iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Here is the list of "task force" members and some of their recommendations:

Create Incentives and Cost Saving Measures
High Impact Recommendations
• Permit Development Charge deferrals and waive interest.
• Allow the Development Charge rate payable to be the lower of the rate in effect at the time
of a complete application or the rate in effect at the time of building permit issuance.
• Temporarily repeal the Community Benefit Charges By-law for 5 years to support housing
starts.
Medium Impact Recommendations
• Remove cash-in-lieu of parkland/parkland dedication for office-to-residential conversions.
• Set a flat rate for cash-in-lieu of parkland for small-scale infill not subject to site plan
control.
• Cap cash-in-lieu of parkland at 10% for hubs and major corridors.
• Increase brownfield incentives near transit.
• Prorate planning fees for affordable housing in line with the percentage of affordable units.
• Review and reform property tax policies related to development lands, specifically exploring
adjustments to tax classification at the point of ownership transfer rather than at rezoning or
plan registration.

Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Integrated renewal is a lot more than "fixing a street". You either know this but choose to mislead, or you're just not ready for Municipal Governance. Bargain-hunting mentality is a choice that costs more in the long run, and Ottawa deserves better.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2l...

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

I took this shot of the Lansdowne sculpture in 2016. I loved it so much

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Made it to the Barrhaven Legion for the book fair. It feels like ages since I’ve chatted with Peggy in person The baskets are, indeed, gorgeous Also, books were purchased 😁

Ottawa author and publisher Peggy Blair standing beside her table at a book fair. Several delightfully filled gift baskets are displayed for the raffle.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

I was modifying some settings in Google Calendar and found this. These "smart" features were enabled; I turned them off

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

This was the AI results, again, specifying Ottawa in the search terms

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

I had to specify "Ottawa" in my search

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Just once I'd like to see a TV show set in hospital/emerg care show chest compressions the correct way. Shoulders aligned over hands. Push hard on the down.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Doug Ford is an idiot. He doesn't think 5-6 kms/hour over the speed limit is a big deal? From the TSB investigation report of the 2013 bus-train crash that killed seven people: www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes...

TSB calculations indicated that, had the bus been travelling at the posted speed limit (60 km/h) and all other factors remained the same, the stopping distance for the bus would have been 29.5 m (96.8 ft) which would be 6.1 m (20 ft) before the point of collision.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

The link didn't work for me and I have questions/concerns about off-loading Ottawa public transit services to private interests. Because while it *seems* like a good idea, from a equitable pov, um... What do you think?

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

I read this book last year and it's stayed with me in so many ways. If you come across it, do read it.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

Edit: Cyclists (and pedestrians) should of course follow the rules of the road. Drivers need to remember that pedestrians and cyclists have priority right of way at intersections. From the ON gov't website:

From the Ontario government website/driver's handbook:

Most collisions are caused by driver error or behaviours such as following too closely, speeding, failure to yield the right of way, improper turns, running red lights and frequently changing lanes. There are also drivers who intentionally put others at risk through such reckless behaviour. Statistics show that new drivers of all ages are far more likely than experienced drivers to be involved in serious or fatal collisions.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Trams are on every main rd in Warsaw; every connection to bus, metro, or train sta is well mapped. In-real-time schedule info is digitally displayed and is reliable Anyway, I’m on a train, rn and it was easy to get to by public transit

Interior of train station platform, two blue signs for sector 2 and sector 4, respectively, well lit by overhead lights

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Upload the 3rd photo from your gallery no matter what it is: A quick snap of a demonstration this afternoon

anti war demonstration in Warsaw: “Put In the bin” sign

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Just got back from seeing Bobby Bazini's show. It was a bit of drive to the venue, and it was 110% worth it.

Screenshot of singer songwriter Bobby Bazini show poster for recent tour featuring songs from his newest album, Pearl. Bazini is playing a guitar, black and white photo.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Dear Santa: Please please pleaseplease

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

This is not helping my anxiety

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Elections Canada has an infograph for peak voting times I guess I'll wait until after 4 pm www.elections.ca/content2.asp...

When is the best time to avoid lineups? Peak voting times vary throughout the day. All electors that are still in line at the end of voting hours will be allowed to vote regardless of the length of the line. Thousands of workers are serving electors across the country for advance polls. We appreciate your patience.

Thank you in advance for helping us make this democratic exercise a pleasant experience!

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

I wonder if @dieworkwear.bsky.social would consider sharing a perspective on stretched shirt buttons. Human peacock sample provided for illustrative purposes

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

This is a fun candid shot Carney: Good luck Poilievre: FML (Source: Adrian Wyld The Canadian Press)

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Terrific work from Dale Smith. Do read it, then vote this menace to Ontario out of government on February 27.

Screen shot from article about Doug Ford, current Premier of Ontario. The article provides several example of Ford's crass political calculations and clearly shows why he won’t protect Ontario, despite the saviour persona he has recently adopted.

Written by Dale Smith. Full article available at https://xtramagazine.com/power/politics/doug-ford-donald-trump-271163

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Huh. The writer didn't reference the legislation and it sounds like the TOP is loosely interpreting the law to issue tickets on cargo bikes with passengers, which is permitted as long as it's equipped with proper seating: www.ontario.ca/page/ontario... Something stinks.

Screen shot of Gov ON Provincial (Canada) operating requirements for cargo e-bikes and passenger rules

For full text, see: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-cargo-e-bike-pilot-program-guidelines-municipalities

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

I didn't delete my activity history because I use it, but I just manually disallowed my account from being on lists for advertising. It was a bugger to find in the settings:

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Good article, which also exposes the strategy to exploit communities already facing economic challenges F*cking predators. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Maybe not so much my moral philosophy, but it's an almost daily reminder, kwim?

Do y'all remember, before the internet, that people thought the cause of stupidity was the lack of access to information?
Yeah. It wasn't that.

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