Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Greenspace groups fear housing legislation will gut conservation authorities

By Joanne Laucius, Ottawa Citizen

What happened to the beaver pond in Kanata North this summer is an example of why Ontario’s conservation authorities matter, says Barbara Ramsay.

...Paul Johanis, chair of the Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital, is concerned that the new legislation means development proponents will be able to ask that portions of larger wetlands be evaluated for development.

...Alice Irene Whittaker, executive director of Ecology Ottawa, an environmental group that keeps an eye on city council decisions, agrees. Wetlands reduce flooding, process nutrients and provide habitats for species at risk. All of this is interconnected, she said.

Find the whole article here.

Déchiqueter les feuilles à domicile, une approche plus écologique

Par ICI Radio Canada, le 30 octobre 2022

En cette période de ramassage des feuilles, la Ville de Sherbrooke invite les citoyens à adopter une approche plus écologique. Elle leur propose notamment de faire du feuillicyclage, c'est-à-dire de tondre les feuilles mortes pour qu'elles puissent servir d'engrais.

Comme l'explique Ingrid Dubuc, directrice du Bureau de l'environnement à la Ville de Sherbrooke, les feuilles peuvent aussi être utilisées à divers endroits sur les terrains.

Lisez l'article au complet ici.

Today's letters: More on the police chief; the convoy; and housing

By Ian Steward, Letter to the Editor, Ottawa Citizen, November 1, 2022

....Turn parking lots into housing

I recently cycled past the seven large parking lots for Ottawa’s Constellation Drive office complex. I had an idea that would help our new mayor achieve his goal for affordable housing, and add riders to OC Transpo.

Less than half of the parking lot spaces are full so why not take three and build affordable housing units?

Find the whole article here.

Ecology Ottawa’s new leader aims to have immediate impact on city’s new council

By Alexander Dolansky-Overland, Capital Current, October 17, 2022

Ecology Ottawa’s new executive director Alice Irene Whittaker has been in the job for less than two months, and she already has her work cut out for her.

While the environmental advocacy group announced Whittaker’s appointment on Sept. 12 — about halfway through the Ottawa election eco-debates — the activist and podcaster has fully embraced the challenge of guiding the organization at this crucial time.

“What that means is galvanizing citizen support to push city hall to be as ambitious as possible on environmental issues,” said Whittaker, vowing to “make the city more progressive on environment, focus on climate justice (and) the wellbeing of people as well as on the environment itself.”

Find the whole article here.

Gibbs and Whittaker: Ottawa needs bolder action on the climate file

By Katie Gibbs & Alice Irene Whittaker, Ottawa Citizen Op-Ed, October 17, 2022

We are a week away from an unprecedented election in Ottawa that will define our community for years to come. Not only are we electing a new mayor, but there will be at least 11 new councillors. We would be wise to seize this moment of big change to choose bold climate action.

The past few years in Ottawa have been anything but normal, between a global pandemic and an occupation in our neighbourhoods. On top of that, the climate crisis is hitting us at home, from floods and tornadoes to this year’s devastating derecho.

Find the whole article here.

Op-Eds Nudge Ontarians to Vote for Local Climate Action

By the Energy Mix, October 20, 2022

With Ontario’s municipal elections around the corner, environmental advocates are urging citizens to use their vote to push for climate action.

For the sake of the climate and our communities, but also for our collective and individual mental health, “don’t just hope for climate action—head to your municipal election voting booth,” writes newly-appointed Ecology Ottawa Executive Director Alice Irene Whittaker, in an op-ed for the Toronto Star.

Find the whole article here.

'We are hoping to see real climate action from all councillors': Ecology Ottawa executive director

Radio Interview of Alice Irene Whittaker, Sam Laprade Show, City News, October 22, 2022

With just a few days until a new mayor and council members are elected, the executive director of Ecology Ottawa hopes to see real election when it comes to climate change and the environment from whoever is elected around the council table come Oct. 24. 

Alice Irene Whittaker, the executive director of Ecology Ottawa, told The Sam Laprade Show on Oct. 20 that this year's municipal election is critical for so many reasons, and climate change and the environment is top of mind for many voters. 

Listen to whole interview here.

Pourquoi cette élection est si intéressante?

Par Émilie Gougeon-Pelletier, Le Droit, le 21 octobre 2022

... Les questions environnementales ont fait beaucoup parler dernièrement, «encore plus que lors de campagnes précédentes», selon la directrice des Associations communautaires pour la durabilité environnementale (CAFES) d’Ottawa, Angela Keller-Herzog.

«Les récentes inondations et le Derecho dévastateur de mai dernier en ont forcé plusieurs à se concentrer sur ce dossier», note-t-elle.

La directrice d’Écologie Ottawa, Alice Irene Whittaker, est d’accord. «L’environnement a été au centre des préoccupations. Qu’il s’agisse des transports en commun ou de la construction de logements. Et je pense que c’est ce qui a rendu ça si intéressant, parce qu'on a eu des débats riches et intéressants grâce aux plateformes variées de tous les candidats.»

Lire l'article au complet ici.

Stay in your lane – young voters weigh in on bike lanes

By Liam Baker, Capital Current, October 22, 2022

For Adrian McCarthy, it is the stinging memory of being passed by public buses in the cold that drove him to choose cycling as his primary mode of transportation.

The 22-year-old is one of many young adults across Ottawa turning to bicycles as a green alternative to the city’s public transit.

...Ecology Ottawa has called upon the City of Ottawa to adopt “Vision Zero,” a global road safety strategy to eliminate cyclist and pedestrian casualties. 

“There’s no excuse for people getting killed and injured on streets,” William van Geest, Ecology Ottawa’s Living City program coordinator, said, adding the organization will work with elected councillors and mayors to realize the project.

Find the whole article here.

Mairie d'Ottawa: des candidats débattent d'environnement

Par Ani-Rose Deschatelets, Le Droit, le 29 septembre 2022

Cinq candidats à la mairie d’Ottawa ont croisé le fer mercredi soir lors d’un débat portant sur l’environnement.

...Les échanges entre les candidats ont été courtois tout au long du débat. Parmi les sujets abordés, les prétendants au poste de maire ont dû entre autres indiquer ce qu’ils feraient pour assurer un accès égal aux espaces verts, aux couverts forestiers, aux zones humides, et pour faire progresser l’accès aux aliments sains et locaux et protéger les terres agricoles. 

Lisez l'article au complet ici.

https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/johanis-theres-no-need-to-expand-ottawas-urban-boundary

By Paul Johanis, Ottawa Citizen Op-Ed, October 4, 2022

The urban boundary is back in the news. Mayoral candidate Bob Chiarelli recently announced that he has written to the minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing requesting a further delay in approving Ottawa’s new Official Plan until after the Oct. 24 municipal election.

...There is a solution to this unhealthy civic activity, however: Don’t expand the urban boundary at all.

In the context of the climate emergency, zero conversion of rural land to urban is the soundest policy. It has been demonstrated that the forecasted population growth can be accommodated within the existing urban boundary.

Find the whole article here.

Les villes canadiennes sont-elles prêtes pour les changements climatiques?

Par Mirna Djukic, ICI Radio Canada, le 2 octobre 2022

Deux ouragans majeurs en moins d’une semaine ont frappé le continent, coûté la vie à des résidents et causé des millions de dollars de dommage. Alors que ces événements extrêmes augmentent, les villes canadiennes multiplient les initiatives pour s’y préparer, mais en font-elles assez?

...Même en présumant que la planète serait capable de partiellement réduire ses émissions de carbone dans les prochaines années, les experts climatiques prévoient que, dans les grandes villes du pays, les jours de chaleur extrême seront deux fois plus fréquents au cours des trente prochaines années qu'ils ne l'étaient entre 1976 et 2005.

Lisez l'article au complet ici.