By Louise Sproule, The Review, June 21, 2019
Are you planning an environmental or recreational event for your community this summer? South Nation Conservation (SNC) is now accepting applications for its Community Environmental Grants Program.
Non-profit groups are encouraged to apply to receive a grant of up to $300 to help offset the costs of their event or activity. The program has four grant categories: River, Heritage, Agri-Environmental and Community Outreach.
By Mideline Bony, 1310 News, June 22, 2019
The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation (RVCF) is giving students from disadvantaged classes, access to its outdoor education programs, during the 2019-2020 school year. As part of the initiative, tuition and transportation costs will be covered for all 12 participating schools from the city of Ottawa.
More than 10,000 elementary and secondary school students from all over are welcomed every year to the Outdoor Education programs at Baxter and Foley Mountain conservation areas. During that time, students attend sessions taught by certified teachers and get to experience nature while learning about science and conservation.
By StittsvilleCentral, June 21, 2019
OC Transpo’s summer service starts Sunday, June 23. Schedule adjustments and seasonal reductions will reflect the lower demand for service as the school year ends and customers take vacations.
Customers should visit octranspo.com and use the travel planner to see if their regular trips are affected. Summer schedules are also available by calling 613-560-1000 or texting 560560 plus the four‑digit bus stop number.
Customers will notice changes at their stop, including new bus stop signs, schedules and maps. With almost 6,000 stops across the city, OC Transpo is preparing for the network-wide bus route changes that will take place following the opening of O-Train Line 1. Current bus service will remain in place until then and up-to-date maps and schedules are available online, or by calling 613-560-1000 or texting 560560 plus the four‑digit bus stop number. Looking ahead, customers can find out how their trip will change after Line 1 opens by using the Ready for Rail Travel Planner at octranspo.com/ready4rail.
By Rachel Aeillo, CTV News, June 23, 2019
OTTAWA – Federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer acknowledges that his proposal to cap emissions from big polluters will include the government setting a cost per tonne of excess emissions, but he won’t call it a price.
A big piece of his plan is to force large-scale polluters—those who emit more than 40 kilotonnes a year—to reinvest in certified emissions-reducing technology a “set amount” for every tonne they emit over the limit, instead of paying penalties to the government.
By Blair Crawford, Ottawa Sun, June 22, 2019
KITCHENER — Last November, commuters in the Kitchener-Waterloo region were promised they’d be riding light-rail transit in the spring of 2019.
Friday morning, with just 15 minutes to summer, the first passenger-carrying Ion train pulled out of Kitchener’s Fairway Station.
As dignitaries strutted and preened under the blazing, not-yet-summer sun, with fluttering flags and a brass band playing, it was a launch party that Ottawans can only dream about.
“They’re very different systems,” said Waterloo Regional Counciller Tom Galloway, one of the driving forces behind the Grand River Transit’s Ion LRT. “This is a development tool. Ottawa’s is a mass transit system.”
By Joanne Chianello, CBC News Ottawa, June 22, 2019
When Ottawa's transit commission voted in favour of buying two electric buses this week, it didn't initially appear to be controversial news.
As OC Transpo boss John Manconi said during the meeting, "everyone here is in favour of electric buses," a reference to the transit commissioners and city staff sitting in the Champlain meeting room at city hall.
Everyone? Actually, no. Just last month, in fact, city staff penned a memo — signed by Manconi himself — recommending against an electric bus pilot, at least for now.By George Neville and John Beare, Ottawa Citizen Letters to the Editor, June 22, 2019
(...)Hospitals must confront their plastics problem
Re: From IV tubing to syringes to saline bags, hospitals need plastic – Single-use ban looms, but are all plastics bad? June 13.
This illustrated article on hospital plastic waste is simplistic, apologetic to the industry and fails to give scope to the magnitude and diversity of the health and disposal problems.
(...)Don’t jump the gun on electric buses
Re: Transpo wants to buy electric buses without having a trial run, June 20.
There’s an Arab saying about not letting a camel get its nose into your tent because soon it will be followed by the whole camel. OC Transpo says it doesn’t want to run a pilot project but it wants to buy two all-electric buses now. Even two buses will require the infrastructure to charge and maintain electric buses and train-bus operators in their use.
Those two buses will be the thin edge of the wedge to a fleet of electric buses. Why not wait such a decision until the pilot projects being run by others are finished?
By Alison Mah, Ottawa Citizen, June 22, 2019
Bike-share service VeloGO is bidding an abrupt goodbye to the capital region.
“Dear riders, thanks for your dedication and support over the last four years,” VeloGO Canada tweeted Friday night. “Because our contract with the NCC has expired, we will not be returning this season. We are sad to miss out on our favourite time of the year, but this is not goodbye. We hope to see you next year!”
The bike-sharing business launched in July 2015, when VeloGO rolled out its 300-bike fleet in central Ottawa and Gatineau.
In 2014, the NCC agreed to give CycleHop, the Miami-based company that owns and operates VeloGO, free access for five years to 25 NCC-owned locations for docking stations.
By Evelyn Harford, InsideOttawaValley, June 19, 2019
Not only does Tanya Kaczan, owner of Reclaimed Textile Recycling & Clothier, curate second hand items for her thrift store as a way to reduce the impact of fast fashion on the planet, she also recycles materials from clothing that won’t cut it on the sales floor.
“I just wanted to recycle as much out of the bag of donation as possible,” she said.
By Mike Vlasveld, 1310 News, June 19, 2019
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson expects residents to be riding trains down the city's new Confederation Line in September.
After a meeting with train manufacturers Alstom, Tuesday, Watson told 1310 NEWS' Ottawa Today with Mark Sutcliffe, he is confident the new light rail system will be taking passengers not long after Labour Day.
However, the mayor said he would have preferred a roll out sometime in the summer.
“I totally understand that request,” transportation general manager John Manconi replied. “It’s done frequently, but we would strongly urge you not to go down that path, even on a Sunday.”
By CBC News, June 18, 2019
Homes and businesses aren't the only places that have suffered damage due to this year's high waters and heavy rains. Provincial parks not far from Ottawa are also dealing with the aftermath.
The neighbouring North Beach Provincial Park is also closed due to high water levels and is not expected to open until June 28.