Egan: After breathtaking tornado, Dunrobin awakens to prospect of long, slow recovery

By Kelly Egan, Ottawa Citizen, February 22, 2018

(...)“You have to understand,” Ottawa police Insp. Rob Bernier told a group of about 100 residents at a 2 p.m. briefing, “this is the epicentre, right where you are.”

(...)An Environment Canada official was on scene and described the unusual timing of a tornado this late in the year.

“We rarely get strong tornados in September,” said David Sills, a severe weather scientist who flew in from Toronto, “and this might even be an EF2 (with winds to 220 km/h). There has never been an EF3 in September or later in the fall in Canada.”

Another Environment Canada rep, Peter Kimball, later said the tornado that struck Dunrobin and then rumbled across Gatineau was a “high EF3,” while a second tornado in Arlington Woods was “high EF2.”

Majority on planning committee taking developer donations

By Joanne Chianello, CBC News Ottawa, September 21, 2018

Most councillors on the city's planning committee are accepting campaign donations from developers during this campaign, and at least a couple — including committee chair Coun. Jan Harder — have been the beneficiaries of developer-organized fundraisers.

Planning is City Hall's most powerful committee, approving billions of dollars in development applications in a single council term.

(...)Only two members — Kitchissippi's Jeff Leiper and Rideau-Rockcliffe's Tobi Nussbaum — said they are making efforts not to knowingly accept them.

Tornado hits Ottawa-Gatineau area, damaging buildings and flipping cars

By CTV News Ottawa, September 21, 2018

A tornado damaged buildings and flipped over cars as it tore its way through the Ottawa area to Gatineau on Friday.

(...)A spokesperson for Environment and Climate Change Canada told CTVNews.ca that the tornado first touched down near Dunrobin, Ont., causing "pretty significant" damage before heading across the Ottawa River.

(...)Early estimates suggest that the tornado will be classified as an EF-2, with winds topping more than 200 km/h.

“The probability of being affected by a tornado is very, very small. And even if you look at Ottawa, the coverage of this particular tornadic storm was actually quite small. But for the people affected, it’s devastating,” said Peter Kimbell, a meteorologist with the agency.

Doucet spreads scorn for developments that don't help communities

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, September 21, 2018

Clive Doucet on Thursday unleashed a scattershot heap of scorn for developments that he says eat up greenspace and suck the livability out of communities.

Doucet, who’s running for mayor in the Oct. 22 municipal election, spoke to reporters outside the fence around the new artificial turf sports field at Immaculata High School off Main Street in Old Ottawa East. He liked seeing students playing on the field, but he was annoyed that the surrounding community has been blocked from using the field.

The Immaculata field project is a partnership between the Ottawa Catholic School Board and the Ottawa Footy Sevens. The soccer organization paid $2 million for the field and the school paid an undisclosed amount for a rubberized running track. Many neighbours are angry that there was no consultation before construction.

Today's letters: Don't take city's green space for granted

By Donna Dubreuil and others, Ottawa Citizen Letters to the Editor, September 21, 2018

Don’t take green space for granted

Re: Why Ottawa needs to take green space seriously, Sept. 13.

It is encouraging that Emilie Coyle, a candidate for Ottawa council in the municipal election, has spoken out so strongly on behalf of protecting green space.

The Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre has been in existence for more than 30 years and, as never before, we are hearing from residents across the city who are very upset about the loss of natural areas within their communities.

Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail wants your support

By James Morgan, The Review, September 19, 2018

The Prescott-Russell Recreation Trail wants more people to support the trail. Prescott-Russell Recreation Trail Corporation Secretary Serge Joly said maintaining and increasing public support for the trail is important to make sure it can continue providing recreational opportunities to residents and visitors. About two years ago, the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) Council told the organization that the trail may not be able to remain open and reduced its share of funding. The trail follows a former railway line, and although the tracks are gone, VIA Rail Canada, the federally-owned passenger rail service, still owns the land, which has been leased for the trail since 2001. Joly said VIA still owns the trail property because of the long-discussed, but never implemented idea of developing a high-speed rail link in the densely populated Windsor Ontario to Quebec City corridor. If the high-speed plan ever went ahead, the trail land could end up as part of a line connecting Ottawa to Montreal.

“They want to keep their options open in case,” Joly said about the railway still owning the land. The current 10-year lease is up for renewal in 2020 and Joly said it’s also possible that UCPR could set conditions in negotiating a new lease that may not be suitable to VIA and could place the future of the trail into question. UCPR currently hires a contractor to mow grass and weeds along the trail.

Clive Doucet promises weekly summer garbage pickup

By Joanne Chianello and Matthew Kupfer, CBC News Ottawa, September 19, 2018

Clive Doucet would reinstate weekly garbage pickup during the summer months if he was elected mayor, he announced at a mayoral debate in rural south Ottawa Tuesday night.

Doucet said he's been hearing from residents that their garbage is too stinky in summer and that using the green bin can be difficult for some.

"I think the summer garbage is a real problem. I think I would support June, July, August weekly garbage pick up," he said during the debate.

Jam-packed park-and-ride leaving commuters in the lurch

By CBC News Ottawa, September 19, 2018

Gatineau commuters say they're finding it increasingly difficult to find a spot at a popular park-and-ride in the city's west end.

Rivermead park-and-ride on chemin d'Aylmer has more than 500 spaces, but users say they fill up early in the morning, leaving many scrambling to park elsewhere.

"It is really busy," said Anne Champagne in French. "We have noticed for the past few weeks that people are parking on the sidewalk."

Bus 'tweaks' possible in wake of LRT delay

By Joanne Chianello, CBC News Ottawa, September 19, 2018

OC Transpo will look at "tweaking" about a dozen bus routes that were altered in anticipation of a 2018 LRT launch, some of which now stop blocks short of major downtown destinations, transit boss John Manconi said Wednesday morning.

More than two dozen bus routes were changed in recent weeks to integrate with the light rail system, which was supposed to be up and running before the end of the year. Most of the changes were designed to deliver passengers to LRT transfer points rather than final destinations.

But last week, Manconi announced Rideau Transit Group (RTG) — the consortium building the light rail system — would not meet its completion deadline of Nov. 2.

Today's letters: Stopping Doug Ford, and what the mayor should focus on

By Dale Boire and Stan Painter, Ottawa Citizen Letters to the Editor, September 18, 2018

(...)Doucet needs to cost his transit plan

Re: If Ottawa wants a big shift to transit, Clive Doucet has a plan for it, Sept. 6.

While mayoral candidate Clive Doucet’s wide-ranging transit plan may be well-intended, and appeal to those who share his vision, it does not include the most critical element: detailed costing.

(...)Mayor should crack down on cyclists …

With an election coming, it is time for the mayor and council to do something about bike riders using the road when there are bicycle paths available.

ARMCHAIR MAYOR: York Plaza could be a great civic square

By Alan Teramura and Jill Stoner, Ottawa Citizen, September 18, 2018

Ottawa is a unique Canadian city, and perhaps its most unique feature is the Rideau Canal, with its magical attraction in both winter and summer, transcending the seasons. Yet Ottawa is missing one crucial urban feature: a large, open civic space, like Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square, Montreal’s Place des Festivals, and Vancouver’s Robson Square.

These kinds of venues, inspired by plazas and squares found in virtually every European city, enhance public life and help to reinforce international identity. Urban squares are where people celebrate together, conduct commerce and gather for the simple pleasure of being in the company of fellow citizens. These are spaces of spontaneity and joy; no great city is complete without one.

And Ottawa has such an opportunity, nearly ready-made. As a main component of Ottawa’s ByWard Market, York Street possesses the exact proportions of Rome’s famous Piazza Navonna, where at all times of day and night one finds a lively and eclectic mix of commerce, entertainment and food. With simple modifications, York Street can be transformed from what is essentially a large parking lot into a similarly vibrant and iconic public space for Ottawa.

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