Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Tewin owners get city exemption to clear cut for farming

By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, March 7, 2023

Tree cutting is expected to resume on a huge, partially clearcut parcel in rural southeast Ottawa, after city staff determined that the partners behind the future suburb of Tewin did not require a tree permit because they say they intend to farm the property.

The City of Ottawa planned to lift a stop-work order Tuesday on the cutting of trees at the large property north of Piperville Road owned by the Algonquins of Ontario (AOO), according to a memo sent to city council by Don Herweyer, general manager of planning, real estate and economic development.

...In recent days, Ecology Ottawa has begun a petition calling for the City of Ottawa to investigate the clearing of the lands and make the results public.

Find the whole article here.

 

Une veillée à la bougie pour la patinoire du canal Rideau

Un groupe environnemental d'Ottawa a organisé une veillée à la chandelle pour la patinoire du canal Rideau qui n'a pu accueillir les patineurs cette année. Les organisateurs y voient une conséquence de la crise climatique et s'inquiètent de voir cette situation exceptionnelle devenir la norme.

Écologie Ottawa et un collectif de professionnels spécialisés dans le deuil ont organisé une vigile au parc du ruisseau Patterson mardi soir. Une trentaine de personnes se sont réunies pour la cause.

Il y a toujours la possibilité qu’on puisse patiner sur le canal dans les prochaines années, mais on sait bien qu’il y a une menace, explique William Van Geest, coordonnateur des programmes chez Écologie Ottawa. La menace, bien sûr, ce sont les changements climatiques.

...La participation à la vigile est un premier pas vers la mobilisation ontre les changements climatiques, renchérit Gabriel De Sandro.

Lisez l'article au complet ici.

Mourners say climate change killed the Rideau Canal skating season in 2023

By Shaun Vardon, CTV News Ottawa

Dozens of people gathered on Tuesday to mourn the loss of this year's Rideau Canal Skateway.

The event at Patterson Creek in the Glebe, dubbed a community vigil, was organized by Ecology Ottawa to highlight the impacts of climate change.

...Organizers say 2023 could just be a taste of winters to come if more is not done to combat the effects of climate change.

Find the whole article here.

 

If we can no longer skate on Ottawa’s Rideau Canal, we must change the climate conversation

By Trish Audette-Longo, National Observer

...Alice Irene Whittaker is the executive director of Ecology Ottawa, a local environmental organization. If the canal had opened, she would have been on it with her children, “getting BeaverTails and just being there in the sunshine, out in nature with fellow citizens.”

Whittaker said there was a striking emptiness of the canal this winter.

...Alongside Heart Land, a group that says it offers "wholistic health support for the impacts of climate change," and the community group Community Deathcare Ottawa, Ecology Ottawa is co-hosting a vigil for the skateway today at Patterson Creek, a waterway that stretches from the canal into a neighbourhood park.

Find the whole article here.

Tewin clearcutting needs to be explained, says committee chair

By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, March 2, 2023

The chair of the City of Ottawa's environment and climate change committee wants staff to explain how hundreds of trees were cut down without a permit at the city's future suburb of Tewin and what could happen next under the tree protection bylaw.

Capital Coun. Shawn Menard said drone video taken by CBC News shows that the Tewin development partners — the Algonquins of Ontario and Taggart Group — were doing more than cleaning up from May's derecho, as they have stated.

Find the whole article here.

Large deforestation starting between Piperville road and Leitrim Road: Tewin project

By CJRO Carslbad Springs, February 18, 2023 (bilingual article)

A large section of trees between Piperville road and Leitrim road and Anderson road and Ramsayville road in Carlsbad Springs has been removed and transported by huge trucks. CJRO Radio has contacted Taggart and also Councillor George Darouze to request an update on the status of the Tewin project. The Carlsbad Springs Community Association received inquiries from residents and trying to understand what is happening as there has not been any update on what is next since the community presentation that occurred in January 2021, and on the up-coming community plan for Tewin.

Find the whole article here.

 

Vigil planned to mourn Rideau Canal Skateway

By Michael Woods, CTV News Ottawa, March 1, 2023

Community groups in Ottawa are planning a vigil to mourn the Rideau Canal Skateway, which did not open for the first time in its 53-year history this year.

"We will gather in community to honour loss, climate grief, and uncertainty surrounding the canal skateway, and explore collective resilience and positive action," organizers said in a news release.

...Heart Land, a group of healing practitioners, is hosting the vigil in partnership with Community Deathcare Ottawa, a collective of end-of-life care workers, and Ecology Ottawa, an environmental group.

Find the whole article here.

‘A part of winter is missing’: Ottawa grieves over lack of canal ice for skating

By Leyland Cecco in Toronto, The Guardian,

...Last week, the National Capital Commission (NCC), which is responsible for development, urban planning, and conservation in Canada’s capital region, made official what everyone knew to be true: the Rideau would remain closed for the season for the first time in more than half a century.

The closure has raised larger questions about the future of the world’s largest ice rink as the climate crisis increasingly foils outdoor winter activities.

Find the whole article here.

La CCN en mode solution pour contrer les fermetures

Par Jean-François Dugas, Le Droit

«Nous ne pourrons pas ouvrir la patinoire du canal Rideau cet hiver. Malgré tous nos efforts, la météo a eu raison de nous pour la première fois de notre histoire. Vous êtes déçus. Nous sommes déçus. Bruce est déçu.»

....«La fermeture de la patinoire du canal Rideau résonne vraiment chez les gens. Nous connaissons tous les faits, les statistiques : les changements climatiques apportent des événements météorologiques, comme le derecho l’an dernier […] Nous savons tous qu’une telle situation était en théorie possible, mais maintenant que c’est une réalité, les gens le ressentent davantage, ce qui provoque plusieurs émotions chez eux», témoigne Alice Irene Whittaker d’Écologie Ottawa.

Lire l'article au complet ici.

 

La coupe d’arbres dans le développement de Tewin à Ottawa suscite le questionnement

Par Kate Porter et Rebecca Kwan, ICI Radio Canada Ottawa Gatineau, le 2 mars 2023

Le président du Comité de l'environnement et du changement climatique de la Ville d'Ottawa souhaite que le personnel municipal explique comment des centaines d'arbres ont été abattus sans permis dans la future banlieue de Tewin, à Ottawa. Ce qui pourrait se passer ensuite en vertu du règlement sur la protection des arbres aussi le préoccupe.

Selon le conseiller du quartier Capitale, Shawn Menard, une vidéo prise par un drone et diffusée par CBC

montre que les partenaires du développement de Tewin, les Algonquins de l'Ontario et le groupe Taggart, faisaient plus que nettoyer les dégâts causés par le derecho de mai, comme ils l'ont déclaré.

Lire l'article au complet ici.

 

 

Pinder and Lind: Ottawa is still allowing sprawl next to transit stations, and that’s a problem

By Matt Pinder and Brandon Lind, Ottawa Citizen Op-ed

...It is well-known that in order to maximize the value of their investment, rapid transit stations should be surrounded by dense, walkable, mixed-use neighbourhoods. This development style benefits both residents and the city; residents gain more housing options while being less financially burdened by car ownership, while the city collects a higher tax base, more transit fare revenue, and can provide services more efficiently.

...And yet despite the opportunity provided by the adjacent O-Train Station and the visionary Official Plan, three out of four corners at this intersection are set to become sprawling big-box shopping plazas with giant parking lots, no housing and a public realm that would be hostile to anyone outside of a car.

Find the whole article here.

After unprecedented closure, concern grows for Rideau Canal Skateway’s future in warmer world

By Matthew Slevin, Capital Current, February 28, 2023

...on Feb. 24, the National Capital Commission officially announced that, for the first time since it debuted in 1971, the Rideau Canal Skateway would not open.

The unprecedented situation has environmentalists and citizens alike concerned for the future of the iconic Ottawa landmark.

...“It’s a bit of a gut punch,” said William Van Geest, a program coordinator at Ecology Ottawa. “I think folks think about Ottawa in terms of winter, and folks think about Ottawa winters in terms of the canal.”

Find the whole article here.