Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Ottawa's 20-year water plan to tackle 'complex problem' - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, May 14, 2016

The City of Ottawa is laying out a 20-year plan to protect waterways, aquifers and wetlands — everything from making sure new development doesn't lead to erosion to working with landowners about the runoff from their properties.

A report that goes to the city's environment committee Tuesday also explores how Ottawa can be more resilient to climate change and flooding.

"This is not going to be a strategy that sits on a shelf," said Summer Casgrain-Robertson, general manager of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Police report 16 collisions involving cyclists in two weeks :: News - Article

By Cassie Aylward, CFRA News, May 14, 2016

Ottawa Police are reminding drivers and cyclists to share the road, as they say there have been 16 road accidents involving cyclists the first two weeks of May alone.

“Whether it be motorists of the cyclists because there’s a lot that the cyclists do that are wrong but there are a lot of things the motorists do that are wrong as well,” says Cst. Chuck Benoit.

Police say drivers should treat cyclists as they would any other vehicle on the road and to keep their distance.

As for cyclists, police say you should stop for stop signs and lights and use proper hand signaling when turning and stopping.

Conservation program invites volunteers to explore forgotten city streams

By Megan Delaire, Ottawa Community News, May 13, 2016

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority wants to give local volunteers the opportunity to get up close and personal with Ottawa’s streams, and the tools to care for them.

With stream survey season – roughly June to September – approaching, the conservation group is looking for volunteers to join its City Stream Watch program and help monitor, protect and clean up the city’s streams.

Council approves reduced parking for NCC building, student housing

By Jennifer McIntosh, Ottawa Community News, May 13, 2016 It would seem the car isn’t king in the urban core. City council approved two proposals on May 11 to reduce parking.

One was at a building owned by the National Capital Commission at 283 Sussex Drive. The space is currently being renovated to accommodate a law office that is moving from another NCC building at 449 Sussex Drive.

Two-tower condo complex to replace Kristy's restaurant

Ottawa & Region

News

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, May 13, 2016

Kristy’s restaurant is on track for demolition now that the owner has submitted a plan to replace the building with a 16-storey complex.

The restaurant at 809 Richmond Rd. faced expropriation until recently when council signed off on a new blueprint for a western LRT extension. The city previously wanted to tunnel through the Kristy’s property, but a new tunnel route runs under Richmond Road, avoiding the site.

'Madonnaro' François Pelletier beautifies Ottawa's sidewalks with chalk - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, May 14, 2016

You might have seen his painted homage to Pearl Jam on Sparks Street last week but that isn't François Pelletier's typical style.

Usually, the local chalk artist can be found in the ByWard Market, drawing reproductions of classical paintings on the pavement.

Pelletier is a modern-day madonnaro — an Italian word meaning pavement artist — a tradition that dates back to the 16th century.

Frazil ice has frazzled Ottawa since 1910

Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, May 13, 2016

As Ottawa considers spending $17 million to stop ice clogging at the Lemieux Island water plant, an Ottawa consultant found evidence that engineers were fighting the same battle a century ago.

The problem of “frazil” ice — small fragments that form a giant slushy clog — dates back to the early industrial days along the river.

Canada’s largest playground to be built at Mooney’s Bay Park

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, May 13, 2016

The city has quietly signed a deal to build Canada’s largest playground at Mooney’s Bay Park to serve as a legacy project for the country’s 150th birthday in 2017.

More than a dozen trees at the park’s north end have already been chopped down and the Sue Holloway outdoor fitness park will soon be removed to make way for the $2-million, 4,600-square-metre playground, which is to be built in the shape of Canada.

Sharp rise in Lyme disease cases a concern to chief medical officer

Ottawa Citizen

By Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen, May 13, 2016

There are few Canadian health issues as emotionally charged as Lyme disease, with growing numbers of patients feeling abandoned by a health system playing catch up to a disease that was unheard of in decades past.

But there is one thing everyone agrees on: Lyme, the fastest growing infectious disease in Canada, is underreported and cases are set to explode. As many as 10,000 a year are predicted by 2020.

What would Jane Jacobs think of Stittsville Main Street?

StittsvilleCentral.ca

By Glen Gower, StittsvilleCentral, May 11, 2016

What a gorgeous day for a walk down Stittsville Main Street.

About 40 people joined me on Saturday for Stittsville’s first-ever Jane‘s Walk. The walk was part of a city-wide festival celebrating Jane Jacobs, a writer and activist who was well-known for her thoughts about city planning.

Jacobs passed away in 2006, and this would have been the 100th anniversary of her birth. There were over 40 walks in Ottawa this year.

‘This is about survival’: Ottawa taxi couple launches app to fight Uber

Metro News

By Joe Lofaro, Ottawa Metro News, May 12, 2016

An Ottawa taxi driver and his wife are taking on ride-sharing giant Uber and potentially snubbing taxi dispatcher Coventry Connections by luring licensed drivers to work for their own app-based taxi service, O-Taxi.

Watany Ben Jamil and his wife, Emman, who owns a taxi plate, launched the new service this week, which aims to match drivers with users of the mobile app, much like Uber.

Winged rescues on two wheels: Ottawa woman recovers birds on bike

Metro News

By Lucy Scholey, Ottawa Metro News, May 12, 2016

An Ottawa woman is gaining a reputation for her two-wheeled bird rescue operation.

Every morning, Anouk Hoedeman can be spotted riding her wide Dutch touring bike through the downtown core, searching for winged creatures that have crashed into buildings. Dead or alive, she places them in either one of the two rear panniers, outfitted with crocheted nests and capture nets.