BCA Newsletter February 2026

February 2026 News

BCA Bites

The “Hamlet Dancing” sculpture at the corner of Innes and Bearbrook was installed by the BCA in 2018. “Hamlet Dancing” is a light and free group dancing through the hamlet together. They are wrapped up in each other and the experience they are having. A family is dancing across the hillside in the beautiful sunshine not a care in the world. Arm in arm a group kicks back before enjoying the wild outdoors. They are feeling a sense of joy as they share this adventure across the Hamlet. It’s a simple day away in the outdoors. This is a clean contemporary piece that invites multiple takes‐opinions‐perspectives and can be appreciated up close or from great distance.

Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch Blackburn Hamlet

Happy New Year Blackburn with the first Neighbourhood Watch (NW) update of 2026. The Crime Map from Ottawa Police below shows reported crimes in the Hamlet between the dates in the subject line above.

1 STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLE

Overnight Jan 26-27 Near Orient Park Dr & Kelden Cres.

1 BREAK, ENTER & THEFT

Overnight Jan 18 Near Beechmont Cres (West End) & Eastpark Dr.

3 MISCHIEF UNDER $5000 (damage to property)

Evening Jan 21 - Compata Way
Afternoon Jan 14 - Innes & Orient Park Dr.
Overnight Jan 18 - Autumn Hill Cr (East End) & Orient Park Drive

Once again, I remind all to report any crime or attempted crime to Ottawa Police, so we who are engaged in crime prevention can all work with OPS to lower crime rates. Reporting can be done by phone or on line. If you see suspicious or unusual vehicles and persons on your street, that really don't belong, take note of these, and if unsure, call the non emergency line at the Ottawa Police. This includes any canvassers coming to your door who don't appear legitimate (often break ins occur after suspects ring doorbells or knock to see if anyone is home, and have a story for the homeowner who opens the door - if these people appear suspicious, you can also report to Ottawa Police or your Block Captain). For high end motor vehicles in driveways, consider parking overnight in garages, or blocked in with another vehicle behind. And use of a steering wheel club can deter 'would-be' thieves. Always lock car doors, and residence and shed access points. LASTLY, know your neighbours and watch out for each other!

Crime Stats January 2026

Next week, the coordinators will be meeting with Ottawa Police Service (OPS) as we prepare to launch a revitalized approach to Community Policing and a District Model in 2027. We are invested in learning how we can work together in the areas of upstream prevention, risk intervention, incident response, and what neighbourhood policing should look like in the communities that you also support through your work- with a goal to strengthen collaborations. To move this vision forward, we’re shifting to a service-wide community policing approach and implementing part of it through the District Model. This includes working together to help mitigate and prevent shared social and justice issues by supporting people, families, and neighbourhoods so they can thrive.

Some good news from our Partners at the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre (CAFC), which resulted from a report by a business to the CAFC. This shows the importance of reporting any crime like this through computers or phones to the CAFC, as well as Ottawa Police. News Release: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and US Secret Service freeze $1.7M fraudulent transfer.

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We have approximately 250 Blackburn Hamlet residents who have signed up for Neighbourhood Watch notifications and are always looking to increase the membership. You can become a member by completing the form at blackburnhamlet.ca/our-work/safety/neighbourhood-watch/.

Seniors Breakfast

Blackburn Seniors Breakfast

When: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 9:00 AM

Where: Halibut House, 2672 Innes Road in Blackburn Hamlet

Blackburn Seniors (55+) are invited to gather for a great meal, wonderful conversation and lots of laughs. As usual, we will collect at the breakfast non-perishable goods or cash donations for the Life Centre Food Bank.

If you wish to attend, please call Shirley at 613-841-7691 by February 2nd. This has become a popular event and space is limited.

BCA Virtual Board Meeting

Virtual Board Meeting

The February 19 BCA Board meetings will be held using Zoom. If you would like to join the call, please send an email to secretary@blackburnhamlet.ca.

Discovery Café

Discovery Café-- The Future of Wireless Communications Networks: A Foresight towards 2050 – Dr. Halim Yanikomeroglu

When: Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Where: Blackburn Community Hall, 190 Glen Park Drive

Mobile communications and the Internet are among the two revolutionary technological achievements of the 20th century, with transformative impacts on our lives and society. With one-quarter of the 21st century behind us, the two paradigms with separate origins have become tightly intertwined. Most people access the Internet through their mobile devices most of the time. Today, Internet access implicitly means mobile Internet, making connectivity essential everywhere. The immersed connectivity of humans, robots, and all sorts of devices is expected to become part of our natural lives; as such, ubiquitous connectivity is required.

The humanity will demonstrate its full potential in every dimension (economic prosperity, wellbeing, equal opportunity, environmental, and more), when the communities get access to ultra-high-speed connectivity in a sustainable, reliable, resilient, intelligent, green/clean/eco-friendly, secure, ubiquitous, and affordable manner.

Towards that end, in this seminar, we will explore how wireless networks are expected to evolve towards 2050 with terrestrial and non-terrestrial (space and near-space/stratosphere) segments.

Dr. Halim Yanikomeroglu is a Chancellor’s Professor at Carleton University, Canada, and the Founding Director of Carleton-NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) Lab. For Dr. Yanikomeroglu`s complete biography, please visit the BCA webpage at blackburnhamlet.ca/260226.

Admission is free, people of all ages are welcome, and refreshments will be served.

Hope to see you there!

Seniors Lunch @ Portugalos

When: Friday, February 27, 2026 at Noon

Where: Portugalos Restaurant 2A-110 Bearbrook Road

Blackburn Seniors (55+) are invited to gather for a great lunch and wonderful conversations with other Seniors.

To help our friends at Portugalos prepare, please RSVP to Shirley at 613-841-7691 by February 25th.

Hope to see you there!

Games and Goodies

Board Games

When: Saturday, February 28, 2026 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Where: Blackburn Community Hall 190 Glen Park Drive

Kids, youth and their parents are invited to join us at the hall where there will be a variety of board games available to play, as well as a few video games! Refreshments will be provided.