Media Releases

For Immediate Release: Water Environment Strategy Needs Green Infrastructure Ambition

Media Release

17 May 2016 (Ottawa) – The Water Environment Strategy is a multi-decade plan to manage and protect Ottawa’s water resources. The City Environment Committee will be asked to approve the Water Environment Strategy report today. However, the Strategy lacks ambition on the critical issue of green infrastructure.

“We welcome this Strategy because it is long overdue and is the final major piece of the historic Ottawa River Action Plan commitment,” says Graham Saul, Executive Director of Ecology Ottawa. “But it also falls short in that it doesn't truly embrace a bold new vision for water management that is based on green infrastructure.”

June 3rd-5th: Training in Tree Mapping

Ever wanted to know more about different types of trees? Want to learn how to tell whether a tree is healthy or not? What about learning how to map trees? If you answered yes to any of these, this is the event for you!

Liana Vines

Dr. Andy Kenney and Forester Astrid Nielsen will be leading a workshop on how to identify trees, assess tree health, and map trees in Champlain Park. Not only will you learn all about the vast number of trees surrounding the area, but also the economics of trees in terms of energy conversation, storm water filtered, air quality filtration and carbon dioxide removal.

Climate Action Consultation in Ottawa South Part of an Historic Opportunity

It is often easy to feel overwhelmed by the constant influx of bad news regarding our environment, from wildfires to floods to oil spills to climate change. But it takes more than bad news to prompt sustained political action on the environment – it takes people power. We believe meaningful change comes when people from across Ottawa (and Canada) tell their political representatives that solving environmental problems should be a priority.

How I Came to Oppose The Energy East Pipeline

I have always been enthralled by the world around me. From a young age my parents encouraged me to be outside, to explore and to develop a close kinship with the environment. I appreciated the delicacy of nature, the intricacies of the science. I would spend hours in my backyard garden with my Dad taking care of plants and climbing trees. When I think of my childhood I always come to realize how much of it was spent outdoors.

First Book Club Meeting-May 16th!

Passionate about books? Passionate about trees? Want to join a club about books and trees? If you answered yes to any of those questions, look no further!

Tree Ottawa will be hosting our very first book club meeting next week, May 16th, 7-8pm at the Tea Store (53 York Street). After all, what goes better with books than tea? To make this even better, we've partnered up with Perfect Books (258A Elgin Street), who will be giving a 15% discount on all the books we're reading. Get your copies as soon as you can!

From Calgary to Ottawa: How I Got Involved And Why I Oppose Energy East

I moved to Ottawa from Calgary four years ago an 18-year-old Conservative. I was indifferent at best to the environment and the economy was far more important to me than anything else. Growing up in Calgary, however, the word ‘economy’ as I knew it was blurred, Ottawa_-_ON_-_Stadtansicht distorted, and flat-out misused. The economy as understood in Alberta is often tied to the fossil fuel market and nothing else.

We're hiring! Outreach Coordinator (8 week Canada Summer Jobs position)

Job description Ecology Ottawa Outreach Coordinator 30 hrs/week starting immediately for a period of 8 weeks

Ecology Ottawa is looking for an Outreach Coordinator to join a dynamic team for an eight-week position funded by Canada Summer Jobs. Reporting to the Managing Director, the overall goal of the Outreach Coordinator is to enhance environmental protection at the local level in Ottawa. More specifically, the Outreach Coordinator will:

Exploring Possibilities for Reforestation in Southwestern Nicaragua

Why should we explore methods of reforestation?

Approximately 80% of central america’s vegetation has disappeared. This has consequence on the regions’s biodiversity which is not able to survive. (Dorgay, et. al., 2016) Luckily a non-profit organization Paso Pacifico tries to find solutions for re-forestation such as tree planting and the concept of living fence rows. (Dorgay, et. al., 2016) These tree fence rows act as boundaries and also are beneficial to animals and insects. They act as support to flying animals such as birds. The living fence rows can also act as shade and refuge to animals. (Dorgay, et. al., 2016) The rows can be composed of living trees as shown in the picture.

How We Can Help Fort McMurray and Limit Wildfires

As the wildfire rages on in and around Fort McMurray, in my home province of Alberta, my thoughts are with the tens of thousands of people who have been forced to leave their homes behind, seeking refuge in Edmonton, nearby towns, camps, and in the Beaver Lake Cree Nation. This is truly devastating for everyone involved and people need our help. I no longer live in Alberta but there are a number of things I can do to help from Ottawa, just as everyone can help from wherever they may be.

Restorations Map - Adopt a Street

Turn your street into a Complete Street. Click on the map to see if a street in your neighbourhood is planned to undergo major construction!

Hidden Harvest Workshop - Helping You Grow Great Fruit

Growing Great Fruit! Propagation Workshop.

Hidden Harvest Ottawa

Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Ottawa Ontario

"We have the potential to grow fruit in the city that tastes better, and is more nutritious, than food in the store!"

At the end of this workshop, you will leave with your own grafted tree, the knowledge of how to propogate your own fruit and nuts, and a network of new urban-food friends!