Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Singed by earlier fireworks, man worries about Tulip Festival finale

Ottawa Citizen

By Megan Gillis and Evelyn Harford, Ottawa Citizen, May 18, 2016

A man who was burned in a rain of hot debris while taking in the Canadian Tulip Festival fireworks last week says he fears someone could be badly hurt if a second show runs at Lansdowne Park on Sunday.

Martyn Simms and his 22-year-old son were sitting behind a barrier fence next to a couple, who were on a blanket with a newborn baby, when they were struck with debris. What he believes was a spent roman candle hit him on the leg, causing a small burn.

Birds face danger from deforestation, oil spills and climate change.

Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, May 18, 2016

One-third of North American bird species are “in crisis” and another half face serious trouble says the first analysis of all the birds in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The birds run a gamut of dangers from deforestation to oil spills at sea to climate change. But habitat loss is the broadest threat, according to The State of North America’s Birds 2016.

Park’s Olympian namesake fears for fate of green space

Ottawa Citizen

By Megan Gillis, Ottawa Citizen, May 18, 2016

Olympian Sue Holloway says she’s not worried about the fate of the park that bears her name but the future of a “spectacular” green space.

Holloway lives a stone’s throw from the Rideau Canoe Club, which is just across the water from the planned site of the mega-playground where she trains cross-country skiers. She paddles past it daily

“Save our park,” yelled the dragon boat paddlers she coaches as they dropped Holloway off at Wednesday evening’s demonstration.

Monster playground will scar Mooney’s Bay waterfront, protesters say

Ottawa Citizen

By Megan Gillis, Ottawa Citizen, May 18, 2016

Paddlers, cross-country skiers and people who just like to work out at a Mooney’s Bay fitness park were among those protesting a hastily announced plan to raze it to build Canada’s largest playground.

Doing pull-ups and swinging on the parallel bars at the Sue Holloway Fitness Park on Wednesday evening, demonstrators said again and again that it’s a good idea in the wrong place.

Safety walk to highlight inaccessible Colonnade Road

Metro News

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, May 18, 2016

For a street that serves so many vulnerable people, Colonnade Road South isn’t very accessible.

The Ottawa Disability Coalition will lead a walk through the Nepean business park Wednesday morning to showcase just how unsafe it can be for clients accessing appointments without a sidewalk or a bus stop.

The only sidewalk on the street is a 270-metre stretch at the far west end.

Wellington Street looks to liven up the neighbourhood

Metro News

By Haley Ritchie, Ottawa Metro News, May 18, 2016

Wellington Street – home to quirky vegetable-fire-hydrant statues and many a trendy eatery – is looking for a new experiment to liven up the neighbourhood.

The local business improvement area put out a call to residents and businesses asking for “small-scale” ideas on how to improve the street. The BIA wants to put city-planning efforts into the hands of residents, with four $500 grants to improve areas along the main street.

Ottawa faces $18.5M fix to unclog frozen pipes, councillors told - Ottawa - CBC News

By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, May 17, 2016

Tiny, needle-like ice crystals known as "frazil ice" are causing big problems at one of Ottawa's two water purification plants, and could cost taxpayers millions of dollars to combat, city councillors heard Tuesday.

Frazil (pronounced "frazzle") ice has become such a challenge at the Lemieux Island plant that divers had to go into the Ottawa River last winter in an attempt to thaw frozen drinking water intake pipes.

In a presentation to Ottawa's environment committee, staff described frazil ice as small, needle-like crystals that form on cold, clear nights in the rapids upriver from Lemieux Island.

Your letters for Wednesday, May 18: Mooney’s Bay, democracy

Ottawa Citizen

By Lynda Payne, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, May 18, 2016

Rethink the plan for Mooney’s Bay ParkOn May 13, the city announced that it had partnered with Sinking Ships to produce a TV show that will build the largest play structure in Canada at Mooney’s Bay starting this summer.

There has been no public consultation, no environment assessment and no assessment of need or practical use. This space is already extraordinarily valuable to the community and the city. It is a magical green space. It transforms into festivals that raise hundreds of thousands annually for city charities, brings in tourists and provides unmeasured pleasure to participants. Then it becomes quiet green space where people train, wander, play bocce and, in the winter, cross-country ski.

Proposal for new stormwater charge pushed back to September

Ottawa Citizen

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, May 17, 2016

Funding a controversial stormwater fee partially through taxes could be one option City of Ottawa staff consider before making a recommendation in September, according to council’s environment chair.

But Coun. David Chernushenko says residents who currently aren’t contributing money to the stormwater program won’t be let off the hook.

Outdoor water ban in effect for Almonte

CTV Ottawa News

By CTV News Ottawa, May 16, 2016

An outdoor watering ban is in effect for the community of Almonte.

The order, effective immediately, affects about 2,400 homes and businesses in the urban area of Almonte inside the municipality of Mississippi Mills.

“The Almonte-area is served by five wells”, says Cory Smith Mississippi Mills Acting Director of Public Works. The pump systems for two of them are in need of repair, he says. While he would not commit to a specific time frame, Smith says the repairs will take a matter of days, not weeks.

The water quality is unaffected.

OC Transpo plans more cameras on buses, trains and at stations

CTV Ottawa News

By Matt Skube, CTV News Ottawa, May 16, 2016

With the expansion of the public transit system in the capital, OC Transpo is making sure security remains its top priority.

Right now, there are 700 cameras on buildings, at stations and on board the 37 double-decker buses, but that number is going to grow.

“With moving into 2018 with the Confederation Line rail stations and train cars and Trillium Line train cars, we’ll be increasing to 2,200 cameras throughout the system,” says Jim Babe, manager of Transit Safety and Enforcement Services.

Interests of downtown core shouldn’t be driving central library site

Sherring

By Susan Sherring, Ottawa Sun, May 17, 2016

The search was on.In a crowd of about 150 people meeting at city hall late Monday afternoon to discuss what’s important for a new central library, the urbanites were absolutely the overwhelming majority.

(...)

For Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney, it’s an absolute.

“The densest part of the city needs access to the library. It’s about walkability,” McKenney said.