Media Releases

Ecology Ottawa Announces Recipients of its 2025 Eco Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | 8 May 2025 | OTTAWA | TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE ALGONQUIN ANISHINAABEG — Ecology Ottawa today announced the recipients of its 2025 Eco Awards.

“We’re thrilled to honour these nine recipients who inspire ecological action in our city,” said Executive Director William van Geest. “Ottawa is unusually blessed with an outstanding natural heritage and individuals dedicated to preserving it, and it’s critical to acknowledge this.”

The recipients are honoured for a variety of categories, ranging from Climate Champion to Most Cherished Greenspace, and Youth Eco Champion to Refuse-Reduce-Reuse Champion.

Announcing the Recipients of the Third Annual Eco Awards!

Ecology Ottawa is thrilled to announce the recipients of our third annual Eco Awards! As in prior years, we were overwhelmed by the nominations we received, and choosing among them was a difficult task—but the nine recipients below distinguished themselves particularly.

Ecology Ottawa releases ecological planks for federal election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | 22 April 2025 | OTTAWA | TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE ALGONQUIN ANISHINAABEG — Ecology Ottawa today released eight suggested ecological planks for the federal election.

“Discussion of climate change and the environment in general has been wholly inadequate so far this election period,” said Executive Director William van Geest. “We’re hoping to change that.”

Joint statement: A green economy to counter Trump's tariffs

Investments in sustainability and green energy will not only protect Canadians from American tariffs, they’ll put us on course for a more resilient future. The Trump White House has raised tariffs, defunded science, and created massive economic and political uncertainty across the world. Canada is deeply vulnerable to these changes.

Ask Ottawa’s Mayor and City Councillors to support federal climate action!

Earlier today, Ecology Ottawa asked Mayor Sutcliffe and Ottawa City Councillors to sign an open letter initiated by Climate Caucus calling on federal party leaders to commit to meaningful climate action in standing up against American tariffs. The letter makes five demands that will lead to national resiliency, job creation, affordability, connectivity, and meaningful action to tackle the climate crisis.

Ecology Ottawa supports bus reliability!

Today, Ecology Ottawa spoke at Transit Committee in favour of a motion on bus reliability. We highlighted the need to stop obscuring what is meant by "reliability" and for City Council and the Transit Committee to urgently prioritize Bus Rapid Transit and bus lanes as a means of encouraging public transit uptake and growing ridership.

Ottawa Eco Awards 2025: Open for Nominations!

Our Eco Awards are back! To celebrate Earth Week 2025, we’re again highlighting the people, places, plants, trees, and animals of Ottawa that inspire us, bring the community together, and enrich our ecosystem. Make a nomination today!

Ecology Ottawa speaks against high commercial parking maximums

Last week, City Council's Planning and Housing Committee and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee held a joint meeting to vote on Draft 2 of Ottawa's new Zoning By-law. Most provisions have been carried over from Draft 1, but we delegated to speak against the high commercial parking maximums for shopping centres.

Ecology Ottawa opposes recoupling of Airport Parkway project components

We were at Public Works and Infrastructure Committee to oppose the recoupling of the Airport Parkway project components. These components—active transportation improvements and a widening of the Parkway—were wisely decoupled in 2023, and now a motion was presented to recouple them. Please read our delegation below, or watch it in the meeting.

Share your ecological priorities for the federal election!

Prime Minister Mark Carney has called an election for April 28. Elections are a key moment in the advocacy cycle: they offer an opportunity to not only elect thoughtful decision makers, but also to set the agenda for the upcoming term. This federal election is no exception—particularly with the last decade recently being declared the hottest on record and extreme weather intensifying, but also with looming economic uncertainty.

Ecology Ottawa supports call for Salt Management Review

Ecology Ottawa delegated at City Council's Environment and Climate Change Committee today to support Councillor King's motion calling for a review of the City's Salt Management practices. Our Executive Director William van Geest drew heavily from water sampling conducted by our partners Ottawa Riverkeeper over 5 years to show that such a review is necessary. Read our delegation below.

Ask the City for a salt management review!

Councillor King is bringing a motion to City Council's Environment and Climate Change Committee to call for a long overdue review of the City's salting practices and the environmental effects of these practices. Salt is toxic to aquatic life, soil, and vegetation, and it persists year-round in our waterways. Find out more and take action!