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Siobhan Kirkland

@siobhanwanders.bsky.social

Wanderer, public servant, active transit and people centered cities advocate, COVID cautious. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦πŸ˜·She/her.

823 Followers  |  407 Following  |  626 Posts  |  Joined: 08.09.2023  |  2.0681

Latest posts by siobhanwanders.bsky.social on Bluesky

We are one of the geographically largest cities in Canada; we pay the price for this with ageing and decrepit infrastructure and are sitting on billions of dollars and under resourced assets; these continue to crumble due to decades of austerity budgets and poor planning.

11.09.2025 21:47 β€” πŸ‘ 30    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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'Do they want us all on the street?': Eviction can mean homelessness for Ottawa seniors Seniors are becoming the new face of the renovicted. And if they lose their homes, many can't afford a new place to rent.

Most of the renovictions that my office hears about involve seniors β€” long-term tenants who have paid their rent for decades and then are evicted so the landlord can jack up the rent. Glad that the @ottawacitizen.com delved deeper into to this issue.

ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...

26.08.2025 10:59 β€” πŸ‘ 67    πŸ” 23    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

The same has been experienced in #OttCity by a similarly ideologically motivated premier. Safe consumption sites work and save lives, are better for communities. @arieltroster.com @catmckenney.bsky.social

26.08.2025 10:47 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Photo-radar tickets make you feel like you have been snookered. They provide you a date and a location, and an attached photo, and says you were clocked at an excessive rate of speed – in this case, 54 kilometres an hour in a 40 km/h zone, which isn’t even particularly excessive. You read the letter, try to think back on the day in question, and have no recollection of doing anything out of the ordinary. You were just driving along, at a normal rate of speed. And now, you’re looking at a fine of almost $100.

Photo-radar tickets make you feel like you have been snookered. They provide you a date and a location, and an attached photo, and says you were clocked at an excessive rate of speed – in this case, 54 kilometres an hour in a 40 km/h zone, which isn’t even particularly excessive. You read the letter, try to think back on the day in question, and have no recollection of doing anything out of the ordinary. You were just driving along, at a normal rate of speed. And now, you’re looking at a fine of almost $100.

We fail to respect or enforce traffic laws to the point that people don’t actually perceive ignoring them to be breaking the rules. It’s just normal driving.

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

24.08.2025 23:52 β€” πŸ‘ 379    πŸ” 77    πŸ’¬ 24    πŸ“Œ 27
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I pulled over and stepped out into the road to take a few pictures. There is no disguising how ugly this parking garage is or will be.

23.08.2025 18:38 β€” πŸ‘ 55    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 14    πŸ“Œ 1
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Covid is rising. New vaccines may not be ready until mid-September. Updated coronavirus vaccines may not be available until mid-September, and people who are not considered high risk may not be able to access them.

No one could have foreseen this.

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

18.08.2025 22:44 β€” πŸ‘ 134    πŸ” 38    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 5

Warming tray?

18.08.2025 22:04 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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RAIC needs to better advocate for design, culture, and the future of our profession Canada needs a strong Royal Architecture Institute of Canada (RAIC) to advocate for architects and architecture and to create the Canada we aspire to be. And if the RAIC of today isn’t up to the task,...

For the morning read: I’ve long argued Canada needs an active and engaged, vibrant and focussed advocate for architecture, one that engages with Canadians to realize better #PlacesForPeople; see my article in The Architects Newspaper www.archpaper.com/2025/08/roya...

14.08.2025 11:11 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

#OttCity spends over $100m annually on new/widened roads (plus reg maintenance); this is many times more than is spent on cycling/pedestrian infrastructure; these are choices. It’s just a matter of political will. @neilsara.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @tkavanaghbayward.bsky.social

10.08.2025 13:48 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0
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A classic from the @newyorker.com

02.08.2025 04:50 β€” πŸ‘ 140    πŸ” 34    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Detail of a screenshot of a fire smoke map showing a wave of smoke covering Ontario and heading towards Ottawa.

Detail of a screenshot of a fire smoke map showing a wave of smoke covering Ontario and heading towards Ottawa.

Here it comes again, mask up with a fitted respirator if you're going outdoors and get some HEPA filters or CR boxes running indoors.

02.08.2025 17:04 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 1

This

31.07.2025 21:51 β€” πŸ‘ 111    πŸ” 18    πŸ’¬ 13    πŸ“Œ 0

Important conclusion from the ICJ here that "under international law, the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is essential for the enjoyment of other human rights"

23.07.2025 14:28 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Doctor describes 'total carnage' as 27 reported killed by Israeli fire at Gaza aid centre - live updates For the second time in three days Palestinians have been killed while collecting aid - the IDF confirms it fired shots and is investigating.

So they let some aid to enter and then bomb the centre

Doctor describes 'total carnage' as 27 reported killed by Israeli fire at Gaza aid centre (about 90 injured)

www.bbc.com/news/live/cv...

03.06.2025 09:59 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
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Scotty is a sweet soul I know from years ago when I was staff at a family camp in Quebec. Please, #ottawa: keep a lookout for him if you are on or near transit or anywhere downtown. He is vulnerable and loved.
And please share widely.

missingpeople.ca/missing-man-...

03.06.2025 11:05 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Large digital screen on a city street with Bicycles deliver the freedom that auto ads promise in white type on black

Large digital screen on a city street with Bicycles deliver the freedom that auto ads promise in white type on black

Happy World Bicycle Day.

03.06.2025 11:07 β€” πŸ‘ 924    πŸ” 248    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 18
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Good morning and Happy Wednesday!

The dogs and I enjoyed the beautiful snowy sunrise this morning. A lovely way to start the day.

Have a great day!

#Ottawa #OttawaWanders

19.02.2025 17:00 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Good morning and Happy snowy Monday Ottawa!

My northern dogs had a great time dragging me through the snow banks this morning and it was nice to enjoy the quiet of our beautiful city transformed after the snowstorm.

Have a great start to the week!

#Ottawa #OttawaWanders

17.02.2025 14:11 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ’―

17.02.2025 14:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Ottawa folks I highly recommend skating or walking/running along the @NCC_Skateway to work this morning it’s in way better shape snow wise than the impassable sidewalks.

#Ottawa #OttawaWanders

17.02.2025 13:10 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Sidewalks who needs them when they can just be snow storage for the roads. I know there was a lot of snow but yesterday the sidewalks were passable and now they’re massive snowbanks while the roads are clear. #Autowa as usual showing that it prioritizes cars and not people.

#Ottawa

17.02.2025 11:48 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Very snowy Sunday in Ottawa.

My Northern dogs have been enjoying the snowy weather lately and having lots of fun playing and sniffing in the snow.

#OttawaWanders #Ottawa

16.02.2025 17:03 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Happy Gotcha day to the best girl!

I can’t believe it was a year ago that Ocean arrived from Nunavut. It’s been a wild year and I could never have imagined all the ups and downs of our journey together and unexpected puppies but it’s been the best adventure with my sweet girl.

15.02.2025 17:37 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Monday mood!

10.02.2025 13:49 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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It’s always a good morning when you see the Rideau Canal Skateway juggler.

#OttawaWanders #Ottawa

09.02.2025 15:46 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Sebastian is very dedicated to his role as branch manager and was living his best life this afternoon with all the fallen branches from the wild windstorm.

#OttawaWanders #Ottawa

27.01.2025 21:58 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Started the day with a beautiful sunrise over the Rideau Canal Skateway and ended the day with a beautiful sunset over the Rideau Canal skateway.

Another great winter weekend in Ottawa!

#OttawaWanders #Ottawa

27.01.2025 02:19 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Saturday morning snuggles. The best way to start the weekend.

25.01.2025 14:36 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I want to follow more women in urbanism πŸ’πŸ»β€β™€οΈ

The doers and city builders, not just the researchers and writers. And not just the big ones. Not just the ones on bikes. πŸŒ†

Who are the best nerds? The ones with great thoughts and ideas just starting out? The ones changing cities around the 🌍?

17.01.2025 09:34 β€” πŸ‘ 110    πŸ” 29    πŸ’¬ 11    πŸ“Œ 1
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Good morning and Happy Saturday!

It’s a chilly but beautiful morning in Ottawa. The dogs and I enjoyed the pretty peaceful sunrise over the Rideau Canal Skateway.

I love that even when it’s cold there are lots of people out for an early skate.

Have a great day!

#OttawaWanders #Ottawa

25.01.2025 14:34 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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