Chianello: In defence of NIMBYism: Why Lakeside Avenue is rightly peeved
Ottawa Citizen

By Joanne Chianello, Ottawa Citizen, August 9, 2014

Sometimes NIMBYism gets a bad rap. Apparently, to avoid being tagged as indulging in Not-In-My-Backyard hypocrisy, we’re supposed to be thrilled when, say, a 15-storey condo goes up at the end of our leafy residential street. Density is great! We are likewise expected to jump for joy when the city reroutes hundreds of transit buses down our quiet blocks. via Chianello: In defence of NIMBYism: Why Lakeside Avenue is rightly peeved | Ottawa Citizen.

Environment, mental health efforts receive Trillium funds

By Ottawa Community News, August 7, 2014

Several Ottawa-based organizations, including the EnviroCentre, have received Ontario Trillium Foundation OTF funds in the latest round of grants. The EnviroCentre will get $276,600 over three years to support the Ottawa Comprehensive Community Sustainability Project, which will engage communities in energy conservation, water conservation, sustainable transportation and local food projects. Communities will receive support and training to implement environmental projects and to develop social enterprises for long-term sustainability.

Other recipients include: Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre $223,700 over three years to implement evidence-based community crime prevention strategies in the west-end of Ottawa, with the goal of decreasing drug-dealing, drug-use and home takeovers.Centre Youville Centre Ottawa-Carleton $300,000 over four years to support its efforts and that of the St-Mary's Home in achieving recognized provincial standards for children's mental health services. It will ensure both groups have capacity to implement cutting edge, evidence-informed practices.

Concerns about pipeline voiced at meeting

By John Curry

, Ottawa Community News, August 7, 2014 Mike Fletcher of Munster, a volunteer with Ecology Ottawa, an Ottawa-area environmental group, has been going door-to-door in Stittsville in recent weeks, trying to increase awareness of the proposed Energy East oil pipeline that would pass by just to the west of Stittsville. He laid out his own concerns about the proposed project at a public information session held by Ecology Ottawa in the upstairs hall at the Johnny Leroux Stittsville Community Arena in Stittsville on Tuesday evening, July 29. These concerns include environmental destruction from oil extraction of the tar sands; climate change from oil sands activity; and the danger and possibility of a pipeline spill. via Concerns about pipeline voiced at meeting.

Emerald ash borer leaves 6-month wait for tree removal - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, August 7, 2014

Ottawa residents hoping to say goodbye to their trees ravaged by the emerald ash borer might have to wait as long as half a year before city crews show up to cut it down. The forestry services branch at the City of Ottawa said there are about 4,400 trees on the waiting list to be cut down and removed. via Emerald ash borer leaves 6-month wait for tree removal - Ottawa - CBC News.

Letter: Tourists were right
Ottawa Citizen

By Susan Lucas, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, August 6, 2014

I have just been lucky enough to return from a trip to seven Eastern European countries and I must say I completely agree with our European guests’ assessment of us. On our last day in Prague, for example, we headed to their airport at 8 a.m. I assumed we would need to leave very early to accommodate rush hour. Not so, there was none. Prague has a very cheap and efficient transit system and very little downtown parking. You can buy reasonable tickets that are good for their subway, tram and bus system, that are easy to understand even for tourists. via Letter: Tourists were right | Ottawa Citizen.

Letter: Tourists were impolite
Ottawa Citizen

By Graham Barnes, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, August 6, 2014

When I have visited other countries I have not been in the habit of taking any negative impressions and writing them for public consumption in the local press, nor badgering my hosts to make their country more like mine. I have only heard very good things about Denmark, including about their courtesy and good manners. So I am doubly disappointed. I have lived in England. They have plenty of cars. Compared with Canada, they have simply made inadequate provision for parking them. Their public transport is excellent in many ways. I will not mention any criticisms, as the flaws are well known to the British and discussed with great vigour in their media already. Although much of the countryside retains its ancient beauty, I see no evidence that the country is Canada’s superior in care for the natural world or air quality. via Letter: Tourists were impolite | Ottawa Citizen.

Reevely: Rethink plans for Queen Street LRT station, city’s own experts advise
Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, August 7, 2014

An overly grand design for the light-rail station that’s to serve Parliament Hill risks crowding neighbouring buildings and the space in front of it on Queen Street, the city’s own panel of design experts warns. The group of architects and urban designers goes over the plans for major projects, including the city government’s own, to give advice on esthetics and function. It studied the city’s plans to rebuild Queen into a “showcase street” centred on the LRT stations that are supposed to open in 2018. via Reevely: Rethink plans for Queen Street LRT station, city’s own experts advise | Ottawa Citizen.

Why I wrote about Canada’s car culture
Ottawa Citizen

By Holly Chabowski, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, August 5, 2014

My recent letter to Canadian politicians has received much attention, much more than I had anticipated. It is definitely a holiday that we won’t be forgetting in a hurry! That letter began: “My girlfriend and I Danish were tourists in your country for five weeks this summer. We had the most incredible adventure and met the most wonderful Canadians, who welcomed us warmly into their homes. Apart from these people, who sincerely do your nation credit, our overwhelming memory of Canada is one of cars, traffic, parking and the related obesity and unfulfilled communities.” via Why I wrote about Canada’s car culture | Ottawa Citizen.

TD Place to have proper recycling by next Redblacks game, OSEG promises
Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, August 5, 2014

The spanking new stadium at Lansdowne Park will have proper recycling bins for plastic and cans by the next Redblacks game on Aug. 15, the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group says. The City of Ottawa owns the stadium but, OSEG, the Ottawa Redblacks’ corporate owners, run it. A foul-up in securing well-marked bins by the time of the team’s first two games at home has meant making do with labelled garbage bins. That hasn’t been working out, with fans throwing recyclables — even beer cans that can be returned for money — into the trash. via TD Place to have proper recycling by next Redblacks game, OSEG promises | Ottawa Citizen.

No ‘car culture’ in Ottawa, says Mayor Jim Watson
Ottawa Citizen

By Michael Woods, Ottawa Citizen, August 6, 2014

Mayor Jim Watson says he disagrees with a pair of European tourists who wrote a letter to him and other politicians decrying what they say is a “car culture” in Ottawa and other Canadian cities.“ While they’re entitled to their criticism, I don’t think it’s merited,” he said. “The feedback I get from tourists, without fail, is that they’re impressed with Ottawa being a clean and green city.” via No ‘car culture’ in Ottawa, says Mayor Jim Watson | Ottawa Citizen.
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