Start Here | User's Guide
If you care about hopeful civic life in west-end Ottawa (and beyond), this page is your map. You’ll find local stories, practical steps and ways to connect with neighbours
Welcome to Nepeanville!
And welcome to our user’s guide.
If you want to see what goes on here and where we’ve been, you’re in the right spot.
If you’d like to subscribe, please do! I aim to publish every second Wednesday. (If I miss the mark, apologies in advance. Life, eh. ;)
This is a newsletter about our home here in west-end Ottawa - but it’s also about your community too, no matter where you live.
New here? Start with these 5
“I’m in love with a municipal building — and I bet you are too.” A love letter to public places that double as a civic anchors.
“Crafts can save the world - and your community.” Don’t underestimate the power of a “hobby” to cure all kinds of challenges in surprising ways.
“How Craig Henry’s recreational path can make you happier.” On walking, noticing, and belonging in your neighbourhood.
Ready to follow your entrepreneurial dream and help the planet too? “Coats of Many Colours” will introduce you to a neighbour with big dreams - and tips for you too.
“Have you been wrong about gardening too?” I thought people were just born with green thumbs. Nope: you just need to ask for help.
Here are a few of my favourite posts:
A pinched budget, job insecurity or an idea you can’t shake?
Every Monday morning this month, a second-floor community room in the NROCRC offices in Emerald Plaza on Merivale Road has been home…
Neighbourly vibes
Almost daily on my morning dog walks this fall I’d cross paths with Off-Leash-Dog Guy. (a.k.a. Reserved-Ear-Bud guy.) His fur p…
Extinction Events
If you were to check out the text logs on many Canadians’ phones from the afternoon of Jan. 30, there would be a lot of weepy-face emojis. You’d see notes like, “Oh nooo!” and “I can’t believe it!”…
Why am doing this?
Ottawa can sometimes feel big, complicated and - somedays - frustrating. But there’s a whole lot of great stuff happening within the messiness. I’m a neighbour who believes small local stories and shared places can encourage local engagement and keep us hopeful. Nepeanville is my way of mapping that feeling and inviting you along.
What’s next?
Read and enjoy: Most essays are 4 to 6 minutes long and aim to leave you steadier, not spun up.
Ask questions or share ideas: Do you see someone seeking a solution we should know about? Or is there a problem in need of a solution I should explore? Please let me know.
Act locally. Posts often end with one small action. Say, visit a place, join a program or take a walk. Give one a try - and tell me about it?
Join the conversation. Thoughtful comments and local tips from you are part of the magic. A good place to peek: “When things don’t fall apart” (check the comments).
Share this with a neighbour. Forward one post to one community-loving friend who’d enjoy it.
To learn more, check out my full About Page. You can also find Nepeanville on Instagram and Facebook.