Ex-Councillor Holmes Honoured With Park Name

There’s a new park opening at the corner of Lyon and Albert this summer, and when city staff asked me who we should name it after, I didn’t hesitate when I said: Diane Holmes.

When Diane was first elected to city council, her closest opponent blamed “the feminist vote” for his loss. Well, his loss was Somerset Ward and our whole city’s gain.

Diane first ran for Ottawa city council in 1982. She won the seat for what was then Wellington ward and was re-elected for three more consecutive terms. In 1994, she became the first elected regional councillor for Somerset Ward and was acclaimed three years later for a second term in 1998. She sat out one term, returning in 2003 as councillor for Somerset ward – a post she held until 2014. That’s more than 30 years in municipal politics – not for the faint of heart.

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This newsletter excerpt from Somerset Councillor Ariel Troster is courtesy of the city-wide community group Your Applewood Acres (And Beyond) Neighbours

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Diane’s accomplishments are too many to name, but I know she was admired for being a fighter for downtown communities at a time where “urban renewal” was making neighbourhoods like ours less livable. She introduced traffic calming in residential areas, echoing the concerns I still hear about – knowing that safe, slower streets were key to attracting families to live and stay in Centretown.

Diane worked hard to revitalize Chaudière, Jack Purcell, McNabb and Primrose parks. She championed the Corktown Bridge, the Beaver Barracks Affordable Housing development, the Laurier bike lane, and the Chinatown arch. She helped found both Crime Prevention Ottawa and the Women’s Initiative for Safer Environments – emphasizing the need for proactive social supports and community safety initiatives.

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I will never forget the advice that Diane first gave me when I was considering running for office: to make sure I was standing up for truly affordable housing, no more than 30 percent of household income. Which for someone living on social assistance means $300-400 a month. No other definition mattered. I took that to heart, and I still do.

Diane, now 87, was in the gallery at City Hall on Wednesday with her daughter Bryn when we unanimously voted to name Diane Holmes Park. I can’t think of a better way to honour someone who worked so hard to make Somerset Ward a better place to live, work and visit.

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