BCA Newsletter April 2026

April 2026 News

BCA Bites

The original BCA Logo was sewn in fabric and was initially used by the Blackburn Hornets! Alan B. Beddoe wrote the following concerning the meaning of the elements in the logo design: The black wavy diagonal stripe edged with white is a symbol for a stream of running water, the word “burn” being an Old Country term for a brook or stream. Naturally, this “burn” is black in colour, for Blackburn. The hornets or wasps (bees) as well as the black wavy stripe are derived from the Arms of Blackburn, Lancashire, England. The bees are an emblem of skill, perseverance and industriousness and may, in our badge, be regarded as an indication of the ambition of the members of the Blackburn Community Club to express these qualities not only as participants in sports but as spectator-supporters. Colours are red, white and black.

BCA 2026 Board

The Blackburn Community Association is pleased to announce the results from this year’s Annual General Meeting elections. All existing board members are returning for the 2026-2027 year and our updated not-for-profit purpose statement was unanimously approved!

Last year was a very busy year for the BCA, where we held a record setting 70 events, maintained three outdoor rinks, raised funds for local groups, CHEO, Ottawa Hospital and the Snowsuit fund, enhanced our Neighbourhood Watch program, worked with CRA to catch up on our GST rebates, managed the hall bookings, published 5 BANAR and 12 eNewsletter editions, maintained the BCA showcase in the Arena, improved the entrance and four corners gardens and a whole lot more.

All of this work is made possible thanks to grants from the City of Ottawa and The Friends of the Mer Bleue and help from a vast array of amazing volunteers. We look forward to continuing our work throughout 2026.

BCA 2026 Board Members Back row: Miriam Hampson, Barbara Whittaker, Nina Ryan, Jeff Miller, Shirley Sheppard, Lynn Lefevre, Satinder Sahota, David Purchase, Brent Lawrie. Front Row: Steve Vesely, Kyle Humphrey, Mélanie Mathieu, Lisa Margeson, Camille-Emmanuelle Purchase, Tammy Bedard. Missing: Don Kelly, Robert Long, Jaclyn O’Shaughnessy (BANAR), Cynthia Hoisak (Garden Tour) and Mark Lister (Rinks)

Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch Blackburn Hamlet

The March 2026 Ottawa Police Crime Map shows the following reported incidents:

Theft Under $5000 (2)
Assault (2)

OPS Crome Map 2026

March was Fraud Prevention Month for Ottawa Police, who shared many good tips for residents. These can be viewed on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website. We cannot stress the importance of educating yourself on the scams and attempted frauds perpetrated on line through your computers, home phones, or through devices (cell phones). Another great new government tool with tips can be found at CyberChoices.ca. Being aware of these is the first step in not becoming a victim.

While keeping watch on your streets for suspicious vehicles or suspicious canvassers, don't forget that security cameras are an excellent tool to assist police and make the community safer. These also deter criminals from committing crime on your property. CAMSAFE is a voluntary registry where residents and businesses can provide their contact details and indicate their willingness to share recorded security footage with police when needed.

Bicycles will be coming out soon and everyone should have a lock of some kind to secure it when not being ridden. We also recommend that all bicycles be registered at Project 529 Garage so that police can locate the owners when they recover stolen bicycles.

Vehicle Theft Prevention: Park in a locked garage if possible. Use steering wheel locks, anti-theft devices, or "Air Tags" for tracking. Never leave your car running unattended and always lock your car doors.

Residential Security: Lock all doors and windows, even when home, and secure your garage. Ensure exterior lights are working.

Fraud Prevention: Be wary of distraction thefts (e.g., taxi scams or impersonators). Do not provide personal information in person, online, or over the phone.

Report all crime or attempted crimes to the Ottawa Police.

If you have not joined Neighbourhood Watch, please go to this link within the Blackburn Community Association website under "Safety" (blackburnhamlet.ca/our-work/safety/neighbourhood-watch/), complete the form and submit. You will be added to the email distribution list through an assigned Block Captain.

Awareness is the first step in personal Crime Prevention.

Seniors Events

Breakfast

When: Wednesday, April 1, 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 March 30. This has become a popular event and space is limited.

"Hi!" Tea and Bingo

When: Sunday, April 19, 2026, Noon to 2:00 PM

Where: Blackburn Community Hall, 190 Glen Park Drive

Seniors are asked to bring sandwiches/sweets and their favourite tea cup or mug. There will be various prizes for the best hat and for Bingo.

Walk & Talk

When: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 1:00 PM

Where: Bearbrook Road entrance to Isaiah Scharfe Park, at the crosswalk.

We will be doing a 2 km and a 3 km circuit. Come and join us for one of the circuits, or both! Pets, kids, friends and family are all welcome to join us. Please check the BCA facebook group and look for posters in the neighborhood closer to the dates of the walks for additional information.

Youth Events

Kids Bingo

When: Friday, April 3, 2026 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Where: Blackburn Community Hall, 190 Glen Park Drive

Ages: 7 to 17

Bring your kids to the Community Hall for Kids bingo! There will be prizes for winners. Kids 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Youth Pyjama Party

When: Friday, April 24, 2026 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Where: Blackburn Community Hall, 190 Glen Park Drive

Ages: 10 to 17

Come flex your onesie and fluffy slippers, enjoy some treats and have some fun! This event will have an art station, board games, Nintendo switch games on the projector and hilarious minute to win it games. Bring your ipad or device if you’d like… our Community Hall now has wifi!

Community Closet - Adults

Is your closet bringing you joy? Ready for a wardrobe refresh while supporting sustainable fashion?

Community Closet Spring 2026

Enhancing LRT Crime Prevention and Public Safety

In 2024, there were 4,300 provincial criminal offences on the Ottawa LRT. The number for 2025 was even higher. The LRT extension to Orleans is expected to be in service by June 30, 2026, and has the potential to affect criminal activity in every east-end community.

It is recognized that EDUCATION AND AWARENESS are key components of the Neighbourhood Watch Program. The East Ottawa Neighbourhood Watch Committee (EONWC) will be hosting an event to discuss "Enhancing LRT Crime Prevention and Public Safety" on Thursday, April 16 at the Ray Friel Center, Fallingbrook Room, starting at 7:30 PM. The EONWC is comprised of 17 east-end Ottawa Community Associations that work in partnership with Ottawa Police Services and other partners to enhance public safety and increase crime prevention.

The speakers for this evening event will be Peter Scislowski, Chief Special Constable, OC Transpo, Sergeant Stephane Fournier, Ottawa Police Services, and Jonathan Walden, City of Ottawa Bylaw Services. The discussions will address encampments, assaults, theft, drugs, and other related crimes. Discussions will include looking at what actions communities can take to reduce and prevent of crime in their community.

The EONWC would like to extend an invitation to Blackburn Hamlet residents to attend this event. However, we do ask that if you wish to attend the event that you register with BCA Safety at safety@blackburnhamlet.ca by April 1st so that appropriate logistics and resources can be arranged.

The EONWC would like to thank Councillor Matt Luloff for his assistance in reserving the room and the provisions of refreshments and snacks.

Discovery Café

Discovery Café - Healing Crystals: Fact or Myth? Inside the World of Dynamic Materials - Dr. Katherine Marczenko

When: Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Where: Blackburn Community Hall, 190 Glen Park Drive

When most people hear the term “healing crystals,” they think of folklore or wellness trends. But in modern chemistry labs, scientists are discovering real crystals that can bend, move, crack, and even repair themselves when exposed to light. This talk explores the science behind dynamic, self-healing materials and shows how crystals can be designed to respond to their environment. We'll look at how something we usually think of as rigid and unchanging can actually be surprisingly active, and what these discoveries might mean for the future of technology.

Dr. Kate Marczenko is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Carleton University. She received her M.Sc. from McMaster University, where she studied unusual and highly reactive compounds made from noble gases such as xenon. She then completed her Ph.D. at Dalhousie University, focusing on new types of chemical bonding involving heavy elements.

During her graduate studies, she received several major awards, including the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. More recently, she was awarded the John Charles Polanyi Prize in Chemistry, which recognizes outstanding early-career researchers in Ontario.

She worked at the University of Guelph as both a crystallographer and course instructor, combining her interests in research and teaching, before joining Carleton University in 2023.

Dr. Marczenko's research explores how crystals and solid materials respond to light, including materials that can bend, move, or even repair themselves. Her work aims to better understand how the structure of materials controls their properties, which could help inspire future technologies in areas such as smart materials and energy applications.

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

Hope to see you there!

Questions? Please contact barbara@blackburnhamlet.ca.

Blackburn Spring Clean-Up

Join us at the Community Hall on Saturday, April 25th at 9:30 AM, where each volunteer will be assigned a small area of Blackburn for litter pick-up, and provided with garbage bags and latex gloves.

The Clean-Up will wrap up around 11:30 AM, and volunteers are invited to stay for a celebratory BBQ (including vegetarian & halal options) in thanks for all your ‘dirty’ work. Be sure to bring your family and friends — the more, the merrier!

Spring Clean-up 2026

Community Garage Sale

Join our annual community garage sale Saturday, May 2, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, rain or shine.

Hamlet residents do not need to register or sign up – simply put out a table and join in! If you would like your house to be included on our sale map, please let us know at garagesale@blackburnhamlet.ca.

Please keep visiting the BCA website Garage Sale Page for more up-to-date information as it becomes available.

Garage Sale 2026

First Aid Training Course June 27, 2026

On June 27, 2026, the Blackburn Hamlet Community Association has scheduled a First Aid Course. In accordance with Canada Red Cross regulations a minimum number of 13 candidates is required. The course is a CPR Level C and AED (Adult, Child and Infant), 6-hour course. Graduates will receive a three- year Red Cross certification. The cost is $70.00 per person + HST. There will be a written exam with a passing grade of 75%. The subjects covered will include:

Responding to Emergencies
Check, Call, Care
Airway Emergencies
Breathing and Circulation Emergencies
CPR, Cardiac Arrest and AED
Written exam (min. passing grade: 75%)

To register for the course please contact safety@blackburnhamlet.ca by June 1st.

What's Happening at the Funfair?

This year's Funfair is being held on June 5, 6 and 7. Plans are afoot to make this year's fair the best yet and organizers will be announcing new attractions soon.

Funfair organizers are excited to announce that our Saturday evening headline act will be SOS: The ABBA Experience. Delighting audiences and playing to sold-out shows everywhere, SOS - The ABBA Experience recreates the music of ABBA almost note for note from the original albums with no backing tracks. Get a $15 discount with promo code BANAR30 on tickets purchased before May 1st. Don't wait too long! Only 50 tickets are available at that price which is a 33% savings over regular priced tickets. Get them now at the QR code below.

Thank you to all the volunteers who help out in big and small ways. The Funfair committee wholeheartedly thanks you. We are still looking for:

adults to supervise inflatables and help take tickets
SmartServe-certified adults who can help with tickets and/or bartend
dog show coordinator
help with food
sponsorship help

Questions and comments welcome! Reach out to the fair committee at chair@blackburnfunfair.ca.

FunFair 2026 Digital Sales

FunFair 2026 Soil Sale

Join the BCA Garden Watering Team 2026!

As we head into the 2026 season, we’re proud to celebrate the 6th year of the BCA Garden Watering Team—an initiative that has helped keep the entrance gardens to our beautiful Blackburn Hamlet community vibrant and welcoming.

Over the past five years, a dedicated group of 15–18 volunteers has generously stepped up each summer, each contributing a few weeks of their time to ensure that our flowers and shrubs stay healthy and thriving. Their efforts have made a visible difference, creating a warm and colourful first impression for residents and visitors alike.

This year, we’re hoping to grow that team. Imagine how much easier it would be if we could double the number of volunteers—sharing the responsibility, lightening the load, and building even more community spirit along the way.

What does it take to get involved? Not much at all—just a bit of muscle, a little time, and a watering can! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or simply someone who enjoys being outdoors, your help will go a long way.

If you’ve ever admired the entrance gardens, this is your chance to play a part in keeping them beautiful. Join us in making 2026 our best year yet! For more information contact Miriam at beautification@blackburnhamlet.ca.