Thursday April 8, 2010
Luncheon Rideau Tennis Club
Craft Talk Speaker: Thom Bourne of Nutri-Lawn Ottawa
Menu: Chef's Homemade Soup of the day, Roast Prime Rib au jus and Pecan Pie

Thursday, April 1, 2010
Craft Talk by Marty Owens of Bell Baker

Founded in 1957, Bell Baker LLP is an established, full service Ottawa-based law firm that has been providing timely, comprehensive and cost-effective legal services to individuals, corporations and institutions in the greater Eastern Ontario area for over fifty years. Their team of twelve lawyers and fifteen administrative and support staff offer a unique combination of youth and experience in providing comprehensive legal services including advice and representation in such areas of the law as estates and trusts, real estate, corporate/commercial, administrative law, civil litigation, labour and employment law, construction law, personal injury, insurance law and family law.

Their clients include various eastern Ontario school boards and municipalities, large and small corporations, charitable and non-profit organizations, real estate developers and individuals. Bell Baker's professionals share a dedication to excellence in the practice of law along with a zeal for the effective representation of their clients' interests. They are committed to providing clients with the highest calibre of legal services as efficiently and economically as possible. Using an integrated client-centred approach, they assign work to the lawyer or lawyers on the Bell Baker team best suited to addressing and advancing a client's interests. Whatever a client's needs, through hard work, skill and integrity Bell Baker's professionals have earned a reputation for achieving outstanding results.

At last week's luncheon, Marty Owens talked with members about Land use control in Ontario. He discussed Bell Baker's expertise in municipal law and the fact that they work mostly for the private sector although they have in the past done work for the City of Ottawa. He talked about plans that are set up by the city designating residential, commercial and other areas. Usually once these areas have been designated the boundaries are very rigid and to move them is difficult, although not impossible. In order to have this done requires the completion and submission of an application for change to the city.

Once set up of a plan is done then the zoning and by-laws are set up. If someone is not happy with a by-law they can apply to the city to have it changed. To make a change to an existing by-law an application must be completed and submitted to the city for review. These requested changes are called variances. Usually if the variance is a small one the city will approve the change and vary the by-law to suit the persons needs/purpose. When the varience is larger and more substantial a site plan agreement may be required, especially when adding to an existing building.

To find out more about Bell Baker and their services (family law, litigation, insurance defence, corporate commercial and much more), visit their website and for more information about what Marty can do for you and/or your business give him a call at (613) 237-3444.

Luncheon at the Rideau Tennis Club

Thursday, April 15, 2010 with Thank Yous
Craft Talk Speaker: Paul O'Reilly of Metro Suburban Realty
Menu: Seasonal Mixed Greens with Champagne Vinaigrette, Chicken Parmesan and Black Forest Cake

Thursday, April 29, 2010 with Thank Yous
Craft Talk Speaker: Peter Patafie of Patafie's Moving Supplies and Rentals
Menu: Mango and Pineapple Salad with Raspberry Yogurt dressing, Baked Maple Infused Trout and Lemon Meringue Pie

Interested in doing a craft talk? Contact Jennifer to arrange a date.

April 2010 - Elite Draperies
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 (5pm-8pm)

May 2010 - Armstrong & Richardson
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 (5pm-8pm)

June 2010 - E.R. Fisher
Thursday June 3, 2010 (breakfast)

June 2010 - D.E. Systems
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 (5pm-8pm)

We regretfully say goodbye to the following members:

• ArnPar Enterprises
• Shanalex Alarms Inc.

If you have member news that you would like to share, please send an email to Jennifer Baker at info@oxa.org.

Members are encouraged to bring along guests, potential members or clients to our weekly luncheons at the Rideau Tennis Club. There is no cost to the member for any potential member attending an OXA luncheon for the first time. Please notify Jennifer Baker, Executive Coordinator at info@oxa.org.