Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

McLeod: ‘Gentle density’ an important development strategy

Ottawa Citizen

By Jonathan McLeod, Ottawa Citizen, September 28, 2015

Ottawa is changing. Our perfect little neighbourhoods are growing. Developments are going up and people are moving in. And it’s okay. We can accommodate growth without gutting our communities.

The city promotes intensification, and rightfully so. With growth comes development, but continued sprawl isn’t the answer. Sprawl is killing the city and the little communities we love. It’s expensive, unhealthy and places unreasonable demands on established neighbourhoods. So there’s nothing to do but fit more people inside the city.

Rod Bryden buys back Plasco from creditors for $1

Ottawa Citizen

By Vito Pilieci, Ottawa Citizen, September 28, 2015

A firm controlled by Ottawa entrepreneur Rod Bryden, founder of the failed Plasco Energy Group Inc., has bought Plasco, the energy-conversion company that filed for creditor protection earlier this year, for $1.

Bryden’s company, RMB Advisory Services Inc., acquired a reshaped version of Plasco, which no longer carries a majority of its debts or has any ownership of the company’s failed Trail Road test facility, late Friday night.

Gardening events: Trees, bugs and more for novices to experts

Ottawa Citizen

By Kristin E. Endemann, Ottawa Citizen, September 26, 2015

Urban Trees in Ottawa: Putting Down Roots for the future with Philip van Wassenaer, arborist, is keynote speaker, Sept. 23, 6 p.m.,with Ecology Ottawa, Tree Canada and Friends of the Farm, Horticulture Building, Lansdowne Park. Also launch of City of Ottawa’s Urban Forestry Management Plan. Register at [email protected].

Environmental issues lead all candidates debate in Carleton riding

Ottawa & Re

By Brennan MacDonald, Ottawa Sun, September 27, 2015

Exchanges over the environment and scientific research drew some of the liveliest audience reaction Saturday night at an all-candidates debate in the Carleton riding.

The scheduled two-hour event at Manotick arena ran well into a third hour as Kc Larocque (NDP), Chris Rodgers (Liberal), Pierre Poilievre (Conservative) and Deborah Coyne (Green) fielded questions from a large audience on topics ranging from the muzzling of scientists to electoral reform, national security, international relations and the Energy East pipeline.

Ottawa scientists design smart fertilizer

Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, September 25, 2015

She never planned to study fertilizers. Maria DeRosa, a chemistry professor raised in Ottawa, dreamed of designing drugs that deliver themselves directly to targets inside the human body.

A decade later she is proudly showing off the results that came when a colleague persuaded her to take a sharp turn, and to deliver “smart” fertilizers to farm crops instead.

Weather looking good for Sunday night’s lunar eclipse

Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, September 25, 2015

An eclipse of the moon Sunday night provides a chance to use three lunar clichés at once, as we’ll see a blood moon, super moon and harvest moon at the same time.

But more importantly, it’s an eclipse that occurs in mid-evening — just right for easy viewing from Ottawa. So far, touch wood, the forecast seems clear.

Wilkinson wants existing rail preserved for future commuter trains

By Adam Kveton, Ottawa Community News, September 24, 2015

Kanata North Coun. Marianne Wilkinson is hoping the city will move to preserve existing rail lines so they could eventually be converted into an O-Train-like transit system, she said at a community meeting on Sept. 14.

Though Wilkinson said she has yet to broach the subject at city hall, she said existing rail conversion could be quicker and cheaper than light rail transit.

Adami: Another walnut tree falls on Daniel Avenue, despite bylaw meant to protect Ottawa’s urban forest

Ottawa Citizen

By Hugh Adami, Ottawa Citizen, September 25, 2015

The City of Ottawa has another chance to flex its muscles with its tree conservation bylaw — over another black walnut in the same neighbourhood, no less. But the last time it tried to get tough, the city walked out of court with egg on its face.

Two years ago, a majestic, century-old black walnut on Daniel Avenue in Champlain Park, near Westboro, had to be cut down as a result of severe root damage during an excavation.

The UpBeat: Ryan’s Well Foundation reaches milestone in clean water drive

Ottawa Citizen

By  Patrick Smith, Ottawa Citizen, September 25, 2015

In Canada, we often take clean water for granted, assuming it’s a given that it’ll be available when we need it. But in 1998, a six-year-old boy thought otherwise.

And what started as an initiative to build one well in Africa has come full circle, as the Ryan’s Well Foundation is in the midst a fundraising campaign for its 1,000th well, with project work expected to begin in the fall.

Big chill, wet spring, sweaty summer ahead: Old Farmer's Almanac

CTV News

By Jeff Elliot, CTV News Ottawa, September 23, 2015

Canadians are in for a year of extreme temperatures, starting with another uncomfortable winter, according to predictions in the latest edition of the Old Farmer's Almanac.

Jack Burnett, managing editor of the Old Farmer's Almanac, says 2016 is shaping up to be anything but normal, with intense temperatures in store for winter and summer. On Wednesday, Burnett told CTV's Canada AM that winter will bring "the big chill," followed by a spring that will feel like "the big swamp," and a summer that will be best-described as "the big sweat."

Manure spill possible cause of Castor River fish deaths - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, September 24, 2015

An animal manure spill is suspected as the possible cause in the deaths of hundreds of fish, frogs, and other marine creatures in the Castor River, just east of Ottawa.

Ontario's Ministry of the Environment has ordered a nearby cattle farm to construct a series of berms as a precaution after it's believed toxic liquid containing manure spilled from a lagoon into the river.

Sutcliffe: The future of taxi service in Ottawa

Ottawa Citizen

By Mark Sutcliffe, Ottawa Citizen, September 24, 2015

In the past few months, disputes over the future of taxi service in Ottawa have been fought on two fronts. The situation has become increasingly volatile; in a handful of cases, it’s turned violent. With the future of the industry in upheaval, the chaos has disrupted traffic to the airport and caused anxiety for passengers who have witnessed threatening behaviour, either in person or in a series of alarming videos posted online.

The city took action on the airport dispute by seeking an injunction against the demonstrating drivers. But on the fight between taxis and ride-sharing services, it’s still dragging its heels. The situation is unstable and potentially explosive, but the message from bureaucrats and politicians is that we must wait for a report, commissioned in May and due 10 months later, before we can act.