Ottawa Public Health

08/18/2026

Here are more tips to reduce food waste and make the most of your groceries.

August is peak season for Canadian-grown peaches, nectarines and cherries!

Stone fruits like peaches and nectarines keep ripening after they’re picked, going from rock-hard to perfectly juicy very quickly. Keep up with their pace with these three tips:

- Leave firm peaches or nectarines on the counter to ripen. The moment they yield to gentle pressure, pop them in the fridge to lock in that perfect texture.
- Or the reverse - keep firm in the fridge until you know they will be eaten, then move to room temperature.
- Keep cherries in their original breathable packaging or a colander in the fridge so they get plenty of air circulation.
- Keep ripe stone fruits away from other high-ethylene producers (like bananas or tomatoes) so they don’t overripen too quickly.

Visit: https://bit.ly/4ggR3yr

08/18/2026

New to Canada? We're here to help!
Join us for a free CCHC Newcomer Community Information Session and learn about the programs, services, and supports available to newcomers and families in our community. Meet our team, ask questions, and discover resources to help you settle and thrive.

📅 Thursday, August 27, 2026
🕐 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
📍 Carlington Community Health Centre
1290 Coldrey Ave, Algonquin Room 173

Learn about: ✅ Community resources and referrals
✅ Parenting and family support
✅ Navigating community services
✅ Local programs and resources
✅ Services available to newcomers

✨ All services are FREE. Everyone is welcome!

Vous venez d'arriver au Canada ? Nous sommes là pour vous aider !
Joignez-vous à nous pour une séance d'information communautaire pour les nouveaux arrivants du CSCC et découvrez les programmes, services et ressources offerts aux nouveaux arrivants et aux familles de notre communauté. Venez rencontrer notre équipe, poser vos questions et trouver les ressources qui vous aideront dans votre parcours d'établissement.

📅 Jeudi 27 août 2026
🕐 13 h à 15 h
📍 Centre de santé communautaire Carlington
1290, avenue Coldrey, salle Algonquin 173

Apprenez-en davantage sur : ✅ Les ressources communautaires et les références
✅ Le soutien à la parentalité et aux familles
✅ L'accès aux services communautaires
✅ Les programmes et ressources locales
✅ Les services offerts aux nouveaux arrivants

✨ Tous les services sont GRATUITS. Tout le monde est bienvenu!

08/18/2026

Do your kids frown at the word salad or struggle to eat enough vegetables? 🥗

Here are some quick tips to get your kids more into salads:
-Involve your kids in the process: let them choose the recipes or make it a family activity
-Make it fun: try fun or colourful bowls to make salads more appealing
-Start small: introduce salad as a side dish before making it a bigger part of the meal
-Salad doesn’t just mean lettuce: pasta salad can have just as many vegetables but may look more appealing for kids.

For more ideas, check out : www.halfyourplate.ca/blog/7-tips-for-making-kid-friendly-salads/

Many parents and caregivers may find salads are a tough sell to children. Read on to discover my seven tips for making kid-friendly salads that children will actually eat.

08/17/2026

Car crashes are a leading cause of death and injury to children in Canada. Choose the right car seat or booster seat for your child and make sure it’s used properly for every single ride. Learn more: https://parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/car-seats/

08/17/2026

GetaKit, MAX Ottawa and OPH have partnered to make STI testing free, accessible and discreet. Pick up throat and re**al self-swab kits at MAX Ottawa. No appointment needed.

Learn more: https://maxottawa.ca/programs-and-services/sti-testing/

08/15/2026

Optometrists recommend comprehensive eye exams at key stages of development:

✅ At 6 months
✅ At 2–3 years
✅ Every year after age 3

Children may not notice but routine eye exams help ensure healthy vision as they grow and learn. Plus, eye exams are covered in Ontario for children and youth ages 0–19 with a valid health card.

To find an optometrist in your area, visit https://find.optom.on.ca/

08/14/2026

DYK City of Ottawa supervised beaches offer free lifejacket loans.

From noon to 7 pm, when lifeguards are on duty, lifejackets in child, youth and adult sizes will be available at Britannia, Mooney’s Bay, Petrie Island and Westboro.

Find more tips to stay safe around water at OttawaPublicHealth.ca/DrowningPrevention

Ottawa Recreation and Culture

08/13/2026

Did you know that most injuries in infants and toddlers happen at home? Here are some things you can do to prevent a fall at home:
✔️ Place furniture such as beds, cribs, dressers and chairs away from the windows and balcony door handles

✔️ Keep one hand on your baby when they are on a raised surface such as a change table

✔️ Use window stoppers/locks/guards to prevent window opening more than 10cm (4inch)

✔️ Install stair/baby gates – Use a hardware mounted gate at the top and pressure mounted gates can be used at the bottom of the stairs.

For more information on preventing falls, please visit: www.parentinginottawa.ca/en/babies-and-toddlers/child-falls.aspx

08/12/2026

Signs and barriers are there for a reason.

Restricted areas, strong currents, dangerous drop-offs — obey posted warnings. They’re not suggestions. They save lives.
~
Les panneaux et les barrières ont leur raison d'être.
Zones interdites, courants forts, chutes dangereuses - respectez les avertissements affichés. Ce ne sont pas des suggestions. Ils sauvent des vies.

08/12/2026

Certain vaccines are required for school attendance such as vaccines against measles, polio, tetanus, and pertussis.

If you have a child starting kindergarten this fall, now is a good time to make sure their vaccination records are updated with us!

The process is quick and easy, use our online submission form here:
https://secureforms.ottawapublichealth.ca/vaccines/Online-Immunization-Record-Submission-EN