Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

'It's almost insulting': Eastway Gardens residents angered by Via Rail tree cutting - Ottawa - CBC News

By Judy Trinh, CBC News Ottawa, May 16, 2016

The ongoing destruction of a swath of trees is upsetting dozens of residents in Eastway Gardens, but there's little they can do to stop Via Rail workers from clearing green space in their Tremblay Road neighbourhood.

The curtain of trees provided a barrier from the trains that pass by nearly 30 townhouses on Avenues O and P — but those trees are now being removed due to a federal regulation requiring Via to deal with what a spokesperson calls "dangerous vegetation."

Longtime Eastway Gardens resident Molly-Jo Beauchamp was hoping the workers would spare the trees that pushed up against her fence and couldn't help but tear up when she watched a backhoe tree cutter level everything.

Denley: There’s more green-energy mismanagement to come in Ontario

Ottawa Citizen

By Randall Denley, Ottawa Citizen, May 17, 2016

It turns out the windmills were just a warm-up. Ontario’s new climate-change plan aims to dramatically alter many aspects of life in our province, including how we heat our homes and what kind of cars we drive.

The plan, as described in a draft leaked to The Globe and Mail, would spend $7 billion over four years on 80 policies that touch areas as diverse as trucking and building construction. The goal is to drastically reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and the whole thing will be paid for with the take from the soon-to-be-imposed cap-and-trade system.

Your letters for Tuesday May 17: Public input and the park; assisted dying

Ottawa Citizen

By Rick Moll, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, May 17, 2016

Where was the public’s input?

Re: Canada’s largest playground to be built at Mooney’s Bay Park, May 13.

It is unacceptable that there was no public consultation on the changes to Mooney’s Bay Park. Coun. Riley Brockington’s assertions that details could not be released because of negotiations with a private media company obviously was protecting the deal, not the wishes of of the community.

Enviro committee powerless on new dump, OKs major water plant repair

Ottawa Citizen

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, May 17, 2016

Council is in another quandary over a proposed dump.

Local politicians can’t do much about the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre, which two companies want to establish at Ottawa’s eastern boundary.

The environment committee on Tuesday only had the power to make changes to the comments city staff will send to the province on the project. Staff are seeking commitments on odour control, leachate treatment and areas from where garbage will be trucked.

Meteor lights up Ottawa sky, earthlings safe

Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, May 17, 2016

Yes, that blazing light in the eastern sky at about 12:30 a.m. was a meteor.

“Tens of thousands” of people witnessed the very bright fireball, mostly in the northeastern United States and a few in Canada, said Peter Brown, a meteor expert at Western University. His camera network detected it low on the horizon south of Kingston.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: OC Transpo seeking input on CCTV cameras :: News - Article

By Ted Raymond, CFRA News, May 16, 2016

OC Transpo wants public input on CCTV camera use at bus stations and on buses and trains.

The City says, with LRT fast approaching, there will be more stations and more vehicles, and they want the public's input on how closed circuit TV cameras should be used.

The City says CCTV cameras are used for the purposes of safety for OC Transpo's customers and employees, and its property. The City also says they act as a deterrent to potential crime or unwanted behaviour.

Mobile grocery store bringing fresh produce to residents

CTV Ottawa News

By CTV News Ottawa, May 14, 2016

A mobile grocery store is bringing fresh produce to residents in eight communities.

MarketMobile offers fresh fruits and vegetables to shoppers at a discount of about 40 per cent. The mobile grocery store can offer these discounts because it buys food in bulk and at whole sale prices.

"I think people find it convenient to have fresh produce delivered directly to their neighbourhood," said Isabel Williams, the interim project manager.

Mega-playground planned for Mooney's Bay draws criticism - Ottawa - CBC News

By Robyn Miller, CBC News Ottawa, May 16, 2016

It's being billed as Canada's largest playground, but the megastructure planned for Mooney's Bay Park is drawing criticism from some residents who say the City of Ottawa should have consulted the public about it.

When finished, the playground will cover an area more than half the size of a Canadian football field.

An online petition went up on Saturday calling on the city to change the location, citing traffic and environmental concerns.

Jenkins: Dedicated, inspiring activists make Ottawa a better place

Ottawa Citizen

By Phil Jenkins, Ottawa Citizen, May 15, 2016

In the past couple of weeks, two women have engendered in my mind much thinking about theories as to how Ottawa’s streets can operate to the maximum benefit of as many of us as possible on foot or on wheel.

This striving for maximum benefit is the motivation behind the Complete Streets theory, something the city adopted last October. Here’s a quote as to what it’s about: “They are streets designed to provide safe and comfortable access for people of all ages, gender, abilities, and modes of travel–including pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and motorists.”

Ottawa cyclists take to the parkways

Ottawa Citizen

By Ottawa Citizen, May 15, 2016

Cyclists were out on Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway to kick off the 46th season of Sunday Bikedays Sunday May 15, 2016. Every Sunday morning until the Labour Day weekend, outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of over 50 kilometres of parkways.

The following parkways in Ottawa–Gatineau are car-free and open exclusively to cyclists, in-line skaters, runners, walkers and people with mobility aids.

Lyme disease sufferers share their stories at conference

Ottawa Citizen

By Aidan Cox, Ottawa Citizen, May 15, 2016

It was 2008 when Michelle Gagnon says she realized she no longer had the energy to partake in her favourite pastimes of rock climbing and cycling.

“This chronic muscle tension was pulling everything out of alignment and causing such extreme pain.

”On Sunday evening, she, along with about 100 other members of the public, shared their experiences with Lyme disease at Old City Hall as part of Day 1 of a conference to develop a federal framework on Lyme disease.

No damage reported after small earthquake in Pembroke area

Ottawa Citizen

By Ottawa Citizen, May 14, 2016

The earth shook — ever so slightly — in the Pembroke-Petawawa region on Saturday evening, but no damage was reported.

A quake of magnitude 3.3 struck 12 kilometres southwest of Petawawa at about 5:30 p.m., but was only lightly felt in Petawawa and Pembroke, according to the Earthquakes Canada website.