Coun. Diane Deans to host open house on community issues and youth

Ottawa City Coun. Diane Deans will be welcoming in the new year with an event focused on public consultation and promoting youth leadership in low-income communities.

The annual Gloucester-Southgate Ward Community Open House, now in its third year, will be a chance for Ward 10 residents to speak directly with the Councillor to address concerns and present new ideas for their communities.

As well, the winners of the ‘Vibrant Communities Equal Healthy Communities’ essay contest will be announced and presented with their awards. Created to engage youth in their communities, the contest was open to high school-aged young adults living in the Albion-Heatherington neighbourhood of Gloucester-Southgate Ward. As one of the city’s most vulnerable neighbourhoods, Albion-Heatherington was chosen for this contest to obtain valuable youth input for community revitalization.

Students were challenged to write about how to keep their neighbourhood a healthy and vibrant one in which to live. Thanks to financial sponsorship from Hydro Ottawa, $1,750 in prize money will be distributed to three winners chosen by a panel of local organizations and companies.

The event will take place on

Sunday, Jan. 10

from

2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

at the Greenboro Community Centre, 363 Lorry Greenberg Drive, Rooms A&B. Coun. Deans will be present to speak with media following the essay contest ceremony at

2:30 p.m.