Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Conservation Authority fighting spread of dangerous weed

Metro Ottawa

By Kieran Delamont, Ottawa Metro News, July 24, 2017

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority have seen an uptick in complaints about Japanese knotweed, an incredibly-difficult-to-kill invasive species can break through concrete.

The bamboo-like species, which has been known to be able to grow through pretty much anything (including concrete and asphalt) has been reported in more than a dozen locations throughout the Ottawa region.

“It definitely seems to be more of an interest this year,” says Meaghan McDonald of the RVCA. It’s hard to determine whether an increase in complaints is because of an actual increase in the spread of the plant, or if people are simply reporting it more often. Nevertheless, it remains a point of concern for the RVCA. “It’s probably one of their top targets,” she says.

New Senate building to come with bees

Metro Ottawa

By Ryan Tumilty, Ottawa Metro News, July 24, 2017

The buzz about Canada’s Senate won’t just be about padded expense accounts and questionable appointments starting in 2019, with a plan in the works to add beehives to the red chamber’s new home.

The Senate and the House of Commons will be moving out of Centre Block on Parliament Hill in 2018, to make way for a massive renovation of that building.

The Senate’s new home will be at the government conference centre down the road, opposite the Chateau Laurier. When the senators move in, so will some honey beehives.

Public Services and Procurement Canada staff confirmed the plan Monday and said it would be a first for the government.

Smart Building technology to be rolled out across federal buildings

Metro Ottawa

By Kieran Delamont, Ottawa Metro News, July 24, 2017

After a successful pilot project testing Smart Building technology in 13 buildings, Public Works will be the environmental upgrades in over 100 federal buildings over the next three years, the government announced Monday. The plan will see the federal government, as part of a public-private partnership with Jones Lang LaSalle and the RYCOM Corporation, installing modernized energy tracking technology in federal buildings.

“The Smart Buildings initiative allows us to make a real impact by implementing innovative technologies and identifying opportunities for energy savings,” said Parliamentary secretary to the minister of Public Works Steven MacKinnon in a statement. “The result is lower overall energy costs for federal buildings and a reduced carbon footprint.”

Flood watch issued for Brockville area - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, July 24, 2017

A flood watch has been issued for parts of eastern Ontario with up to 100 millimetres expected to fall across the region by Tuesday morning.

The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority issued a flood watch for the Buells Creek Reservoir and Butler's Creek areas after Brockville received 90 millimetres of rain since Sunday afternoon.

In a release, the conservation authority said flooding could occur in the low-lying areas around the creeks and near the Detention Basin between Laurier Boulevard and the Memorial Centre.

Outaouais boaters must now wash hulls or face hefty fine - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, July 25, 2017

Boaters who want to glide along the lakes near Maniwaki, Que. will have to wash their vessels in hot water — or face a $300 fine.

The municipalities of Blue Sea and Messines are making it mandatory to clean any boats entering 50 lakes in the area to keep an invasive species of mussels at bay. This is the first time two Quebec municipalities have worked together to pass legislation, according to the Blue Sea Watershed Association.

Today’s letters: Modesty, cycling and weed

Ottawa Citizen

By Micheline York, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, July 24, 2017

Cyclists, keep your heads up

One of my favourite pastimes is biking and I feel very fortunate to live in Ottawa, which offers so many bike paths and opportunities to see our great city. I am a cautious biker, wear my helmet, follow the rules and don’t listen to music so I am more aware of my surroundings.

That is why on Monday, July 17 around 12:15 in the afternoon, I was in for the shock of my life. Riding on the Sir George-Etienne Cartier Parkway, I was hit from behind by two high-speed cyclists. A major collision occurred, not that I remember much of it. I do remember the first cyclist saying to the police officer that his head was down and he did not see me. That is really hard for me to understand. How could it be that important to get a personal best time trial, go as fast as you possibly can and risk the safety of others?

LINKED: Cavanagh fined for discharging sediment into wetland

StittsvilleCentral.ca

By StittsvilleCentral (based on CBC), July 21, 2017

An Ottawa construction company convicted of discharging construction sediment into a drain that flows into the Jock River in 2013 has been fined $275,000.

Thomas Cavanagh Construction Limited was convicted in June of four charges under the Ontario Water Resources Act, according to Ontario’s environment ministry.

The construction company was installing stormwater infrastructure at the Blackstone community in South Kanata in 2013 when ministry inspectors noted excessive sediment getting into the man-made Monahan Drain wetland, which drains into the Jock River.

Nineteen OC Transpo bus shelters damaged in another vandalism spree

Metro Ottawa

By Kieran Delamont, Ottawa Metro News, July 23, 2017

Nineteen OC Transpo bus shelters were vandalized last week, say Ottawa Police.

The 19 shelters are located in Orléans on Merkley Drive, Jeanne D’Arc Boulevard, Meadowglen Drive, and Orléans Boulevard.

Police believe the shelters were damaged between Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday morning last week. As of yet, police have not made any information about potential suspects public.

Barn brings market vibe to Village Square

OttawaCommunityNews.com

By Brian Dryden, Ottawa Community News, July 20, 2017

The hope that a full-blown farmers’ market would set up shop in Village Square this summer may have faded, but that doesn’t mean that fresh produce can’t be had in the central Stittsville park this summer.

The Stittsville Farmer’s Market at the Barn will be operating every Friday this summer from 4-7 p.m. thanks to the efforts of the barn’s owner Suzanne Bird.The effort is in effect a small-scale farmers’ market in the old barn that is next to Village Square Park.

Wynne defends Hydro One-Avista deal, hopes coal-free 'value system' will spread

By Ted Raymond, CFRA News, July 21, 2017

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says she’s hopeful Hydro One’s purchase of the U.S.-based Avista Corp. will have a positive influence on energy infrastructure in the United States.

While speaking outside the Blackberry QNX facility in Kanata Friday, Wynne was asked about the $6.7 billion acquisition. Progressive Conservative Party leader Patrick Brown has called the merger “hypocritical” because Avista owns coal operations in Colstrip, Montana and Wynne’s energy plan is coal-free.

Ottawa cycling: 5 must-try summer bike rides

Ottawa Citizen

By Wayne Scanlan, Ottawa Citizen, July 22, 2017

With more than 230 kilometres of kept pathways, the National Capital Region has a reputation for being a cycling hub. To explore the possibilities, Citizen columnist Wayne Scanlan charted a Summer Ride series, five interesting day trips in and around Ottawa.

RIDE 1: WESTBORO-BRITANNIACOURSE: Island Park Dr., Ottawa River pathway

DISTANCE: 16 km round trip

RATING: EASY

Beacon Hill-Cyrville no longer cycling ‘black hole,’ councillor says

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, July 23, 2017

With new bike lanes coming to three different roads in the span of three years, Coun. Tim Tierney says his east-end ward is no longer the “black hole” of Ottawa’s cycling network.

There was very little cycling infrastructure in Beacon Hill-Cyrville before he was elected in 2010, Tierney says, and there were several missing links in the network that left some cyclists and would-be cyclists feeling unsafe.

On Ogilvie Road, for example, there are painted-on bike lanes in each direction between St. Laurent Boulevard and Blair Road.