Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Humane society to offer clinic to newcomers about Canadian wildlife

By Vito Pilieci, Ottawa Citizen, July 20, 2018

The Ottawa Humane Society will partner with Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization on Sunday to host a wildlife awareness event for newcomers to Canada.

The event aims to teach newcomers to Canada about this country’s wildlife, including an urban wildlife presentation to describe various animals that exist in and around Canadian cities. Crafts to explain the habits of nesting birds and attendees will be offered a “how to” guide to wildlife that they can take with them. The event will take place on Sunday between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Carleton Heights Community Centre on Apeldoorn Avenue. It will be lead by Stephanie Millar, coordinator of humane education at the Ottawa Humane Society.

Proposal for Booth complex seeks removal of height limits, interior setbacks

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, July 20, 2018

In order to capitalize on its plan to redevelop an old federal complex on Booth Street, Canada Lands Company is asking the city to remove height limits and rezone the Little Italy site so future developers won’t have to worry about how close the buildings can be to each other.

The request is outlined in official plan and zoning amendments submitted to the city for consideration by the built-heritage and planning committees this fall.

(...)Several key principles have guided the plan, according to the planning-rationale report, namely that the overall transformation of the Booth district should result in a “vibrant and appealing hub for the community with a distinct sense of place that is unique to the Ottawa region.”

It should aim to maintain its campus feel and feature mid-block pedestrian and cycling connections, with minimal vehicular access. All public streets, open spaces and mid-block connections should be animated, vibrant and inviting places, the report says.

Water in Munster runs brown but city says it is safe

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, July 20, 2018

Tapwater in Munster is running brown this month, as power fluctuations at the pumping station have indirectly caused a release of iron into the water supply.

Now the question is how long it will be before the water turns clear.

“I had some last night (Thursday) and Wednesday morning and earlier in July,” said Dave Tellier, president of the Munster Community Association. Sometimes he can get rid of the brown colour by running the tap for five minutes, but one day it took an hour to clear.

“Since I’ve been vocal about it a number of things have happened,” he said. On Friday the city sent someone to his house to test the water, and test it at some neighbours’ places as well, “which is nice to see.”

Drought in the Valley, but Ottawa River residents not affected, so far

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, July 20, 2018

After weeks of hot and dry weather, the Ottawa Valley is officially in a widespread drought, with officials asking people who draw water from the Rideau and Mississippi systems to cut back their consumption.

Urban residents whose water comes from the Ottawa River are not affected.

Levels of drought vary: It is considered moderate in the Rideau Valley watershed, but minor so far in the Mississippi Valley.

“Rainfall in the last 90 days, measured at climate stations in and around the watershed, is about 60 per cent of the normal amount for the time of year which is the threshold for Moderate Severity Low Water,” says the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority in an update Friday.

Holland Avenue detour is too dangerous, Cyclists say

By Saif Kaisar, 1310 News, July 20, 2018

"We're already seeing conflicts, we're already seeing honking, cars getting frustrated because they have to travel on the road a little bit slowly. They're are swerving around the cyclists, going into on-coming traffic," said Trevor Haché, Vice President of Healthy Transportation Ottawa

The detour is in place on Holland Ave. until construction on the Harmer Ave. Bridge concludes.

The initial designs were scrapped after residents were upset at the loss of on-street parking spots.

The City of Ottawa responded by painting green markings along the 500 metre detour which now leads cyclists to the middle of road where they share the space with motorists in single file.

Minor Drought Conditions for the Mississippi River watershed

By 1310 News, July 19, 2018

Officials with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority say the Mississippi river watershed is in minor drought due to lack of rainfall.

Rainfall amounts throughout the region have been extremely low to nonexistent for the month of July.

The MVCA is asking residents, businesses and industries to reduce water consumption by ten percent in order to help reduce the impacts of the low water conditions.

What the cancellation of the Eastern Fields Wind Project means

By François Tessier-Burns, The Review, July 18, 2018

By now, you’ve likely heard Doug Ford’s provincial government announced the “wind-down” of more than 750 renewable energy contracts.

One of those projects is the Eastern Fields Wind Project slated to go up in La Nation and Champlain.

“We’re obviously disappointed and a little bit shocked at the turn of events,” says Andrea Cosman, an associate developer with Renewable Energy Systems (RES), the company behind the project.

https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-29/html/container.html

Cosman added that RES “found out along with everyone else,” and that it still hadn’t received formal notice of cancellation from the province.

Town of Hawkesbury sells Tessier Street property for tire recycling, waste recovery facility

By Louise Sproule, The Review, July 17, 2018

Ecolomondo Corporation (TSXV: ECM) (the “Company” or “Ecolomondo“) has completed the purchase of a site to build its latest Thermal Decomposition (“TDP“) turnkey facility to be built on Tessier street in the Town of Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada.

Further to an Agreement of Purchase and Sale (“APS“) completed with the Town of Hawkesbury on April 19, 2018, and further to the satisfactory completion of all due diligence conditions, the parties successfully closed the transaction on July 11, 2018. The purchase price was $400,000, including a contribution of $315,000 by Ecolomondo to build an extension of Tessier Street.

Site work is to begin immediately, including deforestation and geotechnical reports required for municipal and environmental permit applications.

https://thereview.ca/2018/07/17/town-of-hawkesbury-sells-tessier-street-property-for-tire-recycling-waste-recovery-facility/

City finance committee approves $200k upgrades to Stittsville Main Street trailhead

By Devyn Barrie, StittsvilleCentral, July 3, 2018

The City of Ottawa is looking to secure $856,000 from the province for citywide main street improvements and Stittsville’s getting a slice of the pie.

On Tuesday, the city’s Finance and Economic Development Committee green-lit a plan for Ottawa to get the cash from the province’s Main Street Revitalization Initiative — a $26 million pot of money. The plan will go to city council next for approval.

If approved, the Trans-Canada Trail piazza off Stittsville Main Street is in for some $200,000 worth of upgrades.

Today's letters: When approving development, how tall is too tall?

By Carolyn Herbert, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, July 14, 2018

(...)Place tall buildings in the ‘burbs

I am discouraged with the approval of the extremely high buildings on Albert Street. I do not understand why density has to be pursued in the city core when so many people choose to live in suburbs. Why is council not considering these huge buildings for the outer ring of the city?

The approval of these high buildings shows disrespect to the adjacent community, which spent time designing its community plans; and the size of the buildings, though on the LRT line, will create a wind-tunnel effect and cast very long shadows on the adjacent neighbourhood.

Detailed plans for the development should have been made public before the Council even considered approval – issues such as essential services like a medical multidisciplinary clinic, grocery store, and energy-and water-saving measures. And why did the councillors make their decision to accept such a huge change from previous height restrictions?

ARMCHAIR MAYOR: Make Ottawa a 'bee' city

By Julianne Labreche, Ottawa Citizen, July 17, 2018

This fall, citizens of Ottawa elect a new city council. To help local candidates, the Citizen asked people for ONE idea that would make the city a better place. Today, we get the buzz from Julianne Labreche, a member of the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton. 

Let’s give Ottawa official status as a Bee City, joining the growing ranks of Canadian cities already onboard.

Bees, as the saying goes, need a swarm of support these days. These important pollinators face many threats: habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, pests and diseases. We depend on bees for food.  Bees pollinate about 85 per cent of our flowering plants, including many fruits and vegetables that we eat everyday.

When vegans attack: French butchers seek help to fend off acts of vegan 'violence'

By Laura Brehot, Ottawa Citizen, July 18, 2018

French butchers say they’re experiencing a swell of smashed windows and fake blood-spattered facades. Graffiti-strewn storefronts bearing slogans such as “Meat is murder” and “Stop speciesism” have been witnessed across the country. The perpetrators: “militant vegans.”

According to NPR’s The Salt, a growing number of butchers, particularly in northern France, have reported vegan acts of vandalism. They reportedly feel so distressed by the damage that they’ve asked the government for protection.

Earlier this month, representatives of the French Confederation of Butchery, Butchers and Delicatessen – a group 18,000-members strong – “demanded better security” from interior minister Gérard Collomb.