Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

OC Transpo doesn't know why sales of adult passes aren't meeting expectations

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, September 19, 2018

Sales of adult monthly transit passes were below expectations in the first half of 2018 as OC Transpo girds for a projected $4.1-million revenue shortfall for the year, and that’s not even accounting for the LRT delay.

The transit commission on Wednesday learned that Transpo budgeted to sell 281,847 adult monthly passes between January and June, but it sold 268,986 passes.

On top of that, single-fare Presto e-purse transactions were about $2.5 million short of what Transpo thought it would make in those six months.

New biodiversity bank at Canadian Museum of Nature a big deal for researchers (VIDEO)

By 1310 News, September 18, 2018

It's something researchers have been waiting 11 years for.

The Canadian Museum of Nature revealed the National Biodiversity Cryobank of Canada, Tuesday.

The facility, located at the Canadian Museum of Nature's research and collections facility in Gatineau, is the first of its kind in Canada with a national mandate.

It will house hundreds of thousands of tissue and DNA samples, documenting the flora and fauna of the country, allowing researchers to answer questions about a variety species.

City combs through application to see if Ottawa should apply for Bee City status

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, September 18, 2018

City staff are combing through an application to make Ottawa a “bee city” after a councillor heard buzz from a constituent about the plight of pollinators.

Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Keith Egli received the environment committee’s full support on Tuesday for researching the requirements of the Bee City program. There’s a local petition calling for Ottawa to take action with nearly 1,200 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon, he noted.

The city already has projects promoting bee health, such as a community garden program, Egli said.

Weather Network forecasts a mild fall with a steady transition to winter

By the Canadian Press, 1310 News, September 17, 2018

Canadians can expect to enjoy a full fall season with a steady transition to winter over the next two months, The Weather Network forecasts.

The network is predicting that winter won't come early this year and that Canadians will get to experience an overall mild fall from now until the end of November.

"Our forecast team at The Weather Network is seeing this fall as a less roller-coaster ride than we normally see as we go from summer into winter," said The Weather Network's chief meteorologist, Chris Scott.

"Fall is one of those transition seasons where it is a wild roller-coaster ride. We are going to see some weeks where it's warm and some weeks that are cold, but this year it's not quite the steepness of the drops and rises we sometimes see this time of the year."

Watson launches re-election campaign with $1M economic development plan

By Joanne Chianello, CBC News Ottawa, September 16, 2018

From paving the shoulders on rural roads to cutting patio fees in half, Jim Watson's first major re-election promise included at least $1 million in economic redevelopment plans.

(...)Potentially the most expensive and undefined promise was to pave the shoulders of some rural roads to increase the cycling network in the countryside, which Watson argued could increase rural tourism.

But this promise didn't come with a price tag. It costs about $95,000 for one kilometre of paved shoulder if it's undertaken as a stand-alone project, but less if it's part of a road-resurfacing initiative.

Plan before you plant: Start your site plans for Spring this Fall!

By The Review, September 13, 2018

The 50 Million Tree Program works with landowners to finance and plan tree planting

Thinking of tree planting next spring? Fall planning brings spring planting! Forests Ontario and its planting partners want to remind landowners that fall is the most opportune time for planning next spring’s planting activities.

Tree planting is an excellent way to increase the value of your property and make a positive contribution to environmental health. Forests Ontario offers funding assistance for tree planting through the 50 Million Tree Program (50MTP), providing the benefits of tree planting at a reduced cost. Eligible landowners may receive from 75 to 90 per cent coverage of total planting costs through the program.

Coyle: Why Ottawa needs to take green space seriously

By Emilie Coyle, Ottawa Citizen, September 13, 2018

Neighbourhood green space in Ottawa is precious – and disappearing, so it’s no surprise that residents get angry when they do not receive support from the city to help them safeguard these invaluable places to gather and enjoy recreational activities or leisure time.

Whether in an established community such as College Ward or a new one like the proposed development at LeBreton Flats, residents have a right to expect basic guiding principles are not just in place, but also respected. Guiding principles that ensure neighbourhoods have enough physical spaces — such as parks and activity centres — to facilitate members functioning as a community and to enhance their quality of life.

World Wildlife Fund program, created in Ottawa, now going national

By Mike Vlasveld, 1310 News, September 15, 2018

A new program, aiming to enhance a culture of environmental sustainability and promote the protection of nature by engaging post-secondary students in meaningful actions, is expanding beyond Algonquin College.

The Algonquin community embraced Living Planet @ Campus in 2018.

Key local initiatives included tree planting along the Tay River watershed in Perth, the Go Wild School Grant, and a team of students taking part in Designing Change for a Living Planet 2018 -- a multi-campus competition held at the WWF Office in Toronto.

Don’t expect investment in local cycling any time soon

By Francis Tessier-Burns, The Review, September 13, 2018

The provincial government has made it harder for communities like the United Counties of Prescott and Russell to invest in cycling infrastructure.

Initially, the Ford government had said it would take money from the cancelled cap and trade program to put towards the Commuter Cycling Program—then it cut that program too.

Earlier this year the UCPR was surprised to receive $419,000 through the program.

Conditional to receiving the money, the UCPR had to adopt an official cycling plan, which it did last month. That ensures the money will go towards paving County Roads 4 in Hawkesbury and 9 in St-Isidore and their shoulders.

Kitchissippi families are choosing flowers over grass, and here’s why

By Misty Pratt, Kitchissippi Times, September 12, 2018

The North American lawn is a bright and lush landscape, which can offer home owners a place for recreation and respite. Many summer afternoons have been spent on lawns, kicking around a soccer ball or hosting a picnic. However, as with any monoculture, the lawn is susceptible to invasive weeds and pests and requires a significant effort to maintain the desired look. Many hours can be dedicated to seeding, fertilizing, weeding, spraying products, and mowing.

Home owners are now turning to more sustainable options for their front yard landscape. “It’s a growing trend that people want to remove the grass area, because it’s so difficult to maintain without weeds taking over,” says Richard Bown, owner of Urban Turf Landscape Solutions in Westboro.

Coyote, not humans, suspected in cat deaths in Kemptville

By Ottawa Sun, September 14, 2018

Provincial police in the Kemptville area are trying to calm cat owners who anxiously contacted the station to report their felines were dead.

Police received six such calls Thursday, the day after a local weekly newspaper published a story about an increase in missing or dead cats in the area.

“Police, with the assistance of a Conservation Officer have investigated the reported incidents,” police noted in a matter-of-fact news release.

2 new schools deemed too dangerous to walk or bike to

By Giacomo Panico, CBC News Ottawa, September 14, 2018

at two recently opened elementary schools in Kanata North are being told it's simply too risky to walk or bike to class, and are being allowed to ride the bus regardless of how close they live.

Kanata Highlands Public School on Terry Fox Drive and St. Isabel Catholic Elementary School on Goulbourn Forced Road serve the families of Morgan's Grant.

According to guidelines, elementary students living that close would normally be expected to walk to school and therefore not qualify for free bus transportation.