Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

New gas pipeline signage confuses Ottawa River boaters - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, September 10, 2014

An Ottawa New Edinburg Club boater says he's wondering why the club hasn't been notified about a natural gas pipeline in the Ottawa River that Enbridge now says could be dangerous. New signage was installed near the club this summer, warning boaters not to drop anchor because of a gas pipeline below. via New gas pipeline signage confuses Ottawa River boaters - Ottawa - CBC News.

Council approves last-minute change to Hydro Ottawa solar panel deal

Ottawa Citizen

By Joanne Chianello, Ottawa Citizen, September 10, 2014

City council approved a last-minute request from Hydro Ottawa to halve the lease rate charged to the utility in a three-year-old agreement regarding solar panels. In 2011, council approved a deal to install large solar panels on the rooftops of up to 20 of the city’s largest buildings. Hydro Ottawa, which is wholly-owned by the city, was to pay the city 40 cents per square foot to lease the roof space. But because the province’s so-called feed-in-tariff or FIT rates have dropped, Hydro Ottawa was looking for a reduced lease rate of 20 cents per square foot. via Council approves last-minute change to Hydro Ottawa solar panel deal | Ottawa Citizen.

OC Transpo passenger numbers drop yet again

Ottawa Citizen

By Carys Mills, Ottawa Citizen, September 10, 2014

The number of OC Transpo passenger rides keeps slipping, according to ridership statistics from the second quarter of this year. The 22.94 million passenger trips during the three-month period is 1.4 per cent less than the year before, says a report going to the city’s transit commission next Wednesday. Since 2011, when there were 24.93 million rides during the second quarter, ridership has dropped each year. via OC Transpo passenger numbers drop yet again | Ottawa Citizen.

Ottawa's Deputy Police Chief 'doored' in cycling incident

CTV Ottawa News

By CTV News Ottawa, September 9, 2014

It happens all too often to cyclists; one of their greatest fears: getting hit by a driver opening his door. It happened yesterday to Ottawa’s Deputy Police Chief Jill Skinner. The officer, wearing bright reflective material was so shocked that it happened; she took to social media to warn drivers to be careful. via Ottawa's Deputy Police Chief 'doored' in cycling incident | CTV Ottawa News.

Ottawa city election candidates to be questioned on green issues - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, September 9, 2014

Nominations for candidates in Ottawa's municipal election have yet to be finalized, but environmental groups say they are already surveying potential members of city council to find out where they stand on "green" issues. Ecology Ottawa executive director Graham Saul says his group has knocked on over 30,000 doors this year and is now turning its attention to letting voters know where the candidates stand. via Ottawa city election candidates to be questioned on green issues - Ottawa - CBC News.

City Hall Blog: The politics of ‘studentification’

Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, September 9, 2014

When I was an undergraduate student at Western, I served for a year as the University Students’ Council’s municipal affairs officer a position I see they’ve modernized to the Mr. Rogers’-friendly Neighbourhood Relations Coordinator. The job mainly involved recruiting and training volunteers to essentially be student reps on their block. They’d put a sign up in their window — much like the ones given to Block Parents back in the day — so neighbours who were worried about loud parties, dilapidated couches on front porches and front-lawn parking had somewhere to turn. via City Hall Blog: The politics of ‘studentification’ | Ottawa Citizen.

Ashcroft’s use of Byron parkland extended

Ottawa Citizen

By Carys Mills, Ottawa Citizen, September 9, 2014

A developer has been given a one-year extension to use city parkland so construction vehicles can get to a site where a convent is being redeveloped. Ashcroft Homes is turning the former Sisters of the Visitation property, near Richmond Road and Island Park Drive, into a mixed-use development, including a retirement home. via Ashcroft’s use of Byron parkland extended | Ottawa Citizen.

Ottawa MRT? More like Meh Rapid Transit

Metro

By Steve Collins, Ottawa Metro News, September 7, 2014

If Ottawa isn’t exactly buzzing about a study released last week comparing our rapid transit network to those in other big cities, it might have something to do with our lukewarm showing, neither egregious nor exemplary, what you might call MRT Meh Rapid Transit.

The Pembina Institute paper, Fast Cities: A comparison of rapid transit in major Canadian cities, sizes up Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa. The authors define rapid transit not by vehicle type but by service characteristics short waits, separation from other traffic, all-day routes so Ottawa’s Transitway, Toronto’s subway and Calgary’s LRT all count.

Hidden Harvest volunteers roam the city picking wild fruit and nuts - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, September 7, 2014

With autumn just around the corner, Our Ottawa looks at a unique harvesting program that takes place right in the middle of the city. Katrina Siks is the co-founder of Hidden Harvest Ottawa, an organization that works with the city and homeowners to pick fruit and nuts that would otherwise go to waste. via Hidden Harvest volunteers roam the city picking wild fruit and nuts - Ottawa - CBC News.

Community garden brightens Centretown neighbourhood

Ottawa Citizen

By Blair Crawford, Ottawa Citizen, September 8, 2014

Fresh herbs are cheap in one corner of Centretown. In fact, they’re free. Anyone with a pair of scissors is encouraged to harvest what they need from huge planters that line the side of an apartment building on Cartier Avenue.It wasn’t always this way.Centretown is an eclectic mix of people and places. University students sleep next door to executives, hundred year old brick homes face modern glass and steel, and million dollar homes sit beside social housing. via Community garden brightens Centretown neighbourhood | Ottawa Citizen.

Tyler Dawson: Let the kids walk to school

Ottawa Citizen

By Tyler Dawson, Ottawa Citizen, September 8, 2014

As school kicked off on Tuesday, the Ottawa Police Service warned parents via its Twitter account not to let kids walk to school alone. The police suggested that parents instead find a neighbour kid to walk their child to school. There’s safety in numbers, and that’s not bad advice. But why the first half of the tweet? Why the admonition, instead of positive advice, especially for new parents sending their kids off to school for the first time? via Tyler Dawson: Let the kids walk to school | Ottawa Citizen.

Scanlan: Cyclist’s death should prompt calls to improve safety

Ottawa Citizen

By Wayne Scanlan, Ottawa Citizen, September 8, 2014

I’ve had a life-long fascination with road cycling. At 16, I was one of the first residents of Scarborough to own a 10-speed bike my one and only experience of being out front on technology, and thought nothing of wheeling my U.K.-built Dawes Galaxy from the suburbs through the streets of Toronto to a summer job on the grounds of the grand old Ex, the Canadian National Exhibition. It was a 40-kilometre round trip, in the lighter traffic of the day, and if I bounced off the odd door suddenly thrust open without warning from a vehicle parked along Danforth Avenue, I came to no serious harm. via Scanlan: Cyclist’s death should prompt calls to improve safety | Ottawa Citizen.