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. ...

_ (via City of Ottawa) _ Bank Street, between Exhibition Way and Holmwood Avenue, will be reduced to one lane in each direction starting Monday, January 11 to Friday, January 22. These lane reductions are required for construction work being undertaken by Hydro Ottawa. ...

_ (via the Ontario Provincial Police) _ The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) remind snowmobilers that being compliant with the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act (MSVA) and being properly trained are key contributors to their safety, peace of mind and enjoyment while sledding this winter. ...

_ (via City of Ottawa) _ Environment Canada is predicting a mix of weather this weekend that may pose challenges for residents. The City of Ottawa is encouraging residents to visit the Winter Weather webpage on ottawa.ca for information on the weather, including updates on City operations and tips on what residents can do in preparation for, and during, weather incidents. ...

_ (via City of Ottawa) _ The westbound lane of Queen Street, between Lyon Street and Bay Street, will be closed starting Monday, January 11 and will remain closed until the end of 2016 to allow for construction related to the future Lyon Station, which is part of the O-Train Confederation Line Light Rail (LRT) Transit project. ...

_ (via OCDSB) _ The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board ** School Year Calendar Committee ** is comprised of parent representatives, students and various employee groups. The Committee has begun the process of planning the school year calendar for the 2016-2017 school year. ...

Via @BloodyEmma on Twitter today: https://twitter.com/BloodyEmma/status/685165397994278912 [caption id=“attachment_20435” align=“aligncenter” width=“1038”] Photo via @bloodyemma on Twitter https://twitter.com/BloodyEmma[/caption]

_ (via City of Ottawa) _ Residents travelling along Scott Street and the adjacent multi-use pathway will face traffic disruptions between Merton Street and Bayview Road starting on January 8 and lasting for about one week. The multi-use pathway along the north side of Scott Street at Merton Street will be reduced to one lane, starting January 8. ...

_ This is the second in a two part series that looks at the mystery of the Vikings lost settlements in Canada. This post originally appeared on Andrew King’s Ottawa Rewind . Part 1 is here . _ ** _ PART 2: They’re Here _ ** The idea of Norsemen exploring towards the interior of Canada is probably met with the same scepticism as the idea of them once crossing the Atlantic Ocean. ...

_ (via the City of Ottawa) _ The City of Ottawa has opened its approved sledding hills. Outdoors enthusiasts are invited to sled while weather and hill conditions permit, and to keep personal safety in mind while sledding. Please note that certified multi-impact helmets are strongly recommended. ...