[French]
The French language was elevated to the status of Canada's official national language, in the same rank as English, in 1969. Today, the French language and the Francophone culture are therefore an integral part of Canada's cultural heritage and a source of pride for Francophone communities throughout the country.
What about the Francophone community of Ottawa in all of this?
[caption id="attachment_13089" align="alignright" width="365"]
Photo credit: cbc.ca[/caption]
Ottawa’s climate is changing. Gradually, the weather is getting wetter, hotter and more severe. Our city is subject to more frequent intense weather events such as flooding, heat waves, severe thunderstorms, ice storms and snowstorms. This past April and May 2017, hundreds of homeowners temporarily abandoned their homes to the rising waters, highways were eroded and closed, government offices were shut down and Canadian Forces were sent in to aid with emergency efforts. The City is struggling to keep up with infrastructure repairs – from violent storms, freeze-thaw cycles and record rainfall events.
Need a fun, productive and environmentally friendly weekend activity? Well, look no further!
Check out the Ottawa Tool Library’s Repair Café on February 24th from 9AM to 3PM at the Foster Farm Community Centre.
Starting in Amsterdam in 2009, Repair Cafes have become a global movement, spreading far beyond The Netherlands to cities around the globe.
Thanks to the Tool Library, they’ve landed right here in Ottawa!
In Ottawa, only 2.4% of commuters bike to work and when temperatures fall below 0°C most people turn in their bike for a car or transit pass. Cycling to work may offer many advantages to cars and public transit- a morning workout, no traffic and zero carbon emissions- but is continuing to cycle in the winter a good idea or just flat-out insane?
It’s okay to avoid biking on days with freezing rain and heavy snowfall but that doesn’t mean that you have to put the bike away for the entire season. Here are a few tips to get you out cycling this winter:
- What’s next for federal action on climate change, and what does this mean for cities like Ottawa?
- What will a more climate-friendly Ottawa look like, and how will we get there?
- What kinds of innovative climate solutions are other cities and countries bringing to the table, and what can we learn from their example?
Join the Honourable Catherine McKenna (Ottawa Centre MP, Minister of Environment and Climate Change), David Chernushenko (Capital Ward Councillor, Chair of the Environment and Climate Protection Committee) and Tobi Nussbaum (Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward Councillor) for a public discussion of these and other pressing questions.
The post below is from our friends at Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area, who have been closely monitoring recent developments on nuclear waste disposal plans at Chalk River.
Just before the 2015 federal election, the Harper government handed control of the Chalk River Laboratories nuclear site to a consortium of five multinational corporations.
Ecology Ottawa is excited to introduce our new Executive Director, Robb Barnes.
When did you begin to call Ottawa home?
I was born in Ottawa and raised in the west end, close to Bayshore Shopping Centre. Back then, those were the outer limits of the city. I recall walking down the street and crossing the Nepean-Ottawa border in the process.
When did you become interested in the environment? Was there a defining moment?
Has that draft by the window been bothering you every winter? Time to finally address it once and for all, with help from the Ontario Green Fund’s rebates on insulation and high-performing windows!
Upgrading your insulation is the most cost-effective way to cut energy costs in your home. As much as 25% of your energy bill is spent on heating the air leakage around doors, windows, vents and outlets. By air sealing or installing your insulation and air sealing, whether it’s in the attic, basement or exterior walls, you can cut the energy cost and keep your home nice and cozy in the winter (and cooler in the summer). Using participating contractors, you can get up to $7,200 in rebates from installing insulation and $100 off air sealing your home.
As the Ottawa's chilly winter continues, does the heating bill burn an increasing hole in your family's wallet? You're not alone: the planet is also suffering from energy loss as Canadians try to shield their home from the elements. In fact, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions comes from heating and cooling your homes, offices and other buildings. Fortunately, you can take actions in your own homes to cut energy cost, save money, and reduce emissions with the help of the following initiatives from the Green Ontario Fund.