Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Province promises $40M to widen road to Clarence-Rockland

Ottawa Citizen

BY David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, June 16, 2016

The Ontario government will spend $40 million to help commuters get between Clarence-Rockland and Ottawa faster, Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca announced Thursday.

The money had been committed in this year’s provincial budget but Del Duca confirmed it personally in Rockland. Starting in 2019, construction will expand County Road 17 between Canaan Road at Ottawa’s east edge and Landry Street, east of Rockland. It’s a nine-kilometre stretch of road that’s two lanes wide most of the way. When the work is done, it’ll be four lanes.

Scrutiny placed on seniors transit discount in low-income debate

Ottawa Citizen

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, June 16, 2016

While some transit commissioners mused this week about rolling back a steep rebate on seniors’ fares, the co-chair of the city’s senior roundtable is skeptical.

Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans said she believes many seniors need a deeply discounted transit pass.

“I think any changes we might contemplate around seniors transit should be the subject of a community consultation and a comprehensive consultation because seniors value their transit,” Deans said Thursday.

Gatineau Park beaches open Friday

Ottawa Citizen

By Evelyn Harford, Ottawa Citizen, June 17, 2016

Calling all water babies! Gatineau Park beaches open on Friday.

Beaches open Friday June 17 include: O’Brien, Blanchet, Breton, Parent and Gatineau Park Fishing. Leamy Lake beach has been open since Monday.

Field trip through Canadian landscape opens Saturday at new museum garden

Ottawa Citizen

By Megan Gillies, Ottawa Citizen, June 16, 2016

There’s a jagged iceberg looming above an Arctic tundra, a shady boreal forest where wood anemones bloom and a rolling prairie grassland that will soon turn gold with black-eyed Susans and Canada rye grass.

Nearby, a family of woolly mammoths browse amid vivid orange Iceland poppies.

How will light rail affect your commute?

Metro News

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, June 15, 2016

There’s no question: light rail will change just about everything in 2018. OC Transpo general manager John Manconi has called the overhaul “transformational.” So how does that affect you?

No more straight shots

You’ll likely need to transfer to get where you’re going, although systems manager Pat Scrimgeour said “above 99 per cent” of passengers will only transfer once. The network is focused primarily on getting people to the train as quickly as possible.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Sidewalks reopen on Rideau, Sussex :: News - Article

By CFRA News, June 16, 2016

It's a little bit easier to get around the Rideau Street Sinkhole if you're a pedestrian.

The City has reopened a pair of sidewalks that provide access to Rideau Street businesses and the ByWard Market.

During normal business hours, people can walk along the north side of Rideau between Sussex and William.You're also allowed on the east sidewalk of Sussex between Rideau and George.

Warning issued over 'mess' left by uncertified LRT workers - Ottawa - CBC News

By Julie Ireton, CBC News Ottawa, June 16, 2016

Unskilled, unlicensed labourers have been performing electrical work on portions of Ottawa's light rail system this spring, prompting complaints, inspections and at least one warning over violations, CBC News has learned.

The union representing electrical tradespeople said it's concerned public safety is being put at risk and taxpayer money squandered because uncertified labourers are doing the work of licensed tradespeople.

Planting the seed: Group aims to break ground for national botanical garden in 2017

Ottawa Citizen

By Joanne Laucius, Ottawa Citizen, June 15, 2016

A national botanical garden has been a dream for Ottawa since at least 1887. But this time around, it’s a dream that will become a reality, vows a group that aims to see ground broken on the Central Experimental Farm next year.

The goal: a garden of international caliber on 34 acres bounded by Prince of Wales Drive and the Rideau Canal, with a grand opening in 2019.

Simplicity is key for low-income pass, advocates say

Metro News

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, June 14, 2016

A low-income transit pass is possible if OC Transpo just goes back to basics, a community group says.The Transit Working Group will bring an alternative fare table to the transit commission Wednesday morning, when commissioners vote on a total system overhaul ahead of light rail.

Advocates were appalled last week when the new fare table was released without a low-income transit pass – and a $6.50 monthly fare hike for adult pass holders.

First pedestrian crossover revealed at Earl of March Secondary School

By Scott Campbell, Ottawa Community News, June 14, 2016

The new term of the day was pedestrian crossover. Everyone is quite familiar with pedestrian crosswalks but the first-ever crossover in the city was unveiled at Earl of March Secondary School in Kanata on June 13.

“Pedestrians have the right of way. Period,” said Coun. Keith Egli, chair of the city’s transportation committee.This year, the Highway Traffic Act was revised to include a new type of crossover that can be installed on low speed, low- and medium-volume roads.

Made-in-Ottawa app helps volunteers keep watch over river - Ottawa - CBC News

By Giacomo Panico, CBC News Ottawa, June 14, 2016

Volunteer ecologists who help keep watch over the Ottawa River have started using a locally developed app to record and share their observations in a central database.

The app, developed by Ottawa-based non-profit Water Rangers, allows anyone with a smartphone to submit measurements such as water temperature, as well as observations about pollution, wildlife sightings and invasive species.

Organic farmers cry foul after city sprays wild parsnip with no warning signs - Ottawa - CBC News

By Christie Nease and Simon Gardiner, CBC News Ottawa, June 15, 2016

Organic farmers near the Ottawa community of Stittsville say they've had to destroy portions of their crops because the city botched its notification process for spraying herbicides to kill wild parsnip.

Wild parsnip — officially labelled a noxious weed in Ontario last year — has become a concern because the plant's toxic sap can cause skin rashes. The weed also wipes out other species, including pollinators that attract bees.