTS' association is having a meeting on March 6th at 7 p.m. in apartment 423 - 195 Clearview.
You may have seen the flyer he dropped off at each apartment.
IPTRA is a residents' association and we are involved in building relationships between residents here at Island Park Towers. We are now incredibly active, in part because we have a space in which to hold events, part because a number of very dedicated members have stepped up to run events and part because, as an identified by StatsCan NORC (naturally occurring retirement community with over 30% older adults) we are starting to be offered programs and activities by city services, in addition to programs and speakers we have invited in on our own.
IPTRA does NOT do advocacy work on behalf of the tenants. We are a social group only. If there is an issue that tenants feel strongly about that involves advocacy, we will help tenants organize in response by advertising their efforts and loaning chairs and tables for meetings but we do not do the work ourselves.
The Landlord Tenant Act is set up to create an adversarial relationship between tenants and landlords. This creates the situation where it is up to the tenants to report landlords who do not follow the rules set out in the LTA and to challenge Above Guideline Increases in rent.
It is important that rental communities have a Tenants’ Association that does advocacy for the tenants. Daniel Stringer leads the IPT TENANTS’ Association (IPTTA) and has represented tenants at AGI hearings over the years.
The IPTTA does not meet regularly but comes together when there is a need. Dan likens it to a Warrior class, if there is no threat, they don’t meet, if there is a threat, they rise up.
The AGI we are facing is cause for the group to get busy to prepare. None of us knows when the LTB will schedule a hearing, but we do know that there will be a tremendous amount of work to be done by volunteers in a short period of time once the hearing date is set. While it is possible for any tenant to individually object to the AGI, it is better for tenants to join together in their objection.
The meeting on March 6th will be the first organizing meeting. IPTRA has been blessed over the past few years by so many active, competent, and motivated tenants who moved in over the pandemic and enriched our community; I'm hoping some of the new tenants will also step up and serve the community at the AGI bringing their areas of expertise. Daniel's meeting is the first opportunity to meet others and organize so if you are interested in objecting to the rent increase, please consider going or emailing Dan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in order to offer to help.
This makes March 6th a busy day with the Brown Bag Lunch, the first Wednesday Workout and Dan's Tenants' Association meeting in the evening. But that is a sign of how vibrant the community is here at Island Park Towers.
Another example of that vibrancy is the
linked second Book Corner News by our IPT Book Worm, highlighting the reading activities both here from our library and in the Westboro Community.
Finally, a "save the date" note. On
May 2nd there will be a Fraud Prevention Seminar (10 a.m. in the social room) to provide information on current scams and how we as seniors can avoid becoming victims. This presentation discusses what the Canadian Anti- Fraud Centre is about, current statistics, open discussion on the following scams, grandparents, CRA scam, Romance, Prize and Lottery, Service Calls ( via phone, computer or door-to-door) and other current scams. Questions can be taken during or following the presentation. It will last around 90 minutes (depending on the questions.)
I know that date is far in the future but this is important and if one can avoid booking lunch dates or medical appointments on that day, one can avoid being disappointed about missing the seminar. Hence, "save the date" if this is something you think you can benefit from attending.
A quick reminder:
This weekend is Barnyard Races! Saturday February 17th at 3pm in the social room in 195.
Back by popular demand, come join in the fun while 2 cows, a horse, a sheep, a donkey, and a goat (all toys) race each other, their speed determined by a throw of die.
Bring quarters if you want a place a very small bet to make the race a bit more exciting. All the proceeds are distributed back to the winners, this is not a fundraiser, it is a FUN raiser.
A second event follows at 5, an hors d'oeuvres potluck. I have no idea if that is the right spelling, I copy/pasted from Bernetta's note. I usually use the expression finger foods. Or appetizers. Regardless, bring a plate of something that can be consumed from a napkin! Ken reports after 2 conference receptions this week, that yes, this will make a full meal (but without all the bother of plates and cutlery and without the ton of leftover food of a traditional pot luck.) Please bring a beverage of choice.
You can attend one and not the other as your schedule (or interests) allow, but both promise to be a fun time with your neighbours.
Thursday, Feb 22 will be the first of the monthly Homestead stuff exchanges. It will run from afternoon into the evening, so those who work outside the home can still drop by to check out what is being shared by their neighbours.
I don't have exact times for this, yet. Look for a sign in the Homestead notice boxes by the elevator or in the IPTRA notice box in the mail room.
This will work just like the ones IPTRA held, drop off your stuff that you no longer want. All items are offered at no charge.
After the end time, any leftovers will be gathered up to be donated. If you are associated with a charity/need, please come by in the early evening to help pack up things to take to your group. Anything leftover will be put in the dumpster by Homestead staff.
While this sounds harsh, that is what happens to any item that is left out on a table or ledge for others. Homestead removed our sharing shelves in the garage over a year ago but residents have been leaving things out as they used to and the majority of the time, these items are disposed of by staff. For that matter, previous IPT staff also were disposing of items from the sharing shelves, they just weren't quite as quick to get items into the garbage (they would leave things out for a few hours.)
It is Homestead's hope that residents will save up their things to share if they know there will be a monthly event, and thus less will be left around, and more will be taken by others.
Also Feb 22, Pub Night at Churchills, 356 Richmond Road, starting at 4:30. It is a chance to come out for a pint and a relaxed visit with neighbours. Many of us stick around and enjoy the Thursday Night special of Fish and Chips but even if you can just drop by for one drink, we'd love to see you.
(Note this happens every 3rd week, so if you can't come next week, there are other chances.)
Finally, one of the residents is an enthusiastic book worm and has started a "Book Corner" column to describe what's available in the residents' library in the social room.
The first installment is linked here. They spent quite a bit of time pouring through what is there and have a large number of recommendations.
As I write this, I'm looking at the storm out my windows and thankful I won't have to be shoveling in the morning! Life is good here at Island Park Towers!
January 25: There's a change, the Evening with a Designer has been postponed.
Instead, drop by for an Old-time Board Games Night (not to be confused with the board games young adults play.) In the social room, starting at 7 p.m.
There will be Parcheesi, Scrabble, Careers, Clue, Chinese Checkers, and whatever you bring to the mix. We can also set up a table if a jigsaw puzzle is more to your liking.
January 27: Saturday, 2:30 - 5 p.m. Fabric Exchange/De-stash Clean out material you won't be using, or pick up something new to work with. Everyone is welcome. Please bring your fabrics and crafting materials. There will be a scrap table and a notions table (buttons, zippers, patterns, yarn, etc...) Please bring your items between 2 and 2:30 to set them up. Leftover Fabric etc. will be donated to IWSO
February 1, Thursday, 4:30 p.m. Pub Night at Churchill's Pub on Richmond Rd.
February 7, Wednesday, 12:00 Brown Bag Lunch Drop by the social room with your lunch for a chance to have some socialization with your meal.
February 10 Saturday, 1 - 3:30 p.m. Westboro Beach Winter Carnival (Not an IPTRA Event but supported by volunteers from the buildings.) Held on the Selby Plain (Churchill and Selby) and there will be chili and a bonfire to roast marshmallows over to keep you warm while joining in with the family activities. More details are at:
February 17th, in the social room at 195 3 - 5:00 ish The Barnyard Races Are Back!
Come join in the fun while 2 cows, a horse, a sheep, a donkey, and a goat (all toys) race each other, their speed determined by a throw of die. Bring quarters if you want a place a very small bet to make the race a bit more exciting. All the proceeds are distributed back to the winners, this is not a fundraiser, it is a FUN raiser.
Also February 17th 5:00ish - whenever Appetizer Pot Luck in the social room.
Rather than a full pot luck dinner, we're going to tray making a meal of appetizers. Join us by sharing a plate of appetizers. In this case, the definition of an appetizer is anything that can be eaten off a napkin with fingers.
This reduces the amount of plates and cutlery we'll be putting into the garbage and should reduce the number of leftovers (a problem with pot luck dinners.)
Those who have experienced this form of potluck at other social groups report that there will be enough food to make a meal and offers more variety.
February 22: Stuff Exchange. This will be organized by Homestead and we'll have signs with the hours after working out the details. It is the same as our usual stuff exchanges, except that it will be the first of the monthly ones and by offering it during the week, afternoon and evening, hopefully more tenants will be able to participate and we can divert more from landfill.
Remember, aside from these stuff exchanges, anything left out on the tables or in the garage by tenants is picked up by staff and put in the garbage unless another tenant takes it first. So if your goal is to share an item with life left in it, please wait for the stuff exchanges.
In other news:
With the warmer weather coming up this weekend, it is anticipated that the snow bears in the woods will be making an appearance. Perhaps even with a groomed walking path so we can wander through to see them.
We are wondering if there is a make-up consultant resident here who would be interested in doing an afternoon session of make-up for the mature woman? If you are interested in offering something like this, please let me know.
The sing-along evening was a great success. The next one will be in March (date to be decided) with Irish music as the theme. If you play an instrument, consider joining in the fun.
Finally, there is a resident asking if there is anyone in the buildings who knits or crochets for others. Again, let me know so I can connect you.
Grab a cup of tea or coffee and catch up with what's happening around Island Park Towers.
(All events in the social room at 195 unless otherwise noted.)
WEDNESDAY January 17 Woodstock Plus Revisited Sing-along. Starting at 7 p.m.
I had the day of the week wrong in the last newsletter but the date was correct. The songs have been picked and if you want to print off your own copy of the words, or to load them on a tablet to bring with you (and save paper), here's a link to the list and lyrics.
https://iptra.org/images/2024-01-17-Woodstock-songsheets.pdfIt is 5 pages if you print double sided.
If you need a printed copy and don't have a printer, please email Events@
IPTRA.org and we'll print off a copy for you.
We'll have the kettle on, the coffee maker too, as well as tap water but if you prefer a different liquid refreshment to help you sing, feel free to bring it along. There will be an intermission after the first 10 songs so people can stretch their legs and refill their cups.
Remember, this isn't a performance, it is a sing-along but don't be self conscious of your voice, when people gather in groups to sing, the stronger voices help moderate the weaker. So please come, and please join in the singing, it is very good for mental health.
January 25, Thursday, 7 p.m.: An Evening with Carol: the Designer.
This will be a chance to listen to design ideas for small apartments.
January 27: Saturday, 2:30 - 5 p.m. Fabric Exchange/De-stash Clean out material you won't be using, or pick up something new to work with. Everyone is welcome. Please bring your fabrics and crafting materials. There will be a scrap table and a notions table (buttons, zippers, patterns, yarn, etc...) Please bring your items between 2 and 2:30 to set them up. Leftover Fabric etc. will be donated to IWSO
February 1, Thursday, 4:30 p.m. Pub Night at Churchill's Pub on Richmond Rd.
We had a group of 10 last week, including 2 new tenants who came by to meet neighbours!
February 7, Wednesday, 12:00 Brown Bag Lunch
Drop by the social room with your lunch for a chance to have some socialization with your meal.
February 17th, in the social room at 195
3 - 4:30ish The Barnyard Races Are Back!
Come join in the fun while 2 cows, a horse, a sheep, a donkey, and a goat (all toys) race each other, their speed determined by a throw of die.
Bring quarters if you want a place a very small bet to make the race a bit more exciting. All the proceeds are distributed back to the winners, this is not a fundraiser, it is a FUN raiser.
5:00ish - whenever Pot Luck Dinner
Usually we follow the races with a Bring Your Own BBQ but, being winter and there being no BBQ's we decided to listen to those who have been asking for a pot luck dinner and hold one!
More details will follow. At church, I was taught the adage that if everyone brought main courses we'd eat like kings and if everyone brought a dessert, bonus! But those of less faith are hoping to balance out the mains and the desserts and making sure we have vegetables as well, so an easy method to do this is being worked out.
February 22, Thursday, Stuff Exchange (afternoon & evening)
Homestead is very supportive of things being exchanged between tenants (at no charge) to avoid landfill but they do not want items left randomly on tables or in the garage. As a staff member walks by they are to pick up the left items and take them to the garbage. So when you see something has gone, it is more likely that it has been put in the dumpster than another tenant having picked it up.
As a result, Hassan and I agreed that from now on, there will be a monthly exchange on the Thursday that falls in the third week of the month. IPT staff will set up the tables, Tenants can drop things off to be given away, At the end of the evening, the items leftover will be either taken by a volunteer to be donated to charity OR staff will throw items into the garbage.
If you have a particular charity that you donate to (a church rummage sale, a charity shop, a refugee settlement group) please let me know so that we can salvage as much of the extras as possible.
This past Saturday, there was more than a car load leftover, and taken to St. Vincent de Paul. So this will be a trial run for a few months to see if we can share amongst each other without creating too much work for volunteers.
Don't forget our weekly Meditation Mondays (10:00 a.m.) and Euchre Tuesdays (2:00 p.m.) and to keep an eye on the list of events posted in the mail room (or by the elevator depending on the building).
If you have an idea for an event, please email events@IPTRA.org to pass it along to Linda, our Events Guru.
WBCA Carnival New Date: Ottawa ended Jan 6 with a trace of snow on the ground. As of the end of yesterday, there was 23cm of snow on the ground and 35 cm had fallen over that time.
But at the last Westboro Beach Community Association board meeting, there still wasn't much snow on the ground and they didn't have faith in the forecast, so
Saturday, February 10th is the new date for the WBCA Winter Carnival. It will be from 1:00 - 3:30p.m. on the Selby Plain (Churchill and Selby) and there will be chili and a bonfire to roast marshmallows over to keep you warm while joining in with the family activities. More details are at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1075921560225256/
In other WBCA news, they will be setting up a community garden this year and are looking for volunteers to help tend it, and volunteers to start seedlings for it. They will have all the tools needed for tending the garden so if you are interested in volunteering, please let me know.
If you are headed south, I wish you safe travels. If you are staying here, I hope to see you at some of our events.
...Kathryn Holman
The wind is blowing hard tonight, reminding me that winter is coming.
Thankfully, there's plenty to keep us busy coming up this month and next.
First: Update on last Saturday's Stuff Exchange: thanks to everyone who helped set up, those who donated and an even bigger thanks for those who picked up items and gave them new homes. We all miss the sharing shelves, but it is fun to 'shop' from tables full of giveaway items. This past one was in the lobby of 200 and we had at least 2x as many people donate and help themselves.
We hope to offer these Stuff Exchanges every 2 months making the next one some time in January.
Secondly: Communications. We are making progress with this as there is a lot to communicate these days. Bernetta is now making us lovely posters for the IPTRA mail room notice boards. As well, on the non-glass covered notice board you'll find a "Just the Facts" listing of upcoming events. We are also working on making sure the information on IPTRA.org is current. It also serves as a repository for meeting minutes, tips for new residents, and there is a classified ad section.
Thirdly: The draft minutes to IPTRA's Annual General Meeting from October are attached to this email (and will be posted soon on IPTRA.org)
Upcoming Events
Weekly we have the
Monday Meditation Group at 10 and the
Tuesday Euchre at 2 p.m. Both are in the social room in 195.
Wednesday,
November 29, Fire Safety Presentation, 11 a.m. in the social room.
Thursday, November 30, Pub Night at Churchills starting at 4:30. This is a chance for you to meet up with neighbours and enjoy a drink while visiting.
Monday, December 4, 7 p.m Christmas Tree Decorating in the lobbies. Everyone Welcome
Wednesday. December 6, 12p.m. Brown Bag Lunch in the social room. Come on over with your lunch and have a visit while you eat. Drop in when your lunch hour begins, we'll be there until well after 1 p.m. If you work from home, it is the perfect chance to get a break from your computer for a little bit.
Sunday December 10 (Time to be determined): Santa Claus parade through the community collecting donations for the local food bank. Last year there was an excellent turnout of neighbours there to wave to Santa and help out his elves. The parade route goes right by our buildings.
Sunday December 17, 2 - 4 p.m. Winter Holiday Party in the social room. This is our annual winter party. It is a chance to get together and enjoy the decorations, the company of neighbours, some party food and some holiday songs. IPTRA will supply the healthy snacks and drinks. If you have Christmas baking or sweets you'd like to share, please bring them along.
Phew! That's enough for today but we have some plans for a weekly week night activities in January to help banish the post-holiday blues and battle the dark and cold.
...Kathryn Holman
President
I thought November would be quiet, but nope, not happening! Too many people have too many good ideas and keep organizing stuff.
TOMORROW (November 6): Mindful Meditation from 10 - 10:45 in the social room.
How it works:
- gather at 10
- welcome and introductions
- mindfulness meditation theme for the day
- brief discussion on the meditation
This session (and future ones if there is interest) are free.
Thursday November 9th: Meet at the Pub 4:30 at Churchills, 365 Richmond Road
A chance to gather with neigbours for a beverage, conversation, and laughs. (Note we try to have these every 3 weeks.)
Wednesday November 29th: Fire Safety talk with the Fire Marshall, 11:00 in the social room
A chance for a refresher on apartment fire safety.
Looking ahead, save the date for the Winter Holiday Party will be December 17 from 2 - 4 p.m. in the social room. The generic name is just to make sure everyone knows everyone is welcome whether or not you celebrate Christmas but there will be Christmas carol singing and figgy pudding as well as socializing.
And tentatively, if I can get permission from Homestead and help setting up from some residents, we'll do another Stuff Exchange, this time in the lobby of 200 on November 18th. Confirmation will either be by email or on the bulletin boards in the mail room.
And of course the Tuesday Euchre from 2 - 4 in the social room
For those asking to renew their IPTRA membership, you can now do an Interac email transfer of the $10 to finance@IPTRA.org. In the memo section, please note your apartment number and name. Of course, you can always hand me cash in the elevator but this is a more reliable method for the treasurer and membership secretary!
The minutes from the Annual General Meeting will be sent out shortly. In the meantime, here is the composition of the new board (pretty similar to the old board, except for the addition of Larry Cunningham as a rep for 200.)
Membership Secretary: Ed Ellis (185)
Treasurer: Betty Rogers (200)
Secretary: Marnie Campbell (195)
Online Presence: Shaily Allison (200)
Social Director: Linda Danford (185)
Building reps:
- 185 Nancy Hamnes
- 195 Janice Pereira
- 200 Larry Cunningham
Members at Large:
- Ronald Lemieux (185) assisting with membership
- Ken Holman (195) assisting with online presence
The board is also well supported by residents who come out to help with assorted activities. A lot of things happen when someone has an idea and runs with it, for instance, yesterday's successful Craft Fair. All this helps make this a wonderful community to live in.
....Kathryn Holman (Stil president.)
2023-10-AGM-IPTRA.pdf - 14 pages - last updated 2023-10-13 21:50
2022 AGM Minutes Package.pdf - 8 pages - last updated 2023-02-27
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