Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

City issues boil water advisory for Blackburn Hamlet area

Ottawa Citizen

By Ottawa Citizen, October 19, 2014

A boil water advisory for some 200 water users in Blackburn Hamlet will remain in effect until further notice, city officials said late Sunday afternoon. Residents of Glen Park Drive, Birchtree Park, Compata Way and Fairglen Mews have been advised to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute to kill any microorganisms before using it for consumption, including drinking, making juice, ice and infant formula, as well as for use in food preparation. via City issues boil water advisory for Blackburn Hamlet area | Ottawa Citizen.

Jenkins: Ottawa, the rural city

Ottawa Citizen

By Phil Jenkins, Ottawa Citizen, October 20, 2014

Drive – or bicycle – south, east or west out of the mass of Ottawa’s downtown real estate and, quite quickly, you’ll cross a border. The one between the urban and rural territories, between concrete and soil, commuters and corn. Since the Great Amalgamation of 2001, if you were a schoolchild with an assignment to make a model of Ottawa, there would be a grey bib of urbanness below the blue river, then a belt of green, then large blobs of suburban beige, and then a mosaic of yellow/green fields out to the city limits, with occasional pools of redbrick and siding villages. via Jenkins: Ottawa, the rural city | Ottawa Citizen.

Ecology Ottawa hopes one-million-tree campaign takes root

Ottawa Citizen

By Ottawa Citizen, October 14, 2014

A journey of a million trees begins with a single planting.

And so, on Tuesday, Ecology Ottawa began its campaign to green-up this city ahead of Canada’s 150th birthday.

The environmental group held a public event at Champlain Park near Tunney’s Pasture and discussed its goal of having one million trees planted within Ottawa’s city limits in time for 2017 celebrations.

Watson makes Ottawa River top environmental priority - News - Orléans Star

By Kelly Snider, Orléans Star, October 16, 2014

POLITICS. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson committed to making the Ottawa River Action Plan his top environmental priority, if re-elected on October 27

"We are closer than we have ever been to finishing the Ottawa River cleanup," said Watson. "Working together, we will pass along the gift of a clean Ottawa River to the next generation."

David Suzuki and Graham Saul: Environmental issues in the Ottawa election

Ottawa Citizen

By David Suzuki and Graham Saul, Ottawa Citizen, October 14, 2014 When it comes to making big changes in the world, the little things matter. They make the big things possible.

It’s something to keep in mind as people in Ottawa go to the polls on Oct. 27 to elect new mayors and city councillors. Those votes will not only help shape neighbourhoods, towns and cities, but will also have an effect on the kind of country Canada will become. It’s crucial to take the time to think about what’s important to you, find out where your candidates stand and vote for the kind of home that you want for yourselves and your children. via David Suzuki and Graham Saul: Environmental issues in the Ottawa election | Ottawa Citizen.

Watson pledges more trees if re-elected

Ottawa Citizen

By Joanne Chianello, Ottawa Citizen, October 9, 2014

Jim Watson pledged $345,000 toward a special sesquicentennial project he’s calling Canada 150 Groves that would see 150 Canadian native maples planted in each of the city’s 23 wards. Making his weekly campaign announcement early in anticipation of Thanksgiving weekend — Watson often holds a press conference on Sundays — the incumbent mayor released his outdoorsy promise at the Brewer Park biodome on Thursday. via Watson pledges more trees if re-elected | Ottawa Citizen.

Environmentalists shift focus to more grassroots, less government - Politics - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, October 3, 2014

Global warming is not the only kind of climate change environmental groups in Canada have had to deal with in recent years. They've also been dealing with a major shift in the political climate that has forced them to change their approach to everything from carbon emissions to pipeline projects to keep up public support for their causes. via Environmentalists shift focus to more grassroots, less government - Politics - CBC News.

Ottawa Votes: Hobbs criticizes fellow councillors in ward debate, which you don’t see often

Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, October 7, 2014

The incumbent councillor running for re-election in Kitchissippi, Katherine Hobbs, irked some of her fellow councillors with an attack on city council’s environment committee at a debate Monday night. What prompted it was an aggressive question about a “climate-change report,” which I took to be this report about greenhouse-gas emissions the city government itself is responsible for. It’s vacuous and inadequate, the woman asking the question said, and would the Kitchissippi candidates commit to having it redone if they’re elected? via Ottawa Votes: Hobbs criticizes fellow councillors in ward debate, which you don’t see often | Ottawa Citizen.

Watson promises to add $1.5M to road safety budget, add 20 red-light cameras

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 2014

Jim Watson is promising to earmark almost $1.5 million a year to implement road safety measures if re-elected mayor on Oct. 27. The bulk of the money — $1 million — would be split among all 23 wards, to be used for traffic-calming measure such as flexible sign posts, painted lines on roads, and even planters that help to slow the speed of vehicles. The new money amounts to less than $44,000 per ward per year. via Watson promises to add $1.5M to road safety budget, add 20 red-light cameras | Ottawa Citizen.

O-Train expansion, garbage, taxes top issues at forum

By Erin McCracken, Ottawa Community News, October 2, 2014

Four of seven candidates vying to take the helm of Gloucester-South Nepean Ward are vowing to improve transit and road safety, be fiscally responsible, tackle traffic congestion and bring a sports complex to Riverside South. Scott Hodge, Sue Sherring, Jason Kelly and Michael Qaqish rolled out their views on topics ranging from speeding traffic to mismanaged infrastructure projects and ballooning contracts, such as the Orgaworld waste-disposal contract, at a Ward 22 candidates' forum on Sept. 25. via O-Train expansion, garbage, taxes top issues at forum.

NCC approves master plan for Tunney's Pasture; Design calls for 3,400 to 3,700 residential units on 49-hectare

By Steph Willems, Ottawa Community News, October 2, 2014

A long-term redevelopment plan for Tunney's Pasture was given the green light on Sept. 16, paving the way for a very different future to take shape at the federal office complex.

By approving the plan, the National Capital Commission has set in motion a 25-year process of segmented construction, where each parcel of the 49-hectare site will be approved and developed separately, often with a private partner.

First meeting to discuss the importance of bees; New speaker series aims to gain members for Glebe environment committee

By Michelle Nash, Ottawa Community News, October 2, 2014

The Glebe Community Association's environment committee will be doing something a little different this year. In an effort to gain new members and interest from the community, the committee will host a series of talks this year. via First meeting to discuss the importance of bees; New speaker series aims to gain members for Glebe environment committee.