Larry O’Brien

Today, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS), who will be releasing full crime statistics for the year 2009 next week, announced that Ottawa remains one of the safest cities in Canada. OPS has outlined some of the highlights from their upcoming report and I am delighted with the progress that is being made.

The City experienced a significant decline in the number of non-traffic criminal code offences, violent crimes, abductions, and property crimes in 2009. In addition, there were fewer break and enters, less fraud, and less mischief-related offences.

I would like to congratulate Police Chief Vern White and the entire Ottawa Police Service for their dedication, hard work, and results. Thanks in part to their efforts, the nation,s capital has become the most livable city in Canada.

Dear Friends,

On Sunday, June 20th, I will be participating in the Alterna Do It For Dad Family Run and Walk. The goal of this annual event is to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer, as well as raising funds for life-saving research being undertaken by the Ottawa Cancer Society. According to the latest reports from Cancer Care Ontario, prostate and colectoral cancers are the leading causes of cancer dealths in our province.

I have great confidence in our ability as citizens of this great city to make a real difference in the fight against cancer. MoneySense magazine recently named Ottawa as the best place to live, work, play, and raise a family in Canada. It is no accident that Ottawa has received this honour. We are caring, compassionate, and we are a community that can make a real difference in the lives of those who have been impacted by cancer. We can win and we will win against Cancer, one victory at a time.

Please join me in supporting the Alterna Do It For Dad Run and Walk. To date, in the past 11 years, the run has raised more than $1.6 million dollars. I have set a goal to raise at least $1,000 for cancer research as part of Alterna’s VIP team. Please participate and donate the crucial funds needed to assist the Cancer Foundation in reaching its goal this year. Please visit the web site by clicking on the link below and lend your support to the fight against men’s cancer.

Do it for our friends. Do it for our brothers. Do it for Dad.

http://ottawacancer.akaraisin.com/Pledge/Participant/Home.aspx?seid=3058&pid=258955&mid=9

On Thursday May 20th and Friday May 21st 2010, I will be attending the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) Building the Broadband Economy Summit in New York City, NY. There, the leaders of the Intelligent Community Forum’s Top Seven Intelligent Communities of 2010 will share their successes, and discuss how they will continue to create new businesses and retain the talent that powers their local economies.

I will be accompanied by my colleagues Councillors Marianne Wilkinson and Steve Desroches.

On Friday May 21st, the ICF will name the 2010 Intelligent Community of the Year. Ottawa was named a finalist among the Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year in January after a rigorous judging process based on analysis of nominations.

Additional information on the Summit can be found at: http://www.intelligentcommunity.org/

On behalf of the City of Ottawa, I want to express my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Maynard McEwen, Mechanical Officer with the Ottawa Fire Services. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Geraldine, his daughters Christine and Kimberly, and all his loved ones during this very difficult time.

Mr. McEwen’s dedication to the Ottawa Fire Services, and the entire City of Ottawa, will not be forgotten.