Royal Ottawa Mental Health Signage

We, the undersigned, petition the City of Ottawa to allow the continuation of the lighting of Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre’s tower signage located at 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa.

The new Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (ROMHC) opened its doors on November 1, 2006 and launched a new brand identity for the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group (ROHCG) marking a historical turn towards openness, acceptance and transformation of the mental health care system. This new facility is right out front on Carling Avenue as compared to the old facility which was set back in the trees and you had to follow a meandering roadway to get in. The new building is proudly standing out front to say that mental health will no longer be the orphan cousin in the health care sector which includes the sign on top of the building that can be seen during the day and at night time. The ROHCG wants to end the stigma of mental illness and bringing it to the forefront is the first step.

In response to concerns expressed by a couple of neighbors, the ROHCG contracted a lighting specialist to test light spillage of the tower signage along Carling and at several points in Carlington neighborhood where the signage is visible. In all instances the lighting of the tower had little to no impact at street level and at all points it was well below the City of Ottawa By-law of 0.5 fc.