By Kathey Scheepers, StittsvilleCentral, January 14, 2018
By CBC News Ottawa, January 14, 2018
Environment Canada has issued a smog warning for the Gatineau and Maniwaki areas, blaming wood heating for the rise in pollutants.
According to the agency, wood heating is the most common cause of winter smog warnings in Quebec due to the prevalence of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces.
Levels of air pollutants are expected to increase this evening and remain high into Monday morning.
By the Ottawa Citizen, January 14, 2018
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, you’ll need to bundle up when you go outside today.
Environment Canada’s extreme cold warning is over for now, but it remains cold out.
With light winds out of the southeast, the windchill at noon was -22 for Ottawa.
For Gatineau, however, there’s a smog warning in effect.
Atmospheric conditions could result in a deterioration in air quality. Air pollutant levels will become high starting this evening and persist into Monday morning.
By StittsvilleCentral, January 12, 2018
The City is establishing a Planning Advisory Committee (PAC). The mandate of the PAC is to advise on the Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department’s policy priorities and its annual work plan and may also include other matters as they arise.
Several positions are available:
- Residents residing in the Rural Area of Ottawa (2 members)
- Residents residing inside the Greenbelt (2 members)
- Residents residing within the Urban Area outside of the Greenbelt (2 members)
By CBC News Ottawa, January 12, 2018
An Ottawa man accused of posing as an Uber driver to steal from his unsuspecting passengers is facing several charges including sexual assault and fraud.
Ottawa police charged Sami Hassan Khreis, 37, Friday.
Police received reports in December about a man posing as an Uber driver in order to steal money from victims.
By the Canadian Press, Ottawa Citizen, January 13, 2018
MONTREAL — While people in British Columbia are mindful of the fact they could eventually face some of the strongest earthquakes in the world, at least one study warns there’s a lack of awareness of the risk in Eastern Canada.
One report released last summer predicts Montrealers could suffer $45 billion in economic losses if the city were to experience an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale. That’s the estimated strength of a tremor that hit Montreal in 1732.
By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, January 12, 2018
(...)Will any delays with the Confederation Line LRT impact Stage 2
construction?
Watson said the plan has been to start Stage 2 construction in 2019 after awarding the contract later in 2018, so any Stage 1 delay won’t impact the start of the next phase. As for the 2018 launch date for Stage 1, Watson said the city should be able to provide a start date in the next two months.
By Laura Osman, CBC News Ottawa, January 11, 2018
Some Barrhaven residents are raising a stink about a foul odour wafting through their neighbourhood that they suspect is emanating from the nearby Trail Road landfill.
People living in Half Moon Bay, five kilometres northeast of the landfill, say the funk from the waste facility became much more offensive last summer, and has lingered over the area ever since.
"It is just so distinct, the smell. It's almost like a chemical, organic smell," said Jennie Esnard, who moved to the area six years ago.
By Kristy Nease, CBC News Ottawa, January 12, 2018
Residents can have their say about the planned revitalization of Sparks Street at a town hall being held Saturday morning.
The city wants ideas about how the pedestrian mall should be updated. Everything from how the mall functions, to its heritage aspects, current programming, amenities and transportation access are on the table.
The town hall is being held in council chambers at City Hall from 8:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 13, with opening remarks scheduled for 9 a.m.
By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, January 11, 2018
With light-rail stations due to open nearby, a new Indigenous centre promised for Wellington Street and a push on by the federal government to spiff up the Parliamentary Precinct, the city is holding a public consultation on Saturday on how to revive Sparks Street. Again.
Wait, no, it’s too soon to be cynical. I’ll hold off for a few hundred words.
The session will be led personally by Mayor Jim Watson. That’s unusual, and a sign of how seriously the city is taking it. The city controls the “public realm” on Sparks — the street part, in between the buildings. That’s very important but it’s also limited. A street can be built and appointed as beautifully as you like, but it’s the activities and businesses that define it, not the quality of the cobblestones and comfiness of the benches.
By Alistair Summerlee, Ottawa Citizen, January 11, 2018
Last month at the Bayview Yards innovation centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada Minister Catherine McKenna announced the national Smart Cities Challenge, a $50 million prize for the large Canadian city with the best plan for improving the lives of its residents through innovation, data and technology.
The location of McKenna’s announcement was perfect, because Bayview Yards is a nexus for partnerships between the high-tech sector, post-secondary institutions and all three levels of government — a collaborative community that will not only give Ottawa a great shot at the prize but is also the driving force behind the National Capital Region’s resurgence as a global technology hub.
By Wayne Scanlan, Ottawa Citizen, January 11, 2018
As a boy skating on the frozen South Castor River, Trevor Jamieson didn’t want to be any place else in the world.
As an adult, Jamieson returned from the city back to rural life near Metcalfe, about 30 kilometres southeast of Ottawa. Skating is a central theme in his new venture.
On Saturday at his property on Yorks Corners Road, about a five-minute drive east of Metcalfe, Jamieson is launching the grand opening for the RiverOak Estates skating trail. There will be kids games, a bonfire and live music from 2 p.m. to 4 pm. At least 1.6 kilometres of skating trail should be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., weather permitting, and as early as next week, another one kilometre-plus of skating trails.