Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

NCC launches Nepean Point rejuvenation, approves Ottawa western LRT plan - Ottawa - CBC News

By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, January 19, 2017

Samuel de Champlain could be getting a few more visitors if a National Capital Commission plan comes to fruition.The NCC launched an international competition Thursday to redevelop Nepean Point on the Ottawa River, home to the prominent statue of Samuel de Champlain.

The site was first developed around 1910 and included a Victorian footbridge that was later removed. The statue was unveiled in 1915.historical photo of Samuel de Champlain statue at Nepean Point.

An outdoor amphitheatre was added for Canada's centennial in 1967, but the dressing rooms built into the hill have asbestos and Nepean Point hasn't been as accessible since the National Gallery was built, said NCC CEO Mark Kristmanson.

Rideau Canal skateway to close Thursday night - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, January 19, 2017

The entire length of the 7.8-kilometre Rideau Canal skateway — from downtown Ottawa to the Hartwells Locks — will be closing due to poor weather, the National Capital Commission says.

The "temporary" closure will happen at 10 p.m. and is due to "adverse weather conditions and their negative impact on the ice," the NCC said.

Why are the turkeys crossing the runway in Gatineau?

Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, January 19, 2017

Small aircraft at the Gatineau Airport have hit one wild turkey and come within a drumstick on three other occasions in less than two weeks.

There’s been no damage to turkeys (as far as anyone can tell) or people. A veteran Ottawa pilot says turkeys on runways are fairly routine, and pilots who keep their eyes open shouldn’t get into trouble.

Ottawa, Gatineau mayors talking ‘seamless’ transit system

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, January 19, 2017

The mayors of Ottawa and Gatineau are working together in an unprecedented fashion to ensure there’s a “more seamless” transit system for passengers once Ottawa’s Confederation LRT line opens next year.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and his Gatineau counterpart Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin have convened two meetings with the heads of each city’s transit service to discuss transfer points and the presence of STO buses on Ottawa roads.

A big day for Ottawa’s current — and future — LRT projects

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, January 19, 2017

On the same day Mayor Jim Watson tweeted a photo showing both ends of Ottawa’s Confederation LRT tunnel meeting somewhere under Rideau Street, the National Capital Commission signed off on the city’s proposed alignment and functional design for the future western LRT extension along the Sir John A. Macdonald corridor.

Digging of the 2.5-kilometre LRT tunnel beneath downtown began at both ends and met somewhere in the middle, east of the Rideau Canal. There’s a western portal near the future Pimisi station, a central portal below Queen Street and an eastern portal at the University of Ottawa.

Watson’s tweet shows a muddy tunnel where workers first joined the two sides.

No strike, but other job actions set for STO transit system

Ottawa Citizen

By Ottawa Citizen, January 19, 2017

Outaouais transit riders don’t need to worry about a full strike on their transit system for the time being

.But they should prepare for disruptions as early as 4 a.m. Friday as unionized drivers and mechanics for the Société de transport de l’Outaouais launch a variety of job actions to protest lagging contract talks.

As required by law, the union gave 72-hour notice earlier this week of their intention to take job action, including a possible strike.

Sidewalk to be widened on Campeau Drive

By Jessica Cunha, Ottawa Community News, January 18, 2017

The construction of a multi-use pathway along Campeau Drive should begin this summer.

The sidewalk on the north side of Campeau between Teron Road and Knudson Drive will be widened to three metres from the standard 1.5 metres to allow for both pedestrians and cyclists.

“Over the last few years we’ve had trouble with kids riding their bicycles on the sidewalks on Campeau,” said Kanata North Coun. Marianne Wilkinson at her town hall meeting on Jan. 16. “It’s a busy road and parents don’t want their kids on the road.”

OC Transpo bus blaze strikingly similar to 2016 fire - Ottawa - CBC News

By Steve Fischer, CBC News Ottawa, January 18, 2017

Last February, one of the rear wheel wells of a double-decker bus owned by GO Transit in Kitchener, Ont., started smoking. Then it burst into flames, destroying the vehicle.

Almost a year later, on Tuesday morning, one of the same double-decker bus models — an Alexander Dennis E500 — experienced a similar fire and fate in Ottawa. The fire also appears to have started in one of the rear wheel wells.

No Gatineau transit strike Friday, but pressure tactics coming - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, January 18, 2017

Gatineau's transit workers will not be striking on Friday, but will instead consider other work-to-rule options as they continue to negotiate with Société de transport de l'Outaouais, Radio-Canada has learned.

The decision means the Outaouais transit system won't grind to a halt Friday, but commuters should expect delays and may feel an impact getting to and from Winterlude events.

Ontario proposes to boost water bottler fee by $500 per million litres taken

By Allison Jones, Ottawa Citizen, January 18, 2017

TORONTO - Ontario is proposing to charge water-bottling companies a little over $500 per million litres taken from the ground, amid a broader debate over the province's stewardship of the natural resource.

Some environmental groups applauded the announcement as another step in the right direction, while others called for an all-out ban on bottling and selling groundwater for profit, but the industry noted that water bottlers are responsible for a small fraction of water-taking permits.

NCC seeks to rejuvenate underused Nepean Point

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, January 18, 2017

The National Capital Commission is launching an international design competition to reimagine Nepean Point.

Details will be released Thursday at the NCC’s board meeting and a winning design is expected to be unveiled by the end of the year.Nepean Point — the 2.5-hectare site behind the National Gallery of Canada and overlooking the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal — might be Ottawa’s most inspiring vista, but for more than two decades, it has been underused.

It’s not just your imagination, crows are taking over Ottawa

Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, January 18, 2017

This winter, the Citizen’s Tom Spears looks at what makes our coldest season tick. It’s a series we call The Science of Winter, and today we hear from a birder about why you’re likely to see so many crows together in January.

It’s not your imagination telling you that a murder of crows in central Ottawa had thousands of the birds all together. Ottawa gets that in winter.

There’s nothing subtle about crows. They’re big and loud and yakking all the time, waking up Citizen editors in Centretown long before sunrise, which is partly why you’re reading this. And crows are social, so they flock together, especially in winter. Big group, big noise.