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Sarah Gelbard

@gelbard.ca
1.4K followers 1.5K following 1.3K posts

Punk planner and anarchitect | Housing justice, radical planning, and community care | Adjunct Prof, University of Ottawa | Contact instructor, Carleton U | firstgen scholar | tenant | bassist | she/her Ottawa, Canada previously @sbg_arch on 🐦

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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 9h
Oh good (not). Glad they demolished people's homes to make way for parking for the next 5-15 years until the development gets approved and built... maybe. Note: proposed development will also mean demo of that apartment building with the white balconies.
Gated up housing with development notice.Same lot post demolition.Same lot now filled with cars.Back angle of parking lot.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 03/10/2026
Our last @ncc-ccn.gc.ca Bike Day ride of the year:( We're away next weekend and will miss the final weekend of the season. Very sad. Too soon. We also finally stopped in at the River House for a snack.
Pair of bikes along the George Etienne Parkway. Fall colours and funky clouds.Ice cream on the deck at NCC River House.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 02/10/2026
The mystery bunker at Remic Rapids is re-opened.
Round concrete structure with fresh landscaping by the river.Roof top view looking out toward downtown Ottawa.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 11/09/2026
Confirmed my tip (I'm still having login issues so I don't think it submitted properly). Rocks match and confirmed lily pads. I saw the every here a week or so ago. Though it's usually a heron in this spot.
Google map pin along KZM near Champlain bridge.An small inlet on the Ottawa River that matches the MORK.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 03/09/2026
New fence at City Centre and Trillium MUP. Saw some folks panicking yesterday during install, worried they were blocking off the access completely. Probably a smart addition to reduce blind spot. #ottbike
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 03/09/2026
Lovely morning for a long run. My headphones died at 1.5k. I ran sans music for the first time in a long time. It was nice on the Quebec side. Not so nice along Champlain bridge and parkway. Boo traffic noise.
Strava map of run loop along River pathways and route verte between Commanda and Champlain bridges.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 03/09/2026
If feminism means each of us finding our unique power, and helping other women do the same, Dolly Parton certainly has done both. - Gloria Steinem, 1987.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 01/09/2026
I clobbered the Wordle bot today.
Wordle analysis showing my solve in 2 and the bot's in five.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 25/08/2026
Ratios have two measurements. Ottawa also has highest average household income, largely because of feds. It's disingenuous to use this ratio to comment on keeping cost of housing low, and definitely not relevant to keeping housing affordable. Source: wealthnorth.ca/income/avera...
Ottawa–Gatineau
Ottawa’s income leadership reflects the federal public service. Federal government jobs pay above private-sector wages in many occupational categories, especially for clerical, administrative, and mid-management roles. The pension benefits, job security, and above-inflation wage indexing of the federal public service translate into high and stable household incomes. The tech sector (Shopify, Ciena, Kinaxis, and dozens of federal contractors) further boosts professional incomes.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 24/08/2026
More affordable housing lost in Mechanicsville. Not going to pretend this rooming house wasn't rough. But it was home to a lot of people. Property is part of a proposal including a 40-storey tower.
2 storey early 1900s Brick building with construction proposal in the fencing.Bulldozers demolishing the building.Pile of rubble.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 23/08/2026
Good. Cheap. Mostly local. Finds at Ottawa Vinyl & Book Fair earlier today at SAW.
Records by Germ Attack, The Creeps, X, Garaga. Flyer for Ottawa Vinyl & book Fair, Aug 23.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 22/08/2026
Pathway to our favourite #ottbike destination had been repaired! The July 1st stormed washed away party of the Watt's Creek Path we take to Brett's ice cream in Beaverbrook, Kanata. All fixed now.
Strava ride summary. Path to Brett's ice cream is fixed. Distance 42.37km. time 2h19m. Route along Ottawa River pathways and Watts Creek into Beaverbrook Kanata.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 21/08/2026
livelaughmayor.com/mork/live-la... (But BTP is a better option) I should be able to make it next Thursday. Depending where staycation adventures take me.
Live. Laugh. Mayor. for May 2, 2025. Solved by SBG.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 21/08/2026
Hmm... I thought lit fields might have been a searchable layer on GeoOttawa but don't see it.
List of layers under "parks" on geoOttawa map.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 21/08/2026
LaRoche and Ben Franklin have similar but not quite right arches. It was also the orientation to a lit field that I was then trying to match it to.
LaRoche park playground equipment.Ben Franklin playground equipment.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 21/08/2026
Darn. I found a similar arch play structure at Biley A. Blax Park by scanning Google maps but it didn't seem to line up with the other features in the photo. maps.app.goo.gl/R5g7cfMbwFFu...
Google Street view from 4301 halmont. A rainbow arch play structure is visible through the trees.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 20/08/2026
Checked out the new @ncc-ccn.gc.ca park - Confluence Park - just off the route verte pathway behind Museum of History.
Bike on a pathway looking across the Ottawa River with Parliament Hill in the background.Low angle shot of bike on a pathway with Place de Portage office buildings in the background.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 17/08/2026
The discrepancy between how cities treat transit fare evasion vs parking infractions...
Fines for fare evasion far exceed parking
penalties. Transit fines range from $100 
Winnipeg to a maximum of $500 in Montreal,
or roughly 120 times a missed $3.75 fare. On
average, the fine for fare evasion is 58 tim
the missed payment, compared to 14 times the
missed payment for parking
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 12/08/2026
Wow. What a disappointing characterless facelift. There were good features they could have worked with but instead, just slap grey panels over it.
Facade of Chapters on Rideau before the History renovation. Subtle but elegant deco geometric relief in the stone work.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 07/08/2026
Wandering Quebec City this week. Encountered some great public pools.
Architectural concrete lifeguard station at the public pool.Swimming pool by the St Charles river.Public pool at the beach along the St Lawrence.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 05/08/2026
àVélo bike-share in Quebec City only offer e-bike (pedal assist) bikes. My first time riding one and I'm not sure how I feel about it (for me and what I want out of biking). And yes, Vieux Québec is very hilly but a lot of the city is on plateaus. We encountered very few hills on our route.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 04/08/2026
Cool find at used book store Librairie Laforce today in Quebec City.
Book. Canadian Architecture 1960|70 by Carol Moore Ede
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 04/08/2026
Artothèque. You can borrow art from the library in Quebec City! When I worked at the Canada Council for the Arts, I loved that I could choose a piece of art for my office from the art bank. What a great idea to do this for anyone with a library card.
Display racks of art work at the library.Artothèque. Sign explaining how to borrow art work from the library.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 13/07/2026
I don't think Enterprise offers free ride home like they used to. But no matter, I missed my weekend long run so just ran home instead. Nice to run the canal. I don't do it as much since moving to Mechanicsville.
Strava map showing route asking Rideau canal and trillium pathway. 10km. 1-hour 8-min. Pace 6:50/km.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 12/07/2026
A weekend in two acts.
Outdoor punk music festival.Lake cottage.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 10/07/2026
Surprise repurposing of Canada Day fireworks, I guess.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 04/07/2026
Longest #ottbike of 2026 so far: 68.8km! Checked out the new @ncc-ccn.gc.ca bistro at the Blair boat launch and then decided to keep going out to Aylmer Marina and back. 10/13 NCC Summer Capital Cottage bucket list completed.
Strava route map showing back and forth along Ottawa River.Bistro table with red umbrella I'm wooded surroundings overlooking the river.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 02/07/2026
My final #LetsBikeOttawa #ottbike total for June: 407.9km. 22 days booked. 52kg GHG averted. $387 saved. Was hoping to at least match last year's 440km but the rain on Tuesday kept me from sneaking in one last long ride.
Let's bike ottawa ride tracker. 
407.9km. 22 days booked. 52kg GHG averted. $387 saved.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 30/06/2026
Primary care physicians should be where the people they care for live. Not wherever this is.
A 4-lane high speed road with low-rise offices. No signs of housing.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 11/06/2026
End of garden (centre) season sale at Westboro Superstore. Picked up some half price strawberry plants and misc herbs to fill in some gaps in my community garden plot. Look how perfectly the tray fit over my bike panier. Slow ride and everybody made it home in one piece. #ottbike #letsbikeottawa
A treat of garden nursery plants fastened on top of a bike panier.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 24/05/2026
Spoiler: Clue in the NYT crossword
Clue: city west of Montreal
Answer: Ottawa.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 09/05/2026
Arrived super early in Toronto yesterday for a full first day of "Planning on the face of fascism: Planners Network 50th anniversary conference". It's been a pleasure working with the other co-organizers since last summer to realize this amazing space of thought, action, solidarity, and care.
A tote bag with silk screen design "planning on the face of fascism. Planners Network 50th anniversary conference. May 8-10 2026. Tkaronto. CA."
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 05/05/2026
Hands back in the dirt! Planted my #CCOCplantdays plants today. Getting my #communitygarden plot started for 2026. Stay tuned.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 03/05/2026
Another successful (I think) #JanesWalk. Sociology of (Centretown) Third Places. Look at that sky! Jane's walk weather can range from snow to 35°c I'm Ottawa. I'll take light jacket and sunshine. www.janeswalkottawa.ca/en/walks/jan...
That's me gesturing about something while clasping cue cards. Standing on a gray field with a large geometric sculpture behind me and a blue sky with perfectly fluffy clouds. The Jane's walk volunteer holding the Jane's walk flag is in the foreground.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 26/04/2026
Ottawa is outside, today! Took Vinny out of the closet for a little test spin to make sure he's ready for #teamsilverbird #ottbike adventures.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 19/04/2026
Congrats to the Sidestep team on last night's show @ fono.613. It's been a joy working w this group of students in my Sociology of Community Engagement course @carleton_u. Working with our amazing community partners Side By Side wknd, they embraced the power of music to bring people together.
Music space with silhouettes of audiences, arms raised and dancing. The space is illuminated in red and purple spotted with discoball. FONO (venue name) projected in the back.Team photo of student Sidestep team with prof (Me) and community partners.Vibe from the bar space/social room at FONO.Sidestep Carleton logo. A pair of crisscrossed feet in converse high tops.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 16/04/2026
3 YEARS A DOCTOR! On the eve of my defense, I played a show with my band Bad Missionary continuing the unlikely to be won race: academia v music. Postdoc now finished. A bunch of contract courses under my belt. Book proposal in development. Still keeping fingers crossed for tenure-track position.
Facebook memory of me on stage at Mavericks with my band Bad Missionary. Caption reads: Mazel tov to our bassist/vox @sbg_arch, PhD! Sarah defended her dissertation right before hitting the stage with us and friends @sixtycyclehumottawa and Shanker and the Frontenacs.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 14/04/2026
LOW TICKET ALERT! Students in my Community Engaged Sociology course have been working all term with our awesome partners at Side By Side Weekend to put on a show celebrating Ottawa's local hip hop scene. Also a great chance to check out Centretown's new venue FONO! www.tixtree.com/e/sidestep-t...
Tickets on sale now. Sidestep Carleton presents Sidestep the Mainstream. Featuring Rickyyy, Dannydukess, Karenzi, K3soulja, Give dance a chance, Shelby & Caitrin, Gaby Emma Gabriel, Hug Mosh. April 18th. FONO. 473 Bronson Ave. Doors open at 8pm.

Sidestep the mainstream is a student-led event at FONO celebrating Ottawa's local hip hip scene - bringing together artists, DJs, dancers and creatives outside the mainstream. Built on community, accessibility, and expression, this night is about creating space for the scene to exist and grow.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 14/04/2026
My grandma Edith with her parents and sister in Vienna, ca. 1938. She survived as one of the hidden children of Moissac. She has spent the last 30 years sharing her story. Never again. A call that we never fail to recognize the humanity of another.
On the TV, a black and white photo of a family posing for a portrait in the streets of Vienna and banner that reads "Marking Holocaust Remembrance Day"
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 11/04/2026
Dela watching #splashdown with us.
Cat on hind legs watching Artemis splashdown live coverage on screen.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 06/04/2026
Projector is set up for #MoonDay livestream. #ArtemisII
NASA live stream projector onto window shade.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 26/03/2026
Developers using language like this pisses me off. It tells me exactly what I need to know about what kind of neighbour you plan to be. "The Park will help define the quality and character of Mechanicsville, bringing the neighbourhood to life."
Page from development proposal: 
"The Park will help define the quality and character of Mechanicsville, bringing the neighbourhood to life alongside upcoming developments in the area."
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 24/03/2026
Housing Affordability Symposium @carleton.ca this morning. carleton.ca/cspsc/housin...
Housing Affordability Symposium program (also available https://carleton.ca/cspsc/housing-affordability-symposium/#:~:text=Parking-,Program%20Schedule,-School%20of%20Social)
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 18/03/2026
Haven't encountered a jar the JarKey couldn't open but it's essentially a slight ergonomic improvement over old school can opener.
JarKey and trusty oldstyle can opener.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 12/03/2026
Not only the joy of receiving letter mail. I didn't realize how much I miss the satisfaction of fill-in forms. Simpler times.
A form with fill-in boxes. From Association des Amputés de guerre.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 09/02/2026
Extra cold week in Ottawa but I somehow managed to walk 42km over the last few days. It's also been a busy week and walking is just generally preferable to the bus, even at -25° C.
Strava screenshot showing walk starts for Feb 3-8. 41.87km. 8h12m.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 07/02/2026
Winter parking in Ottawa. Anything goes.
A car parked straddling a snow covered sidewalk.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 05/02/2026
Show poster. 

Bad Missionary, Cultural Treason, Sunshine Overload, Slim and Popular, and 86-It.

House of Targ.
Thursday February 12.
Doors 8pm.
$10.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 01/01/2026
Everyone always exaggerates how far the Ottawa train station is from downtown. Travel between the train station and Parliament is barely more than between Union station and Queen's Park in Toronto (and more likely that the drive time is real).
Google map directions from Ottawa train station to Parliament Hill: 13 min drive. 20 min transit. 58 min walk. 19 min bike.Google map directions from Toronto Union station to Queens Park: 10 min drive. 14 min transit. 41 min walk. 13 min bike.
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Sarah Gelbard @gelbard.ca · 05/12/2025
Registration is now open for my upcoming Heritage Ottawa lecture on #OttawaBrutalism. (link below) Thu Dec 18 2025 @ 7:00pm Beechwood National Memorial Centre, Sacred Space Room, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa
Concrete Utopias: What's (not) so brutal about brutalism. Heritage Ottawa Lecture. Thursday, December 18, 2025.
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