By Julianne Labreche
A few years ago, I made a pitch to city officials, asking them to officially designate Ottawa as a “Bee City.” Even though it didn’t happen, some good things emerged.
Citing Growing Evidence of Harm to Child Health and Learning Ability, Advocates Call for Faster Replacement of Diesel School Buses
On Healthy Environments for Learning Day, environmental and children’s health advocates call on all levels of government to accelerate the switch to electric school buses. Ecology Ottawa has signed on to a joint letter calling on communities, school boards and governments at every level to accelerate the electrification of school buses, replacing tens of thousands of diesel-powered school buses spewing toxic fumes that can seriously harm child health and interfere with learning.
The 2022 Derecho and Trees in Ottawa: Report
So just how many trees on City of Ottawa property were lost in the 2022 derecho?
City staff presented a report on this at today's meeting of City Council. Here's a summary, with the report below!
Rally in Solidarity with Treaty 8 Nations
On Thursday April 20, Ecology Ottawa joined protesters in a rally against Imperial Oil and in solidarity with the Indigenous nations impacted by the toxic tailings leak at the Kearl oilsands in Alberta. Whilst we gathered on Sparks Street and then moved to Parliament Hill, Imperial Oil executives were called to explain to a Parliamentary Committee why it took nine months to tell First Nations and governments that wastewater from a tailings pond had spilled into four areas about 100 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, Alta.
Ottawa set to sign Montréal Pledge on Biodiversity
The City of Ottawa looks likely to sign the Montréal Pledge on biodiversity. By signing this pledge, the City will make an important commitment to protecting biodiversity. However, along with the commitment, there needs to be accountability.
Recipients announced for first-ever Ottawa Eco Awards!
We have been positively overwhelmed with all the nominations that we have received for our very first Ottawa Eco Awards - and we are so honoured to have had the opportunity to learn about all the people, places, animals, and plants of Ottawa that inspire you.
Ottawa Eco Award recipients transformed their communities with activities including distributing free seeds, bug parades, reusing and reimagining hard-to-recycle waste, diverting Halloween pumpkins from landfill, advocacy, public education, food security learning, planting pollinator gardens, and more.
Climate Change Master Plan Update
This week, Ottawa City's Environment and Climate Change Committee received the annual update report from City staff on progress under the Climate Change Master Plan, the ambitious strategy for climate change mitigation and adaptation work needed in the Nation's Capital.
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In celebration of Earth Day 2023, we at Ecology Ottawa are highlighting the people, places, plants, and animals of Ottawa that inspire our communities to take action, find innovative solutions, and work together to protect our environment. We call on you to nominate members of your community that work hard and inspire others to create change!
Cancel road widenings to support transit!
Beyond the $47 million in cuts to transit in the 2023 budget, City Council left a $39 million gap they were hoping other levels of government would fill.
The problem? They didn't get any such funding. Now OC Transpo is left with a substantial deficit, and they just started a "review" of bus routes "to optimize our existing transit system."
Ecology Ottawa urges strengthening of Tree Protection Bylaw in light of Tewin clear-cutting
Ecology Ottawa co-signed a letter sent to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and the rest of City Council about the Tree Protection Bylaw. This letter followed the discussion at a meeting of the City's Environment and Climate Change Committee sparked by the clear-cutting of over 70 hectares of forested Tewin lands.
How to Take Action after the Ice Storm and Tree Loss
We were saddened to see so many trees lost in Wednesday’s freezing rain. As many have commented, this loss highlights the urgent need to strengthen our urban forest canopy: tree-threatening weather events will only increase as we feel the effects of climate change. At the same time, trees are critical to combatting the effects of climate change: they cool down our communities during hot weather, soak up water during storms, provide habitat for birds and animals, filter and clean the air, sequester carbon, and improve mental health.
So what can you do to strengthen Ottawa's urban forest canopy?
Everything you wanted to know about heat pumps but were afraid to ask
As everyone’s getting their most recent winter home heating bill, you might be asking yourself if there’s a better option. Luckily there is, and that option is an air-source heat pump.