Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Could increasing parking fees help stave off transit fare hikes?

Metro Ottawa

With the 2018 budget on the horizon, one Ottawa transit advocate is urging the city to freeze transit fares while hiking parking fees, which have remained largely unchanged for the last decade. “Since 2008, the city has increased the cost of the monthly OC Tranpo bus pass by $32.75, and the cost per ride for people using bus tickets by $1.40,” said Trevor Haché, vice president of the Healthy Transit Coalition. “Meanwhile, on-street parking feed were increased $0, zilch, zip, nada.

”The last time the city raised its on-street parking rate was in 2008, when it raised the maximum rate from $2.50 to $3. Conversely, in 2015 council approved 2.5 per cent fare increases through 2018, after previous years with increases as high as 7.5 per cent.

New community gardens

Metro Ottawa

By Kieran Delamont, Ottawa Metro News, October 15, 2017

Thirty new community gardens have been completed in Ottawa, the mayor announced on Saturday.

In 2014, the city committed to spend $15,000 extra per year to fund the creation of 20 new community gardens by 2018. The project was more successful than planned: 30 gardens were created, a year ahead of schedule.

There are now a total of 94 community gardens in Ottawa, administered by Just Food Ottawa and funded in part through city grants.

80 km/hr wind gusts expected to power through Ottawa area tonight

OttawaCommunityNews.com

By Erin MacCracken, Ottawa Community News, October 15, 2017

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement indicating that strong wind gusts are expected to blow into the Ottawa area late Sunday afternoon and into the evening.

Wind gusts of up to 80 km/hr may power through the Ottawa area as early as late Sunday afternoon and into the evening, dragging a cold front with them.“A line of heavy showers and possible thunderstorms will accompany the gusty winds,” according to Environment Canada, which issued a special weather statement for the Ottawa area Sunday afternoon.

Heavy winds could fell trees, cause power outages Sunday across eastern Ontario - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, October 14, 2017

Heavy winds could ravage a wide swath of eastern Ontario Sunday, according to a special weather statement from Environment Canada.

The weather agency is urging people to prepare for power outages and potential tree damage in a number of communities, including: Kingston, Greater Napanee, Prince Edward County, Bancroft, Pembroke, Renfrew.

Sunday's forecast is calling for wind gusts between 70 and 80 kilometres per hour, with occasional gusts of up to 90 kilometres per hour closer to the Great Lakes.

Environment Canada is also calling for a "soaking" rainfall for towns and cities in the Ottawa Valley, beginning Saturday night and continuing into Sunday.

Stittsville company’s invention deployed in downtown bike safety pilot

StittsvilleCentral.ca

By Glen Gower, StittsvilleCentral, October 12, 2017

Safer Roads Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service have launched a new cyclist detection system on the O’Connor bike lanes at the corner of Waverley.

Safer Roads Ottawa engaged with SmartCone Technologies Incorporated, a local start-up company in Stittsville, to implement their innovative prototype sensor technology on O’Connor Street.

“Using an innovative approach, Safer Roads Ottawa and SmartCone customized and tested the prototype which involves using cameras, motion detectors, and programmable LED lighting,” said Rob Wilkinson, Coordinator of Safer Roads Ottawa.

No change in policy as a result of Waste Watch Ottawa report

Metro Ottawa

By Kieran Delamont, Ottawa Metro News, October 12, 2017

The city has responded to a report released in September by Waste Watch Ottawa, saying that while the numbers are correct, it disagrees with the conclusion that the city should do more to improve waste diversion in the short term.

"In general, they have basically said that the numbers we used are right, and are the authoritative numbers," said Duncan Bury, from Waste Watch Ottawa. "Our view is that the city's report confirms our analysis about how mediocre the City of Ottawa's programs are.

"Waste Watch Ottawa found that Ottawa was lagging behind other municipalities when it comes to diversion rates. It also called on the City of Ottawa to do more in the short term to increase participation in the blue box and green bin programs.

City launches new road safety technology for cyclists, drivers on O'Connor Street

OttawaCommunityNews.com

By Michelle Nash Baker, Ottawa Community News, October 13, 2017

The city has spent $40,000 on a new pilot project aimed at helping cyclists and drivers stay safe along O’Connor Street.

Nine posts will light up as cyclists approach the Waverly Street and O’Connor intersection, and Safer Roads Ottawa co-ordinator Rob Wilkinson said the $40,000 price tag is money well spent if it saves even just one life.

“If we avoid one collision, let alone a serious or a fatality then the technology goes beyond what we wanted and it's worth it,” Wilkinson said.

City fined $42K after O-Trains went through red lights - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, October 13, 2017

The City of Ottawa has been slapped with a $42,708.06 fine after trains on the O-Train Trillium Line blew through red lights at least five times since 2015, according to the head of OC Transpo.

In a memo to members of city council Friday afternoon, transit boss John Manconi said Transport Canada issued a notice of violation to the city on Sept. 21 after the federal agency was notified of an incident in the spring. On May 3, 2017, a train with an operator on board travelled through a red light signal after another oncoming train had already passed by.

Dawson: Ottawa’s not going electric – at least not in hockey arenas

Ottawa Citizen

By Tyler Dawson, Ottawa Citizen, October 12, 2017

A Toyota Prius versus a Ford Mustang. A Chevy Volt versus a Dodge RAM. An electric Zamboni versus a propane Zamboni.Which would you choose?

Well, the City of Ottawa has made its choice and it comes down firmly on the side of a machine that burns fossil fuels. In 2017, it bought eight propane Zambonis, at a cost of $84,000 each, and one natural gas machine, at a cost of $87,000, instead of going with electric options.

“The issues with these existing electric units have included limited operating time between battery charging, facility up-costs regarding charging stations, specialized training of operators, and in particular power/performance shortfalls which limits where electric ice resurfacers can operate effectively,” says a report to the city’s transportation committee.

Transit and economic development are top Ottawa interests in Gatineau municipal election

Ottawa Citizen

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, October 13, 2017

Ottawa’s ties with Gatineau have grown stronger in recent years, which is why Mayor Jim Watson is curious to see how the municipal election will shake out on the other side of the Ottawa River.

“I follow the mayor’s race because they are our next-door neighbours and it’s important that we have a good relationship, but I’ll let the voters decide. We’ll work with whoever is elected,” Watson said.

The two cities have worked together on transit and tourism initiatives. The two mayors sit beside each other as non-voting members during meetings of the National Capital Commission board of directors. The mayors’ offices are in regular communication.

Growing wild turkey population takes bite out of Ontario forests

Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, October 13, 2017

Eastern North America’s wild turkey population is growing so fast that two Pennsylvania scientists say they are damaging parts of forests in their state, and Ontario could suffer as well.

Twenty years ago, there were no wild turkeys in Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais, but Ontario and Quebec released them as game for hunters. Today these big, tough, slightly comical birds are all around.At the University of Pittsburgh, Michael Chips and Walter Carson tramped through forests counting places where turkeys have scraped away biologically rich layers of the forest floor as they scratch for food.

Raw Pulp + Grind opens its doors to hungry customers – Kitchissippi Times

By Paula Roy, Kitchissippee Times, October 12, 2017

The sign on the wall reads: “Pure Raw Joy,” which may sound like an audacious promise for a little vegan eatery, but for Raw Pulp + Grind it’s a proven concept. The young company launched its second destination in Westboro on October 4.

Co-owners Melissa Shabinsky, Jordan O’Leary (of Morning Owl coffee fame), Nicola Wharton Valente and Richard Valente (of Fratelli restaurants and Roberto pizza) have created a spot that offers not only healthy, plant-based cuisine but also a friendly, energetic vibe.