Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Westgate redevelopment draws strong community interest

By Steph Willems, Ottawa Community News, December 18, 2015

The venerable Westgate Shopping Centre will disappear in phases under a plan unveiled by landowner RioCan.

A Dec. 16 public meeting revealed a conceptual vision of a mixed-use site with tall rental towers bracketing public green space in the centre. RioCan, Canada’s largest real estate investment trust, intends to roll out the plan over a period of about 15 to 25 years, segmented into four distinct phases.

No application has yet been submitted to the city in support of the redevelopment.

Transitway closes today between Lees, Hurdman stations - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, December 20, 2015

OC Transpo passengers who use Lees and Hurdman stations should get ready for major changes to their commute as the city closes the Transitway between the two stations today.

The portion of the Transitway linking the two stations is being shut down so the city can work on the Confederation Line, the 12.5-kilometre stretch of light rail that will connect Tunney's Pasture station in the west with Blair station in the east.

El Niño offers rare birds for Christmas Bird Count

Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, December 20, 2015

In a tradition nearly a century old, dedicated volunteers headed into fields and forest around Ottawa and Gatineau Sunday to count all the birds they could find in the name of science.

This year offers the birders unusual sights, with an El Niño blowing in rare birds from all over the map — an oriole from Arizona, a warbler from the west coast.

Egan: When LeBreton falls Flats. Should we take it away from NCC, like, forever?

Ottawa Citizen

By Kelly Egan, Ottawa Citizen, December 20, 2015

I’m growing ever persuaded that LeBreton Flats should be taken away from the National Capital Commission. Period and forever.

Think for a sec. We had a mixed neighbourhood there at one time, maybe down on its heels, maybe too loaded with industrial grit, but the place was at least alive.

Up to 90 per cent of cancers due to lifestyle choices, environment, study says

Ariana Eunjung Cha, Ottawa Citizen, December 17, 2015

Scientists have long agreed that a person’s risk of getting cancer comes down to a mix of genes, lifestyle, environment thrown in with some measure of chance. But the relative importance of each factor has never been settled.

In early January, a team of researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine caused a stir when they published a study in the journal Science detailing their “bad luck” hypothesis for how normal cells turn bad. Their work involved trying to figure out why tissue in certain parts of our bodies are more vulnerable to developing cancer than others and they concluded it had to do with how many times they divide – a process that occurs somewhat at random.

Soil scientist launching drone business to boost farmers' crop yields

By Erin McCracken, Ottawa Community News, December 15, 2015

Armed with a high-tech remote control and expertise in soil, Riverview Park resident Erik Apedaile pilots his drone over farmers’ fields, capturing photographs, and along with them, answers that can help boost crop yields.

The soil scientist and owner of Apedaile Environmental is using unmanned aerial vehicle technology to get a bird’s eye view of agricultural land. Using specialized sensors mounted on his drone, he can pinpoint sections that may be lacking in nitrogen – a crucial ingredient needed for maximum corn crop health.

Protesters show at TransCanada pipeline safety meeting in Carp

By Jessica Cunha, Ottawa Community News, December 17, 2015

Protesters from Ecology Ottawa turned up at a TransCanada Energy East Pipeline safety open house in Carp on Dec. 9.

Mike Fletcher, a member of the group, said they were there to educate people on why the oil pipeline – which would travel from the Prairies through Ontario, skirting West Carleton on its way to the Maritimes – is a poor idea.

“Our biggest (concerns) are local. There’s a lot of reasons in our locality not to have a pipeline,” said Fletcher.

Travelling to Toronto? Presto card use expands

Ottawa & Region

News

Ottawa

By Sabrina Nemis, Ottawa Sun, December 17, 2015

When you travel to Toronto, you'll soon be able to use your Presto card on all streetcars.

By the end of December, the Toronto Transit Commission will have all of its "legacy" streetcars Presto card-enabled thanks to a joint infrastructure investment by the TTC, Metrolinx and the governments of Ontario and Canada. All subway stations, buses, paratransit vehicles and streetcars in Toronto will be set up for the card by the end of next year.

Presto users from Ottawa can use their cards in Toronto and Hamilton and the newly enabled vehicles will help travellers get easily across the GTHA.

Petition demands more OC Transpo service at Lees station

Metro News

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, December 16, 2015

Two neighbours want OC Transpo to up its downtown service when it closes the Transitway at Lees station next week.

Tanya Hiebert and Mohamed Khalil have started an online petition ahead of a plan to detour most buses around Lees during light rail construction. Beginning Sunday, only routes 85 and 16 will still take Lees passengers downtown, and the pair say early morning service is lacking.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Westgate could get massive redevelopment :: News - Article

By Alison Sandor, CFRA News, December 16, 2015

Major changes could be coming to the Westgate Shopping Centre over the next two decades and the developer is seeking the public's input on its plans for the site.

Rio Can is proposing to demolish the current mall and over the next 20 years build a mixed use area that includes apartment buildings, retail and restaurant space.

"I'm concerned about what the impact may be on my community," said River Ward Councillor Riley Brockington. "I have residential right across the street from Westgate, so we're concerned about traffic and height of towers and the timelines of this project."

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Watson talks Lebreton, NCC with local Liberal MPs :: News - Article

By Alison Sandor, CFRA News, December 16, 2015

Mayor Jim Watson says he plans to meet with local Liberal MPs on a quarterly basis to update them on city issues.Watson held the first of the meetings Wednesday morning at City Hall.

(...)

Also among the projects discussed, a new pedestrian bridge spanning the Rideau Canal between Clegg and Fifth.

"That's clearly a priority," said McKenna. "It's a priority of mine. It's a priority of the City's. The province is also interested, so now I think the question is finding the funding so we can make it go forward. I think it'll be a huge addition for Old Ottawa East, the Glebe, Old Ottawa South and just in general to drive people using more sustainable means, biking or walking to get back and forth from Lansdowne."

Transitway bridge closure hits dozens of OC Transpo routes

Ottawa & Region

N

By Sabrina Nebis, Ottawa Sun, December 16, 2015

OC Transpo riders might spend more time than usual commuting this holiday season as another section of the Transitway closes and holiday schedules come into effect.

The Transitway bridge will close between Lees and Hurdman stations starting Dec. 20 to accommodate construction on Ottawa’s light rail transit line. The closure, the second major shutdown of a Transitway segment this year, will force buses to detour onto Hwy. 417. While they’ll be using bus-only lanes, delays are expected.