Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Neighbours make noise over Glebe restaurant patio plan

Metro

By Lucy Scoley, Ottawa Metro News, July 2, 2014

A restaurant in the Glebe could eventually offer a summer patio for sipping suds – but with a 9 p.m. curfew. Erling’s Variety is planning to beef up business with a patio, but several neighbours are concerned about noise, smoking and parking issues. The city’s transportation committee approved the project Wednesday, but on the condition the patio would be cleared by 9 p.m. the original plan set an 11 p.m. curfew and the owner put up a privacy screen on the side that borders neighbours’ homes. via Neighbours make noise over Glebe restaurant patio plan | Metro.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Strong winds do severe damage in Pontiac :: News - Article

By Chris Holski, CFRA News, July 1, 2014

Much of the area was in the grip of a tornado warning today, and while it appears nothing touched down there was some severe wind damage on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River.

Trees have been snapped and sections of roof ripped from cottages in Pontiac while a mobile home was toppled on its side.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: July STEP to focus on cycling safety, red light running :: News - Article

By CFRA News, July 2, 2014

Red light running and cycling safety will be the focus of the July Selective Traffic Enforcement Program.

Ottawa Police have already been cracking down on cyclist breaking the rules in weekend blitzes, handing out tickets and official warnings.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: The "goosebuster" is back :: News - Article

By CFRA News, June 30, 2014

The Goosebuster could be coming to a park or beach near you.Steve Wambolt is once again patrolling Petrie Island in Ottawa’s east end with his Canada Goose-chasing unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV – what people commonly refer to as a drone.

CTV Ottawa first told the story of Wambolt and his goosebusting drone last summer. At the time, The Orleans resident wanted to pitch his aerial photography business to the City.

When he approached local Councillor, Bob Monette, the first question was “how low can you fly?” Monette was more concerned with chasing geese than taking pictures.

Tornado warning ended for the region

CTV Ottawa News

By CTV Ottawa, July 1, 2014

Environment Canada has ended a tornado warning for Gatineau, Ottawa north, Kanata, Orléans, Arnprior, Calabogie and Renfrew. Weather specialists were tracking a severe thunderstorm they feared could have produced a tornado. via Tornado warning ended for the region | CTV Ottawa News.

Reevely: Sick of outsider traffic, Ottawa wants a plan for Eastern Ontario

Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, June 27, 2014

Uncontrolled development in Eastern Ontario is straining Ottawa’s roads and transit and we need a long-term regional plan to deal with it, city council says. “We’ve seen a tremendous amount of growth around the city of Ottawa over the last 10 years or so, places like Carleton Place and Arnprior and Kemptville to the south and Rockland and Russell to the south and southeast,” said Cumberland Coun. Stephen Blais, who put the idea on city council’s agenda this week. “The growth policies of those places don’t necessarily mesh well with the growth policies of Ottawa.” via Reevely: Sick of outsider traffic, Ottawa wants a plan for Eastern Ontario | Ottawa Citizen.

Patriotic planting: NCC vows to plant only Canadian native maples

Ottawa Citizen

By Joanne Chianello, Ottawa Citizen, July 1, 2014

It’s this country’s most recognizable symbol, emblazoned on our flag and on one of our nation’s hockey jerseys. It’s commemorated in song — it’s even mentioned in one of the unsung stanzas of our national anthem — and, perhaps less loftily, it lends its name to a massive Canadian food company. The point is, the maple leaf is practically synonymous with Canada, as evidenced by the fact that maple trees can be found in abundance from sea to sea. via Patriotic planting: NCC vows to plant only Canadian native maples | Ottawa Citizen.

Then and now: A look back to 2004 and 1994 as OC Transpo fares go up

Ottawa Citizen

By Marie-Danielle Smith, Ottawa Citizen, June 2, 2014

With another boost in fares hitting commuters on Tuesday, we compare OC Transpo prices from 1994 and 2004 to today’s figures.

Storm, heat warnings, weather watches end for Ottawa, Gatineau regions

Ottawa Citizen

By Marie-Danielle Smith, Ottawa Citizen, July 1, 2014

Tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings ended early Tuesday evening after brief but intense storms blew across the Ottawa Valley and residents of Ottawa and Gatineau and communities to the north and west were urged to take cover. Environment Canada said the danger of a tornado and severe thunderstorm had passed and heat warnings were no longer in effect for the national capital region and areas east to the Ontario-Quebec border and lower St. Lawrence Valley. via Storm, heat warnings, weather watches end for Ottawa, Gatineau regions | Ottawa Citizen.

City of Ottawa wins Orgaworld waste contract arbitration

Ottawa Citizen

By Joanne Chianello, Ottawa Citizen, July 1, 2014

The City of Ottawa has come out on the winning side of virtually every key question in its years-long dispute with organics company Orgaworld — including the ability to include leaf and yard waste in the green-bin program and ending the practice of taxpayers having to pay twice to have some of their waste processed.

The arbitrator has also dismissed Orgaworld’s $1.3-million claim against the city.

City of Ottawa wins Orgaworld waste contract arbitration

Ottawa Citizen

By Joanne Chianello, Ottawa Citizen, June 30, 2014

The City of Ottawa has come out on the winning side of virtually every key question in its years-long dispute with organics company Orgaworld — including the ability to include leaf and yard waste in the green-bin program and ending the practice of taxpayers having to pay twice to have some of their waste processed. The arbitrator has also dismissed Orgaworld’s $1.3-million claim against the city. via City of Ottawa wins Orgaworld waste contract arbitration | Ottawa Citizen.

Ottawa is still not safe enough for cyclists

Ottawa Citizen

By Theresa Wallace, Ottawa Citizen, June 29, 2014

I heard the collision before I saw it — the thump of a car slamming into something soft, then a howl of anguish from a distraught witness. Biking around the corner, I saw the driver sitting frozen behind the wheel while four frantic pedestrians tried to help the injured cyclist. Hardly a day goes by in Ottawa without us hearing a report of a cyclist getting hit. There are roughly 300 reported collisions annually between bicycles and motor vehicles in Ottawa, most occurring during the peak cycling months we’re in right now. A reported collision is one in which the police are called, which means most collisions aren’t counted in this calculation. And as our urban cycling history continues to be formed by eye-witness anecdotal accounts, news stories, ghost bikes and the annual accumulation of statistics, many feel our city is becoming more dangerous for cycling. via Ottawa is still not safe enough for cyclists | Ottawa Citizen.