Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Feedback on library might get loud; is Ottawa council listening?

Metro Ottawa

By Steve Collins, Ottawa Metro News, January 24, 2017

City council meetings have rules and procedures that sometimes seem aimed at insulating public officials from too much unfiltered public input.You could immediately tell the difference between those and last week's open house on the central library.

Andrew Haydon Hall was packed, for starters. Council attendance skewed 100 per cent urban (downtown councillors Catherine McKenney, Jeff Leiper, Tobi Nussbaum, Mathieu Fleury and David Chernushenko). Judging by a show of hands, the vast majority of public attendees came from downtown as well. After all, the main library is their local branch.

Instead of city staff, an expert panel (University of Ottawa's Elizabeth Kristjansson, Ecology Ottawa's Graham Saul and retired architect Tony Griffiths) was on hand to talk about the social role of the library, the importance of its accessibility to pedestrians, and how it should fit into the city’s fabric.

Renewed opposition to a new Civic hospital on the Central Experimental Farm - Ottawa - CBC News

By Andrew Foote, CBC News Ottawa, January 21, 2017

A small but determined group of people met for the first time at the Central Experimental Farm's observatory Saturday morning, hoping to grow their ranks and spread their message that a new Civic hospital complex should be built at Tunney's Pasture to avoid losing trees and green space.

The Ottawa Hospital's search for site to build a new hospital to replace its nearly 100-year-old Civic campus has been controversial.

The first proposed site was the farm right across Carling Avenue, which was slammed by activists and researchers.

Hull residents fighting for grocery store with petition

Metro Ottawa

By Haley Ritchie, Ottawa Metro News, January 23, 2017

Residents in Hull are bringing a petition to their city council on Tuesday asking that securing a grocery store in the area remains a priority.

An organization called Épicerie de l'Île de Hull coop de solidarité is working with advocacy group ACORN and local residents to promote the issue.

On Tuesday the group is delivering a petition to city councillors and the mayor asking for a commitment that the $300,000 fund for the project will remain set aside for a grocery store.

Community design plan for Merivale Road north underway

By Melissa Murray, Ottawa Community News, January 23, 2017

Merivale Road north is a recipe for trouble.

According to River Coun. Riley Brockington, traffic is too fast, sidewalks aren’t welcoming – they’re too narrow and too close to the road – and businesses along it don’t always align with the community.

He’s hoping a new community design plan (CDP) will bring about some positive changes.

OC Transpo officials to hear rider complaints

By Jessica Cunha, Ottawa Community News, January 23, 2017

OC Transpo officials will attend a public meeting on Feb. 2 in Kanata north to discuss residents’ issues with service changes to buses, specifically in Morgan’s Grant and Briarbrook.

Kanata North Coun. Marianne Wilkinson said John Manconi, general manager of the city’s transportation service, Pat Scrimgeour, director of OC Transpo customer systems and planning, and Troy Charter, director of transit operations, will all attend.

The meeting is being held in response to concerns raised by residents at the councillor’s January town hall meeting, as well as numerous complaints received via email and Facebook.

NCC approves realignment of Stage 2 light rail transit

By Melissa Murray, Ottawa Community News, January 23, 2017

At least in principle, the realignment for Stage 2 of light rail transit got the go-ahead from the National Capital Commission.The commission’s board passed the federal land use and functional design for the western realignment at its board of directors meeting on Jan. 19.

The project requires land along the Sir John A Macdonald Parkway between Dominion and Cleary stations and in the Pinecrest Creek corridor between Richmond and Baseline roads.

Renowned library architect praises proposed site for Ottawa's new central librar

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Sun, January 22, 2017

The internationally renowned architect who designed Halifax’s award-winning library is praising the proposed location for Ottawa’s new central branch, which some have dismissed because they believe it’s outside the city’s downtown core.

Morten Schmidt says the Ottawa Public Library’s preferred location for the $168-million library — a 1.44-hectare parcel of land just west of Bronson at 557 Wellington St. — is a “beautiful site” near a ridge overlooking the Ottawa River that would locate the new library among all of the important government buildings and museums nearby.

For Ottawa ornithophobes, murder of crows like something out of Hitchcock - Ottawa - CBC News

By Ashley Burke, CBC News Ottawa, January 23, 2017

Thousands of crows have descended on the capital, gathering in trees and filling the air with a cacophony of cawing in a daily ritual that's giving some residents the creeps. Experts say the birds are merely meeting up for nightly roosts, an avian slumber party that actually occurs each winter.

Nevertheless, some people witnessing the phenomenon for the first time are surprised and — in some cases — downright frightened.

Egan: Sometimes, NCC, your best move is getting out of the way

Ottawa Citizen

By Kelly Egan, Ottawa Citizen, January 22, 2017

“The National Capital Commission is launching an international design competition to reimagine Nepean Point,” the Citizen reported last week.

Of course it is. Is this not how the NCC functions — fixes things — with a focus on process, not results, hurried by nothing in particular? (The showcase Astrolabe Theatre was last used in 1995.)

Tracking devices paint a target on animals they are meant to save

Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, January 23, 2017

Electronic tracking devices on wildlife that are intended to help scientists carry out conservation studies are instead calling out to hunters: “Here I am! Shoot me!

”From Banff to Yellowstone to India, hunters and poachers are downloading data from conservation studies — even hacking into science labs — to make stalking prey easier.Some go to court for tracking data, and some may be using their own tracking devices, after gaining the technology from researchers.

‘Significant snowfall’ to hit region, says Environment Canada

Ottawa Citizen

By the Ottawa Citizen, January 22, 2017

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the Ottawa area, advising that a “significant snowfall” of up to 15 cm is likely to hit the region beginning Monday night and continuing Tuesday.

The agency says a strong low pressure system tracking across the southern states will reach the eastern seaboard Monday and will track up the east coast.

Negotiations set to resume in Outaouais transit dispute

Ottawa Citizen

By the Ottawa Citizen, January 21, 2017

Contract talks will resume soon between the Société de transport de l’Outaouais and its 600 unionized drivers and mechanics, the company has announced.

The announcement on the company’s web page Friday evening came after meeting with union leadership

.The company did not issue a specific timeline.